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Ben Rowan

@launchcannon

Games Writer • Features • he/him Now Playing • Hidden Gems Indies • AAAs • Retro 🔗 https://linktr.ee/launchcannon

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03.05.2025
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Latest posts by Ben Rowan @launchcannon

I watched some gameplay of this and it wasn't really doing it for me either. These days I prefer my games more serious in tone. Soft visuals on console didn't help too.

21.02.2026 00:42 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

It's a baffling decision considering we've been asking for more Bluepoint-style games for years. Just remastering Bloodborne would have made them millions.

21.02.2026 00:35 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

If only they'd made a spiritual successor to Titanfall. Imagine a gritty single-player campaign with mechs, dragons, campaign DLC... would have been legendary.

21.02.2026 00:27 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Thanks for sharing those pics, shame I won't be in Japan until after its finished.

21.02.2026 00:15 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Such a great video guys. Dark, moody visuals, sharp editing, and Cat’s narration is excellent. Timeless piece from Brandon too. As a big Ghost in the Shell fan, I hadn’t dug into Mamoru Oshii’s back catalogue, but Angel’s Egg is a must-watch for me now. Bravo, the quality bar is seriously high.

19.02.2026 03:09 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
How the Haunting and Mysterious Angel's Egg Influenced Video Games
How the Haunting and Mysterious Angel's Egg Influenced Video Games YouTube video by SUPERJUMP

Loved this video on Angel’s Egg and its lasting influence on gaming. Explores how the 1985 #anime still shapes the mood & imagination of #GameDesign today. Based on Brandon R. Chinn’s brilliant piece for @superjumpmagazine.com. Reminds me I really have to sit down and watch #GhostInTheShell 2 asap.

19.02.2026 00:49 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Happy birthday @player2au.bsky.social 🥳

11.02.2026 00:48 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Having a blast with this one. Beyond Sunset is a cyberpunk boomer shooter built on GZDoom with aggressive combat, punchy guns, and a katana that reflects bullets Jedi-style. With RPG layers and sprawling levels, it’s like Duke 3D meets Deus Ex. #indiegame #FPS #boomershooter @superjumpmagazine.com

01.02.2026 22:52 👍 11 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 43 Unearthing the Gemcraft series, Beyond Sunset, and Zoo Tycoon

Back with another Hidden Gem for SuperJump, this time it's Beyond Sunset. Newish boomer shooter with cheeky humour, 2D sprites, huge levels and RPG elements. Shout-out to @gwbycer.bsky.social for championing the GemCraft series, and to Anonymous for the heartfelt Zoo Tycoon piece. #indiegame #FPS

01.02.2026 22:34 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Been playing #NeonInferno lately and it’s genuinely awesome.
@zenoviainteractive.bsky.social (who also made Steel Asssault) is back with big, bold pixel-art again, but this one also has some slick lighting effects that look great, and the two-layer combat is unique & engaging. #indiedev #indiegame

17.01.2026 11:11 👍 9 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Now Playing at SUPERJUMP: Issue 37 What are you playing?

New piece is up for Now Playing at @superjumpmagazine.com Issue 37! Lately I've been loving Neon Inferno on Switch. It's a cyberpunk run ’n’ gun side-scroller with gorgeous pixel art, and some surprisingly smart mechanics. #neoninferno #indiedev #indiegame

17.01.2026 11:00 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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BallisticNG hits me right in the Wipeout obsession zone. It’s fast, brutal, and perfect on headphones with the right soundtrack. Makes me wish Sony would revive the Wipeout franchise already. Plus I’ve been spending way too long grabbing screenshots in replay mode. #BallisticNG #Wipeout #RacingGames

31.12.2025 00:22 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Meet the Dark Souls of Racing Games: BallisticNG A love letter to Wipeout, with a skill check from Hell

Just sharing a new feature I wrote for @superjumpmagazine.com. BallisticNG is high-speed anti-gravity racing with a brutal learning curve and flow-state gameplay that’s hard to beat. As a huge Wipeout fan, this was an unreal find. Still having a blast playing it. #BallisticNG #Wipeout #RacingGames

31.12.2025 00:12 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Rytmos (2023) is a cozy, laid-back puzzle game on Steam that pairs chilled line-drawing gameplay with genre-hopping music. It plays like a tour through various musical traditions, and it’s absolutely worth checking out. Especially on good headphones or speakers. #IndieGames #PuzzleGames #SteamDeck

24.12.2025 05:30 👍 4 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 42 Unearthing Kokoro Clover Season 1, Rytmos, and the original Grand Theft Auto

Found a lovely little hidden gem this month for @superjumpmagazine.com: Rytmos (Steam). I expected a rhythm game, but it’s a chill line-drawing puzzler where each cube builds a unique track. Here’s the link to the article:

24.12.2025 05:25 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Not surprised really. Every COD for the past few years has felt like a cut n paste.

14.12.2025 13:07 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Spent so many hours on this as a kid. The music and sound were so good and pulled me straight into the world, but the real magic was the map editor. I’d spend hours building custom maps and my best mate would come over to play them. Great memories.

10.12.2025 22:17 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

I had Teknopathetic in my head for like a month after writing this

10.12.2025 14:03 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Beautiful artwork guys!

05.12.2025 15:23 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Can confirm this is accurate. BallisticNG offers some of the purest anti-gravity racing highs you can get. Modern classic. Essential for any Wipeout purist.

05.12.2025 14:40 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

So cool! Will this come to the Switch version?

04.12.2025 12:07 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Sharing some #DeadCells screenshots, a game I've kept coming back to for years. The combat is addictive, the pixel art is fluid, and the gameplay still surprises me with new routes, weapons, and secrets every time I jump back in. Such a solid release. @superjumpmagazine.com #IndieGames #Roguelite

02.12.2025 22:31 👍 11 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Now Playing at SUPERJUMP: Issue 36 What are you playing?

My pick for this month's Now Playing at SuperJump is an all time classic: Dead Cells. Still playing this after many years, and still one of the best action roguelites ever made: fast, gorgeous, and endlessly replayable. @superjumpmagazine.com #IndieGames #Roguelite #DeadCells

02.12.2025 22:21 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Big explosions and scores.

Big explosions and scores.

Avoiding dangerous asteroids.

Avoiding dangerous asteroids.

Deploying the special weapon.

Deploying the special weapon.

Lots of projectiles and obstacles.

Lots of projectiles and obstacles.

Schildmaid MX by @hitpstudio.bsky.social and @eastasiasoft.bsky.social is now available on all major platforms! Here is your chance to win a key for this incredible indie shmup.

Rules:
👉 Reply with "Weapon ready!"
👉 Share this post with your followers

26.11.2025 16:02 👍 62 🔁 34 💬 28 📌 3

My favourite open-back cans are the Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 80ohm. These days though I prefer the DT770s for their closed-back design.

30.11.2025 10:54 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Weapon ready!

30.11.2025 09:45 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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I've been blasting and grappling my way through Flinthook lately and it rules. It's a fast action roguelite with a satisfying grappling hook mechanic. Swinging through ships, slowing down time, looting everything in sight. An underrated gem that deserves a look. From @tributegames.com. #indiegame

23.11.2025 08:27 👍 10 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
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Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 41 Unearthing Tactical Nexus, Flinthook, Tiny Terrors, Tyranny, and Tarzan: Return to the Jungle

My hidden gem this month is Flinthook, a grappling, blasting space-pirate indie roguelite that more people should know about. Sharing the @superjumpmagazine.com article here for a deeper dive. #IndieGames #Roguelite #HiddenGems

23.11.2025 08:21 👍 5 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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Donkey Kong Bananza Review: The Platformer Reinvented Our in-depth review of the base game and DLC

This was a great read from @superjumpmagazine.com. Shows how Bananza pushes Donkey Kong forward instead of playing it safe. I love all the new ideas the game brings to the table, although it's a shame to hear the DLC is a little under-baked, albeit still fun. A solid reason to buy a Switch 2.

23.11.2025 06:53 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

OMG that Wipeout book looks so cool.

16.11.2025 13:32 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0