Unsolicited Game Recommendation: Gunman Clive

In a time where it seems less and less likely to ever see another Mega Man game or even more so a Mega Man Legends game, it’s crucial to discover and support games like Gunman Clive. The sole creator, Bertil Horgberg, sees the potential in classic game play with the polish of modern graphics. Although Gunman Clive may be built on the difficult platforming and shooting bones of Mega Man, its old school roots doesn’t end there. The game also combines weapon power-ups and a run-and-gun style of Contra with platforming elements pulled from the great Mario games, and even Donkey Kong Country. 

Showcasing the art style of a sepia toned Wild West poster coming to life, Gunman Clive looks like no shooter before it. The game plays up the Wild West theme with town shootouts, bad guys on horse back and even gunplay on speeding locomotives. But what makes the game unique is when the Once Upon A Time in The West themes are left behind and the more fantastical elements are added. One of the boss fights is with a dancing steam locomotive and you even get to fly to the moon in a SHMUP inspired rocket ride level.

Gunman Clive is short but the game boasts tons of replay-ability, I played through the game on Normal difficulty with Clive and then again on Hard difficulty with Mrs. Johnson (the other playable character). There is also a third way to play the game once you complete it and this interesting addition just backs up how great the level design is. The game is also difficult, but not impossible, and every time I died I knew it was because I made the mistake not because the game was being cheap. Gunman Clive is available for $1.99 on Android, iOS and 3Ds eShop. I have my copy on the eShop and although it was the last version to come out it’s already more popular that any of the previous versions. I think anyone who can play the game should buy it for what ever platform they prefer but if you have the choice get in on the eShop. I also hope that the success of Gunman Clive on the eShop proves to developers that a successful indie game can to well on the 3DS and maybe more games that would have only seen Android and iOS would come our way.

Stay Classy,

Travis (Jarv)

 

Think Beautiful

"Think Beautiful" a quote used to describe the philosophy of woman that gave a life time of love to her family but through her hobby of gaming and solemn passing bring an entire community together.

I found this article the other day on the gaming website Destructoid. This little known fact would have never been found if it wasn't for the contribution and poise of a member of the retro gaming site Racket Boy.

It's a quick read and I hope everyone reading hit on of the links above and read the article before reading any further.

After I read the article I felt an incredible sadness that this little old lady had such a love for video games and especially a love for a game series that has roots in my life, and she had lived such a long life and just as the game she wants is about to come out she passes away. Edith lived a long and full life and anyone would be blessed to live to ninety-one. With that said, it doesn't make her passing any easier, I'm sure for her family, and her death in itself has a grief that the family will weather at their own pace. But, in the gaming community a wave of sadness is rippling threw because of the sad twist of fate that she passes one month before the game is released and the uniqueness this gray haired Hero brings to the gaming community.

I hope I can live to ninety-one and be a great great grandparent like Edith and I know when I die the fact that I played video games will be very trivial. Almost everyone my age games and when I die know one will care that I played games. But a ninety-one year old grandmother gamer now a days is a pretty amazing thing.

I was really pumped for Dragon Quest IX this summer and at the beginning of winter I saw that Dragon Quest VI, never seen in the States, was finally coming out for the Nintendo DS I was really excited. Now that I know one less fan, especially a fan like Edith that loved the Dragon Quest series for so long, wont get to play it I feel like there will be a somber mystique to playing this game once it comes out soon. After reading the article on Destructoid I felt like naming my game character Jeter would be a nice homage to the late Edith Jeter and as I read the article a second time a gamer posted the same idea. I guess some great gamers think alike.

I don't really know how to end this. I never knew Edith but in a weird way we shared a common interest and passion and that connects us. We need more Ediths in the world and this world, I think, is a lot brighter with her and her memory in it.

Think Beautiful
-Edith Jeter