Head fulla noise, toys, & hobbies. 🕹️🪀🛹 Freelance game journalist, copywriter, event host, mock reviewer, etc. Edge, The Guardian, BAFTA, PC Gamer, GI, etc. Yo-yo thrower. Arcade and retro player. I write about shmups a lot to fund my shmup habit.https://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3msfqyuls322lMinimal mobile shmup Linear Shooter really got its hooks into me, but wonky balancing ultimately let it down. How happy I am to have stumbled upon Linear Shooter Remix, which refines and expands the original. Still mechanically minimal, and proc gen foundation won’t be for all, but I’m adoring it!06 Aug 2026 09:44 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3msfqyuls322lhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mruvxozdos2fTRUXTON IS BACK! TODAY! I had a tiny, tiny involvement with Truxton Extreme, so call me biased... But as a Toaplan fan of decades, who loved the firt two games, I bloody adored it, and it's ace to see experienced shmup critics receive it very well! (Why did I sell my Truxton II PCB?🤦) #shmups [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Jul 2026 16:58 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mruvxozdos2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mruneiah2s2nI played the early access build of @whetstone.games & @pantaloon.io's Offbeat - a game where you play a jobbing composer. You make music for real, it's a working music production suite, and you can publish your creations beyond the game! My preview, for Wand Report: https://report.wand.com/previews/offbeat-early-access-impressions30 Jul 2026 14:24 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mruneiah2s2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mrsh7mlrvc25I might be very (very) excited to be contrubting words to this. And regardless of my involvement - check out these awesome phsyical releases! [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Jul 2026 17:29 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrsh7mlrvc25https://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mntyivqgxs2sFinally, here's my review of Psyvariar 3, for The Wand Report. I've adored the Psyvariar series since 2003. I'd have been happy with it's return being decent. Thanks to @bananabytes.bsky.social clear love for the game, we get much more than 'decent'! https://report.wand.com/reviews/psyvariar-3-review-a-brush-with-brilliance #shmups #smhup09 Jun 2026 10:30 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mntyivqgxs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mnkbdjry4s2ySo buzzing to have penned two chapters for the book Arcade Adventures from @lostincult.co.uk and @harpercollins.bsky.social! • One chapter looking at shmups’ fascinating influence over the wider medium • Another on the how developers and players pushed each other to take shmups to wild new heights05 Jun 2026 13:41 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnkbdjry4s2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mnhohgvfv22yMy First Press Games order arrived! Arrived about 11 months late, but… Three bangin’ shmups. Ginga Force, Natsuki Chronicles, and Rival Megagun. And wow… the quality, length, and detail of the manuals; game systems, strategy insights, lore told in comic form, etc. How manuals should be! #shmups04 Jun 2026 12:58 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnhohgvfv22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mmmmabbqi22yLeft Comic Con. Joined a train as the one nerd on a train full of West Ham fans. Feared a rowdy journey. Got nothing but friendly chats, people asking about video games, scenes of lovely families sharing a passion, just like at Comic Con. So happy to be proved wrong. Teach me to make assumptions!24 May 2026 18:37 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmmmabbqi22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mmhc7s3ymc2rMy first review for the Wand Report! R-Type Dimensions III makes an admirable attempt at revitalising a classic, but is a patch away from its potential. And shmup port/remake series like M2 ShotTrigGers have elevated standards considerably. https://report.wand.com/reviews/r-type-dimensions-iii-review-a-genre-classic-lurches-into-the-present #shmup #shmups22 May 2026 15:54 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmhc7s3ymc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mmgxj4suhk2nThe Game Careers Stage I’m running at London @mcmcomiccon.bsky.social has opened. We got speakers on writing, character design, voice acting, all sorts. Come join us if you’re here! A small stage with a big heart that over the years has helped kickstart many careers. I love it!22 May 2026 12:42 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmgxj4suhk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mmfa2essp22oSo painfully close to the Soph Star world number 1 spot (PS5 leaderboards, Score Attack, Advanced scoring mode). I must prevail! #shmups #shmup21 May 2026 20:10 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmfa2essp22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mmc3v2awqk2yPsyvariar 3 just went live! 26 years since Psyvariar 2 - one of my favourite ever games. Just treated myself on Steam. I’m actually downloading Psyvariar 3! Nervous with excitement and anticipation. PLEASE be good! #shmup #shmups20 May 2026 14:17 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmc3v2awqk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mldvp7ftoc2bDid Success’ CEO just hint about Psyvariar 4!? With Psyvariar 3’s launch close, I spoke to devs from every game in the series, including Psy 3. 6-pager in @retrogamermag.bsky.social 285! Shoutout Success, @bananabytes.bsky.social, & @redartgames.bsky.social. Check those final paragraphs! #shmups08 May 2026 14:07 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mldvp7ftoc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mkpdb32zjk2wWhile my eyes were on the coming R-Type Dimensions III launch, suddenly R-Type DX: Musical Encore just landed! Its the GBC R-Type DX with new music by shmup composing icon WASi303, and it seems to feature a new arrange blending R-Type I and II. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3804290/RTYPE_DX_Music_Encore/ #shmups30 Apr 2026 09:44 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpdb32zjk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mk3kk2ofw22mOne more shmup for the shmup pile! I’ve been curious about Soph Star for ages. After a quick dip I’m loving the Toaplan energy and purebred scoring system; and it brings a distinct vibe of its own. I will be playing a lot more! Big up @bananabytes.bsky.social; now working on Psyvariar 3! #shmups22 Apr 2026 13:01 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk3kk2ofw22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mjz2whmhns2bWhat a week at London Games Festival! I hosted Self-Publishing Toolkit Live, Games Meets Music, and a Rebellion panel at BFI/Screen Play. Also launched our game devs' Self-Publishing Toolkit (see reply), and watched the game BAFTAs with my kids after they helped me as juror on the Family category.🔥21 Apr 2026 13:16 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjz2whmhns2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mitkipxv4s2qI’ve been rinsing the Psyvariar series again. Such a rush to play. One of my all time favourite game series! My series-history including interviews with devs from Psy 1 to the new Psy 3 coming to Retro Gamer magazine soon! #shmups06 Apr 2026 15:13 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mitkipxv4s2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/spadgy.bsky.social/post/3mhilvjsqvs2xI sold my copy of Vib Ribbon to CEX for £8 in the year 2000. After trading in a towering heap of lesser PS2 games, I own it again! 🤦🏼 on the pennies, but so excited to play again (and I can always flog it!).20 Mar 2026 13:14 +0000at://did:plc:qb2mujwync6nfhgnctzywkmt/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhilvjsqvs2x