2018 - end of year news and thanks

This news blog has been up for two and a half years and it just topped 20.000 visits. Thanks to all visitors!

As a compliment to the blog I started a twitter account to spread the news and i've made some wonderful friends there already. Be sure to tune in for even more shmup news there.

It's been a very good shmup year with more news than ever, the future looks bright for my beloved genre.

In a rare sighting, big gaming news site Eurogamer has published a lengthy, knowledgeable review of the recent Ketsui Deathtiny release for PS4. Well worth a read.

Team Grybanser Fox's line of shmups (Zenohell) are on sale on Steam until January 3rd.

The last remaining 150 copies of Super Rare Games physical release of Steredenn: Binary Stars (SRG #9) will go on sale on January 3rd. So last chance to get it if you want it or face being gouged by eBay scalpers...

Cycle 28 is 50% off on Steam right now.

The developers of Rival Megagun discusses the games development.

Fire Lancer is new shmup out now in demo form for, wait for it, the WonderSwan(!). Also available on PC.

Riddled Corpses EX is getting a physical release on PS4 and PSVita, 3000 copies each.

And with that I wish you a Happy New Year (I miss the blink tag sometimes ;) ) and all the best for 2019. Keep supporting the genre you love by buying releases!

Some twin-stick action perhaps?

AREA 4643 is a new twin-stick shooter out on Steam, it arrived December 21st for both Windows and macOS. It's also currently on sale!



BulletRage is another twin-sticker but is currently in beta. This one will hit Windows, macOS and Linux on Steam in (I guess) early 2019. Console releases (PS4, Xbox One and Switch) are planned.

Danmaku Unlimited 3 goes physical on Switch

Limited Run Games has just announced that they will have an open pre-order starting January 4th 2019 for a physical release of Danmaku Unlimited 3. I'm really hoping they stick a soundtrack CD in there.

A great start to the new year!

Switch'N'Shoot is out now on Steam

Switch'N'Shoot is a new shmup with a novel idea: you play it with just one button. The ship moves back and forth all the time but changes direction when you shoot.

It's a novel twist. Out now on Steam with 33% off.

Bullet Heaven reviews Game Tengoku CruisinMix Special

That 'ol Sega Saturn spirit is still alive. God bless it.

Horizon Shift '81 is coming to Switch

Out on the eShop on December 20th.

Hyper Sentinel goes physical on PS4

Strictly Limited Games has just announced that Hyper Sentinel for PlayStation 4 is getting a physical release on december 16th.

The presser:

Hyper Sentinel is coming THIS SUNDAY, 16th OF DECEMBER!
only on www.strictlylimitedgames.com

Huey Game's love letter to the golden era of computer shmups will make its physical appearance in December.

Hyper Sentinel (PlayStation 4): Blast through hordes of Alienoids in Arcade Mode, tackle endless waves of invaders in Survival Mode and battle epic level guardians in Boss Run mode. Inspired by the classic shoot ‘em ups such as Uridium, Defender, Tornado Low Level, Cybernoid and Armalyte, Hyper Sentinel is a 60 frames-per-second, pixel-pumping assault to your senses.

Hyper Sentinel is elegance defined in gameplay. Combining a contemporary gaming mentality with the purity of classic gaming concepts, Hyper Sentinel delivers a pure, pick-up-and-play, arcade fun.
 Here we compiled the most important information about our release:

• Hyper Sentinel will be available for 24.99€ (PS4)
• Limited to 1600 Copies
• Soundtrack CD, limited to 200 copies
• Book "Hints & Tips for Videogame Pioneers", signed by legendary industry pioneer Andrew Hewson, limited to 200 copies

Hyper Sentinel has been developed by Huey Games, an indie developer and pulisher from UK, led by its three founders Rob Hewson, John Ogden and industry pioneer Andrew Hewson. Please feel invited to visit them at Discord https://discord.gg/Hw2ySqM 
For their latest game announcements, we recommend subscribing to their Newsletter at http://www.hueygames.com/newsletter

In other remake news: Panzer Dragoon

Gematsu broke the news that Polish developer Forever Entertainment has teamed up with SEGA to port remake the on-rails shooters Panzer Dragoon and Panzer Dragoon II from yesteryear.

No platforms announced yet.

Forever Entertainment recaps it thusly:

Panzer Dragoon: Remake is a refreshed version of Panzer Dragoon. The original version of the game had its premiere on the Sega Saturn console in 1995 and was well received by both players and critics. The entire Panzer Dragoon series has been repeatedly remade and released on many platforms. The last re-launch took place in April 2018 on Xbox One, where players can play Panzer Dragoon Orta with a backward compatibility.

The new version of the game will be characterized by completely new graphics compatible with today’s standards and several modifications of the game, making it more attractive to modern players, while remaining faithful to the original in terms of story. The first materials from the game will be presented in the upcoming months!

Radiant Silvergun might get Switch release

Treasure has tweeted that a port of Radiant Silvergun was in the works when they released Ikaruga for Switch and may still see the light of day.

Radiant Silvergun is available on Saturn and Xbox 360/One already of course but it would be nice to see it on Switch.

Steredenn: Binary Stars physical release for Switch

Super Rare Games will launch the pre-order for the physical release of Steredenn: Binary Stars for Nintendo Switch tomorrow.

Each purchase includes the following items:

- Fully assembled Nintendo Switch game with cartridge
- Interior art
- Full-colour 4 page manual
- Exclusive sticker
- 3 card trading card pack

Languages Supported: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian 

3000 copies, 30 quid. Get your credit cards ready!

Scramble for Atari 2600(!) gets reviewed

It's a homebrew, modern-day port and very impressive:



I know i'm on the wrong side of history here but since I first played Scramble on Vectrex that's the only version that looks just right to me.

The Bullet Heaven Black Bird review

Black Bird (Switch, Steam) gets the Bullet Heaven treatment: