Dr. David’s Indie Roundup: Shovel Knight, Hotline Miami 2, Transistor, and more

The past couple of weeks have been pretty huge for gaming. PAX East, GDC, and BioShock Infinite have all been headlining news stories as of late, but that doesn’t mean the indie game world has been hibernating. In fact, there’s some really cool content to look forward to if you’re a fan of slightly offbeat (and in certain cases incredibly offbeat) titles from smaller dev teams. So without further adieu, let’s talk indie games!

Hotline Miami 2 will be the conclusion of the series

Developer Dennaton Games has revealed some major info about the Hotline Miami franchise. According to the studio, there will indeed be a Hotline Miami sequel, and it will offer some tonal and thematic shifts. For starters, the game will feature an emotional vibe fueled by the spirit of the ‘90s. Hmm … I wonder if it’ll channel its inner Boy Meets World fan. Dennaton also stated that Hotline Miami 2 would mark the end of the series, which makes me hopeful that it’ll go out with a bang.

Shovel Knight reaches Kickstarter goal, still receiving funds

Indie studio Yacht Club is currently working on Shovel Knight, and it looks like development will be a bit more manageable now that the game’s Kickstarter campaign has proven successful. In addition to being funded, two stretch goals have been reached. Shovel Knight players will now be treated to a music player and achievements. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait too long to play the game. Plenty of folks have to be itching to play the part of a shovel-wielding hero as opposed to the same ol’ sword and shield deal.

If you want to help the game reach some more goals for additional content, check out Shovel Knight on Kickstarter.

Stealth Bastard sneakily having some illegitimate babies on PSN (Actually, they’re totally legit)

When people talk about Stealth Bastard Deluxe, they often refer to it as a cross between Super Meat Boy and Metal Gear, which sounds ridiculously rad. The indie title from developer Curve Studios was recently released on Steam, but it’s ready to branch out with a PlayStation Network version. If you’re into 2D action-adventure games, you may want to keep an eye on this one, which will offer cross-buy functionality on the PlayStation 3 and Vita. Of course, don’t expect it to be called Stealth Bastard. Curve took to the PlayStation Blog to announce that fans will be able to submit names that they think are appropriate for the game, so no dirty business!

To submit your idea, hit up Curve’s official site. By the way, if you win, you’ll totally get your name put in the credits, a free copy of the game, and a free Vita.

Transistor from Supergiant Games might get Dark Souls-esque multiplayer

It’s great to see that the online multiplayer landscape has changed over the past several years. Developers are trying new things and in many cases aren’t settling for standard competitive and cooperative options. Supergiant Games, the studio behind Bastion, has announced that its upcoming game Transistor will try something a little different that deviates from the norm. Players will be able to see traces of paths walked by others, something that made Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls truly stand out when those games launched. This concept isn’t set in stone just yet, but it could certainly work in a game like Transistor.

For more info on the game, check out Rock Paper Shotgun’s chat with Creative Director Greg Kasavin.

Tenya Wanya Teens gameplay is delightfully weird

YouTube user mikeisonthenets has posted some gameplay footage of Tenya Wanya Teens from famed Katamari Damacy developer Keita Takahashi. We also get a look at the crazy multi-button controller box. I have no idea how this thing works, but it looks fun. Also, the kid in the game totally farts when he’s kicking soccer balls. Check out the gameplay clip for yourself to catch a glimpse of Tenya Wanya Teens. The devs behind the game are hoping to release it soon, with a retail version currently planned.

Speaking of Keita Takahashi …

… The dude’s working on another project alongside Canabalt creator Adam Saltsman. This one’s titled Alphabet, and given Takahashi’s knack for creating bizarre experiences, it’s certainly exciting to think about. If you’re in Austin this week for Juegos Rancheros, you’ll be able to check out both Tenya Wanya Teens and Alphabet.

For more on Juegos Rancheros and Takahashi's projects, head on over to Venus Patrol.

Want to talk about indie games, Kirby, or cheap pizza? Follow me on Twitter @dr_davidsanchez.