X-Out: Re-Surfaced Xbox Series X Review 7/10 "a little different from the other horizontal shooters of yore" ❌ @ININ_Games #Retrogaming #IndieGame #GameDev

Originally released in 1989 on the Commodore 64 before being ported to the Amiga and others in 1990, X-Out differentiates itself from other shooters of the time by being set underwater. It also allows you to spend credits on customising your craft before each run – and there will be many – which adds a layer of personalisation when deciding if you want something nippy, or more robust, as well as choosing your weapon load out, limited only by your cash flow.

The original game was well-received, and it is a bit of a lost title when it comes to other shooters from the era, so it’s great that it’s been remastered for modern audiences, but how does it stand up over thirty years on from its original release?

Quite well, it turns out. The simple, but effective customisation options ensure that you have a sense of personalising each crack at the game to suit your play style, and the visuals have received a tasteful overhaul that makes things pop and run more smoothly, but don’t lose the identity of the original design and style, which can really be a deal-breaker in instances such as this - this is still very much chunky pixel action. Good. 

The audio has also been re-vamped, and I quite enjoyed the soundtrack which is energetic and engaging without being ostentatious or over-bearing. There’s also a neat option in the menu to switch between the original soundtracks on the 8/16-bit systems or the modern take on it, which was the one I went for.

X-Out is not an easy game. Whilst your ship has a health meter and can take a decent kicking from enemy fire before giving up the ghost, if you even touch the environmental obstacles or even a boss, you die in one hit, with no continues. It’s straight back tot the ship selection screen for you. It’s very clear that this is a game that will appeal to those that enjoy a serious challenge. There’s also a two-player mode for local co-op, which is a nice inclusion.

It’s a very bare-bones remaster in terms of historical content, such as design docs, artwork and interviews with the original / new developers etc. which is something I do like to see included with these remasters, but it appears that in this case these aspects are only included with the limited and special editions of the game, available from ININ.

SUMMARY

All in all, X-Out: Re-surfaced is a little different from the other horizontal shooters of yore, and this does give it its own identity. I would have liked some more content on the history of the game, but the more tasteful aspects of this remaster give it appeal, just be prepared for a serious challenge!

7/10

🆒COOL🆒

(also available on PS5, Switch, PC)

Skull & Co. Product Review (Audiobox BT Audio Transmitter 5.2, Savage Raven Phantom Stand, Savage Raven Thumb Grips, Controller Case) 🎮 @skullnco

Something that has long irked me as an Xbox gamer is that Bluetooth earbuds can’t natively be used for gaming on the Xbox, I use headsets – of which there are many – but sometimes the ease, comfort, and practicality (for example, just popping one earbud in when gaming late at night with the TV on mute so you can hear the action but also hear your young child should they call from the next room) of earbuds has always been something I’ve yearned for over the years.

A couple of weeks ago, I discovered that there were adapters on the market that solved this very issue, with Skull & Co’s Audiobox being one of them.

They kindly sent across the Audiobox for coverage, along with a handful of other products which I’ll also mention below. All of which can be purchased at the Skull & Co. website.

TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming Documentary - Preview by Britt 🔪🩸🧟 @Terrorbytesdoc

An upcoming – and exquisitely titled - five-part series on the history of horror in video games, I was lucky enough to get a peek at the two of the five episodes, and it’s safe to say that horror fans are in for a treat with this deep dive into one of gaming’s most prominent categories, featuring as it does such luminaries of the genre as John Romero, John Carpenter, Akira Yamaoka, as well as various developers, composers and scholars of video game horror to add key context to the on-screen discourse.

Each episode focuses on a specific era of video game horror – the two that we at GF have seen are ‘Enter the Survival Horror’ and ‘Lethal Licenses’, both of which dive into not only the more seminal titles that are the cornerstones of the genre, but also mention underdogs and games that introduced specific mechanics and approaches that may have shaped horror video games somewhat under the radar.

Trust YUNIX USB Gaming Microphone Review By Britt 🎙️ @TrustGaming

The very definition of a plug and play device, the Trust YUNIX is a desk top microphone with a 6-foot hardwired USB cable that is ready to rock within a few seconds of unboxing.

The version we received is white, but the microphone also comes in purple and black variations to suit your particular setup. With a built-in pop shield to cease your more plosive propensities, the YUNIX continues the sense of accessibility and sleek style by only utilising a couple of buttons on the mic itself, you can alter the RGB light-ring around the base, and mute yourself.

There is also a socket for a wired headphone jack – which will probably be needed as the microphone will pick up room sounds due to the cardioid design. It’s not a stiff setup, with the microphone able to be tilted back and forth a few degrees to angle towards your mouth when speaking, as the weight and rubber base grip ensuring that you won’t have to deal with unwanted sliding and movement when in use.

Also, whilst the YUNIX is targeted at gamers, I used it for podcast recordings as well as work meetings, and it coped just fine in all situations. It was a perfect match with the Trust TORIX keyboard, which has a snazzy volume / mute dial, so that I could breezily mute / unmute as I typed, so that the keyboard clacking wasn’t picked up on the recording.

SUMMARY
The sound recording quality is solid and I appreciate the ease of setup and use – but there are things that could have been improved, such as the connection cable being braided, just to reduce ugly kinks if you have a setup in which it’s difficult to hide cabling, but at the price point that the YUNIX is, it’s hard to knock what it offers, which is an easy, solid, and well-designed multi-use microphone, the base grip is robust and that RGB ring adds a subtle flash of character if you want things to pop a little in your home setup, a recommended purchase from us here at GF!

From the Trust website:

Trust.com - GXT 234 Yunix USB Gaming microphone - Black

Specifications

• Connectivity

• Connector type3.5mm, USB-A

• Connection type: wired

• Cable length: main cable - 180 cm

• Audio

• Frequency response: 100 Hz, 16.000 Hz

• Impedance: 2200 Ohm

• Sensitivity: 32 dB

• Sound pressure level: 100 dB

• Features

• Noise reduction: No

• Microphone

• Pick-up pattern: Cardioid

• Signal-to-noise ratio: 62 dB

• Sampling rate: 16bit, 48kHz

• Echo cancellation: No

• Sensor type microphone: condenser

• Size & Weight

• Weight of main unit: 216 g

• Total weight: 216 g

• Height of main product (in mm): 108 mm

• Depth of main product (in mm): 55 mm

• Width of main product (in mm): 55 mm

• Mount

• Type of stand: desk stand

• General

• Application: Indoor, Desktop

• Compatibility

• Compatible Device Types: laptop, pc

• Control

• Controls: microphone mute, lights on/off

Police Shootout Xbox Series X Review 5/10 "A Quirky Blend of Genres Sandbagged by Technical Issues." 🚨🚔 @GamesIncubator #IndieGame #GameDev

A turn-based FPS game with investigative qualities was very much of appeal to me when I was offered to cover Police Shootout, and whilst it is an intriguing blend of genres that comes frustratingly close to being an idiosyncratic gem, there are just a few too many rough edges to ignore.

The game begins with your character moving from the big city to a small American town, transferred in a bid to find out what happened to his brother. Your commanding officer is a rather brusque gentleman who hints at knowing your ulterior motives for being in his neck of the woods, but initially seems to be warning you off your private quest of familial revenge.

Firefighting Simulator: The Squad Xbox Series X Review 5.5/10 "Smouldering Embers" 🔥🚒🧯 @FirefightingSim #IndieGame #GameDev

A game that looks and runs much more smoothly and cleanly than others of its ilk, catastrophic AI and flat gameplay let down would could have been an interesting title.

The tutorial of Firefighting Simulator: The Squad does a decent job of laying out the core mechanics of the game, with an oddly rousing tutorial musical score, you’ll use one of your tools to smash down a door, rescue a smoke inhalation victim from their bedroom floor, and carry them to safety before returning to fight the blaze. 

This will pretty much be the main recipe for each of the numerous missions ahead of you. First impressions are quite solid, the frame-rate rocks a steady 60fps for most of the time, the visuals are crisp and grounded, and the overall mood is quite earthy and practical. It’s only after this tutorial that the issues creep in.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Xbox Series X Review 9.75/10 "Welcome back, Henry" ⚔️🐎 @KingdomComeRPG

The first Kingdom Come: Deliverance had a huge impact on my life upon my first playthrough four years ago, It was my ‘go to’ game in the days when my fiancée was pregnant and often napping or getting comfortable in bed whilst chugging back bottles of Tums. 

I’d pop KCD on the Xbox in our bedroom and get lost in 15th century Bohemia, my beloved often chiming in, whistling along to the music, commenting on my less savoury deeds, and questioning why the main character – the son of a Czech blacksmith – spoke as if he’d never left the borders of Mousehole. What does she know, eh?

My point being that I pumped almost two hundred hours into Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Well, 150 in hours of actual game time and probably 50 hours of LOADING SCREENS, something that is thankfully, thankfully remedied in this sequel) over those last few months before we became parents, and the game now reminds me of a pretty special time of my life, so getting the opportunity to lose myself again in the world of Henry of Skalitz was an exiting proposition to say the least!

Catagrams iOS Review 8/10 "Like word-based puzzle games? This could be purr-fect for you" 🐈 @catagrams #IndieGame #GameDev

It’s not often we cover mobile games here at GF, but I’ve yet to find a word-based puzzler that I didn’t like and so Catagrams was installed on my phone faster than a moggy racing to the milk bowl. 

A simple and addictive title that caters for all skill levels, Catagrams is a very calming and cat-centric title that presents multiple scrambled words that need to be re-aligned, there are multiple coloured threads that run through each word to assist you in showing how they fit together, and you can also adjust the difficulty by selecting longer, more complex words – or simplify things by using the inbuilt hint system to show as many bonus letters in the words as you’d like to help you on your way if you are a little stumped.

GXT 866 Torix Premium Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review By Britt "A tasteful keyboard with chunky, satisfying key-presses" ⌨️@trustGaming

A mechanical keyboard with an incredible level of customisation, only a slight tweak is needed by the user through the included software to make this a go-to keyboard for all purposes.

A full-size wired keyboard (although a wireless version is also available) with some of the best RGB lighting customisation I’ve ever seen – honestly, it was addictive to scroll through the settings – the Trust GXT Torix 866 very quickly became the keyboard I used for my daily tasks, although after a vital tweak involving key sensitivity.

Trust 3-in-1 Gaming Bundle (Thado Keyboard, Helox Mouse & Mouse Pad) Review by Britt ⌨️🖱️ @TrustGaming

The Trust gaming bundle is the perfect starter set to begin a gaming journey, with the Thado keyboard, Helox mouse and accompanying mouse pad forming everything a gamer needs to get in the game.

Presented in a stylish white, the keyboard and mouse combo is complemented by RGB lighting subtly used in the underlit keys and around the edge of the rear of the mouse, as well as a lit GXTrust logo inside the mouse, viewable through the hexagonal mesh design.

The Thado keyboard allows some light customisation of the RGB lighting through toggling between a fully lit setup as well as a ‘breathing’ effect. Whilst the Thado is wired, the included Helox mouse is wireless, with the required Bluetooth dongle being kept inside the body of the mouse when not in use, perfect for when packing up and commuting.

The mouse takes 1.5 hours to reach a full charge but can be used whilst in charging mode. Also of note are the two customisable side-switches on the Helox, as well as the button just below the scrolling wheel which allows you to instantly flick between mouse speeds on the fly.

The Thado is a compact keyboard, and as such does not contain a numpad, much to the annoyance of accountants worldwide, but of course there’s no time for taxes when you are playing the best Build engine game..Blood, natch.!

The third item included in the gaming bundle is a large mouse pad with a smooth surface for accurate aiming and control when in-game and used in tandem with the Helox  mouse. The bottom of the mouse pad is anti-slip to ensure no missed headshots. The universal black design looking at home on any table or desk, with subtle Trust branding.

SUMMARY

In summary, the Trust 3-in-1 Gaming Bundle gives gamers all they need to dive in with eye-catching designs and a nod of the head towards instancy and accessibility.

Whilst the keyboard lacks the incredible customisation of the Trust Torix, it also features a slightly smoother experience when typing – due to the lack of mechanical keys here – and has a better ‘out of the box’ keystroke sensitivity to improve typing accuracy.

The compact design of the keyboard, as well as the in-built dongle storage for the Helox mouse make this bundle ideal for travel or commuting.

Product Link

From the website:

3-in-1 gaming bundle with compact TKL keyboard, ultra-lightweight wireless mouse and mousepad

• Depth: 97 MM

• Game with style, convenience and precision with this ultimate accessory bundle

• Compact TKL keyboard takes up limited space on your desk or in your bag

• Sustainably designed; keyboard made with 69% recycled plastics for a reduced environmental impact

• Anti-ghosting functionality registers up to 10 keystrokes at the same time

• Sturdy metal backplate with Anti-skid rubber feet for extra stability

• Keyboard and mouse with multicolour LED lighting to make your gaming setup even cooler

• Mouse with ultra-lightweight design of only 75g allows for swift and easy movement

• Ultra-low latency wireless via 2.4 GHz micro-USB receiver for lag-free playtime

• Built-in rechargeable battery with up to 80 hours of continuous use so the fun never stops

• Adjustable DPI (800-4800) to adapt your play style to suit the game

• Height: 235 MM

• Width: 375 MM

Blow It Up Xbox Series X Review 7.5/10 "A bomb-based physics title that certainly isn’t a dud!" 💣💥@brainseal #IndieGame #GameDev

Having been a fan of Brain Seal Ltd since I was introduced to them via the wonderful Dark Quest 3, I was intrigued as to what their take on a bomb-centric physics title would be, and would it be enough to take my mind off the hope of a further Dark Quest sequel?

Yes, yes it could!

Blow It Up takes place in Bombtopia, a world populated by voxel bombs that is suddenly taken over by invaders. Your friends are captured, and you must travel the overworld, collecting enough coins to free your friends – all of whom have a special power that can aid you – all the while completing stages by hurling one (or more!)  of your explosive team members into the various structures that hide the fiendish enemies in each level.

Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip Nintendo Switch Review 8.5/10 "This is a Terrific Turbo Trip To Take" 👍 @TinyTerryGame @SuperRareGames #IndieGame #GameDev

My evil, twisted and foul editor covered Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip on upon its PC release last Summer, and it also made his end of year list with the below comment:

"For a game that's around 4 hours long this kept me busy doing fun stuff in this open world platformer that has an awesome art style and a music sense that compliments the game perfectly. 

It's the perfect example of an indie game that benefits from not over stretching itself and making sure that what it does, it does it well. 

Go make friends with Tiny Terry and I promise you won't regret it!"

The game is centred around young Terry, who we initially meet as he stands in line at the ‘Job Application Centre’ where he is looking to get a car so that he can ‘go to space’, all completely normal and above board. Through a series of miscommunications – a throughline in the game – Terry ends up getting a job as a taxi driver… with no pay, natch.

Magno Magnetic Wireless 5000mAh Powerbank Review By Britt 🔋🪫📱⚡️ @TrustGaming

A magnetic powerbank for iPhone 12 and higher, the Trust Magno is an absolute must for those who need a boost on the go.

As someone who tends to use his partner’s bag-contained MASSIVE powerbank whenever my phone is running low and we are out and about, I never really thought to get one myself, as I like to travel light and just have a few things in my pocket, so whenever my phone needed a charge and we were in transit or on a daytrip with our young son, I’d just pop my phone on charge and leave it in her bag. But no longer!

Big Helmet Heroes Xbox Series X Review: 7.5/10 "Helmets on, it’s time to rock" 🪖⛑️ @DearVillagers #IndieGame #GameDev

Big Helmet Heroes is the first title from Exalted Studio, a developer based in the south of France composed of veterans of the industry, with composer Pierre Galibert handling the score.

With a genuinely amusing trailer that captured the imagination, the thought of a modern, tasty 3D brawler with a wordless comedic approach that focused on slapstick and absurdity very much appealed to me. Whilst there is a lot to love and as much fun as the game is, it can’t quite shake the creeping repetition that haunts the genre.

Starbound Xbox Series X Review 9/10 "Terraria in Space" ⭐️ @ChucklefishLTD #IndieGame #GameDev

A few years ago, my partner and I were hips deep in Terraria, I genuinely think I own a copy on every system it’s been released - aside from Switch, thinking about it - and we would often spend weeks just getting back into the groove with the amazing music (which I am lucky enough to own on vinyl) and just the pure sense of wonder and relaxation that exists in the quiet exploration. To be honest, we barely bothered with the boss fights, it was all about pottering about for us.

My next – and true – love, came through the glorious Aground, and once my gaming thirst had been slaked there, I vaguely hearing about Starbound, but as it wasn’t then available on consoles, I promptly forgot about it and went on my day, a day that was bereft of crafty, pixel, action-adventure games…until now.

Video Game LoFi Zelda Vol. 2– Doors of Time Vinyl Review By Britt 💿 @CuragaRecords #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl

I’ve listened to many, many iterations of music from the Zelda franchise here at GF over the years, and some have been absolute belters, whilst others have been less memorable and feel like mindless runs through a tired formula, lacking personality and relying on the original, classic melodies to see them through. 

As a person who doesn’t have a rich personal history with the Zelda franchise, when listening to remix albums of key beloved games and series that I don’t have a specific connection with, it’s easy to wish for that immediate, nostalgic ‘heartline’ to the music at hand. Other times – such as here – the music is so (seemingly) effortlessly cool that you just get drawn in, the musicianship bleeds out of the speakers – and, in the way of the best possible praise, this record has not left our turntable in almost two weeks. 

Perfect ambience as it is for chilling out, working, drinking, and chatting. And yet, this is more than background beats, there’s a sense of melody and depth that rewards more concentrated listening.

The cover of the record is the standard Curaga Records holographic image, with key locations tastefully recreated from within the Zelda franchise that will be instantly recognisable to fans of the series. 

The rear of the album featuring the track listing and album credits, with the main holographic colouring used in this instance being a purplish hue. The album is presented on heavyweight black vinyl and comes encased in a matte black sleeve.

Basureroes: Invasion Nintendo Switch Review 8.5/10 "It’s time to take out the trash" ⚠️🚮💥 @javi_mikau @basureroes @JanduSoft #IndieGame #GameDev

The Superhero League of Hoboken, a much-loved DOS game that also featured a team of heroes with…less than obvious powers of good sprang to mind upon diving into Basureroes: Invasion, I instantly got that vibe of (whilst this is very different in terms of genre from The Superhero League of Hoboken!) a game with a sense of humour and self-deprecation about itself whilst also being genuinely charming, amusing, and well-designed -AND for up to four players!

Just putting this out there as I had no idea what the title meant, ‘basura’ is Spanish for rubbish / trash / garbage – just in case anyone was as flummoxed by the title of this one as I was! Luckily, aside from the title, nothing else about Basureroes: Invasion is rubbish, as it’s an incredibly engaging – and accessible – 2D platform game that has been a regular multiplayer fixture (although it’s just as good in single player mode) in our household over the last couple of weeks.

Dance of Cards Nintendo Switch Review 9/10 "A game that won my heart...and spade, club, diamond." 🃏🃏 @FrogOfHearts #IndieGame #GameDev

I bloody love coming across games like Dance of Cards – which seems to be released on the Switch just for me, at the perfect time. I’ve been playing Balatro on and off over the last few weeks, and one evening, as I failed yet another run, I mused idly to myself how awesome a poker-based RPG would be...and a few days later, Dance of Cards sidled shiftily into my deck. Needless to say, I went in blind.

The game casts you in the role of the heroically named ‘Martin’, a magician and card mechanic in a small town that is getting sent on to the big city by his shady manager, on a cruise ship. And on said voyage...things go somewhat awry.

Eternal Strands Xbox Series X Review 7.5/10 "Eternal Strands That Don’t Quite Weave Wonder" 🧶🧵 @YellowBrick_Qc #IndieGame #GameDev

A cel-shaded open world adventure that features deep lore abounds in this release from Yellow Brick Games (comprised of a team featuring several ex-Ubisoft developers), Eternal Strands excels in performance and world-building; but lacklustre, weightless combat and certain design elements gives this the faint air of a game that started in a more MMORPG style that pivoted to a single player experience.

Eternal Strands casts the player as Brynn, a mercenary accompanying a group of travellers trying to find out the secrets of a long-lost civilisation. Your camp with the travellers acts as a hub, whilst Loomgates scattered around the land allow you to teleport to different areas of the world, each with their own biome, items, and enemies. The opening anime-style cinematic is impressive and engaging, although it hints at a slightly goofy humour that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the mostly po-faced game, where dialogue with the fully-voiced cast of characters is rich, but mostly eventless and dry. That’s not to say there isn’t a lot of lore and world-building to discover and learn, more that doing so isn’t a particularly engaging aspect of the game.

Burger Race Nintendo Switch Review 7.5/10 "Fast Food at a bargain price!" 🍔💨 @SAT_BOX_2011 #IndieGame #GameDev

This is the second title by Sat-Box that I’ve covered in just a few weeks,,and I have to say that their budget, family friendly titles are winning me over. In the same vein that Sugoroku Casino Party was a fun, digital board game with its focus on multiplayer action, Burger Race is a fast food take on the Mario Kart formula...at under a fiver!

A simple, accessible game, Burger Race allows for up to four players – in split screen – to select from a range of fast food items on wheels (or rather, cucumbers and tomatoes) and race around the nine tracks on offer, picking up the various boosts and weapon pick-ups scattered around the circuits en route.