Hi, I’m Daniel Thurman

Daniel reviews cyberpunk books, games, and more.

Articles Blog Features News Opinion Reviews

  • Ghost Song Has Gone and Gotten Itself a Release Date

    Well this is something that I’ve been waiting many years to hear. After a many years-long wait, Ghost Song finally has a release date! The game was initially funded on Kickstarter back in 2013 and for various reasons ran into many delays. Earlier this year developer Old Moon announced that the game was on track for a 2022 release and had a publisher, Humble Games. Now, it’s been announced that this beautiful metroidvania will be released on November 3rd. That is not long at all! Especially after 9 years. Take a look at the announcement trailer below.

    Ghost Song is coming November 3rd

    Based on the trailer above and some of the screenshots I’ve seen recently, it appears that time has been kind to Ghost Song. Extremely kind. The game, while always looking good even back in 2013, looks gorgeous as it nears completion. It so far looks like one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever seen and I couldn’t be more excited for its release.

    On the desolate moon of Lorian, a long-dormant Deadsuit awakens from slumber—armed and combat-ready, memory clear of purpose. But something new is stirring…

    Strike out beneath the surface in search of answers in Ghost Song, an atmospheric 2D adventure of self-discovery, ancient mysteries, and cosmic terror. Explore winding caverns lit only by bioluminescent flora, battle strange and powerful creatures, and acquire new abilities to help you unearth this alien world’s long-buried secrets.

    Descend deep into the darkness—only then will you learn (or is it remember?) the truth.

    –Ghost Song Steam Page

    One thing that has always struck me about Ghost Song is its unique sci-fi horror aesthetic. It looks on the one had like it is very Metroid-like. It is very sci-fi. You are exploring a desolate alien planet, acquiring weapons and upgrades to your space suit, etc. But on the other hand, there seems to be some sort of mysterious paranormal aspect to this that gives it some enormously creepy vibes. Cosmic terror indeed. And I am here for it.

    Ghost Song is coming to a variety of platforms including Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store. It’s also coming in the heart of Castlevania season, so I’ll have to divide my time between it and my yearly Castlevania marathon. It’s likely going to prove difficult not to give this my full attention, though. I cannot wait to unravel the mysteries of this strange world.

  • Rebel Transmute Is an Upcoming Metroidvania I Can’t Wait to Sink My Teeth Into

    Metroidvania games are, as much as I hate to use this term, a-dime-a-dozen these days. Some more Metroid than Vania. Some more Vania than Metroid. This is not a bad thing because we get some truly great games as a result. We also get some not so great ones. By all accounts however, Rebel Transmute looks like it will be one of the great ones. As you can see by the trailer below, the game is one of those that is closer to Metroid than it is to Castlevania.

    If you, like me, are constantly saying that you need more Metroid in your life, Rebel Transmute seems like the kind of game that will have you covered. Of all the Metroidvanias I have seen, this one is closer I think to Metroid than most if not all others. And that is not a bad thing. In fact it is a very, very good thing.

    Explore a rich and storied world, fight colonizers, and unravel a dark mystery in Rebel Transmute! This challenging and intimate action adventure will see you battling cosmic bosses, befriending emotive bots, and transmuting your very being to find your missing mother. You play as Moon Mikono after she crash lands on Terra 6, a dilapidated research planet and her mother’s last known location. In this modern metroidvania you’ll embark on a deadly journey through an abandoned outpost on an alien planet. Each sector of the outpost will offer up its own stunning visuals, difficult challenges, colorful characters, epic bosses, and vibrant score.

    -Press Release

    I’ve been following the development of Rebel Transmute for the last couple of years and it seems to have evolved nicely. I’ve also seen hype for the game gradually build. And deservedly so. The game seems like it will deliver a pretty authentic Metroid-like experience which has a lot of people interested.

    Evan Tor, the game’s sole indie developer, is going to be funding the rest of the game’s development via Kickstarter. Currently the game is scheduled to go live at Kickstarter on August 30th. If you are interested in the promise this game shows to give you a good Metroid fix, you should head over there now to add the game to your watch list so you can get notified when it goes live.

    You can also wishlist the game on Steam right now as well as download a demo of an early build of the game. The developer has stated though that the demo is going to be updated to coincide with the launch of the Kickstarter that will allow players to play up to 4 hours of the game. Currently the game is aiming for a PC release via Steam. Hopefully it will come to other platforms as well at some point.

    I love the promise this game shows of being a genuine Metroid-like experience and I personally hope the Kickstarter does well. Again, I really do need more Metroid in my life. And so do you, I assume. Heck, everyone needs more Metroid in their life, whether they know it or not.

  • Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider Is JoyMasher’s Next Retro-Inspired Action Game

    Kings of retro-styled action games JoyMasher and publisher The Arcade Crew have announced their next game, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider. The game looks to be another retro-styled 2D action game inspired by the 16-bit era. And it looks glorious. No surprise considering this is the same team that brought us such amazing retro-styled hits as Blazing Chrome and Odallus.

    In Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider you play as Moonrider, a cybernetic super solider created by a dystopian totalitarian government in order to enforce its dystopian totalitarian government things. Moonrider however decides it doesn’t like dystopian totalitarian governments and instead decides to destroy them. Which, I mean, sign me up.

    Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider’s design holds the best classic action game elements in the laser-precise sights of its starring ninja, keeping combat snappy, responsive and challenging. Powerful modifier chips are guarded and hidden throughout the adventure, allowing the cyborg super soldier to customize its fighting style while gaining killer advantages and abilities. The game’s gorgeously bleak world expertly recreates the 16-bit era through intricate pixel art and crunchy audio, building a striking, compact gauntlet across eight deadly stages. Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider revels in top-notch, refined platforming action for a tight, focused experience that never lets its blade get dull.

    -Press Release

    Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider looks like a futuristic Shinobi or Ninja Gaiden and indeed appears to channel the spirit of those games as well as countless other 16-bit era action games. JoyMasher seem to be the masters of this with their previous titles Blazing Chrome, Odallus, and Oniken having all been critically acclaimed hits. The game is being published by The Arcade Crew, who previously brought us the aforementioned Blazing Chrome and other hits like Infernax and Dark Devotion.

    The game also seems to feature some H.R. Giger-esque art that reminds me of the Alien franchise. That’s a huge plus for me personally as an Alien fan as well as a fan of Giger’s art in general. Pairing that with gloriously authentic 16-bit graphics and a story about taking down an authoritarian regime seems like it could be a recipe for success. I’m not sure how you could go wrong here, honestly.

    Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is currently set for a Fall 2022 release. Thus far it has been announced for Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, and PC via Steam. This looks very promising and could be yet another hit for the JoyMasher team.

  • Biomorph Is a Kirby-Meets-Hollow Knight Metroidvania

    Indie game developer Lucid Dreams Studio has announced their next game, Biomorph. It looks like another beautifully hand-drawn metroidvania in the style of Hollow Knight with copy abilities in the vein of Kirby and Mega Man. Biomorph also appears to have some city-building sim elements as you are working to rebuild the city of Blightmore with options to customize the look and feel of the city. While you do this you are meeting townspeople and learning more about them and the history of Blightmore.

    In Biomorph, players can:

    • Play as the enemies by killing them and taking their shape. Players will be able to use their skills to fight other enemies or use their powers to navigate in uncharted territories.
    • Fight through a challenging AI system where previously mimicked creatures unlock new powers to create a unique experience while revisiting areas of the game.
    • Explore a vast non-linear, interconnected world composed of 16 different environments, home of optional boss fights, eccentric NPCs, tons of secrets and upgrades to reward the most daring explorer.
    • Choose a fighting style by using an arsenal of melee and range weapons, each of them having its own upgrade trees, to bash and shoot enemies.
    • Create different builds in support of individual play styles by equipping and mixing different unique skills that you can upgrade.
    • Customize the look of the main hub of the game, Blightmoor, to have a unique experience and to feel at home.

    Biomorph is the 2nd release from Lucid Dreams Studios following 2020’s Legends of Ethernal. The game is due out in 2023 and has been announced for PC via Steam and consoles. Which consoles specifically we don’t know, but on the official website, it currently lists Nintendo Switch.

  • Grim Guardians: Demon Purge Is Inti Creates’ Next 2D Action Game

    Inti Creates, the developers behind renowned game series such as Mega Man Zero and Azure Striker Gunvolt have announced their next project. The game is going to be called Grim Guardians: Demon Purge. It looks to be another 2D action game in Inti Creates tradition but this time in the vein of Castlevania. I have to pause here and try to calm down. I mean just look at it.

    Grim Guardians: Demon Purge stars two sisters, Shinobu and Maya Kamizono. They are exploring—and kicking ass in, clearly—a castle owned by a demon in order to rid their land of a curse brought on by said demon. The two sisters appear to have different weapons and abilities with the player able to swap between them. I imagine there are ways to strategically use each of their different abilities to navigate the castle, solve puzzles, and fight enemies in tandem.

    Grim Guardians centers around two demon hunters who return to their school after a mission only to find a demonic castle where it once stood. Players control both of the demon hunting sisters in this 2D side-scrolling action game. Players must master each of the sisters’ unique abilities and attributes to overcome the challenging stages with bosses awaiting their arrival. They’ll also be able to find new routes through each stage using the 2 characters’ abilities, keeping play throughs fresh.

    -Press Release

    Shinobu’s main attack is a submachine gun for long range attacks. And Maya appears to use magical origami to create weapons for close range attacks. Origami weapons. Sorry, just had to say that again. The juxtaposition of the two characters also opens up multiplayer possibilities here.

    Inti Creates have announced Grim Guardians: Demon Purge ahead of Bitsummit in Kyoto. They plan to show a demo of the game at the event. The game is currently in development with no projected timeframe for release. Inti Creats have put up an official website for the game that you might want to keep an eye on.

    This is not Inti Creates’ first foray into Castlevania-like territory of course. The company developed and published Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon in 2018 and its sequel in 2020. Both of which were critically acclaimed companion games to Koji Igarashi’s Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night game. They were 8-bit style spinoffs of sorts (and were amazing).

    While we don’t have a release date yet, rest assured though that as both a huge Inti Creates and Castlevania fan I will make it my personal mission to keep up with this game. Featuring Inti Creates’ gorgeous sprite art but with a gothic style reminiscent of Castlevania, this ticks so many boxes for me. It ticks them, and then ticks them again.