Will Freeman
@spadgy.bsky.social
Head fulla noise, toys, & hobbies.
🕹️🪀🛹
Freelance game journalist, critic, copywriter, events, mock reviewer, all that. Edge, The Guardian, BAFTA, PC Gamer GI, Bitmap Books, etc.
Arcade/shmup/retro player. Yo-yoer.
https://linktr.ee/willfreeman_spadgy
🕹️🪀🛹
Freelance game journalist, critic, copywriter, events, mock reviewer, all that. Edge, The Guardian, BAFTA, PC Gamer GI, Bitmap Books, etc.
Arcade/shmup/retro player. Yo-yoer.
https://linktr.ee/willfreeman_spadgy
Pinned
Will Freeman
@spadgy.bsky.social
· Nov 5
Gotta admit I’m proud of this. Perhaps my favourite games thing I’ve written in my 19 years at it!
I wrote about the fascinating relationship shared by graffiti and video games, for the mighty @apwot.bsky.social magazine!
Illustrated by Rita Diaz, with extra pieces by Team Reptile writers!
I wrote about the fascinating relationship shared by graffiti and video games, for the mighty @apwot.bsky.social magazine!
Illustrated by Rita Diaz, with extra pieces by Team Reptile writers!
Reposted by Will Freeman
New (& one quite old) bits of reading material. Always good to have a new shmup/stg feature from @spadgy.bsky.social to read 🥳 #books #comics #magazines
February 9, 2026 at 7:22 PM
New (& one quite old) bits of reading material. Always good to have a new shmup/stg feature from @spadgy.bsky.social to read 🥳 #books #comics #magazines
Reposted by Will Freeman
I kept seeing something in japanese shmups: bullets are equidistant. So moving up doesn't create clumps of bullets, and moving down doesn't make the bullet stream seem more sparse.
So I mocked it up. Feels very right. It's not for anything, just a proof of concept.
#indiedev
So I mocked it up. Feels very right. It's not for anything, just a proof of concept.
#indiedev
February 7, 2026 at 9:59 PM
I kept seeing something in japanese shmups: bullets are equidistant. So moving up doesn't create clumps of bullets, and moving down doesn't make the bullet stream seem more sparse.
So I mocked it up. Feels very right. It's not for anything, just a proof of concept.
#indiedev
So I mocked it up. Feels very right. It's not for anything, just a proof of concept.
#indiedev
Finally flippin’ got one. First time I’ve not had a console on launch day since the PS1 gen, I think.
Now I can review/mock review/etc. your Switch 2 games!
Now I can review/mock review/etc. your Switch 2 games!
February 9, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Finally flippin’ got one. First time I’ve not had a console on launch day since the PS1 gen, I think.
Now I can review/mock review/etc. your Switch 2 games!
Now I can review/mock review/etc. your Switch 2 games!
I wrote some words about unusual game controllers for the mighty @bitmapbooks.com.
And I’m here to defend the Cheetah Bug to the bitter end! Sincerely one of my favourite controllers.
And I’m here to defend the Cheetah Bug to the bitter end! Sincerely one of my favourite controllers.
GET A GRIP: A GUIDE TO GAMING’S MOST UNUSUAL CONTROLLERS
Read our blog here: www.bitmapbooks.com/blogs/news/g...
Find more unusual controllers in our new book - Trigger Happy: A Visual Celebration of Video Game Controllers: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#booksky @spadgy.bsky.social
Read our blog here: www.bitmapbooks.com/blogs/news/g...
Find more unusual controllers in our new book - Trigger Happy: A Visual Celebration of Video Game Controllers: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#booksky @spadgy.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 12:17 PM
I wrote some words about unusual game controllers for the mighty @bitmapbooks.com.
And I’m here to defend the Cheetah Bug to the bitter end! Sincerely one of my favourite controllers.
And I’m here to defend the Cheetah Bug to the bitter end! Sincerely one of my favourite controllers.
I spoke to Ancient Corp. (devs of the 8-bit Sonic games) about the creation of their recent shmup Earthion for @retrogamermag.bsky.social. Issue 281!
Thanks to Earthion producer and chiptune icon Yuzo Koshiro, and Earthion director and Shenmue stalwart Makoto Wada for all the insights!
#shmups
Thanks to Earthion producer and chiptune icon Yuzo Koshiro, and Earthion director and Shenmue stalwart Makoto Wada for all the insights!
#shmups
January 31, 2026 at 11:38 AM
I spoke to Ancient Corp. (devs of the 8-bit Sonic games) about the creation of their recent shmup Earthion for @retrogamermag.bsky.social. Issue 281!
Thanks to Earthion producer and chiptune icon Yuzo Koshiro, and Earthion director and Shenmue stalwart Makoto Wada for all the insights!
#shmups
Thanks to Earthion producer and chiptune icon Yuzo Koshiro, and Earthion director and Shenmue stalwart Makoto Wada for all the insights!
#shmups
Just got asked for my CV. Just realised I've not updated or used it in 17 years. 🤦Very professional, me!
(How was it 17 years ago I applied to a wrtiting roll at @mcvdevelop.bsky.social on Develop mag!?)
(How was it 17 years ago I applied to a wrtiting roll at @mcvdevelop.bsky.social on Develop mag!?)
January 16, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Just got asked for my CV. Just realised I've not updated or used it in 17 years. 🤦Very professional, me!
(How was it 17 years ago I applied to a wrtiting roll at @mcvdevelop.bsky.social on Develop mag!?)
(How was it 17 years ago I applied to a wrtiting roll at @mcvdevelop.bsky.social on Develop mag!?)
Lost my phone fo three days and it was so blissful and lovely I might start locking the damn thing in a box every weekend!
January 12, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Lost my phone fo three days and it was so blissful and lovely I might start locking the damn thing in a box every weekend!
My kid and I knocked up an improvised Kapla mansion. Playing card for scale!
750-ish identical planks (colour aside), all balanced and held in place by gravity. No studs, no clips, no glue. Nothing physically connecting them.
One of Earth’s best toys! Destruction video coming when we destroy it!
750-ish identical planks (colour aside), all balanced and held in place by gravity. No studs, no clips, no glue. Nothing physically connecting them.
One of Earth’s best toys! Destruction video coming when we destroy it!
January 7, 2026 at 4:10 PM
My kid and I knocked up an improvised Kapla mansion. Playing card for scale!
750-ish identical planks (colour aside), all balanced and held in place by gravity. No studs, no clips, no glue. Nothing physically connecting them.
One of Earth’s best toys! Destruction video coming when we destroy it!
750-ish identical planks (colour aside), all balanced and held in place by gravity. No studs, no clips, no glue. Nothing physically connecting them.
One of Earth’s best toys! Destruction video coming when we destroy it!
One more review of a wonder that didn’t get as much attention as it deserved amidst the Christmas release schedule.
Seafaring settlement-builder Flotsam is welcoming, nuanced, and superb. Reminds me of the vibe of the early Settlers games. And such an upbeat apocalypse!
metro.co.uk/2026/01/07/f...
Seafaring settlement-builder Flotsam is welcoming, nuanced, and superb. Reminds me of the vibe of the early Settlers games. And such an upbeat apocalypse!
metro.co.uk/2026/01/07/f...
Flotsam review - Waterworld becomes a cosy post-apocalyptic city builder
Surviving the apocalypse has never been so relaxing as in this excellent mix of survival game and city builder, set on a waterlogged future Earth.
metro.co.uk
January 7, 2026 at 11:50 AM
One more review of a wonder that didn’t get as much attention as it deserved amidst the Christmas release schedule.
Seafaring settlement-builder Flotsam is welcoming, nuanced, and superb. Reminds me of the vibe of the early Settlers games. And such an upbeat apocalypse!
metro.co.uk/2026/01/07/f...
Seafaring settlement-builder Flotsam is welcoming, nuanced, and superb. Reminds me of the vibe of the early Settlers games. And such an upbeat apocalypse!
metro.co.uk/2026/01/07/f...
I braved the Neo Geo Pocket Color backlight mod. It worked!
One of the best handhelds ever… aside from the lack of backlight.
An ace but imperfect mod kit. Comparison shot and more thoughts below!
One of the best handhelds ever… aside from the lack of backlight.
An ace but imperfect mod kit. Comparison shot and more thoughts below!
January 6, 2026 at 3:30 PM
I braved the Neo Geo Pocket Color backlight mod. It worked!
One of the best handhelds ever… aside from the lack of backlight.
An ace but imperfect mod kit. Comparison shot and more thoughts below!
One of the best handhelds ever… aside from the lack of backlight.
An ace but imperfect mod kit. Comparison shot and more thoughts below!
The lovely thing about this time of year is the chance to spotlight smaller games that got buried in the busy pre-Xmas release schedule.
Here's my Metro review of Clawpunk, a superb 'feral cyberpunk' run 'n' gun that's equal parts West Side Story and Metal Slug!
metro.co.uk/2026/01/06/c...
Here's my Metro review of Clawpunk, a superb 'feral cyberpunk' run 'n' gun that's equal parts West Side Story and Metal Slug!
metro.co.uk/2026/01/06/c...
Clawpunk review – arcade cyberpunk with a feline theme
GameCentral continues its look back at notable games from 2025, that got missed the first time round, with this bombastic arcade actioner featuring an amazing heavy metal soundtrack.
metro.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 11:44 AM
The lovely thing about this time of year is the chance to spotlight smaller games that got buried in the busy pre-Xmas release schedule.
Here's my Metro review of Clawpunk, a superb 'feral cyberpunk' run 'n' gun that's equal parts West Side Story and Metal Slug!
metro.co.uk/2026/01/06/c...
Here's my Metro review of Clawpunk, a superb 'feral cyberpunk' run 'n' gun that's equal parts West Side Story and Metal Slug!
metro.co.uk/2026/01/06/c...
Right - I'd let Bluesky slip. Time to get back on it! Miss this place!
January 6, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Right - I'd let Bluesky slip. Time to get back on it! Miss this place!
Need some pounding Luddite-gore to help wash the malicious algorithm from your brain?
The new Mechanistic Butchery/Scissorhash split EP has you covered.
Gabber donks, breakcore wonks, toilet gargling vocals, and rasping blastbeats all smashed up. 👌🏼
deliriumpsychosis.bandcamp.com/album/cyberg...
The new Mechanistic Butchery/Scissorhash split EP has you covered.
Gabber donks, breakcore wonks, toilet gargling vocals, and rasping blastbeats all smashed up. 👌🏼
deliriumpsychosis.bandcamp.com/album/cyberg...
Cybergore Supremacy, by Scissorhash / Mechanistic Butchery
7 track album
deliriumpsychosis.bandcamp.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Need some pounding Luddite-gore to help wash the malicious algorithm from your brain?
The new Mechanistic Butchery/Scissorhash split EP has you covered.
Gabber donks, breakcore wonks, toilet gargling vocals, and rasping blastbeats all smashed up. 👌🏼
deliriumpsychosis.bandcamp.com/album/cyberg...
The new Mechanistic Butchery/Scissorhash split EP has you covered.
Gabber donks, breakcore wonks, toilet gargling vocals, and rasping blastbeats all smashed up. 👌🏼
deliriumpsychosis.bandcamp.com/album/cyberg...
Reposted by Will Freeman
This Wednesday, our shmup Schildmaid MX is finally arriving on all major current consoles!
To celebrate & pay homage to the games that inspired us, we'll be live streaming from perhaps the largest arcade on mainland Western Europe.
Join us on November 26 from 3PM GMT+1 at twitch.tv/mkstayontarget.
To celebrate & pay homage to the games that inspired us, we'll be live streaming from perhaps the largest arcade on mainland Western Europe.
Join us on November 26 from 3PM GMT+1 at twitch.tv/mkstayontarget.
November 24, 2025 at 1:43 PM
This Wednesday, our shmup Schildmaid MX is finally arriving on all major current consoles!
To celebrate & pay homage to the games that inspired us, we'll be live streaming from perhaps the largest arcade on mainland Western Europe.
Join us on November 26 from 3PM GMT+1 at twitch.tv/mkstayontarget.
To celebrate & pay homage to the games that inspired us, we'll be live streaming from perhaps the largest arcade on mainland Western Europe.
Join us on November 26 from 3PM GMT+1 at twitch.tv/mkstayontarget.
As a controller junkie, it was so ace to write this for @bitmapbooks.com!
Rather than just try and pick 'weird' controllers purely for how strange they are, I tried to go with ones with a bit more interesting going on, or underapprciated potential.
And yes, I'm a Cheetah Bug stan. Best joystick!
Rather than just try and pick 'weird' controllers purely for how strange they are, I tried to go with ones with a bit more interesting going on, or underapprciated potential.
And yes, I'm a Cheetah Bug stan. Best joystick!
Our latest blog has just dropped - GET A GRIP: A GUIDE TO GAMING'S MOST UNUSUAL CONTROLLERS
Link in bio 🔗
Find more unusual controllers in our new book - Trigger Happy: A Visual Celebration of Video Game Controllers: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#bitmapbooks @spadgy.bsky.social #booksky
Link in bio 🔗
Find more unusual controllers in our new book - Trigger Happy: A Visual Celebration of Video Game Controllers: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/...
#bitmapbooks @spadgy.bsky.social #booksky
November 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
As a controller junkie, it was so ace to write this for @bitmapbooks.com!
Rather than just try and pick 'weird' controllers purely for how strange they are, I tried to go with ones with a bit more interesting going on, or underapprciated potential.
And yes, I'm a Cheetah Bug stan. Best joystick!
Rather than just try and pick 'weird' controllers purely for how strange they are, I tried to go with ones with a bit more interesting going on, or underapprciated potential.
And yes, I'm a Cheetah Bug stan. Best joystick!
I spoke to SNK producer Yasuyuki Oda about creating the remarkable Real Bout Fatal Fury 2!
Thanks to @retrogamermag.bsky.social for the opportunity, and for making it look so great. In the new issue (279).
GET IN THE RING!
Thanks to @retrogamermag.bsky.social for the opportunity, and for making it look so great. In the new issue (279).
GET IN THE RING!
November 21, 2025 at 1:24 PM
I spoke to SNK producer Yasuyuki Oda about creating the remarkable Real Bout Fatal Fury 2!
Thanks to @retrogamermag.bsky.social for the opportunity, and for making it look so great. In the new issue (279).
GET IN THE RING!
Thanks to @retrogamermag.bsky.social for the opportunity, and for making it look so great. In the new issue (279).
GET IN THE RING!
Treated myself to some Neo Geo Pocket Color gold…
Fatal Fury: First Contact!
Fatal Fury: First Contact!
November 19, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Treated myself to some Neo Geo Pocket Color gold…
Fatal Fury: First Contact!
Fatal Fury: First Contact!
Reposted by Will Freeman
In Scion you need to battle through many layers of a large planet to defeat the core. An idea later used by a rather more famous Taito shmup. It wasn't called Layer Section in some of it's guises for nothing
October 29, 2025 at 8:37 AM
In Scion you need to battle through many layers of a large planet to defeat the core. An idea later used by a rather more famous Taito shmup. It wasn't called Layer Section in some of it's guises for nothing
My favourite cosplays at MCM Comic Con?
Firstly, this guy that ‘transformed’ into a D&D game, complete with detailed charcater sheets, snacks, figures, the table, and his mate as DM!
#DnD #DandD #MCMComicCon
Firstly, this guy that ‘transformed’ into a D&D game, complete with detailed charcater sheets, snacks, figures, the table, and his mate as DM!
#DnD #DandD #MCMComicCon
October 28, 2025 at 2:25 PM
My favourite cosplays at MCM Comic Con?
Firstly, this guy that ‘transformed’ into a D&D game, complete with detailed charcater sheets, snacks, figures, the table, and his mate as DM!
#DnD #DandD #MCMComicCon
Firstly, this guy that ‘transformed’ into a D&D game, complete with detailed charcater sheets, snacks, figures, the table, and his mate as DM!
#DnD #DandD #MCMComicCon
What a pleasure to interview the Creative Director of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Axel Torvenius, to kick off the @gamerepublic.bsky.social's awesome New Horizon's event.
Full video soon. Lots of chat about game design and old skool practical movie effects. I will share!
#GRNewHorizons
Full video soon. Lots of chat about game design and old skool practical movie effects. I will share!
#GRNewHorizons
October 22, 2025 at 3:02 PM
What a pleasure to interview the Creative Director of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Axel Torvenius, to kick off the @gamerepublic.bsky.social's awesome New Horizon's event.
Full video soon. Lots of chat about game design and old skool practical movie effects. I will share!
#GRNewHorizons
Full video soon. Lots of chat about game design and old skool practical movie effects. I will share!
#GRNewHorizons
Reposted by Will Freeman
We are bringing our biggest ever Family Gaming Zone back to EGX! South Hall S1680.
Over 100 games to choose from with experts on hand to suggest titles, explain PEGI and parental controls for consoles, Roblox and PC. www.familygamingdatabase.com/Family+Gamin...
See you there? Shares welcome.
Over 100 games to choose from with experts on hand to suggest titles, explain PEGI and parental controls for consoles, Roblox and PC. www.familygamingdatabase.com/Family+Gamin...
See you there? Shares welcome.
October 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
We are bringing our biggest ever Family Gaming Zone back to EGX! South Hall S1680.
Over 100 games to choose from with experts on hand to suggest titles, explain PEGI and parental controls for consoles, Roblox and PC. www.familygamingdatabase.com/Family+Gamin...
See you there? Shares welcome.
Over 100 games to choose from with experts on hand to suggest titles, explain PEGI and parental controls for consoles, Roblox and PC. www.familygamingdatabase.com/Family+Gamin...
See you there? Shares welcome.
I popped downstairs to find this one in my living room!
She didn’t even dash off. Sat there chilling, and watched us a while. 💚
She didn’t even dash off. Sat there chilling, and watched us a while. 💚
October 11, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I popped downstairs to find this one in my living room!
She didn’t even dash off. Sat there chilling, and watched us a while. 💚
She didn’t even dash off. Sat there chilling, and watched us a while. 💚
Notepads for work lists and doodling? Pah!
It’s my desk for me. Anyone else!?😁
It’s my desk for me. Anyone else!?😁
October 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Notepads for work lists and doodling? Pah!
It’s my desk for me. Anyone else!?😁
It’s my desk for me. Anyone else!?😁
Has anyone received anything for First PRess Games... say... this year?
I'm still waiting for months on some 'in stock' shmups I ordered, and I'm desparate to hear anything to give me hope!
I'm still waiting for months on some 'in stock' shmups I ordered, and I'm desparate to hear anything to give me hope!
October 3, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Has anyone received anything for First PRess Games... say... this year?
I'm still waiting for months on some 'in stock' shmups I ordered, and I'm desparate to hear anything to give me hope!
I'm still waiting for months on some 'in stock' shmups I ordered, and I'm desparate to hear anything to give me hope!
Reposted by Will Freeman
playing devil blade reboot again (after playing it a bunch at launch) and yup, still goated. it's on sale for the autumn sale and is a wonderful beginner-friendly shmup.
"Let me show you the power of God! Hell is mine to command!"
store.steampowered.com/app/2882440/...
"Let me show you the power of God! Hell is mine to command!"
store.steampowered.com/app/2882440/...
Save 25% on DEVIL BLADE REBOOT on Steam
An immersive pseudo-3D shoot 'em up experience that pushes the limits of pixel art. Push your score higher with the innovative Berserk System: the closer they are, the more points you get!
store.steampowered.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:52 PM
playing devil blade reboot again (after playing it a bunch at launch) and yup, still goated. it's on sale for the autumn sale and is a wonderful beginner-friendly shmup.
"Let me show you the power of God! Hell is mine to command!"
store.steampowered.com/app/2882440/...
"Let me show you the power of God! Hell is mine to command!"
store.steampowered.com/app/2882440/...