A Pair of Threes - From Gamers Magazine Issue 3 and [Lock-on] Volume 003 - Review

May was a good month for publication deliveries, what with the (slightly) delayed third issue of From Gamers Magazine and the third volume of the increasingly successful [Lock-on] journals from the team at Lost in Cult. Let's start with the former, shall we?

From Gamers Magazine has developed quite nicely since its first issue back in June 2021. Issue three expands the content from the initial issue's 52 pages to a whopping 92, excluding the covers. Print and stock quality remains as superb as ever and the editorial and content team has now expanded to thirty people - you can see why when read through the magazine.

We begin with a guide to the best Indie titles of 2021, 19 of which get write ups and 6 more get honourable mentions. I've only played three of the nineteen (Genesis Noir, Overboard and The Forgotten City), but based on the mini-reviews here, I'll be checking out some of the others as and when time permits. This is followed by an interesting piece on the use of 3D audio in Returnal, a game that has interested me but I don't have a PS5 yet. The Sonic the Hedgehog movie gets four pages, with a cracking opinion piece on Sony's attitude to the console market and its competition. It's definitely not fanboy clickbait and should provoke some thoughtful discussion, especially as all three major players have different approaches to the current console generation. And, just so you know, I am platform neutral and have always tried to own each format in the different generations. I'll get round to a PS5 at some point but there are more pressing needs than video gaming for my hard earned cash at the moment.

Horizon Dawn: Forbidden West gets fourteen pages split between three articles. The first covers the open world nature of the title, the second looks at the way environmental concerns in the game mirror the real world, whilst the third questions the nature of photography in the title. 

The Art Corner takes up sixteen pages and provides some lovely two page spreads of art from titles such as Saints Row, Elden Ring and Oxenfree II. The topic of multiplayer stealth games gets a good airing, followed by a character guide to the main characters from Saints Row. 

The subject of sensitive topics in videogames is covered with extreme care with a six page piece that will definitely get you thinking about the questions and viewpoints raised here. Then come the reviews.

These are always subjective but, having played the likes of Halo Infinite, The Artful Escape (brilliant, by the way, you have to give it a go!) and CrossfireX, I have to say that the reviews here are well put together and will be useful to the reader if you haven't already played the titles covered in this section. And no, I did not pay for the second campaign in CrossfireX - dodged that bullet! The issue ends with a section on the best pixel art in games, highlighting just how good that particular art form in gaming can look. 

On to [Lock-on] and this was a bit of a change for me. I'd purchased the hardcover editions of the first two volumes, but this time decided to see what the softcover one was like. 

As with my review of Volume 002, I've included a picture of the contents page as there truly is a huge amount of content here. There is very much a Dreamcast and Sega theme to this edition, covering everything from the hardware to accessories, online connectivity to some of the more unique titles, and a good focus on the NAOMI arcade hardware that really should get a bit more love - which it does here.

It's not all Dreamcast though, as Genesis Noir, Broken Sword and Project Zero (as well as many others) get articles that take a different view on such well-received titles. Each piece gets unique artwork as well, perfect in tone and style to the writing. The volume ends with eight pieces written by Kickstarter backers, and I know I am going to have to replay Catherine: Full Body again following that write up. 

You might think I am short changing [Lock-on] here, with it a handful of paragraphs compared to From Gamers Mag, but what I really want to avoid is spoiling your experience with this volume. You need to read it, from cover to cover, to truly understand what this publication is all about. The combination of new and established writers and artists, the unique perspectives they bring to their respective topics, and the care and attention lavished on the presentation make [Lock-on] truly something you have to enjoy yourself to understand, and I heartily recommend you do. 

So there you have two of the latest editions of two worthwhile publications. From Gamers is planning a fourth issue, which is already listed as pre-launch on Kickstarter, and I know I shall definitely be supporting that when it goes live. As for [Lock-on], well, their fourth volume is also approaching and it shouldn't be long before they too hit the start button on funding for that, and yes, I'll be picking up a copy. Check out From Gamers website here, as well as follow them on Twitter here. [Lock-on] can be found on the Lost in Cult website, along with their other projects and products. They are also on Twitter here. 

From Gamers Magazine - Issue Two Review

It's a lovely feeling when something you've been looking forward to finally arrives in the post. I experienced that last week when a well padded envelope arrived containing the second issue of From Gamers Magazine. The was timely as they currently have a Kickstarter running to fund a third issue, which is something I have already supported (backer number 2), and I was looking forward to seeing if they could repeat the quality of the first issue in the second. I need not have worried.

As always, the cover is the first thing you see, and this issues sees an excellent portrayal of Raz from Psychonauts, a smaller copy of which is also supplied. There was also a hand-written thank you note included which was another nice touch. We have 54 pages (including covers) and a mix of features, interviews, reviews and a few adverts, not overly many, and the one for Platform Players certainly caught my attention.

Features wise, there is a lovely four page piece on the evolution of the point and click adventure that covers ten seminal titles in the genre. This is a great introduction to the subject and (old game mechanics aside), you'd be well served by playing all of the games included. By the way, if that genre is to your taste, check out my review of Bitmap Books "The Art of Point and Click Adventures" here. Next up comes an interview with Nathan Hamley of Headware Games, who talks about his next release, Chasing Static. This looks like an intriguing Wales-set PS1 style horror title and one that I'll be looking out for. From the interview alone, I've already purchased his first title, Guard Duty, so am looking forward to playing that. There's an interview with Josh Hallaran, who talks about 8-Bit Adventures 2, then Super Mario 64 gets a once over, focusing on the environments that helped make that title one of the best games of all time. 

A well-opined piece on Rockstar's effect on game design from the starting point of GTA III follows, then there's a good article on Elden Ring. The cover feature, detailing the history of Psychonauts and the travails of it's creation gets eight pages and what a cracking piece this is. The artwork matches the subject brilliantly and this is definitely a well-deserved cover story. Baldurs Gate gets a three page preview, followed by a nice personal piece on Final Fantasy XIV. 

There are double page reviews of Scarlet Nexus, The legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, Cris Tales, Psychonauts 2 and No More Heroes 3. As per the first issue, plenty of screenshots and, having played Scarlet Nexus and Psychonauts 2, I will say that I found the reviews fair in their treatment. 

The last article in the magazine is a guide to books every gamer should have on their shelves. Of the eight titles highlighted, I have three and, from this piece, will be getting at least another two, so for me, this was a great guide to find.

From Gamers Magazine Issue 2 has continued the fine sense of quality from Issue 1. From the artwork to the writing, I can find neither anything to complain about nor improvements to suggest. Hats off to the team behind the mag, each and everyone of you should be very proud to have created such a brilliant magazine. It is, in truth, a rarity. A multi-format magazine that is open to covering any topic in gaming. I also like how they are extremely open to new writers, as well as established ones - very much keeping to the ethos of its title. I know I am looking forward to issue 3 and beyond.

Speaking of issue 3, that is still in the Kickstarter funding stage. At the time this post goes up, they're on 82% with ten days to go. You can find out more information here, and I also urge you to check out their website here, where you can buy physical copies of issue 2 and pdf copies of issue 1 and 2. Give it a gander and, if you like what you see, support the team for the next issue.

From Gamers Magazine - Review

Regular readers will know that I am a sucker for a physically printed publication. As various mainstream magazines have declined and shut down over the last few years, there has been a rise in the popularity of bespoke publications. Be it long term niche periodicals like Archive Magazine, Amiga Future and SAM Revival or newcomers like Amiga Addict and E1M1, there remains a demand for magazines that you can hold in your hand. This continues with the latest entry to the video games market: From Gamers Magazine.

Now that is n eye-catching cover!

Funded by a Kickstarter that raised $6,000 from a $5,000 goal in April this year, From Gamers aimed to produce two issues with that initial round of fund raising. The first issue was released into the wild a couple of weeks ago when backers were given a download link and, at the same time, they started posting out the physical copies. Given it was coming from the US, receiving my copy a couple of days ago didn't feel like too much of a wait and it was with some anticipation that I opened the well padded envelope to see what my pledge had paid for. 

First impressions and the cover is really nice. Heavy duty, you can feel the quality, and there is no skimping here. Same with the binding, which feels solid and there is little fear of pages falling out. There is definitely a professional feel to the mag. The pages themselves, 52 in all, are full colour on high quality stock. Each page is well laid out and there isn't a propensity for "white" space, something that is definitely becoming a thing, especially in UK published mainstream magazines. Included in the magazine were a pair or cover art post cards, a note about promoting the magazine on Twitter to enter a competition to win a $10 Amazon voucher, and a lovely (and totally unexpected) handwritten note. It's the little things in life, it really is, but that was a nice touch.

Content wise and we have a full page dedicated to the staff behind the magazine (there are quite a few contributors), as well as a list of the Kickstarter Team (yours truly is on that). A nice editorial and a well designed contents page come next, followed by a cracking opinion piece on the rise of cinematic gaming, using Miles Morales on the PlayStation 5 as the crux of its argument. I have to admit, I am with the author on this one.

There is some cool art work inside the magazine as well as on the cover.

A piece on franchises that should return comes next and, again, I agree with the selection of titles included, especially Alpha Protocol. The rest are worthy but it's that under-appreciated RPG that really needs a continuation. A focus on three concept artists who worked on The Last of Us II is a wonderful look at how concept art is used to define a world prior to actual game creation and just how close the initial artwork can be to the final product. 

Two developer interviews follow. Jorge Garcia, co-director and producer of Tunche, a 2D beat 'em up and Andrew Willans, Game Director at Sumo Digital's Newcastle team. Both good reads and nice to see an interview with a local developer (Newcastle is ten miles from home as the crow flies). Deathloop gets a great introduction and how developer Arkane's past has defined its latest title, whilst Halo warrants three pages on how the series could return to its glory days. The Far Cry franchise gets a four page history guide and a look at what is coming next, and Far Cry 6 is also covered in the Previews section, alongside Little Devil Inside, Back 4 Blood, and the latest Ratchet and Clank release, Rift Apart. A nice touch for each of these is the inclusion of a printed QR code to view the latest trailer.

Five games are reviewed, as well as a book. Persona 5 Strikers, Bravely Default II, It Takes Two, Monster Hunter Rise and Outriders are the games covered, each getting two pages. There are plenty of screenshots and they provide an "out of ten" scoring system. The book review is of journalist Jason Schreier's latest tome, Press Reset, which details the physical and mental cost of working in the games industry. I enjoyed the review and the book was already on my Wishlist so I'll be buying it on it's UK release date tomorrow.

There are just a few ads in the magazine, but not so many as to take away from the content and it was also nice to see a list of Kickstarter supporters included as well (and yes, I'm on that too).

From Gamers Magazine, then, has had a fantastic first issue. The quality of the writing is high, topics are varied and it's a great start. The second issue is due out around September and they are asking for pitches from would-be contributors up until the end of June. You can find out more here, as well as buy the first issue and pre-order the second here. I know I'm looking forward to the second issue and, seeing where they go from here, supporting future issues as well, be it from a subscriber drive or another Kickstarter. Well done to all concerned.