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The Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024 showcase

Just when Geoff Keighley had started to fade from your memory, he comes rubber-banding back with a vengeance - snap! It's Gamescom week and it kicks off with Opening Night Live this evening from 7pm UK time (other Opening Night Live timings here). A pre-show with additional announcements will begin at 6.30pm UK. We'll be watching and reporting on it live, as always, right here, so you can either keep abreast of announcements while you do something else, or you can join in with your thoughtful and amusing comments. Please keep us company. Please.

What do we expect to see today? Well, probably Geoff Keighley, but also the new Indiana Jones game, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Dune Awakening. We're also expecting Little Nightmares creator Tarsier to unveil its new project, which could be exciting. On top of that: Diablo 4 expansion Vessel of Hatred, Civilization 7, hero shooter Marvel Rivals, Lost Records (the project made by the creators of Life is Strange), Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (which was recently delayed), and Black Ops 6. Keighley's best pal Hideo Kojima has also been tweeting enigmatic silhouetted pictures of actors who are presumably playing roles in Death Stranding 2.

And before you ask, "Yes, there will be new game announcements," Keighley said on X.

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Dead Cells receives its final major update today, seven years after release

Dead Cells today has received its final major update, The End is Near, after seven years of development.

This will be the 35th update to the game, which has received a number of DLCs to expand gameplay and reference other popular games, from Castlevania to Hollow Knight.

The End is Near expands on the curse mechanic, with three new mobs, three new weapons, and three new mutations.

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15 minutes of Astro Bot footage has leaked online

15 minutes of Astro Bot has once again leaked online, giving us a premature peek at what to expect when the game releases on 6th September.

In news unlikely to surprise you, the video has already been removed from YouTube (although you can still find copies of it if you're prepared to go looking), but eagle-eyed fans nonetheless managed to get a peek at the main hub, as well as a sneaky glimpse at some of the bots we can expect.

If you'd prefer to keep everything a surprise, head back to the main page now. For those excited and happy for a little head's up, read on…

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The Plucky Squire offers familiar ideas in a lovely new arrangement

The special, almost intangible loveliness of the Plucky Squire isn't down to either the game design itself or the way it's presented. It's down to both of these things, combined so thoroughly, and with such imagination, that it's hard to stir them apart.

To put it another way, it's not just that this is a fantasy-action game in which your hero receives a bow and arrow from a beautiful elf. It's that, to win that bow and arrow, the hero first has to venture across the authentic wilderness of a child's cluttered bedroom desk, and into a cardboard castle. There, at the top of a tower formed by a stack of beloved books, the hero and the elf must do battle inside the stiff confines of a knock-off Magic: The Gathering card.

This completely rules. And that's just one moment from the preview build of the game I've been playing over the last few days that has elicited such a gasp of wonder and delight. A battle inside a battling card! And then I walk away from it with a golden bow. Yes please, Plucky Squire. Yes please.

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Tango Gameworks acquisition will transfer around 50 out of original 100 staff

Following the news Krafton was saving Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks from being shut down for good, the PUBG publisher has confirmed its plans to "transfer approximately 50 development staff" from the studio to its Japan subsidiary.

This is roughly half the number of the studio's initial development staff, which was over 100. Gameranx reports this is because others have since found employment elsewhere, and as such there are a number of job openings at the studio.

In an update on social media platform X by Game File's Stephen Totilo, the reporter shared a statement from Krafton's PR, which said those 50 staff who are part of the transfer will "continue to work on new projects, including the expansion of the Hi-Fi Rush IP, at Krafton".

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Hugely-promising indie The Plucky Squire launches next month, day one on PlayStation Plus

The Plucky Squire, one of Eurogamer's most anticipated games of the year, will launch for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X/S on 17th September, publisher Devolver Digital has announced.

It'll also be a day one launch via PlayStation Plus, for anyone signed up to Sony's subscription service.

An innovative 2D and 3D platformer based in and around the pages of a picture book, The Plucky Squire is the first project from All Possible Futures, the indie development studio set up by former Pokémon artist James Turner.

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Amazon reportedly working on animated anthology TV series featuring Spelunky and other video game worlds

UPDATE 20/8/24: Well, there you go. Following last week's Deadline report, Amazon has officially unveiled Secret Level, a new "adult-animated anthology series featuring original stories set within the worlds of some of the most beloved video games".

It's a 15-episode series from the creators of Love, Death & Robots, and it'll feature stories inspired by Armored Core, Concord, Crossfire, Dungeons & Dragons, Exodus, Honor of Kings, Mega Man, New World: Aeternum, PAC-MAN, Sifu, Spelunky, The Outer Worlds, Unreal Tournament, Warhammer 40,000, and a variety of PlayStation Studios games.

And if that takes your fancy, you'll be wanting to circle 10th December on your calendar - which is when the series arrives on Prime Video - then check out its teaser trailer below.

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Tomba! Special Edition Review

The Baconator Returns

HIGH It’s endlessly charming. The new soundtrack is fantastic.

LOW The extra features are not explained. The museum lacks polish.

WTF Tomba keeps items in his stomach, like Snake did with cigarettes in Metal Gear Solid…


Tomba! Special Edition is a reminder of the bygone days of the PS1, when developers took experimental approaches to the then-new Sony console. Tomba!, a 2.5D game from 1997, defied the logic that 3D was where every developer should be heading. What resulted was an experience that still looks beautiful, has a ton of charm, a cult following, and remains enjoyable more than 20 years after its debut.

Tomba! Special Edition is an action-platformer with light RPG elements. The titular character must defeat the evil Koma Pigs to recover his stolen bracelet. Along the way, Tomba will encounter and befriend many creatures and people who need help, while also carrying out objectives to advance the story, finding ways to the evil pigs’ lairs, or opening new pathways to needed items in this fairly non-linear adventure.

The characters are all endearing and charming in their own way. From standard fantasy dwarves to wilder fare like mouse cowboys, each area was packed with unique and colorful characters. Each map is bright and picturesque, and the music has been wonderfully enhanced with a remastered soundtrack that pops.

Looking at the gameplay, platforming is the star of the show here, as Tomba is given various methods to traverse the world, such as a parasol for slowing down his fall rate or a grapple line to grab and swing from various objects. The 2.5D aspect also allows Tomba to go into the background and play in a different part of some levels. This was a pretty clever way to add… depth…. to platformers, which often didn’t use background layers like this. In this aspect, Tomba! excels.

To dispatch enemies, Tomba must jump and grab onto them, so that he can then fling them. Sometimes stunning them is necessary first, and combat never became dull since different enemies required unique strategies. The boss pigs in particular were a highlight, as each has their own arena where the objective is to throw them into an Evil Pig Bag. (Yes, it’s called that.)

As Tomba! Special Edition is an updated release, there are some great quality-of-life features that I found incredibly helpful during my time playing. For starters, there’s a helpful rewind feature that allowed me to move the game back anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. This allowed me to retry difficult platforming sections without losing progress or health. There’s also a way to save at any time, which made the challenge even more friendly to new players of the series, like myself.

In addition, a museum feature allowed me to view art and documents, such as advertisements and manuals. There were also videos with Tokuro Fujiwara (director and creator of the series) about the development process of the original Tomba! and a music player where any of the tracks can be listened to.

While this new version of an old classic seems great as I’ve described it so far, there are a few issues with both the game and the supplementary material.

For example, with the historical videos, there’s no way to rewind or even pause the playback. This seems like a pretty standard feature in 2024, and the omission of any controls here is pretty annoying.

In regards to the game itself, it suffers from long load times between areas. In many cases, this isn’t really noticeable, but when having to many between short screens in succession, it became an annoyance. There’s also noticeable frame juddering, particularly when weather effects are present.

Also annoying is that the rewind and save features are not explained to the player beforehand. I figured them out by pressing random buttons, which is hardly optimal. New features like these need to be explained, so people will know exactly how to take full advantage of them. (The music also cuts out for a few seconds when using rewind, taking me out of the mood.)

Mechanically, Tomba! Special Edition suffers from some wonky physics, although these issues were present in the original. When swinging between platforms, it’s common to miss the next one due to how easy it is to overshoot an object and how little time to correct there is. Jumping also feels imprecise, often feeling too floaty.

Finally, mission design is often a bit too obtuse for its own good. For example, sometimes it’s necessary to talk to unassuming NPCs several times despite not having any reason to do so. There’s also a good deal of backtracking to be done, and sometimes I felt frustrated wasting time looking for answers, only to find that something else needed to be done first. Clearly, we’ve learned a lot about signposting and quest structure since the game was originally designed.

Tomba! Special Edition is a charming reminder of the experimental days of the PS1 era, and the cute characters and wonderful soundtrack still appeal. However, the flaws in this port and some of the game’s original issues might make it a bit tough for newcomers to fully embrace this beloved cult classic.

Rating: 7 out of 10


Disclosures: This version of Tomba! is developed and published by Limited Run Games. It is currently available on PS4/5, XBO/X/S, Switch and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on PS5. Approximately 8 hours was devoted to the game, and it was not completed. There is no multiplayer mode.

Parents: This game has an ESRB rating of E10+ rating for Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, and Mild Fantasy Violence. The ESRB rating states: “This is an adventure platformer in which players follow a hero (Tomba) attempting to retrieve a stolen keepsake from evil pigs. From a side-scrolling perspective, players traverse whimsical environments while collecting fruit, performing quests, and defeating animal/monster enemies. Players use a spiked ball to knock out enemies; player can also grab and toss pigs into other characters. One mission involves fixing a pump to provide wine for a village. One level depicts pixelated cherub characters urinating on the ground; the cartoony cherubs’ pelvic regions and buttocks are briefly depicted. ”

Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind options.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The game offers subtitles, but only during gameplay. Subtitles cannot be resized. (See example above.) This game is not accessible, due to a lack of subtitles during voiced cutscenes.

Remappable Controls: No, this game’s controls are not remappable. A screen will appear before the game is started that explains the controls. On PS5, circle attacks with the equipped weapon, X is for jumping and can be used to scroll through text, square is for interacting with objects and NPCs, triangle opens up the items menu, the touchpad opens the entire menu, L2 opens the rewind menu, and R2 opens the emulation menu. The first areas of the game will also explain them. However, there is no way to reference most of these controls without either restarting the game (since backing out to the main menu is not possible) or going back to the tutorial areas. The rewind and save anywhere features are not explained at all.

Mother Machine – Beta Sign Up

Mother Machine is a quirky co-op action roguelite platformer where ravenous chaos goblins climb and feast their way through alien caves.

Playable with one to four players, in Mother Machine you are a cute little chaos goblin who has an insatiable appetite. As you and your friends run, jump, swing and blimp your way through procedurally generated cave systems you’ll unlock a wide array of … Read More

The post Mother Machine – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Scarlet Deer Inn – Alpha Demo

Scarlet Deer Inn is a beautifully animated narrative-driven cinematic platforming advertise where the character sprites are made from embroidery.

Drawing inspiration from Slavic folklore and the works of Studio Ghibli, Scarlet Deer Inn is a cinematic platforming adventure where a mother of two finds herself locked in a dark dungeon. The demo features an extended town-based section where you can talk to residents and complete … Read More

The post Scarlet Deer Inn – Alpha Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Symphonia – Beta Demo

Symphonia is a beautifully animated non-violent musical platforming adventure where you use your violin to gather an orchestra that will bring the world back to life.

Previously featured on Alpha Beta Gamer when it was a student project, Symphonia is a platformer that takes place in a world where music is a source of energy. The once thriving world is now dormant after the … Read More

The post Symphonia – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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How to stop the slide on slopes?

I'm struggling with a wee issue where if my character walks up a slope he slides back down when at rest, and bounces down when running down the slope. I've followed a few videos but none seem to address the issue. I've posted my movement code so far and I'm not opposed to fundamentally changing this, however with the other aspects of my game, the rigid body and collider setup seems to be working quite well. Any ideas?

 //inputs
    if (Input.GetKey(buttonKey["Left"]))
    {
        inputHorizontal = -1;
    }
    else if (Input.GetKey(buttonKey["Right"]))
    {
        inputHorizontal = 1;
    }
    else
    {
        inputHorizontal = 0;
    }

    //jump
    if (Input.GetKey(buttonKey["Jump"]) && isgrounded.Grounded && canJump)
    {
        jump();
        jumpTimerCurrent = 0;
        canJump = false;
    }

    if (jumpTimerCurrent <= jumpTimerReset)
    {
        jumpTimerCurrent += Time.fixedDeltaTime;
    }
    else
    {
        canJump = true;
    }

 void FixedUpdate()
{
    rb.velocity = new Vector2(inputHorizontal * Time.fixedDeltaTime * runSpeed, rb.velocity.y);
}

    void jump()
{
    rb.velocity = new Vector2(rb.velocity.x, 0.0f);
    rb.AddForce(Vector2.up * jumpForce, ForceMode.Force);
}

Dead Cells gets its final update after 8 years of development, bringing it to a cursed close

One of the best roguelikes on PC is getting a farewell of sorts this week. Twitchy slashfest Dead Cells received its final major update, introducing new enemies, fresh weapons, and a few mutations. Unfortunately, all this new stuff is very cursed. In other words, it all toys with the game's "curse" status effect, a hex that causes you to be killed if you take even a single hit. You'll probably die a few times as a result of this update, which in some ways is a fitting finalé for this fast-paced jar smasher of a game. You can see the new features in the trailer below.

Read more

The Curious Expedition studio’s next game Mother Machine lets you co-op as emotional support chaos gremlins created by a lonely supercomputer

As long-time readers will know, I'm a piteous mark for weird little game guys. I’m currently trying to puzzle out what the titular Mother Machine in The Curious Expedition studio Maschinen-Mensch’s upcoming co-op platformer refers to. But, if it’s a reference to forming a parental bond with what the game has saw-me-comingishly named “chaos gremlins”, I'm way ahead of you.

Ah, the press release speaketh! Probably should have read some more before I began exclaiming “Chaos Gremlins!” over and over. Have an announcement trailer.

Read more

PUBG owner Krafton have acquired Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush IP

Tango Gameworks are back from the dead. The Hi-Fi Rush studio have been acquired - alongside the IP for future games in the rhythm action series - by South Korean company Krafton, who also own PUBG Studios and Striking Distance, among others. “This strategic move will include the rights to Tango Gameworks’ acclaimed IP, Hi-Fi Rush,” Krafton said in a statement today. I particularly enjoy the hand-rubbing, grinning use of the word ‘strategic’ here. Great news though.

Read more

Here's a free miniature town-builder with trams from the creator of Viewfinder

Sometimes I want to play a video game, and sometimes I just want to assemble a quiet little Dutch town with iron bridges, fountains and dinky trams bustling about like bumble bees. The project in question is Tramstertram. Aside from being a terrifying feat of punmanship, it's a browser-based building toy from Matt Stark, creator of the really rather lovely Viewfinder.

Read more

Dead Cells gets its final update after 8 years of development, bringing it to a cursed close

One of the best roguelikes on PC is getting a farewell of sorts this week. Twitchy slashfest Dead Cells received its final major update, introducing new enemies, fresh weapons, and a few mutations. Unfortunately, all this new stuff is very cursed. In other words, it all toys with the game's "curse" status effect, a hex that causes you to be killed if you take even a single hit. You'll probably die a few times as a result of this update, which in some ways is a fitting finalé for this fast-paced jar smasher of a game. You can see the new features in the trailer below.

Read more

The Curious Expedition studio’s next game Mother Machine lets you co-op as emotional support chaos gremlins created by a lonely supercomputer

As long-time readers will know, I'm a piteous mark for weird little game guys. I’m currently trying to puzzle out what the titular Mother Machine in The Curious Expedition studio Maschinen-Mensch’s upcoming co-op platformer refers to. But, if it’s a reference to forming a parental bond with what the game has saw-me-comingishly named “chaos gremlins”, I'm way ahead of you.

Ah, the press release speaketh! Probably should have read some more before I began exclaiming “Chaos Gremlins!” over and over. Have an announcement trailer.

Read more

PUBG owner Krafton have acquired Tango Gameworks and the Hi-Fi Rush IP

Tango Gameworks are back from the dead. The Hi-Fi Rush studio have been acquired - alongside the IP for future games in the rhythm action series - by South Korean company Krafton, who also own PUBG Studios and Striking Distance, among others. “This strategic move will include the rights to Tango Gameworks’ acclaimed IP, Hi-Fi Rush,” Krafton said in a statement today. I particularly enjoy the hand-rubbing, grinning use of the word ‘strategic’ here. Great news though.

Read more

Here's a free miniature town-builder with trams from the creator of Viewfinder

Sometimes I want to play a video game, and sometimes I just want to assemble a quiet little Dutch town with iron bridges, fountains and dinky trams bustling about like bumble bees. The project in question is Tramstertram. Aside from being a terrifying feat of punmanship, it's a browser-based building toy from Matt Stark, creator of the really rather lovely Viewfinder.

Read more

Trinity Fusion Switch Review

Trinity Fusion has an interesting premise. Three universes were created, the underworld, overworld and hyperworld. They all went wrong. The beasts of the underworld went feral. The machines of the overworld rebelled And the humans in the hyperworld transcended into a new species called the Ewer. You are Maya, a woman who can travel between universes, and needs to save them. You play three versions of yourself, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, Altara, Kera and Naira. You can even, at points, fuse two versions together to get special abilities.

Trinity Fusion

Trinity Fusion is a rogue-lite. The game is divided into runs in procedural generated levels in each of the three universes. Each universe has unique biomes and enemies. Each level has two exits. One to an in-universe biome, or one to a place called the In-Between. In each level, you’ll find amplifiers that you give you in-run buffs. Stack some of the same buff type, you get an even more powerful buff. There are psychic amplifiers you can get that give you permanent buffs, like an extra 10 health.

Combat in Trinity Fusion is your have a melee weapons, and a powerful energy weapon that is powered up by melee attacks. To get around, you’ll slide, jump and dash, plus abilities specific to each character, like wall jumping for Naira.

I have two complaints about Trinity Fusion. First, loading takes forever. Second, the teleport function in the hub, Prime, is broken and doesn’t work(or at least I can’t figure how to use it). Other than that, Trinity Fusion is a stellar game, fun, absorbing and inviting. I will give it a solid Recommended with an eight back-end score. The is solid fun and worth the time invested.

Overall: Trinity Fusion is an interesting rogue-like where you play three separate characters in three different worlds and is overall very good.

Verdict: Recommended

eShop Page

Release Date7/31/24
Cost$19.99
PublisherAngry Mob Games
ESRB RatingT

P.S. Why not play what started a genre: Epyx Rogue!

Game received for free from the publisher.

The post Trinity Fusion Switch Review appeared first on The Game Slush Pile.

Tomba! Special Edition Switch Review

I’ll be honest, Tomba! Special Edition(Tombi! in the EU) is not for me. It just is not. I tried it, twice, just never clicked with me. Cannot put a finger on exactly why. I should like it, its a 2.5D platformer where you can traverse the foreground and background, but I didn’t care for it. Maybe because it plays more like a point and click adventure. You see, in each area, you get various quests to complete, like find baby chicks or feed a monkey, go do that, the story story progresses. However, if you don’t even find the monkey, the story stops dead as you cannot move forward, so you have to go read a guide. I shouldn’t have to read a walk-through for a port of a 1997 platformer, but you kind of do for Tomba! Special Edition.

The monkey is in the tree, but good luck getting to him.

Tomba! Special Edition has nothing particularly wrong with it. It is well made, allows you to save anywhere, has lots of behind the scenes stuff. I just don’t like it. And that’s just fine, somebody else might. So playing a pink-haired cave-man fighting pig men sound appealing, by all means, play it. This is why the Your Mileage May Vary verdict exists, for these types of games. I shouldn’t have to suffer through it just for a review, so I’m putting my foot down. Tomba! Special Edition gets a YMMV with a seven back-end score. Again, there’s nothing wrong with it, it just was not for me.

Overall: Tomba! Special Edition is a remaster of a odd platformer from another age that some might enjoy even though I did not.

Verdict: YMMV

eShop Page

Release Date8/1/24
Cost$19.99
PublisherLimited Run Games
ESRB RatingE

PS. Try Glyph!

Game received for free from the publisher.

The post Tomba! Special Edition Switch Review appeared first on The Game Slush Pile.

Freebie Alert: Death’s Gambit: Afterlife Available for Free on Epic Games Store

I’ve got some exciting news that hopefully will make your day. The Epic Games Store is giving away Death’s Gambit: Afterlife for free until August 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM. You should not miss out on this one if you are a fan of platformers like me.

What Is Death’s Gambit: Afterlife?

Despite the dated graphics, this 2D action RPG will keep you on your toes. I’m talking challenging combat, Metroidvania-style exploration, and a world so rich in lore that you might lose yourself. The folks at White Rabbit outdid themselves with this one, and Adult Swim Games made the right call to publish it.

What’s Included in This Free Offer?

Here’s the best part: you’re getting the whole package. This isn’t some watered-down version or a measly demo. We’re talking about the full game that usually goes for €17.99. And it’s all yours, free of charge!

How to Claim the Offer

Want to know how to snag this sweet deal? It’s a piece of cake. Just hop to the Epic Games Store before August 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM and add Death’s Gambit: Afterlife to your account. You can also follow this link to the direct promotion page. Once you’ve claimed it, it’s yours to keep forever. But don’t dawdle! If you miss the deadline, you must shell out the total €17.99.

Conclusion

I’ve got to say, Death’s Gambit: Afterlife is a real gem. The combat is intricate, the world is vast, and the story will suck you right in. It doesn’t matter if you’re a hardened RPG veteran or just dipping your toes in the genre – this game has something for everyone.

So, what are you waiting for? Head to the Epic Games Store and claim your copy of Death’s Gambit: Afterlife. Trust me, you’re in for one hell of a ride through a world of death and rebirth. Don’t let this chance slip through your fingers!

The post Freebie Alert: Death’s Gambit: Afterlife Available for Free on Epic Games Store appeared first on WePlayGames.net: Home for Top Gamers.

Bananas and Bullets: The Wild Ride of My Friend Pedro

Title: My Friend Pedro
Type of Game: 2D Action-Shooter Platformer
Developer: DeadToast Entertainment
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Released: June 20, 2019
Platforms Available: iOS, Android
Platform Reviewed: Android
Level of Maturity: Teen (Violence, Blood, Crude Humor)
Reading Time: 8 minutes

“My Friend Pedro” is a game that came out in June 2019. It’s a 2D Action-Shooter Platformer. As you already know, I love platformers. On top of that, it is an offline, no-WiFi game, and I needed something to play on my way to work. In the game, I was guided by a talking banana, Pedro, who led me on a mission to shoot through waves of enemies and jump over all sorts of obstacles. It sounds weird, and it is, but in a good way.

My Friend Pedro: Shooting Puzzles
My Friend Pedro: Shooting Through Puzzles

Quirky Storytelling and Bananas

The story is simple: I was saving Pedro’s family from crates of fruits. The funniest bit for me was when I saved an apple rather than a banana, and Pedro informed me that it was an adopted child. In the second instance, he sends his banana son to get him a pack of cigarettes. I loved these funny bits in the story.

Mastering the Art of Slow-Motion Combat

I noticed immediately that the game is very smooth (after you get used to the slider commands if you never played this type of game before). The controls are simple enough, but there’s a learning curve until you get used to it. Two joystick pads are on both sides, but you can also use only one. I used only the right one because my left hand was unfriendly with the slide-down command. I managed to get three stars on most levels, so I am guessing it is designed so you can play with it without the second pad. You can slow down time while in mid-air, which significantly helps.

Even with no obstacle, you can jump up and aim/plan your next move in slow motion. On top of it, I was able to easily overcome the faster-paced missions, where you are on a skateboard, using this feature. I spun through the air, dodging bullets while returning fire in slow motion. It feels like a mix between a John Wick movie and a skateboard trick video. The genre has nothing new, but it is very well executed if you ask me!
I was pleased to see motorcycle action after each chapter. I got to drive a bike from one chapter to another, dodging crates and shooting other bikers or a truck running away with crates, which was one of Pedro’s children. This detail is somewhat polished, but I still loved it.

Visuals and Sound: The Pulse of Pedro

The visuals are stylish but not overly detailed, which works for this game. Everything is smooth and fast, with a lot of emphasis on how your character moves. It’s not the game that’s trying to wow you with graphics. It’s more about the action and keeping everything running smoothly. There’s a good use of color wildly when contrasting the backgrounds and the enemies, so you always know where to focus. The music is another strong point. It’s an upbeat, electronic soundtrack that perfectly fits the game’s pace. The sound effects are also on end, with satisfying gunfire and explosions.

Replayability and Performance

My Friend Pedro is a single-player-only game, and you can play without WIFI, which also works for ad avoidance. You must watch an ad every time you die unless your wifi is turned off. The game focuses on creating a specific experience where you constantly try to outdo yourself with better combos and wilder moves, which will reward you with three stars if you execute it flawlessly. I found some missions pretty hard, but with some trial and error, I got three stars on almost all of them. This added to the replay value, too, not only for the stars but sometimes just for fun. I replayed certain sections to see if I could pull off something more extraordinary or efficient, even when I had the three stars already.

A Smooth Ride with Minor Glitches

Another thing I appreciated was the simple interface. There’s not a lot of clutter on the screen, so that you can focus on the action. The accessibility options are essential, but I found no barriers to playing the game. Performance-wise, it runs smoothly, which is crucial given how fast-paced it is. I did encounter minor bugs or, better said, glitches, where I would fly through the edge of the platform when I was not supposed to or miss a landing where it was supposed to be possible to land, but it is infrequent, and nothing that will ruin your gameplay.

Conclusion:

My Friend Pedro is a game that knows its strengths and plays to them perfectly. It delivers an exhilarating, stylish platforming shooter experience without getting bogged down in unnecessary complexities. The smooth, acrobatic gameplay, intuitive controls, and slow-motion mechanics allow creative and satisfying combat scenarios.
While the story is simple, its quirky humor adds personality to the intense action. The game’s artistic direction and energetic soundtrack create an immersive experience that complements the fast-paced gameplay. The three-star rating system and inherent joy of perfecting runs provide excellent replay value. Despite minor glitches and some less polished elements, My Friend Pedro stands out as a focused, well-executed game. For fans of the genre or anyone seeking a unique, action-packed experience, it’s an easy recommendation that delivers hours of bullet-dodging, banana-guided fun.

Where to Buy My Friend Pedro?

  • App Store (iOS): Available for Free! Download it from the App Store.
  • Google Play (Android): Available for Free! Purchase it from Google Play.

Official Page: Visit the official My Friend Pedro page for more information here.
Subreddit: Join the discussion on the My Friend Pedro Subreddit.

My Friend Pedro Gallery
My Friend Pedro Gallery

The post Bananas and Bullets: The Wild Ride of My Friend Pedro appeared first on WePlayGames.net: Home for Top Gamers.

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible Unveiled By Mindscape and Dav Pilkey!

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible Unveiled in Partnership with Mindscape and Dav Pilkey!

Mindscape has announced the partnership with Dav Pilkey to bring a lovable dog from the best-selling comics to the video game world, Dog Man: Mission Impawsible!

From being the best-selling graphic novel to a video game, Dog Man will be receiving his first game titled Dog Man: Mission Impawsible for the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game will be a 2D side-scrolling platformer with nothing but fun and engaging puzzles, visiting iconic locations from the Dog Man universe, and plenty of levels to fuel the excitement!

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible Unveiled in Partnership with Mindscape and Dav Pilkey!

Created by bestselling author and award-winning illustrator Dav Pilkey, the graphic novel series was launched by Scholastic in 2016, selling more than 60 million copies in print and translated into 47 languages. As of March 2024, the latest entry to the beloved series, Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder, was released with huge success as it became a #1 bestselling book overall in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and was the #1 bestselling children’s book in the UK.  With Dog Man: Mission Impawsible, the game will provide another way for the fans to engage with the comic universe as it will soon join the theatrical release from Dreamwork/Universal. 

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible will be a 2D side-scrolling platformer with plenty of fun and engaging puzzle mechanics. As you embark on an adventure across 50 levels spanning five different worlds, you must pursue a thief who stole the key to the city. Players will explore eight iconic locations from the beloved comic universe, including the City Hall, the Giant Marshmellow Factory, and many jails. However, to ensure the gameplay is action-packed and entertaining for the fans, each location will offer unique platforming challenges and puzzle-solving opportunities. 

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible Unveiled in Partnership with Mindscape and Dav Pilkey!

Are you excited to explore many iconic locations in the Dog Man: Mission Impawsible? If so, be sure to keep your eye peeled for the game release as it will be available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S!

Bleed 2: The Thrill of Arcade Action

Are you ready for an adrenaline-pumping, heart-racing arcade action experience? Look no further than Bleed 2, a relentless game that will test your skills, reflexes, and strategic thinking. With its air-dodging mechanics, bullet-reflecting abilities, and a multitude of challenging bosses, Bleed 2 delivers an exhilarating adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In this article, we'll delve into the captivating world of Bleed 2, exploring its features, gameplay, and why it stands out as a must-play title.

A fearless hero defying gravity amidst chaos.

The Essence of Bleed 2

Bleed 2 captures the essence of classic arcade action and combines it with modern gameplay elements to create a unique and thrilling experience. It is an interesting game, one of the best indie games published in the recent years. Developed by a talented indie team, this game offers fast-paced combat, tight controls, and an immersive world that will immerse you in its pixelated charm. With its vibrant visuals, catchy soundtrack, and addictive gameplay, Bleed 2 is a testament to the power of independent game development.

Master the Art of Air-Dodging

One of the standout features of Bleed 2 is the ability to perform gravity-defying air-dodges. As you navigate through the game's meticulously designed levels, you'll find yourself surrounded by a hail of bullets, lasers, and other projectiles. Quick reflexes and precise timing are crucial as you dash through the air, avoiding incoming attacks with finesse. The satisfaction of narrowly escaping certain doom is immensely rewarding and keeps you hooked for more.

Unleash the Power of Bullet-Reflecting

In addition to air-dodging, Bleed 2 introduces the thrilling mechanic of bullet-reflection. As you encounter enemies and their relentless barrage of ammunition, you have the power to send those bullets right back at them. Timing and precision are key as you deflect projectiles back toward your foes, turning their own firepower against them. This mechanic adds a layer of strategy to the gameplay, allowing you to approach encounters in unique and creative ways.

Conquer Challenging Bosses

Bleed 2 is not for the faint of heart. Throughout your adventure, you'll face off against a variety of formidable bosses, each with their own distinct patterns and abilities. It is one of the PS4 shooting games that will surprise you. These epic encounters will test your skills to the limit, requiring quick thinking, precise reflexes, and a strategic approach. Defeating these bosses is an exhilarating experience that fills you with a sense of accomplishment and drives you to tackle even greater challenges.

Unlock and Upgrade Abilities

Bleed 2 stands as one of the best PS4 games, as well as a tempestuous storm, ravaging conventions and unleashing an unyielding torrent of exhilaration. As you progress through Bleed 2, you'll have the opportunity to unlock and upgrade a range of unique abilities. These include powerful weapons, enhanced dodging techniques, and other special skills that will aid you in your quest. Experimenting with different combinations of abilities adds depth and replayability to the game, allowing you to tailor your playstyle and discover new strategies to overcome challenges.

Engaging Story and Characters

Beyond its addictive gameplay, Bleed 2 also features an engaging story and memorable characters. It's not a new PS4 game, but it is still valuable. You'll follow the journey of Wryn, a determined heroine who embarks on a mission to become the ultimate video game hero. Along the way, you'll encounter quirky allies, formidable rivals, and unravel a narrative that adds depth to the game's action-packed world. The well-crafted story and charming characters make Bleed 2 a complete and immersive gaming experience.

Conclusion

Bleed 2 is a relentless arcade action game that delivers an exhilarating experience filled with air-dodging, bullet-reflecting, and epic boss battles. It's a transcendental experience that elevates the notion of 'buying cheap PS4 games' to a veritable art form. With its captivating gameplay, tight controls, and engaging story, it stands out as a must-play title for fans of the genre. Prepare to embark on an action-packed adventure that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Digger T. Rock

Od: lordmrw

Developer: Rare    Publisher: Milton Bradley    Release: 12/90   Genre: Platformer In total Rare developed 60 games for the NES. That is incredibly prolific and their games spanned almost every genre, from sports to action to even game show adaptations. But...

The post Digger T. Rock appeared first on Classic-Games.net.

Bō: Path Of The Teal Lotus Review

Small, Swift, Smooth, Serene

HIGH Exquisitely designed and beautifully crafted. 

LOW Basic mobility is a little funky towards the beginning of the game. 

WTF Didn’t expect the baseball bat…


When Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus () first appeared on my radar, I rushed to request it. With my personal interest in Japanese folklore and visual art I was keen to jump right in, and I must say that I was not disappointed. 

is an adventure that draws from Japanese folklore and legend. Players must navigate Bō — an adorable lotus-shaped creature called a Tentaihana — through different worlds, meeting and helping other spirits and creatures along the way. 

is visually captivating, and exploring the worlds that Bō encounters is a treat. ’s landscape contains two and three dimensional elements, which Humble Games describes as 2.5D.

When playing, I felt as if I were gliding, jumping, and running through a painting. Every location is more beautiful than the last, but I was particularly enamored with the creepy, bruise-hued Kitsune Burrows. They provided a satisfying change in scenery in an otherwise pastel colored environment, and I found myself lingering there a bit longer than necessary just to look around. The crystalline Ice Caverns are also a favorite of mine, though the icicles are a bit tricky to maneuver. Everything looks so lush, and the accompanying musical score makes it feel all the more immersive.  

While exploring, players can equip Omamori, little tabs that help Bō in a myriad of ways, and each tab triggers an effect that becomes increasingly more complex as players collect more of them. Because is very combat focused, I found the health centered Omamori tabs to be the most helpful. I almost always had Vitality equipped, which heals Bō’s health based on the amount of enemies they defeat.

Shrines serve as spaces where Bō can refill their teapot — an important tool that helps Bō regain their health. It can be used both in and out of battle, and can be accessed in a pinch (which players may find themselves in, more often than not). The teapot also helps Bō during combat and contains a heat gauge that works in tandem with Daruma dolls. Daruma dolls each have specific effects and attacks that can be used to help take down difficult enemies — as the heat gauge rises, the Daruma doll’s attacks increase in damage. I will almost always choose ranged battle if I can swing it, so the doll which shoots homing orbs at enemies near Bō became a necessary part of my arsenal.

Players can also update their weapons as they progress. Bō has an earring that doubles as a staff that players access early on, which eventually evolves into other items when needed. I was amused by the baseball bat, and while it did feel a bit out of place it made for a quirky game mechanic. While it’s mostly used as a weapon that allows players to parry and attack enemies, it’s also necessary when completing certain quests for the spirits Bō meets. In one such quest, Bō must collect Armapillos (armadillo like creatures) for a spirit named Shimeji, and the only possible way to corral them is to hit them with the bat. Hitting the Armapillos felt a little mean! (And punting them back and forth required more precision and dexterity than I thought necessary…)

It’s a good thing that gives the player these options, as it’s actually quite challenging to play! While the side-scrolling adventure genre is an undeniable part of ’s DNA, the amount of items, buffs, and weapons players can access make it so that fits just as comfortably within the soulslike genre. Boss attack mechanics aren’t extremely complex, but can be quite difficult to dodge or counter, which can lead to silly mistakes. One awkward or poorly-timed jump and players might find themselves having to restart a tedious battle from the very beginning. 

The first major boss battle, which takes place in the Uzumaki cave, was a bit of a pain for me. A lot of this had to do with the basic mobility control system, which ended up being my biggest gripe with .

While the mechanics are simple in theory, players are often expected to push many buttons at once to perform a mechanic as straightforward as jumping. Jumping is a necessary part of gameplay and some of the Daruma dolls require that Bō be airborne to be effective in battle, so struggling to perform these actions might be a bit frustrating for some. I initially had the most trouble with a sequence of lanterns that Bō must hit in order to ascend towards their next location, but they must be hit perfectly. Otherwise, Bō will fall and the sequence must be started over. I quickly learned that patience was perhaps the most necessary tool for success in , which is kind of lovely.

As Bō progresses their actions and attacks become a bit more effective, and when that initial roughness is left behind, the worlds that players encounter afterwards are so beautiful that any early game hiccups are forgotten. Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is exceptional. With its visually stunning worlds and exciting battles, has all the elements of an indie action classic. 

Rating: 8.5 out of 10


Disclosures: This game is developed by Squid Shock Studios and published by Humble Games. It is currently available on PS5, Switch, PC, XBO/S/X, and iOS. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher, and reviewed on PS5. Approximately 7 hours were devoted to the game, and it was not completed. There is no multiplayer mode. 

Parents: This game is rated E by the ESRB and contains Alcohol and Tobacco references, Mild Fantasy Violence, and Mild Language. There is no blood, and no gratuitous battle sequences. Gameplay mechanics may be a bit complex for really young players, but not completely inaccessible. 

Colorblind Modes: This game does not have colorblind modes, but it does have a high contrast filter. 

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The game offers subtitles. Subtitles cannot be resized. I was pleased to see that there are many audio accessibility options. Players with dyslexia can change subtitle and game font, game speed can be modified, action cue icons can be added, controller vibration can be modified, camera shake can be adjusted, and players have the option of making themselves invincible, or provide themselves with an infinite supply of mana. Therefore, the game is fully accessible

Remappable Controls: Yes, the game’s controls are remappable

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD: Shining a Dark Light on the Past

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD: Shining a Dark Light on the Past

A steady cadence of re-releases from Nintendo over the last few years has slowly but surely shone a light on the importance of looking back in an industry consistently focused on pushing boundaries. Nintendo has therefore become a bastion of embracing the past and allowing us to actually look back on it through the prism of our modern knowledge. Nintendo’s latest example of this is visually upgrading Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, a remaster of the 2012 3DS game and sequel to the GameCube classic.

Life of Luigi

Luigi’s Mansion 2 (LM2), considered the black sheep of the franchise, was definitively designed with the form factor of the 3DS in mind. Whereas the series' first game offered one large single mansion to explore, its sequel adopted a level-based mission structure that allows for play sessions to be neatly bookended. For those playing their 3DS on the commute to school or work, these digestible missions allowed for steady progress with specific goals in mind.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD: Shining a Dark Light on the Past
Source: Press Kit.

That structure is untouched in the re-release, which sets it apart as a distinctive aspect of LM2 when compared to the third game in the series, which was developed specifically for the Nintendo Switch. When LM2 was released, there were questions and concerns surrounding the potential future direction of the series; would subsequent releases be similar to LM2 or closer to the original game? Luigi’s Mansion 3 successfully blended the original game's open-ended structure with the sequel's panache, creating a package that a wide variety of players loved.

As a result, LM2 enters the pantheon of past Nintendo games being given the chance to once again bask in the spotlight. Here was a game that could exist on its own merits.

On a revisit, the game is a wonderfully digestible adventure with a variety of set pieces that each offer a unique spin on a goofily spooky vibe. Each of the five mansions Luigi visits across Evershade Valley is visually distinct and only enhanced by the generous visual upgrades across the board in this version of the game. From the familiar homely halls of Gloomy Manor to the frigid caverns of the Secret Mines, each mansion offers unique aesthetics and obstacles.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD: Shining a Dark Light on the Past
Source: Press Kit.

These impressive locales are only half of the story, complemented as they are by the presence of the classic ghosts. In an attempt to tone down the scares for younger audiences, the ghosts in LM2 feel far closer to slapstick villains but are delightfully entertaining in their own right. Each type of ghost has a distinct personality that consistently informs how it behaves and interacts with its environment. Greenies are the usual troublemakers, but Hiders are sneakier in their mischief-making. By understanding these archetypes, you not only gain insights on how to handle them, but it also enriches the comic relief for a complete package. The series as a whole is the gold standard for the wider Mario franchise when it comes to expressive enemies.

This stylistic leap is a broad-reaching one that has influenced the direction of the franchise, bringing it into an altogether unique experience that feels distinct from its predecessor. Unlike the original game, which is known for its unnerving atmosphere, LM2 stylistically aligns with the overall Mario universe. It features a synth-heavy soundtrack and a brighter tone, creating a distinct and different experience from its predecessor. Using rounded and abstract architecture creates a strong sense of being in the Mario world, in contrast with the intentional otherworldly feel of the original game’s mansion.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD: Shining a Dark Light on the Past
Source: press Kit.

Then and Now

Combat and movement have seen subtle but substantial improvements when moving from the form factor of the 3DS to a more traditional control scheme. Unlike the 3DS, which was largely limited to a single circle pad, the Nintendo Switch has no such restrictions. As a result, it is now possible to move Luigi and aim the Poltergust independently of each other. On paper, this doesn’t sound like a big change at all. In practice, LM2 HD handles significantly better on the Switch than ever before and can shine as a result.

I decided to dust off my 3DS and play the original version of the game, to truly appreciate the changes of this new version. In their remasters Nintendo has proven themselves to be canny at including changes that might pass us by on a surface-level glance. The average person might not notice the significant increase in character speed in the remastered Super Mario 3D World when compared to the Wii U version. The same is true for reducing player friction in the remaster of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Very similar to those examples, Luigi’s Mansion 2 subtly changes controls that make a revisit to the original far more arduous (and cramp-inducing) than I had initially remembered.

Exploring rooms and clearing them out for treasures and gems, as well as wrangling unruly ghosts, becomes far easier with the luxury of the Switch's two sticks to coordinate the cleaning efforts. I felt far more inclined to explore and use things like the dark-light device on the environment when it feels more comfortable to operate. I had a real precision with the areas that I wanted to investigate and naturally engaged with the world far more than I had done in previous playthroughs, though that may come down to my appreciation of a slower pace as I get older.

Combat itself is still as tactile as ever, taking the classic tug-of-war formula and bringing it to strong and exhilarating new heights. Building up a meter by pulling in the opposite direction before unleashing a massive tug and dealing damage to a ghost is a cycle that never gets old, bringing a strong bit of kinetic energy to a game that otherwise has a slow pace. Watching Luigi being dragged around the room by a gaggle of aggressive ghosts is fun and keeps the energy high, as you are constantly pulling in the opposite direction.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD: Shining a Dark Light on the Past
Source: Press Kit.

The bosses also experience a new sense of grandeur on a big screen with the HD refresh. While I may miss some of the bespoke 3D effects from the original game, it’s hard to deny that the graphical refresh hasn’t had a major role in bringing these memorable encounters to a new audience. The menace of the Spider Queen and a foldable set of stairs are unmatched when allowed to have a bigger presence.

Although I appreciate the effort to include the Scarescraper from the original Luigi’s Mansion 2 in this remaster, it’s in this mode that I noticed the cracks and how much the third game’s multiplayer has improved. In the short period that I played this mode, I had a confusing and strange experience that was severely affected by latency and repetition. Scarescraper was a commendable aspect to bring back, especially with it still an option in the third game, but I was not excited to revisit it.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD: Shining a Dark Light on the Past
Source: Press Kit.

The Verdict

Luigi’s Mansion 2 is not a flawless game and ends up sacrificing some of what made the original so distinctive in trying to create a sequel. The cast of ghosts haunting Luigi in this title is a cut below the spectral family tree from the original game, an active point of criticism that was vocally addressed in the lead-up to the third game in 2019. Similarly, the level-based structure of the game can be considered the same, as it cannot be changed without completely reimagining the game from the ground up.

Where these aspects of Luigi's Mansion 2 might set it apart from the surrounding titles, and might be a reason that some do not see it as a worthy sequel, this remaster allows for the original game to shine alongside Luigi’s Mansion 3. The middle entry in the series offers a distinctive experience with a singular appeal.

More than anything, it's nice to see Nintendo continue to respect its heritage and catalogue with remasters like this, which should continue as we move ever forward toward the next piece of Nintendo hardware.

Indie Monthly: July 2024

Indie Monthly: July 2024

It's been a brutal summer - the perfect time to stay in and try out a few new games. While coverage of indie games has been dominated by the flood of quick-flip cash-baiting clickers, there were some more substantial titles on offer in July. That includes a nontraditional RPG, a nontraditional platformer, and a really traditional adventure game. Even if you overbought in the last Steam sale, you should at least give these a closer look.

If you'd like to see these games in action, check out the Find the Fabulist YouTube channel.

Indie Monthly: July 2024
Source: Author.

SCHiM

The world is full of creatures called schims, strange entities unnoticed by most that dwell in the shadows cast by people and objects. You are one such schim, living in a young man's shadow. One day, a fluke results in you becoming unmoored from that familiar shadow and launched into the world at large. Your goal is to navigate a world of light and shadow as you attempt to find your way back home.

SCHiM is a puzzle platformer seen from an isometric perspective, an unusual setup for a game like this. The player leaps from shadow to shadow while heading toward set objectives. A schim can last for short periods in direct light, but only enough time for one additional short jump. If the shadows are too far apart to reach by jumping alone, the player will need to hitch a ride with a moving object, find an alternate route, or solve a simple puzzle to create or move shadows.

The moment-to-moment gameplay in SCHiM is very simple. You might occasionally get stuck, but a minute of exploration is usually enough to get unstuck and keep the game moving forward. Similarly, the jumping mechanics are extremely forgiving, letting a typical player move between shadows quickly and with few errors. It is, overall, a very easygoing experience.

The main selling point for SCHiM might be its style. The high-contrast monochrome world is striking, with a remarkable amount of detail in the environments and animations. Many screens are also built around a wordless narrative - a simple story told through people's actions, vehicles, and even the weather. While a skillful player can hop through SCHiM in short order, it's worth taking the occasional moment to soak in the little details.

SCHiM is available for PC via Steam, PlayStation consoles, and Nintendo Switch. A copy was provided for this review.

Indie Monthly: July 2024
Source: Author.

Galactic Glitch

Galactic Glitch is a twin-stick shooter with a physics-based twist. In addition to the genre-standard armaments, the player's ship comes equipped with a gravity beam that can be used to grab debris, missiles, and even small enemies and fling them as projectiles. Using the gravity beam is strictly optional, one of several offensive choices offered to the player, but it's certainly a satisfying tool to use.

The objective is to reach a boss area at the end of a procedurally generated maze of rooms. Those rooms can contain enemies, shops, or teleporters that can be used for quick travel across the maze. A few rooms are also guaranteed to contain optional challenges yielding items that can be used to upgrade the player's ship later on. There is an emphasis on exploration, but a speed-minded player can also make a beeline for the boss and earn a separate bonus for being quick.

While there is a bit of a play-it-as-you-want vibe to Galactic Glitch, it's a pretty typical twin-stick shooter at heart. It is an above average shooter, one with solid controls and interesting visuals, but there's nothing revolutionary here. If you're a fan of arcade shooters and want something with some replay value, Galactic Glitch is a good choice, but it's going to offer less to those who are cold to the action roguelike boom.

Galactic Glitch is available for PC via Steam. A copy was provided for this review.

Indie Monthly: July 2024
Source: Author.

MonCon

The remote Mondoton Island is home to a facility that exists for only one purpose - MonCon, the world's most celebrated convention. A young man named Joey has just arrived on Mondoton Island in hopes of getting an autograph from the island's reclusive owner, the game developer Mr. Miyashiro. There's one big problem: Joey is painfully introverted and can't bring himself to speak to anyone. With the help of some new friends - the excitable, somewhat delusional geek Karl and Marnie, a podcaster with anger issues - he'll have to figure out how to navigate the con, deal with celebrities, uncover a conspiracy, and finally meet the legend.

MonCon is an RPG built around rhythm mechanics. The framing of the combat is very unusual - no actual fighting takes place, as the combat is symbolic of the protagonist navigating stressful conversations. Both offense and defense are conducted through a DDR-style rhythm minigame, which is fairly generous with the timing and isn't usually too hard. Enemies have weaknesses to certain attacks but there's no clear RPS system here - the player needs to figure out whether flattery, insults, empathy, or geek chat are the best options against any foe.

While there are specific objectives, MonCon involves a lot of wandering. New floors of the convention center and hotel open up after key story moments, introducing new characters and mechanics. There are a lot of sidequests, including minigames that spoof popular video games, trading, collecting, and a cosplay contest. Most of these are optional but expect to get pulled into several of them over the course of the story.

Since it's a rhythm game, it's worth mentioning the music. While the overworld BGM is pretty standard, the combat music is quite distinctive. Standard music is bass-heavy, while attacks from both PCs and enemies have their own distinctive musical character, drawing from many different genres and styles.

MonCon is available for PC via Steam. A copy was provided for this review.

Indie Monthly: July 2024
Source: Author.

Tachyon Dreams Anthology

Dodger, a dishwasher on a space station, is about to become an unwitting hero. The station's computer has detected a temporal anomaly and with no one else available to deal with it, the computer drafts Dodger into the time engineering service. Armed with a time travel remote, Dodger will need to move across time periods and repair the damage to the time stream, all the while piecing together clues pointing to an undiscovered history.

Tachyon Dreams Anthology is a series of three short adventure games built around 1980s design principles. Visually, the game goes to great lengths to recreate the graphical style of a computer game released on a mid-80s system such as the Amiga or Atari ST. This carries over to the keyboard-only control scheme, with the player using the direction keys to move and a text parser to issue commands.

The games themselves are about what you'd expect. The player moves across different rooms scattered across space and time, collecting objects that are used to solve puzzles elsewhere. There are certainly some obtuse puzzles here and there, but most are fair and an experienced adventure game enthusiast should be able to finish the anthology in a reasonable amount of time.

Tachyon Dreams Anthology is available for PC via Steam. A copy was provided for this review.


That wraps up our look at the games that caught our attention during July, be sure to come back each month for more indie games you want to look out for!

Goodbye Seoul – Alpha Demo

Goodbye Seoul is a narrative-driven cinematic puzzle platforming adventure set in a world that’s going to be wiped out in six months time.

In Goodbye Seoul you are a young woman called Rion, who is struggling to come to terms with the fact that the world is about to be wiped out by an asteroid collision in six months. There’s no stopping the asteroid. Humanity … Read More

The post Goodbye Seoul – Alpha Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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A Webbing Journey – Beta Demo

A Webbing Journey is a charming physics-based 3D sandbox platforming adventure where a cute little spider helps complete chores in a giant house.

In A Webbing Journey you take control of an adorable little spider who likes to help out around the house. Each level takes place in a different room, which is essentially a self-contained little sandbox filled with places to explore, characters to … Read More

The post A Webbing Journey – Beta Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Oyster Wars – Alpha Demo

Oyster Wars is a challenging non-linear pixel art platformer where an angry fisherman uses a hook-shot as he seeks revenge on a greedy CEO.

In Oyster Wars you take on the role of Wade – a disgruntled fisherman who sets out to take down the greedy corporation that fired him. Traversing the game’s large non-linear world is tricky but you have a nifty hook-shot that … Read More

The post Oyster Wars – Alpha Demo first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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The Local – Open Beta

The Local is a fast and fluid rail-grinding parkour game where you race through large open courses in the Australian outback.

In The Local there are several different game modes – Orders, Zen, inferno and Timed. The Timed mode features traditional races from point A to B, Zen mode allows you to just freely explore the world, Inferno is a backers-only mode and the Orders … Read More

The post The Local – Open Beta first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Somber Echoes – Beta Sign Up

Somber Echoes is a Sci-Fi dark fantasy metroidvania where a Greco-Roman space vessel has become the breeding ground for horrors from an unknown dimension.

In Somber Echoes you are a powerful warrior who has been awoken by a mysterious force to prevent your sister from unravelling the universe. Your ship is in ruins and infested with untold horrors that you’ll need to dispatch to regain … Read More

The post Somber Echoes – Beta Sign Up first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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Mischief Castle - A very enjoyable NES platformer by kn56k, gets an update!

We've recently been informed through Facebook, that kn56k has released an update to the previously released NES game of ' Mischief Castle '; a game that was first released via the&nbsp;itch.io Selects Spring Bundle 2024. As for why this one might be worth playing on your NES. It features simultaneous two-player cooperative gameplay, hidden collectible items, five unique levels and Bosses, varied

Stick Man Arok Edition - Escape from the clutches of Evil in this level extended Plus/4 game from Epy and Csabo

Are you looking for another game to play on your Commodore Plus/4 then read on. As looking through the Plus/4 World website, we've come across a game we haven't featured yet called 'Stick Man Arok Edition' by Epy with music by Csabo. A new platformer in which you must escape from the clutches of the Evil Programmer. In light of this news, Saberman has provided a gameplay video showing some of the

Humble Games' final release before "restructuring" has launched a Patreon "in these uncertain times"

Humble Games' last release before the studio was "restructured" last week, Bõ: Path of the Teal Lotus, has launched a Patreon to support the game "in these uncertain times".

Writing on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, developer Squid Shock said that whilst it did not fault the team's work, Humble's changes "have meant we have missed out on critical post-launch support, which may put our studio's future at risk".

Although Humble has disputed the statements of former staff that characterised the layoffs as a shutdown, instead insisting laying off its staff is merely a "restructuring", Squid Shock also describes the changes as "shutting down".

Read more

Eight years later, acclaimed 2D Soulslike Salt and Sanctuary just got a rock-hard Randomiser mode

Salt and Sanctuary, from Ska Studios, is a bit bloody good, serving up an enormously enjoyable, Dark Souls-inspired slice of 2D action-adventure. It's also now eight years old - but that hasn't stopped it from getting a surprise update this week, adding a tough new Randomiser mode.

Salt and Sanctuary, which initially released for PlayStation 4 and PC back in 2016, is a fairly explicit attempt to translate From Software's now oft-replicated dark fantasy RPG formula, complete with considered combat and corpse runs, into two dimensions. It begins on the shores of a vast and broodily enigmatic kingdom, which players - in the role of the Saltborn - must explore and overcome, tackling enemies and imposing bosses along the way.

It's good stuff, and not exactly a walk in the park, but it just got a whole lot tougher thanks to its new Randomiser mode. As detailed over on Steam, Salt and Sanctuary players looking to give themselves a real challenge can now select from three randomiser options: Item Randomiser, Monster Randomiser, and Scaling Monster Randomiser.

Read more

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