IGM Issue 45 (Jan. 2015) Sneak Peek – Award Season’s Greetings

Happy New Year, from all of us at IGM! We’re kicking off 2015 with what we do best, a brand new issue of the Indie Game Magazine! Our special New Year’s edition of the Mag contains our Game of the Year Awards, featuring categories including Best Narrative and Best Graphics. Of course, the real question on everyone’s mind is: Who’s taking home the coveted Game of the Year Award? There’s only one way to find out: Pick up a copy for yourself! (Or, just wait like ten minutes… thanks, internet.)

This star-studded issue also features our cover story, Heart Forth, Alicia, and sub-feature, Assault Android Cactus, two can’t-miss titles that will light up the indie scene in 2015. Of course, be sure to stick around for our classic content, including reviews, previews, and our fan-favorite Screenshot Monthly segment! In major Game Watch news, the project codenamed Desire finally has an official title. As for Heart Forth Alicia, we spoke with creator Alonso Martin to see how the project has changed since the game found success on Kickstarter. But first, here’s a taste of this month’s cover story:

“When we think of classic adventure games, our minds often return to the days of the NES and SNES. Epic adventures full of dangerous quests featuring courageous men – and occasionally women – venturing into uncharted territory to save the world, or their beloved. While it’s admittedly a shame that most female-driven games often managed to inevitably end up being male-centric fantasies – Nintendo hid the fact that Samus was a lady, and it took years before The Legend of Zelda made the princess formidable in her own right – I still recall loving characters like Street Fighter’s Chun-Li and Streets of Rage’s Blaze. (Apparently I have a thing for fight club chicks. Don’t judge me.)

The good news is, despite the fact that your mom still – and always will – call every game console you ever own “a Nintendo,” the times have changed. Heart Forth, Alicia, the in-development project created by Alonso Martin and his team, belongs to the genre we now call “Metroidvania,” in honor of the classics (Metroid and Castlevania) that paved the way for sidescrolling adventures. Unlike the classics though, Martin wants to tell a truly compelling story interwoven with adventure and RPG elements, featuring a female protagonist that actually plays a pivotal role.”

Mixing it up this month, below you’ll find our New Year’s front cover with the full breakdown of our featured content:

Also Featured this Month: Assault Android Cactus. AAC is one of the longest-running Early Access campaigns on Steam. Now, with the game in the home stretch of development, we’ve got an in-depth look at what makes this twin-stick shooter one worth watching. Plus, our interview with Witch Beam’s Sanatana Mishra uncovers the nitty-gritty about developing a game in front of the whole world.

Reviewed this Month: Death Skid Marks, Fight The Dragon, Never Alone, Taekwondo: Global Tournament

Extended Previews this Month: Onikira: Demon Killer, Project Nimbus, The Forest, Verdun

Previewed this Month: Brawlhalla, Clandestine, Soul Axiom, Super Chibi Knight

Indie Ads this month: Android Hunter A, Colosseum Clash, Imagine Me, Particle Playground 2