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Will Freeman

@spadgy.bsky.social
1.9K followers 1.1K following 791 posts

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.

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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 13h
Just shared the game with a group I'm part of that gathers game industry people and music industry people involved in where games and music crossover. Already much enthusiasm for it there!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 13h
(And now my mind can't stop thinking of a press event for the game's launch where journalists have to call an old skool party line number revealing the exact location just before it starts, and then all park in a layby and trudge across the fields to find the event!)
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 13h
I missed your follow until now... but a game about free-party management? I am so here for this. Happy to help carry a generator into the woods and play a ragga-tek set in the opening slot to get the crowd going (not that I've ever been involved in such naughtiness.😁)! Also would love to cover this!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 13h
A great article! And I genuinely, sincerely love being credited as 'games journalist and arcade obsessive'. Just wanna put that at the top of my LinkedIn profile!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 14h
Ah. Thanks mate. So happy to help. Will dive right im to read it!
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Keith Stuart @keefstuart.bsky.social · 14h
I wrote about the slow but steady return of real video game arcades and asked my friend @spadgy.bsky.social to weigh in with his unparalleled knowledge. www.theguardian.com/games/2026/o...
theguardian.com
Ready player one? Why the games arcade is having a rebirth
After years of sprawling, never-ending games, players are rediscovering the pleasures of shorter, more focused experiences. Could a new wave of independent arcades bring back the social side of gaming...
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Need to hear me bang on about arcades even more? I was a guest on the mighty Coin-Op Conversations. Pick three #arcade games that shaped your life and games career! I went for Progear, GHOST Squad, and… 2p machines (AKA ‘coin pushers). open.spotify.com/episode/596H...
open.spotify.com
Will Freeman - Progear (2001), Ghost Squad (2004), Penny Pushers/Falls (1964)
Coin-Op Conversations · Episode
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Just gonna extend this thread again. Just got introduced to the EP–1320 medieval sampler from Teenage Engineering. Damn, it feels perfect for Offbeat DLC. Eh @whetstone.games!? C'mon @pantaloon.io. My Offbeat tunes need some hurdy gurdies and big lute drops! teenage.engineering/products/ep-...
teenage.engineering
EP–1320 medieval
hurdy gurdys, lutes, gregorian chants, thundering drums and percussive foley fx, all at the press of a button. the EP–1320 is the first of its kind: featuring a large library of phrases, play ready in...
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Whoa - I only just learned this news! Tim - a legend of the career I'm in who started the genratation before, and always such a brillaint force in the world of games. Brillaint work, and such a nice guy. Utterrly gutting. The world of games is lesser without Tim!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Also, I got 5th on the global leaderboards (Normal difficulty). Come bother my score! It sure ain’t wildly hard… nor busy on the leaderboards.
A screenshot of the iOS leaderboard for the mobile shmup Linear Shooter Remix.
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Minimal 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!
A screen shot of the mobile shmup Linear Shooter, with wireframe/vector styled visuals. On a black background, white enemies and bullet patterns and green collectibles and explosion effects cover much of the image.
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I've had a vague go with FL Studio before, but I justr didin't have the understanding to get far; very basic concepts were mystery to me. But I really might try again, very much empowered by the Offbeat experience.
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moxica (playground) @moxica-playground.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Pew! Pew! Pew! FREE #shmup game assets for prototyping or for game jaming your awesome ideas! 🤩 ➡️ Assets on @itch.io moxica.itch.io/shmup-sprites ➡️ SEE the assets in action - Demo powered by #SHMUPCreator moxica.itch.io/osome-game #gamedev #indiegames #indiedev #bullethell #STG
youtu.be
FREE Shmup graphic assets for indiegamers - update 2: snakes attack!
YouTube video by Moxica (playground)
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
It’s is long, eh!? Interesting how shmup devotees and more general players perceive length in that genre! ‘It’s over 30 minutes!?’/‘It’s only 30 minutes!?’ I like a punchy short shmup, but it felt like it suited Truxton to me.
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
When I release my awful Offbeat-produced noise cassette, it’s all you and Whetstone’s fault, just to be clear!? :) (And honestly… Offbeat was so empowering for somebody who’s struggled to embrace music production for years!).
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
TRUXTON 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
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Ooh! Straight on my wishlist!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
(I've long dreamed of learning this stuff. Offbeat never felt like it was 'teaching' me. But wow - I made music on a computer! I'm so insired to try more. Might try and put out a Offbeat-created noise cassette tape. Already have the tapes, D6C Walkman, and dream to do it. And now I have Offbeat!)
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I 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: report.wand.com/previews/off...
report.wand.com
Offbeat Early Access Impressions - The Wand Report
Whetstone’s freelance ‘em up Offbeat puts you to to work – creating music for real.
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
*Vert type. 🤦🏼
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Bullet hell hori Progear is my all time fave (and I’m mainly a very type). Eschatos just about my fave from those in your pic. Tyrian remains a banger from the time I became truly genre-obsessed. Enjoy the rabbit hole. Burrowing for decades available!
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Kaptajnen @kaptajnen.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
This ain't really a new #homebrew but I was just so impressed with what I saw, that I wanted to share, for the people interested "Over OBJ" is a #SHMUP for the #NES that shows off some absolutely insane visuals for the system. Tons of actions & sprites with minimal slowdown #retrogaming #indiegame
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Goodness guys! That is scary stuff. Some things come before shmups, eh? I hope all is moving in the right direction.
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I might be very (very) excited to be contrubting words to this. And regardless of my involvement - check out these awesome phsyical releases!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
I mentioned it as it was a perfect example for that part of the writing… a wonderful part of the genre’s evolution! Part of its history!
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Schildmaid MX out on all current consoles and PC @hitpstudio.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
We made history! 😮 In the newly released book Arcade Adventures by @lostincult.co.uk, writer @spadgy.bsky.social graciously mentions our Schildmaid MX in an illustrious lineup of #indiegames that he thinks successfully build on the foundation of arcade #shmups to explore new directions.
Cover of book Arcade Adventures by Lost in Cult.Page from the chapter "All We Owe to Arcade Shooters" from the book Arcade Adventures by Lost in Cult.Photo page from the book Arcade Adventures by Lost in Cult.
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Hardest part of the game as a critic? Trying to get representantive screenshots while also trying to thread the needly through those bullet patters. Hastiest jabbing of F12 you've ever seen!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Finally, 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'! report.wand.com/reviews/psyv... #shmups #smhup
report.wand.com
Psyvariar 3 Review: A brush with brilliance - The Wand Report
Charge bullets, avoid shooting, and chain invincibility? An arcade great that does things differently is back.
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
It might be all I know!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
So bloody unfair. I happened to get the editions I went for as they were marked ‘in stock’, and 11 months felt way too long. But you waiting years!? I’m still naively hoping this is the beginning of stock making its way to everyone who ordered!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
It’s flippin’ wicked throughout. And available at Waterstones etc. if you want a flip through before buying!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
So 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 heights
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Oh what!? I was hoping mine coming out meant all copies were going out. Maybe there’s a whole load going out now? But if you ordered way before me, you should get yours before me! Keeping my fingers crossed for ya!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
You misestimate how long it takes me to get from starting a post to actually posting it! Time to go to bed, get up, got to a conference, and more! :)
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
A little peep in the Ginga Force manual. More of this in games please! (But would be nice not to wait 11 months for delivery!)
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
My 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! #shmups
Three special edition video games spread out on a green cutting mat background. Two games are sealed in their blue boxes: Natsuki Chronicles and Rival Megagun. The third game, Ginga Force, is unsealed, with the internal box, manual, and achievement guide out and displayed. Also visible are three collector coins in clear sealy bags; one came with each game.
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Wayne Emanuel @wayneemanuel.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Will be chatting to @spadgy.bsky.social at 11:45am tomorrow at Games Growth Summit on how non-profits & the games sector can create shared value through long-term partnerships contributing to mutually beneficial growth. More details here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/games-grow...
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Scowsh @scowsh.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Catching up on some magazines that arrived this week, love seeing pixels in print! Always enjoy @spadgy.bsky.social copy & an article about my favourite @hitpstudio.bsky.social Schildmaid MX? Yes please! Lovely evening reading, whilst the little ones enjoy a movie #print #indiegames #mags #shmup
Psyvariar 3 article by Will Freeman, from Retro Gamer #285Front cover of Retro Gamer #285Debug Magazine #14 article about Schildmaid MX, from the In Case You Missed It sectionDebug Magazine #14 front cover
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Left 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!
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Dominic Tarason @dominictarason.com · 24/05/2026
Oof. 12+ years of development hell to make a new shmup (from the lead designer of Ikaruga) and it fizzled out? Rough. Also a reminder that the HD remaster of Radiant Silvergun is on PC now, which now has an Ikaruga-style alternate scoring system. store.steampowered.com/app/2450820/...
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Scowsh @scowsh.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
buddy its just a washing machine
Cat in front of washing machine (with hibachi washing machine bullet hell pattern in it).
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Oh dear. Time for me to retire as a writer! :)
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Big up the Wand Report, but the way. A fairly new place for games coverage, with no adverts, no SEO-stuffed writing… and wow, I’ve joined an awesome pool of game journalists there!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
My 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. report.wand.com/reviews/r-ty... #shmup #shmups
report.wand.com
R-Type Dimensions III Review: A genre classic lurches into the present - The Wand Report
The former SNES exclusive R-Type III: The Third Lightning has been reborn anew. But can Lighting strike twice?
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
The 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!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
bought it, but still to play it! I’ll get on it!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
What choices! I think we can agree we have exceptional tastes in games! 😁
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Everything about everything about Gunvein is a banger. Such a proper shmup, and yet meaningfully welcoming to newcomers without diluting the experience away to nothing. What a game!
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
So painfully close to the Soph Star world number 1 spot (PS5 leaderboards, Score Attack, Advanced scoring mode). I must prevail! #shmups #shmup
A close up of a global leaderboard of the video game Soph Star’s Score Attack mode (Advanced scoring setting). The player in first position has a score of 6,995,340. My score, in second place, is 6,982,780.
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Will Freeman @spadgy.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
I mean, I’ve loved shmups since the Amiga years (raised on Euroshmups! 😃), and I grew up near UK seaside arcades… but Psyvariar turned me into a true arcade regular and STG obsessive. Oh, and I reviewed Blissful Death a while back! It’s aright. 😁 www.eurogamer.net/dodonpachi-b...
eurogamer.net
DoDonPachi Blissful Death Re:Incarnation review - the ultimate port of the ultimate shooter
Eurogamer's review of DoDonPachi Blissful Death Re:Incarnation, where the most refined 2D shooter there is returns, perfectly preserved in this wonderful port.
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