Target Acquired: Pepper Grinder

Pepper Grinder is a game about a girl and her drill... which you don't get a lot of in video games. Basically, we have Anna Hottenmeyer in the Mr. Driller series and Jill Dozer in Drill Dozer... but developer Ahr Ech is changing all that. Pepper Grinder stars a girl named Pepper and her drill named Grinder, as she sets out across a fantasy world filled with drillable and non-drillable materials. When drilling through the ground, Pepper moves quickly, and the player can steer her around to avoid obstacles, eject Pepper from the ground to fling her into the air, and even drill up under shelled enemies that are invincible from above. Things get crazier when the grappling hook is introduced, which allows Pepper to shoot out of the ground, swing quickly around a grapple point, and go flying over obstacles and ramming herself back into the dirt at high speeds. The drill can also be used to manipulate machinations that affect the environment, such as turning wheels to open the path forward, or launching Pepper high into the air to reach distant areas.

The game is now available on PC via Steam and Switch via eShop.

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Target Acquired: Rebel Transmute

Rebel Transmute, from Evan Tor Games, is as metroidvania as metroidvanias get, taking direct inspiration from the Metroid series in its environments, atmosphere, and enemy designs. A year ago, an explosion rocked a scientific outpost, which has since been marked off limits. You take on the role of Mute, daughter of one of the scientists aboard the station, as she is sent in to investigate, determine what happened, and return home with any research she can find. Fortunately, Mute is no slouch in the adventure-platforming department, as she's skilled in combat and can acquire a variety of upgrades (all of which are entirely optional) in order to fully explore the station. She can wall jump, dash, perform spinning attacks, reprogram a drone to fight alongside her, call forth tentacles to block incoming projectiles, and blast creepy creatures, adversarial artificial intelligence, and vicious bosses through a large open world. Along the way, Mute uncovers more information about what happened at the outpost and, more importantly, what happened to her mother.

The game is now availalble for PC via Steam, and it releases on consoles later this week.

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Target Acquired: Lords of Exile

Lords of Exile, from Squidbit Works, is an action platformer set in the Far East during an ancient period when dark creatures still walked the land, ruled by the evil Galagar. You take on the role of a cursed knight named Sir Gabriel, who must fight back the oncoming hordes and avenge the death of his wife, who was killed at Galagar's hand. Gameplay takes place across eight linear levels, each ending in a boss encounter. You are able to strike with your sword and use a number of throwing weapons, in addition to dashing, jumping, and performing downward stabs. Furthermore, your curse allows you to summon the shadows that possess you, offering protection, healing, or a screen-clearing attack. The game offers a reduced color palette and chiptune soundtrack, offering an aesthetic that falls somewhere between the 8- and 16-bit console generations.

The game is now available for PC via Steam, Switch via eShop, PS4 via PSN, and Xbox One and X/S via Microsoft Store.

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Target Acquired: The Last Faith

The Last Faith, from Kumi Souls Games, is a metroidvania set in a dark world filled with gnarled trees, gothic architecture, and no shortage of foul beasts. You take on the role of Eric as he travels through the once great capital, which is now ravaged by disease and corruption. Fortunately, the cure for most of this is a swift sword to the face. Eric wields swords, pikes, hatchets, handguns, and whatever else he can get his hands on to bash the creatures of the night into oblivion. In addition, he is able to cast devastating spells and use elemental buffs for his weapons, allowing him to freeze, electrify, or stun enemies during combat. Per metroidvania standards, Eric gains new abilities that expand his ability to explore, and he can make use of demonic wings for added jump height, and a retractable grapple for pulling himself up onto ledges or swinging across gaps.

The game is now available for PC via Steam, Switch via eShop, PS4 and PS5 via PSN, and Xbox ONe and X/S via Microsoft Store.

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Target Acquired: Bzzzt

Bzzzt, from Karel Matejka (a.k.a. KO.DLL), is a colorful platformer starring an artificial intelligence named ZX8000. After acquiring a robotic body, you must prove your abilities across dozens of testing chambers filled with enemies and hazards as you try to help your friends defeat the dastardly professor Badbert. Your primary goal is one of avoidance, since practically everything in the environment can kill you. Mechanized baddies fly around, patrol back and forth across platforms, and hop around the screen firing lasers, and you must escape these perils while also dealing with spiked crushers, spinning balls, spike pits, sawblades, and beams of electricity.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and GOG.

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