Yestermade™

Video Game Review:
‘Circuit Superstars’

’Circuit Superstars’ probably won’t blow racing fans away, but it’s nonetheless a remarkably polished retro-style game that is surprisingly enjoyable in the long run.

February 24, 2022 — It is far from guaranteed that those unfamiliar with the top-down racing genre will enjoy Original Fire Games’ Circuit Superstars right out of the gate. Although the premise and overall structure are about as simple and approachable as they come, the racing mechanics require a learning curve that may prove too steep. Stick with it though, and you may end up surprised over just how rewarding the game can be with practice.

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Video Game Review:
’Dead Cells: The Queen and the Sea’

The Queen and the Sea DLC adds a new ending to Dead Cells. We look at the content on offer and see just how effectively it concludes Dead Cells’ campaign.

February 22, 2022 — Advertised as the finale of a trilogy of paid DLC expansions for Dead Cells, The Queen and the Sea offers an alternate ending to the two that already exist on top of the usual extra weapons and outfits. Dead Cells is already a fantastic game that did not necessarily need this hefty batch of content — which does more than enough to elevate the base experience.

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‘Dead Cells’ Replay:
4 Years & 27 Updates Later

‘Dead Cells’ has grown substantially since its initial Early Access release. With a fresh perspective, we examine the game in its current state to see how it holds up.

January 12, 2022 — The Metroidvania rogue-lite Dead Cells has been out on Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox for over three years now, four on PC if you count its Steam Early Access release in 2017. Within that time, the game has received 27 updates including balance patches and entirely new biomes.

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‘Blasphemous’ Replay:
3x DLC Content Final Version

The award-winning metroidvania has received its third and final DLC ‘Wounds of Eventide’ — new levels, bosses, and gore. We took a fresh look at the “final” game.

January 5, 2022 — Available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC; cult hit side-scroller Blasphemous is bound to leave an impression. Many will be drawn to the game’s aesthetic that is heavily influenced by Catholic Spain, while others may be surprised or put off by its extreme gore.

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Video Game Review:
‘Flynn: Son of Crimson’

‘Flynn: Son of Crimson’ is a handcrafted 2D action platformer that takes players on a journey of discovery and conflict as they learn to master the art of Crimson Energy.

December 9, 2021 — Funded on Kickstarter back in 2017, Flynn: Son of Crimson is a relatively ambitious undertaking. It portrays its characters and world with a remarkably fluid pixel-art style, and its gameplay combines the combat and overall progression of an action RPG with the level design and movement of a 2D platformer. While a few elements stumble in their execution, Flynn is nonetheless a beautiful, excellently crafted adventure that is well worth a playthrough or two.

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Video Game Review:
‘Children of Morta DLC:
Ancient Spirits’

‘Ancient Spirits’ is the newest content update to Children of Morta. While it does not add roguelike RPG gameplay, it is a well-made, solid DLC that fans will surely enjoy.

November 7, 2021 — First released in 2019, dungeon-crawling rogue-lite Children of Morta has received plenty of content updates by its developer Dead Mage since. The latest expansion, titled Ancient Spirits, is an uncomplicated addition that consists of a new playable character, a new skin system, and an additional 15 items to utilize during runs.

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Video Game Review:
‘Metroid Dread’

Co-developed with Spain’s MercurySteam, Nintendo has finally added ‘Metroid Dread’ to the Switch library and it is excellent; irristeble side-scrolling love — all the way.

October 12, 2021 — Being the first 2D Metroid installment in nearly two decades, Metroid Dread has a seemingly impossible legacy to live up to. The Metroid series consists of some of the most highly regarded games of all time, so while the hype surrounding Metroid Dread is immense, some may understandably feel skeptical that it would serve as a worthy follow-up to what came before.

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Video Game Review:
‘Steel Assault’

New York-based developer Zenovia Interactive debuts with ‘Steel Assault’ — a short, impressive pixel-shooter that captures all 2D essentials of the retrocade genre.

October 1, 2021 — When it comes to old-school arcade action, not many games manage to genuinely recreate the feeling of the 80s-90s coin-op era. Thankfully, the New York-based team behind Steel Assault — Zenovia knew exactly what they were doing when developing this game. READ MORE »



Remaster Review:
‘Cotton Reboot!’

‘Cotton Reboot!’ is an updated, remastered version of cult 90s shooter “cute ’em up” ‘Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams’ with improved graphics and additional features.

July 26, 2021 — There is plenty to love about this callback to the 90s, although Japanese Akihabara-game-store-turned-retro-developer BEEP may have left a few things out. Some games serve one purpose: unabashedly deliver an endless stream of nonsensical entertainment brimming with vibrant colors and a brilliant assortment of enemies.

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Console Port Review:
‘Within the Blade’

A retro ninja hack ‘n slash that blends old-school mechanics and RPG elements.

July 16, 2021 — Long before Ryu Hayabusa faced off against all matter of villainy in a 3D plane, he occupied a 2D space in one of the NES’ most beloved series. Ninja Gaiden was one of a few titles that lined my NES library as a young lad, giving me an early taste of engaging but often frustrating gameplay.

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