With all the farming sims in the gaming scene, I do wish we had more scifi themed titles. Just imagine the potential? I could use robots to plow the fields for me, and all sorts!
I can only think of one scifi farming sim. That was Innocent Life for the Sony Playstation Portable. I have been playing it more in recent months (Emulation is a wonderful thing!) and despite the enormous grind and unskippable cutscenes when I’m forced to watch the characters walk slowly from one area to another, I love the game’s atmosphere and worldbuilding.
Why am I going down this weird trip down memory lane? If I don’t review a futuristic farming sim now, my beginning will be wasted. Thankfully, I am going somewhere with this, and today’s episode of Scar Tries features my opening experience with The Last Craftsman. A code was provided by AuraTummyache through Keymailer for this piece, thank you for that! It is available in Early Access.
While The Last Craftsman has been well received on Steam, it seems to be criminally overlooked with only a handful of reviews. That’s a shame, because this is an impressive crafting sim packed with features. While it is more designed around research and development than farming, you can still make a ton of money through crops. The advantage of all the future technology comes into play here, as much of the grind that other farming sims possess do not apply here. Crops grow without the need to water them every day, and you can automate a lot of production. This gives you more time to explore the expansive map The Last Craftsman offers. It did not take long for me to realize just how much effort AuraTummyache has put into his game.
The basics of the genre are all present here. You are the new craftsman in the town of Gear Springs after the previous architect died, so it is down to you to deal with the whims of the citizens! The map is fairly large and split into several zones, and offers a ton of places to explore. The biggest strength of The Last Craftsman for me is the research system. Items come with dozens of different properties such as Plain, Cute, Fruit, and so on, and you have to tailor the town’s needs to those properties. Fortunately the research mechanic helps this a lot, and by sacrificing resources, you gain more knowledge and the ability to craft new things. It is a simple gameplay loop but that is the beauty of it. I just found myself eager to keep exploring.
I have reviewed a lot of farming sims on here the last couple of years. The Last Craftsman might not be the most refined, but it is probably the most refreshing. I was not sure about it when I first started playing it, but a few hours in and it really left an impression on me. For $10, you can not do much wrong with that price, and there is more than enough in The Last Craftsman to keep your interest.
We’re in another heatwave in the UK, and I wish I had some mountain air to keep me cool! In today’s episode of Scar Tries, I’m featuring a game very special to my heart.
Dungeons of Hinterberg was one of the games I was most excited for in 2024, and it does not disappoint. Developed by Microbird, it’s proving to be one of my favorite games I’ve played this year.
Dungeons of Hinterberg is a beautiful action-RPG, boasting an expansive collection of dungeons to explore, combat, and puzzle sections to chew through. It also places a strong emphasis on exploration and character relationships. It takes place in the wilderness of the Austrian Alps, and from the very beginning, the game’s visual design drew me in. From the opening cutscene, I was introduced to the snowy backdrops leading to the quaint town of Hinterberg: a tourist site and the cornerstone of the Master Slayer. While the world is vibrant and based on real life, I love how it blends the fantasy elements together.
You play as Lusia, who has come to Hinterberg to challenge the famed Dungeons of Hinterberg. It must be grueling, juggling her corporate lifestyle with her ambitions to be the great slayer of monsters, but I’m not one to judge! This mix of frantic combat moments and the relaxing sober experience of forming new friendships feels like a great balance, and that suits me just fine! I enjoy slaughtering monsters as much as any guy, but I also enjoy comfortable nights with a hot drink. In Dungeons of Hinterberg, you can do both.
The early gameplay is a mix of tutorials to teach players the basic game mechanics: normal stuff! While I did not get much time to explore (the game is eager to get you into the dungeon crawling part quickly), I still enjoyed seeing the sights. The graphics really pop on the Steam Deck, and the art design reminds me a little like Sable. With the number of ways to travel the alpine world such as snowboarding, ziplines, and classic mountain climbing, exploration is one of the game’s biggest strengths.
Combat is fast, and you’ll be tasked with fighting a whole slew of different monsters that roam the Hinterberg wilds. While the playable slice only gives you a few options, what I played felt solid enough. In combat the player is locked into a death arena circle, so you’re forced into quick decisions. Thankfully we got full controller support out of the box, and I had a blast slaughtering the monsters that opposed me. The mix of accessibility and puzzle elements make dungeon crawling delightful, even when I get stuck.
This is just an early impressions piece, because I wanted to get a little time with the game to see if it was something I wanted to pursue. I’m happy to say that not only does it meet my expectations, but it exceeds it. This is a brilliant experience so far, and all I want to do is return to Hinterberg. With all my writing projects amidst all the games I need to play, that might be a bad thing. However, there are worse vices than addiction to awesome indie games. Dungeons of Hinterberg is excellent so far, and I won’t be surprised if it makes some GOTY lists in December.
It is time for another bite-sized review! Today, we’re off to the lovely town of Sunnyside in Japan in a charming farming sim. Well, just calling Sunnyside a farming sim is slightly incorrect, and there’s a lot more to the game than meets the eye. Big thanks to the lovely folks at RainyGames for providing me with a review code.
Sunnyside is a pretty big game with a ton of content, so consider this a general impressions piece. I’ve played about twenty hours of the game so far, and I feel I’ve got enough of a grasp on the mechanics to share my thoughts. I’m writing this during a mini UK heatwave, and everyone knows how much we British folk love complaining about the heat! Seriously, the combination of island humidity plus no AC is not a pleasant time! So I’m hunched over my laptop with cooling fans set to full power, hoping I can be productive.
Launching into Early Access last month, Sunnyside started with the usual launch bugginess, but many of the bugs and technical issues were quickly squashed by the team. It’s sitting on a ‘Mostly Positive’ score right now, which is probably where I would place it too. Before I dig deeper, I can say if you are in the mood for a farming simulation game with some interesting mechanics and a great atmosphere, Sunnyside might just be the game for you. As an Early Access title, it is in active development and will see some unfinished stuff behind the scenes. Its current price tag is $29.99, which is what I would expect for a large game like this. For Early Access, some might call that a little high, especially given the rough state.
Sunnyside features a fairly robust narrative alongside the typical farming gubbins. You play as a lady who moves into the rural region from the big city, determined to try something new. Despite her big sister doubting she has what it takes, she can secure the run-down farming plot, losing most of her money. I was delighted to find out you will lose the game immediately if you don’t bid on the plot, so that’s a funny little thing the devs put in. It made me laugh. Either way, you get the farming plot, receive some help from some happy locals, and the game begins in earnest. With the aid of construction drones and some modern technology, the usual farming grind is not as frustrating in Sunnyside.
Let’s slow down to discuss the characters and dialogue. Overall, I quite like the characters in Sunnyside. There are many, and they seem fairly well written from my experience. They have their distinct personalities and quirks that make them stand out. One pitfall of having a town full of people to befriend in these games is being able to make them unique, and Sunnyside does a decent job with that. I’m torn on the main character you play, however.
Her dialogue is very straight, to the point, and almost robotic. You’ll be meeting a ton of people in the early game and I found myself speeding through the dialogue scenes. I’m not saying her dialogue is bad because it might be a character trait. Given her relationship with her sister and all the interactions I’ve experienced in the game, it is possible our main character just might be that personality. I haven’t got any insight from the developers on what their intention was around the main character, but if it is a deliberate writing choice, then I’m happy to keep it as is. It was just something I needed to point out, as I’m sure I’m not the only one who noticed something off with her dialogue.
There are some odd science fiction elements too. While discovering the local cave for resources, you’ll come across a strange robot from an alien race, lost and confused. This robotic chap is called Sparky, and you’ll be bringing him with you on a long journey to uncover the secrets behind this civilization. The caves are also full of weird creatures who will attack you on sight, leading to a deckbuilding combat game. This is just one of many mechanics in Sunnyside. While I was surprised by the twist in the story, the combat is relatively enjoyable with many cards to use. You can adjust game difficulty in several areas from economy to combat, and I appreciate the amount of accessibility Sunnyside offers.
Visually, Sunnyside is very easy on the eyes. Getting around has a couple of frustrations with invisible walls (some paths are blocked off which felt weird to me) but overall the exploration is great. You get access to a bike fairly early on which helps exploring even further. This is a pretty large map to explore, and being able to call any vehicle to you from the phone is a big perk. One problem a lot of farming games share is getting around the world, and Sunnyside bucks this trend. You get access to other ways of transport as you progress in the game, but I have yet to unlock them.
To conclude, what can we decipher from my experience in Sunnyside so far? It offers something refreshing from the usual farming games with the setting and storyline, and it gives players enough tools to overcome some of my usual gripes with the genre. It is fairly easy to make money, it looks great with its gorgeous atmosphere, and I felt emotionally attached to the gameplay. As an Early Access title, it does not skimp on content, but it carries some rough edges despite the improvements to performance since launch. I’m still really unsure of what the main character’s dialogue is built around, but overlooking these things, I can still recommend Sunnyside in its present state.
However, this is a tough market. First impressions are important, and while Sunnyside has improved a lot since its launch, it is still a little janky. Farming sim fans will probably enjoy what Sunnyside has to offer, but they might want to wait a little longer for performance improvements before diving in. Regardless, I was looking forward to Sunnyside for months before its launch, and I’m fairly happy with it so far.
I am doing something a little different for this piece! Into the Emberlands launched in Steam Early Access last month, a cosy exploration roguelike developed by Tiny Roar.
I wrote a full review on SteamDeckHQ, so here’s the link to my piece up on there for a full overview of the game, including extensive Steam Deck testing (which is the main reason for the site!) I decided instead of writing up a full review again for here, it is a better use of my time to make a short summary, and if you’re interested in a longer piece to just go to my review there. I write for a few outlets these days, and with so many projects going on I feel like a kitten running after a dozen balls of string in every direction!
Into the Emberlands is a pretty charming game even in its Early Access state, boasting colorful visuals, engaging gameplay, and enough meat on the bones to warrant its asking price. Seeing how you can buy Emberlands for $6.49, it is difficult to say no to that. Hell, I spent more than that yesterday getting a massive slice of cheesecake delivered to my door for the Wimbledon Final!
While the game’s loop rarely steps beyond fetch quests, I found it more engaging than I expected. You can unlock extra help for future runs in the form of more wood or a starting axe, which aids the replayability. In terms of flaws, I found Into the Emberlands a little janky around the edges, especially with input lag on the computer when clicking on an event or loading a menu. This is less noticable on the Steam Deck, but it is enough to mention. There should be more than enough to keep you engaged, and I still love booting it up for a quick dose of gaming when I need something comfortable to play. Into the Emberlands is a cosy cup of hot chocolate, and easily gets my recommendation.
It’s gonna be a busy few weeks ahead! Tacticon is on again this week, and I have a bunch of reviews I am working on. Expect some more interviews in the following weeks as well with the wonderful creators behind these games!
This Crime Scene Cleaner VIP Card guide will explain how to find the card and what to do with it. This is part of one of the game’s achievements ‘Gold on the Ceiling’ and is one of the many additional tasks in the game that contains secrets and achievements aplenty. Crime Scene Cleaner may look bare on the surface but it has been a big hit on Steam with fans giving the title great reviews.
Note: The content in this article is accurate as of the time of writing and does not account for any future updates to the game
Crime Scene Cleaner VIP Card Walkthrough
During the Trial by Blood mission you have the chance to find and use a VIP card to unlock some of the secret rooms which can help trigger an achievement. The first step to all of this is finding the card.
By going to the Solarium you should find a locker card noted as W024. What this means is it will open women’s locker 024. Head to the women’s lockers and open locker 24 and you’ll find another card. Not the V.I.P card though.
In this locker is actually a seperate card for M024. Yes, you now have to make your way to the men’s lockers and open locker 24. In here is the VIP card that will set the next events in motion.
With the VIP card in hand you now have to figure out how to use it. By going through to the pump room where the water controls are you can use the card to unlock a secret door off to the side of the pool. Through this door is a hidden room with some valuable items. More importantly, this should pop the achievement for ‘Gold on the Ceiling’ and complete the additional task for this mission.
That is all for this Crime Scene Cleaner VIP Card guide. Did we omit anything? Is there any other Crime Scene Cleaner content you’d like to see? Be sure to chime in and let us know.
Check out the rest of our tips & guides to find our other builds and tips/walkthroughs/explainers for games across all genres including NBA 2K, MLB: The Show, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, DREDGE, Football Manager, Steam indie hits, free-to-play titles and a lot more.
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This Dredge Devils Spine samples guide will detail what to do to get the correct samples from Devil’s Spine. This is specifically for the latest DLC drop the Iron Rig which has added even more content to this already thrilling title. Dredge is a 2023 release that proved to be a big hit on Steam, the Iron Rig DLC is still new but has been getting good feedback from established players.
You likely know the rodeo by now. After bringing the last set of samples back to the scientist there’s another issue which causes more of the mysterious black substance to appear in the gameworld. This time it is in the notoriously difficult Devil’s Spine region. The scientist appears to be actively scared this time so you know the story is progressing somewhere with this latest incident.
You’ll have to again upgrade your equipment before being able to complete this section. Not only do you need an infused rod but it has to be fireproof(!) so it’s time to bring some resources to the engineer’s again.
To get this newest upgrade you have to bring an Ironhaven crate, Dark Canister, and heat-resistant line which will provide you with the Infused Fireproof rod and enable you to fish in the Devil’s Spine.
There’s a crab catch for this sample as well so set down a crab pot as soon as you can and let it work away while you go to catch the necessary samples. The samples are found in the black pools which are marked clearly as Disturbed Water so you’ll know where to look.
To complete this area and get the necessary samples you’ll need to find the following:
Dunkleosteus
Giant Dragonfish
Sea Scorpion
Vetuluciloa
With that, you can bring this set of samples back to the scientist and trigger the next actions in the game, which appear to be the conclusion of the Iron Rig DLC’s arc.
That is all for this Dredge Devils Spine Samples guide. Did we omit anything? Is there any other Dredge content you’d like to see, specifically from the Iron Rig DLC? Be sure to chime in and let us know.
Check out the rest of our tips & guides to find our other builds and tips/walkthroughs/explainers for games across all genres including NBA 2K, MLB: The Show, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, DREDGE, Football Manager, Steam indie hits, free-to-play titles and a lot more.
Stay tuned to Last Word on Gaming for all the latest gaming news and reviews You can always count on LWOG to be on top of the major news in the gaming world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the world of video games.
This Dredge Twisted Strand samples guide will detail what to do to get the correct samples from Twisted Strand. This is specifically for the latest DLC drop the Iron Rig which has added even more content to this already thrilling title. Dredge is a 2023 release that proved to be a big hit on Steam, the Iron Rig DLC is still new but has been getting good feedback from established players.
Note: The content in this article is accurate as of the time of writing and does not account for any future updates to the game
Dredge Twisted Strand Guide for Iron Rig DLC
Things on the rig continue to go wrong as the drill activates again and causes the mysterious ooze to infect a new area. This time around it is in the Twisted Strand. This will cause the scientist to need new samples as the black substance brings with it some new fish that need to be studied, this appears to be the main gameplay loop of this DLC.
Once again to complete a new region you have to have the right equipment to make sure you can catch the requires fish. This time around you’ll need an Infused Coiling Rod in order to catch the fish. So if you’ve been trying with no luck to get the sample it might be best to check your equipment.
Again you have to speak to the engineer in the factory and provide the right materials in order to get an upgrade. This time you’ll need an Ironhaven Crate, Dark Canister, Anti-Tangle line, and an already purchased Mangrove Rode. By providing these materials you’ll be rewarded with the Infused Coiling Rod to complete this section.
Once again there is a crab catch so let off a crab pot in the Twisted Strand before fishing to save some time. You should then fish in the black water which will be clearly marked on the screen as Disturbed Water.
You’ll have to get the following samples to complete this task:
Boreaspis
Opabinia
Nipponites
Xinphactinus
With these fish caught you can return them to the scientist to complete this section of the Iron Rig DLC and proceed to the next set of samples.
That is all for this Dredge Twisted Strand Samples guide. Did we omit anything? Is there any other Dredge content you’d like to see, specifically from the Iron Rig DLC? Be sure to chime in and let us know.
Check out the rest of our tips & guides to find our other builds and tips/walkthroughs/explainers for games across all genres including NBA 2K, MLB: The Show, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, DREDGE, Football Manager, Steam indie hits, free-to-play titles and a lot more.
Stay tuned to Last Word on Gaming for all the latest gaming news and reviews You can always count on LWOG to be on top of the major news in the gaming world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the world of video games.
This Dredge Gale Cliffs samples guide will detail what you’ll need to catch in Gale Cliffs as part of the new DLC content. This is specifically for the latest DLC drop the Iron Rig which has added even more content to this already thrilling title. Dredge is a 2023 release that proved to be a big hit on Steam, the Iron Rig DLC is still new but has been getting good feedback from established players.
Note: The content in this article is accurate as of the time of writing and does not account for any future updates to the game
Dredge Gale Cliffs Samples Tips
After bringing back the samples from The Marrows you’ll be informed that there’s still some new areas to get fish from. This is due to the drill’s action causing some widespread chaos with the eruption of the black ooze. Despite the drill retracting, the damage has been done.
First things first, you have to get another rod, the one provided by the scientist for The Marrows won’t sufficiently do the job so you’ll need to go to the factory on The Rig. By talking to the engineer and providing an Ironhaven Crate and a Hydraulic Rod you’ll get the latest invention.
With this invention, you’ll be able to use an Infused Winch, providing you with the best fishing power yet in all kinds of waters. You actively cannot complete this section without the Infused Winch so if you’ve been fishing and had no luck that’s likely why. This advancement is needed to fish properly in the murky waters around the cliffs.
Fish in the oily spots around the Gale Cliffs and use a Crab Pot in the area as one of the required samples is a Crab Pot catch only. You’ll know you’re in the correct spot as the screen will display that you’re in Disturbed Water. By doing this you should be able to catch the necessary samples for the scientist which are:
Lancetfish
Nautilus
Sollasina
Trilobite
With these collected, head back to the scientist to provide the samples and advance the story, thus completing the Gale Cliffs samples section.
That is all for this Dredge Gale Cliffs Samples guide. Did we omit anything? Is there any other Dredge content you’d like to see, specifically from the Iron Rig DLC? Be sure to chime in and let us know.
Check out the rest of our tips & guides to find our other builds and tips/walkthroughs/explainers for games across all genres including NBA 2K, MLB: The Show, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, DREDGE, Football Manager, Steam indie hits, free-to-play titles and a lot more.
Stay tuned to Last Word on Gaming for all the latest gaming news and reviews You can always count on LWOG to be on top of the major news in the gaming world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the world of video games.
This Dredge The Marrows samples guide will detail what to do to get the correct samples from The Marrows. This is specifically for the latest DLC drop the Iron Rig which has added even more content to this already thrilling title. Dredge is a 2023 release that proved to be a big hit on Steam, the Iron Rig DLC is still new but has been getting good feedback from established players.
Note: The content in this article is accurate as of the time of writing and does not account for any future updates to the game
Dredge The Marrows Samples Tips
After activating the Iron Rig’s missions you’ll be asked by a scientist to get fish samples after the rig causes an eruption of black ooze to infect the water. You’ll be tasked with The Marrows and soon after the Gale Cliffs but for now I’ll be focusing on The Marrows.
By going back to The Marrows it’s pretty clear what’s changed as their are some oily pools of water to fish in. You will have to use a new fishing rod from this DLC which is given to you by the scientist, this new equipment will need to be levelled up as you play through this new part of the game.
The Infused Rod given to you in this DLC does provide a canon explanation for why you’re able to catch new fish which is a nice touch, not to mention the contamination could cause some fish to be out of their usual places that were outside your depth previously.
By fishing in the oily patches, you should be able to find the new fish samples needed to complete the mission. Specifically though you will be looking for:
Osteostracan
Paddlefish
Sea Cucumber
Tullimonstrum
You’ll know if you’re in the right spots as the radar will tell you that you’re in disturbed water when you’re in the correct places.
With these fish caught you can bring them back to the scientist to provide all of the necessary samples from The Marrows and continue on to the next part of the DLC content.
That is all for this Dredge The Marrows Samples guide. Did we omit anything? Is there any other Dredge content you’d like to see, specifically from the Iron Rig DLC? Be sure to chime in and let us know.
Check out the rest of our tips & guides to find our other builds and tips/walkthroughs/explainers for games across all genres including NBA 2K, MLB: The Show, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, DREDGE, Football Manager, Steam indie hits, free-to-play titles and a lot more.
Stay tuned to Last Word on Gaming for all the latest gaming news and reviews You can always count on LWOG to be on top of the major news in the gaming world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the world of video game
This Supermarket Together TV guide will explain everything we know so far about the TVs in the game. Like a few other mechanics this has gone largely unexplained and caused some confusion among players. upermarket Together is a free-to-play title that has been a major hit over on Steam with thousands of players leaving positive reviews since its release in August.
Note: The content in this article is accurate as of the time of writing and does not account for any future updates to the game
Supermarket Together TV Explained
One of the many things you can buy in Supermarket Together for your store is a television. When you stock and place it it’s clear that you can interact with the TV, but so far nobody has been able to make something happen.
As of now, that’s because the necessary features haven’t been added, making the TVs purely decorational for the time being. There is a plan from the developers to discuss the TVs functionality soon but as of this writing the game doesn’t allow the player to fully engage with the televisions.
That is all for this Supermarket Together TV guide. Did we omit anything? Is there any other Supermarket Together content you’d like to see? Be sure to chime in and let us know. There’s a few different mechanics in Supermarket Together that we could dig into if there’s interest so please do let us know what you’d like to see explained about the game.
Check out the rest of our tips & guides to find our other builds and tips/walkthroughs/explainers for games across all genres including NBA 2K, MLB: The Show, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, Football Manager, Steam indie hits, free-to-play titles and a lot more.
Stay tuned to Last Word on Gaming for all the latest gaming news and reviews You can always count on LWOG to be on top of the major news in the gaming world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the world of video games
This Thank Goodness You’re Here Spill the Beans guide will help you complete one of the game’s trophies/achievements. Despite looking basic on the surface, this game is loaded with secrets that’ll keep you coming back for more. Thank Goodness You’re Here has proven to be a massive hit over on Steam with players.
Note: The content in this article is accurate as of the time of writing and does not account for any future updates to the game
Spill the Beans Walkthrough – Thank Goodness You’re Here
The Spill the Beans achievement/trophy wants you to kick a man when he’s down. There’s a lot of people who are down in this game and there’s a lot of people you mess with so just which character to interact with is a bit of a mystery at first.
In order to complete Spill the Beans, you’ll have to get near the end of a playthrough where at Nick’s Bricks there will be a man outside cooking beans over a fire. If you slap this man, you will complete the achievement.
Yep, that’s all. Just smack a presumably homeless person trying to cook beans and you’ll succeed.
That is all for this Thank Goodness You’re Here Spill the Beans guide. Did we omit anything? Is there any other Thank Goodness You’re Here content you’d like to see? Be sure to chime in and let us know.
Check out the rest of our tips & guides to find our other builds and tips for games across all genres including NBA 2K, MLB: The Show, Smalland: Survive the Wilds, Football Manager, and a lot more.
Stay tuned to Last Word on Gaming for all the latest gaming news and reviews You can always count on LWOG to be on top of the major news in the gaming world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the world of video games.
Portal to the Cosmobeat is a rhythm-based dancing action game where you have direct control of your limbs as you face off in dance battles across the galaxy.
In Portal to the Cosmobeat you are a young dance enthusiast who is given a magic ribbon by his mother and sent out into the galaxy to take part in epic dance battles. The dance battles blend … Read More
Journey Beyond the Edge of the World is a narrative-driven first person retro-sci-fi adventure set aboard a decommissioned fishing trawler that’s lost at sea in uncharted waters.
Taking place in 1953, in Journey Beyond the Edge of the World, players must navigate treacherous waters, solve environmental puzzles, and uncover hidden secrets to reveal a dark mystery. The rest of your crew has disappeared and … Read More
Pip My Dice is a Yahtzee roguelike where you’ll use customizable dice and powerful relics to rig the odds in your favor as you battle bosses and climb the online leaderboards.
Drawing inspiration from Balatro and Yahtzee, Pip My Dice is a dice-based roguelike deckbuilder where players can upgrade their dice or employ various strategies to battle their way through different stages. Players must … Read More
Puropu Defense Squad is a wacky third person action tower defense game where weird looking aliens defend their base against waves of horrible humans.
Playable with one to four players in online co-op, in Puropu Defense Squad you control a team of customizable heroes, each with unique abilities and weapons. The game combines tower defense mechanics with real-time combat, requiring strategic placement of units and … Read More
Endzone 2 is a survival city-builder game set in a post-apocalyptic world where players must manage resources, lead a group of survivors, and rebuild civilization.
A sequel to the 2021 original, in Endzone 2 players will expand their colony, explore dangerous and irradiated zones for resources, and defend against threats like raiders and environmental hazards. It features dynamic weather, a day-night cycle, vehicles, improved settler … Read More
Truck Mechanic: Dangerous Paths is a simulation game where players step into the shoes of a truck mechanic operating in challenging and hazardous terrains.
Set in a vast open world, Truck Mechanic: Dangerous Paths focuses on repairing, upgrading, and driving trucks as they traverse through perilous routes. Players must manage their workshop, source parts, and complete various missions to transport goods across dangerous landscapes, including … Read More
Karate Survivor features a very addictive fusion of beat ’em up and Survivors-like gameplay as a martial arts master beats up huge hordes of thugs.
Drawing inspiration from 80’s action movies, Karate Survivor is a Survivors-like roguelite beat ’em up where you use improvised weapons and combos to beat up thugs. The combat is similar to Stick it to the Stickman, with you able … Read More
SWAP/MEAT is a co-op roguelite third person shooter where you hunt aliens for their meat, which you use to swap out body parts with new abilities.
Playable with one to four players, in SWAP/MEAT you’re a Meat Scientist who works for Rangus Meats and travels to different planets and hunts aliens for meat. The body parts of the aliens you kill can be swapped out … Read More
Lightning Katana is a fast paced samurai action FPS inspired by Hotline Miami, Katana Zero and Devil May Cry.
In Lightning Katana you will kick, shoot, parry and slice your way through an entire Yakuza gang to avenge the death of your pet dog. The game plays a little like a blend of Hotline Miami and Wolfenstein 3D, with fast paced one-hit-kill combat, … Read More
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
Security: The Horrible Nights is a pixel art horror adventure where you’re a security guard in a hospital and every time you die an entirely new story begins.
Currently in development by Professional Villains (creators of The ER and Anglerfish), Security: The Horrible Nights is a horror game about a security guard in a hospital where anything can happen. Your job is to monitor … Read More
Worshippers of Cthulhu is an eldritch horror colony sim game where you build a city and perform rituals to awaken the almighty Cthulhu.
In Worshippers of Cthulhu you are a cult leader who is seeking to bring about a cosmic rebirth at the hands of Cthuhu and other maddening eldritch entities. After your ship washes up on a strange land with a giant pit that … Read More
Peacequarium is a chilled out idle aquarium simulator that you can stock with fish and leave running on your screen while you do some work.
The basic gameplay in Peacequarium is similar to most idle games – you earn money, and buy stuff and upgrades to earn more money. You’ll buy fish, buy food, upgrade your tank and collect rare, epic and legendary fish. There … Read More
MISTERY is an isometric multiplayer horror action game with social deduction where the monsters may be some of your teammates.
Playable with up to eight players, MISTERY is an SCP inspired asymmetric multiplayer horror game set after a catastrophic containment break at a secret facility. Players will need to arm themselves, blast hordes of monsters, unlock psionic powers and complete objectives. Things might not be … Read More
King’s Orders is a mediaeval strategy game where you command your away with letters that may have difficulties reaching their destination.
In most strategy games the orders you give are instantly followed and you can instantly see them take effect. That’s not how things actually worked throughout history though – messengers had to relay the information back and forth between the frontline and command, which … Read More
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
Midnight Murder Club is a tense and humorous multiplayer FPS where you’ll have to be strategic with your flashlight as you hunt each other down in a pitch black mansion.
In Midnight Murder Club each player starts with a flashlight and a revolver in a mansion with no other light sources whatsoever. There are traps, weapons and equipment hidden around the mansion, but the main … Read More
Five Laps at Freddy’s is a Mario Kart style mascot kart racing game starring Freddy Fazbear and pals.
The karting gameplay in Five Laps at Freddy’s is pretty similar to most Mario Kart style racing games. You can choose from a selection of FNaF characters, select which kart you’d like them to drive and then you use a mixture of driving skill, power-ups and luck … Read More
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.
Plenty of amazing games go unnoticed and are not played widely for various reasons. Maybe it’s a diamond in the rough, or the marketing wasn’t there, or it could be a game ahead of its time. For this monthly series, I’ve asked my fellow writers on SUPERJUMP to pick a game they think is deserving of a chance in the spotlight. Let us know your favorite hidden gems in the comments.
Josh Bycer
Desert Fox Games
Source: Steam.
A niche series I’ve been following for years now is Bad Dream, by Desert Fox. Over the past decade, they’ve released multiple adventure games under the series “Bad Dream” or recently with “Faded Stories.” Their style is about creating an unsettling atmosphere to tell a story in. In the Bad Dream games, it takes place in an abandoned world that was once set up to be an MMO, but it and its characters have been left to rot. While “Faded Stories” takes place in a city where the dead come back to life every once in a while and the people go about their business no matter what strange events occur.
While there are jump scares and some violent subject matter, it never goes into full-blown horror territory. The point is putting the player into a setting where at first glance things appear to be normal, but the more you look at it, the more “off” things are. You are often left with more questions than answers at the end of each game, and there are common elements between the different games.
Recent entries in both series have now moved into 3D exploration as opposed to just point and clicking. Source: Steam.
What is unusual for the series compared to other adventure games is that there is replay value with multiple endings, and this is tied to the puzzle logic that Desert Fox uses. Many of the puzzles in their games are built on event triggers – the player goes to X or picks up Y, and the next chain in the story shows up. Many puzzles are designed around the player having to find information in the world which acts as its own set of triggers. By replaying the game and knowing the information beforehand, you can break the sequences on purpose to find alternate routes and new lore. There is usually one special ending that requires a perfect run using the right items at the right time.
Unfortunately this kind of puzzle logic and storytelling does hurt the game in a way when it comes to the mainstream. Since each game has different characters, there isn’t anyone in them that would be considered “the protagonist”, so you don’t get the same connection as you would from other adventure games. The focus on sequences and event triggers also hurts when playing the game casually. This is not an adventure game where you can pick up everything in the world – you are only allowed to pick up or interact with items when they are relevant to the story. This means returning to previous areas to try and find a new item that is now required by the latest puzzle.
Darkness Under My Bed is another title that aims for a more claustrophobic feel. Source: Steam.
I still enjoy the series as a kind of throw back to the days of puzzle-heavy adventure games. Each game can be completed relatively fast if you’re not hunting for all secrets, and this makes them a really great pick up and play game when you’re in the mood for creepy puzzles.
Antony Terence
LEGO Batman (2008)
Source: Steam.
The first few LEGO games from the Xbox 360 era have a couple of flaws in common. Puzzles that didn’t make sense, near-impossible jumps, and simple AI were problems that troubled LEGO’s Gotham City rendition as well. But despite that, my brother and I had a great time as Robin and the caped crusader when we hunted Arkham Asylum convicts in a new story.
Stages consisted of straightforward button mashing to destroy enemies and the environment to collect LEGO studs between puzzles of varying difficulties. Vehicle levels add action-packed shootouts across air, sea, and land that keep the game fresh between the usual platforming segments. My brother and I usually managed to beat the game’s puzzles without consulting a walkthrough. When we got stuck, finding the solution only made us chuckle at how unintuitive it was. Since I had a partner, I didn’t run into the shoddy teammate AI that made puzzles more challenging to clear.
There’s no denying that LEGO’s innocent charm carries the game, even if Batman’s stoic nature and Robin’s mishaps don’t veer too far into the bizarre. This energy doesn’t bleed into Gotham City though, whose drab and realistic look doesn’t connect well with the cast of toy figures. Characters get unique abilities like Robin’s magnetic wall-walking suit and Batman’s batarangs. Levels also have secret paths that require new characters with abilities like super strength or poison immunity to access. LEGO studs collected across levels let you unlock characters like Nightwing and Batgirl. But that’s just one half of the game.
Source: Steam.
The second half lets you control Batman’s opponents right before the first half’s campaign missions play out. Poison Ivy can stun foes with her kiss, Mr. Freeze has his trusty freeze attacks, and the Riddler can straight-up control civilians. Killer Moth is in here too. While the visuals and story won’t win hearts, its LEGO-powered charm makes for a fun co-op romp through Gotham City. It’s no Rocksteady game but it doesn’t have to be.
Billing itself as a modern gothic tale, Frank and Drake is certainly that – but it's also a kind, winding tale of personal connections. Clocking in at a little over four and a half hours (at least, my first playthrough took around that long, spaced over a few days), developer Appnormals Team has managed to deliver a heartful rumination on the flaws that keep us from meeting others halfway, and the small moments of kindness to ourselves and those around us that brighten our lives.
I've lived in a city for nearly all my adult life. I know the backway graffiti, the quiet streets, and flickering lights in wide alleys. It's a vibe the game captures well, reminding me of nights when I stood by an alley close to home, looking at the neon-lit lights of a bar and hearing the raucous music inside as if it were a paean. I know how deep our connections go here, even if they feel as if they're surface level. People look out for each other. Neighbors take in mail, check on those they know live alone, keep an eye on the familiar paces we always see someone taking and worry when, one day, they're no longer there.
Frank and Drake illustrates this cohesive awareness of others in loving detail.
Between hours
The story revolves around two characters: the eponymous Frank and Drake. Frank functions in the daylight and has issues with memory, Drake is (literally) allergic to the sun and can only go out at night. They communicate, once Drake moves in, entirely through sticky notes left on the fridge. Through these, the relationship grows, moving from curious to caring as Frank and Drake begin to take on the burden of each other's troubles. This eventually unites them as they work towards the same goal. Something is afoot in Oriole City, and they both mean to find out what.
Source: Author.
I know the backway graffiti, the quiet streets, and flickering lights in wide alleys. It's a vibe the game captures well, reminding me of nights when I stood by an alley close to home, looking at the neon-lit lights of a bar and hearing the raucous music inside as if it were a paean.
We follow this branching mystery by taking turns playing through each of their points of view, with Drake at night and Frank during the day. It's through their "ships passing in the night" style of cohabitation that we learn what ails each of them, physically and mentally, and get slowly closer to finding out why.
The art style of the game utilizes rotoscoping, which traces animation over real movements, and these feel enlivened by the animations, given greater personality by the simple color and lighting. The movement is heavy, even, in something as simple as the contemplative lifting of a hand to draw a sticky note from the fridge after a restless sleep. These moments of movement are indicated by pressing the arrow keys in certain scenes, and they feel nearly meditative in their slowness. Take a moment, the game seems to say, relax with this.
The music moves between nascent lo-fi to soft jazz, echoing the lulling feeling of the game itself. Its decidedly reflective and moody, but that fits the nature of the game's mystery taking some darker turns. I played Frank and Drake mostly at night, which felt appropriate for me, glancing out occasionally over my own city skyline. It's a game with a comforting melody, a mystery to solve that's edgy but never brutal.
There's a lot to infer from Frank and Drake as well. It doesn't really hold your hand at all. I sometimes sleepwalk a bit through games, pressing buttons to progress without really putting thought into it, but this game requires more focus. Not by being loud and explosive and direct, but in the silent ways it asks you to put the pieces together. You move through its numerous puzzles without a real roadmap, but they're simple enough that a little bit of thoughtfulness can go a long way into solving what might otherwise be a frustrating thing when rushed. There was a small puzzle I had to do as Drake to make constellations, and I later realized these shapes corresponded with a pamphlet that I had on hand as a reference. I didn't know it then, but these tiny moments of realization tie directly into the narrative, even if they aren't always obvious.
At first, I thought this was a detriment (there were a few parts where I was left scratching at my head, wondering what to do next) but I also realized this was, in a way, user error: I was asking the game to tell me everything, when I should have been paying attention to what it was trying to say.
Longing for more
Frank spends his time chasing his own ghosts. There is a despondency to this – as if he's aware he may never catch them. Drake, meanwhile, moves with reluctance through his troubles, haunted by actual ghosts but lamenting the fact that they're even there. These are characters who have been through a lot, but still manage to exude kindness and a readiness to help, even if it's just to escape their own turmoil. I leveled up their relationship fairly quickly, moving them to intimates by the 3rd day out of a 6-day period, mostly because it felt the natural inclination of the game.
You're able to choose your direction, picking from two options on most days, sometimes more, and these actions affect the story's ending. I only got to one ending, but I was intrigued enough that I'll go back for more. I'm sure there's a load more to explore, but even so, I enjoyed the sparser aspects of the game's narrative. Some of the told stories or insinuated elements remain more elusive, but the art of it all – and the way it conveys these feelings through art – make those unknowns feel purposeful and vibrant, in that we might be able to put our own conclusions together.
Source: SteamSource.
I was asking the game to tell me everything, when I should have been paying attention to what it was trying to say.
The development team did a wonderful job with Frank and Drake's story, from the lovingly crafted soundtrack to the intimacy of its art style. Each playthrough offers a different set of options, the branching networks told daily by a small slip of paper. And there is a lot of little communicators in the game, between post-its, memories, hauntings, and journals, this gives us a deeper consideration of these characters, even given the brevity of the gameplay. Frank and Drake provides us glimpses into other lives, reads like a love letter to urbanity, and reminds us that good people are all around us.
You awaken in Anomalum, trapped in an endless nightmare. Carefully observe your surroundings and check the clock to escape. In this psychological horror game, attention to detail and exploration of liminal spaces are crucial to freeing yourself from the nightmare. Do not ignore any anomalies. If you detect anomalies, retreat immediately. If there are no anomalies, advance. The time on the clocks will indicate if you are making progress.[/b] Oh wow now this one is very interesting. For those that like the anomaly genre, I higly recommend it. It’s the same gameplay like any other ‘find the anomalies’ games. Find the changes, if there are non, you can continue. Get through a run without making a mistake and you’re free.
But for this game, there are three runs. After you complete a run, you walk into the next one, all by walking through some earie liminal spaces. All in all there are three consecutive runs. And I really love the last one! It got me properly spooked. The game is pretty short though. it took me 20 minutes to go through it once. There are no achievements at this point. I hope that will change in the future, since it is a nice bonus with these types of games. Collecting all the anomlies is the best part. Best anomaly game I’ve ever played. Great graphics, very liminal design and just overall a 9/10 game. Only reason its not a 10/10 is because it was too short but other than that it was amazing.
Features and System Requirements:
Adventure and exploration[/b] inspired by TheExit8, with new places to discover.
Challenging puzzles[/b] that require analysis of the environment for anomalies.
An immersive atmosphere[/b] with enveloping sounds and detailed graphics that immerse you in the game.
Screenshots
System Requirements
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 64bit
Processor: intel Core i7 4770
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 2 GB available space
Installation Guide
Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game
1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun
Planetaries Prepare to dive into a sci-fi open world survival adventure. Set in a time when humanity has expanded its reach beyond the confines of Earth, immerse yourself in a rich galaxy. Craft, build, mine, trade, explore, and fight your way through a living universe filled with alien life, mysteries, pirates, droids, and much more. Progression and Mechanics Explore, gather resources, and complete contracts to earn rewards. Engage in daring raids to secure valuable loot or focus on collecting crucial data to advance your levels and accrue tech points. Use these resources to unlock new technologies and crafting blueprints. Upgrade your gear and equipment to take on increasingly challenging contracts or brave perilous environments on hostile the planet, ensuring your survival and success in your adventures.
Build Your Legacy Build your base of operations, whether it’s a fortified bunker to withstand enemy assaults, an industrial outpost for farming and trade, or a temporary shelter for your adventures. Construct essential facilities like particle accelerators, energy generators, vehicle pads, and more to support your goals and survival in this vast and challenging planet. Each choice shapes your gameplay and strategies, offering diverse opportunities for exploration and success. Construct your Tech Data Beacon and brace yourself to fend off relentless waves of hostile enemies drawn to its signal. Alternatively, you might choose to focus solely on survival by hunting aliens and battling the dangers of the world.
Features and System Requirements:
Create or join a multiplayer game to team up with friends or random players, collaborating to build, adventure, fight, and craft together.
Use these resources to unlock new technologies and crafting blueprints.
Each choice shapes your gameplay and strategies.
Screenshots
System Requirements
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Processor: Intel i7-8700 (3.7 GHz 6 Core) / AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (3.7 GHz 8 Core) or equivalent
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super (req. 6GB VRAM) / AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (req. 6GB VRAM)
Storage: 10 GB available space
Installation Guide
Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game
1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun
When they built the floating cities, they had no idea an insidious threat lurked deep below… Feed the Deep is a compulsive lovecraftian roguelike inspired by the likes of Dome Keeper and Spelunky. Dive into an ever-changing system of undersea caves. Collect resources that can be traded for upgrades and items. Explore ever deeper, managing dark spaces, limited oxygen, and hostile wildlife, and complete your mission to Feed the Deep. Feed the Deep was built almost entirely by me, Luke Muscat. Back in the Old Times I was creator of Jetpack Joyride and Fruit Ninja. A couple of years ago I decided I wanted to try the ultimate game dev challenge and make a game completely solo. But actually I have been following the Dev-logs for ages and it has really transformed into an amazing game.
It really manages to capture some of that fear that comes with cave diving (regular caving is enough for me!) The monsters are added anxiety and the need to occasionally go slow to re-orient yourself really makes your heart rate pickup. The gameplay loop is simply satisfying. The combination of main objectives as well as the several challenges presented within each area (6 level-like areas with different “tools” which are all fun to experiment and adapt with) play hand-in-hand to provide a balanced experience. Difficulty is at a reasonable and meticulously adjusted level, allowing beginners to complete the game, and veterans to be able to take on the various challenges presented before each area.
Features and System Requirements:
A lovecraftian roguelike by the creator of Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride.
Procedurally generated caves make every expedition different.
Explore at your own pace. Dive fast and aggressive, explore slowly, dropping markers along the way.
Soundtrack by award-winning composer Cedar Jones (Jetpack Joyride and more).
An atmospheric deep sea adventure with lovecraftian vibes.
Screenshots
System Requirements
1 :: Operating System :: Windows XP/7/8/8./10.
OS: 7
Processor: 1.8 Ghz
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel HD 4000 Series
DirectX: Version 10
Storage: 400 MB available space
Installation Guide
Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game
1 :: Download Game
2 :: Extract Game
3 :: Launch The Game
4 :: Have Fun
It is never a bad time to pick up Celeste. Widely heralded as one of the best platformers ever, and one of the best games of the 2010s, this title set the gaming world on fire when it was released in 2018. Celeste has always been a beloved game, whether that’s for its tough-but-fair difficulty, its trans protagonist,…
Tactical Breach Wizards, the next game from Tom Francis (Gunpoint, Heat Signature), has everything you could want out of a game with such a name. There are 1) wizards, 2) tons of tactical breaching, 3) a huge conspiracy to unravel and 4) so many windows to throw people out of. What might not be apparent at first…
Video game release dates are more a suggestion than a promise these days, and understandably so. Making games is hard and audiences have never been busier and more fickle. Still, it’s disappointing when you find out that sci-fi shooter or fantasy adventure you’ve been waiting for won’t be out any time soon, and a lot…
Afil games publishes no-frills puzzle games, like Sokobalien. Honeyland is no exception. In this ,your goal is to get your bear to its Honey. You do this by playing cards with direction arrow and a number. The bear moves in the direction of the arrow, relative to how it is facing. The number corresponds to the number of spaces the bear moves. The goal is to play the cards in the right order to get the honey, and that is it. Later on, special cards, like jumps, are introduced, biut the idea is the same. Play the right cards in the right order to get the honey.
There are thirty increasingly tough levels, and nothing else. Still, Honeyland is not a bad game. It is only five dollars, after all. You could much worse for the money. I give this a Recommended with a seven back end score. I could continue and ramble on to meet word count, but after a recent disaster of a review, I’m going to play its safe for awhile.
Overall: Honeyland is a no-frills puzzler that delivers a decent puzzle game, and nothing else.
The Japanese indie developer SAT-BOX is getting lazy in my opinion. I have given them two must plays in the past, one for Extreme Bike X and one for Sushi Shot. However, they increased their pace to two games a month. As a result, their usual decent quality is slipping drastically. How do I know? Enter Sushi Drop, which uses all of the same assets as Sushi Shot, including music, sushi and UI. This is on top of the fact the game is a mediocre stacking game, where you drop sushi into order to build a high tower of sushi.
There are two main modes in Sushi Drop, Score attack, where you just build as high a tower as you can, and Battle, where you take turns dropping sushi until one of you drops a sushi off the board. The problem here is the physics, it sucks and makes no sense. Why does some sushi stick in place and other pieces do not? Don’t know. See the yellow egg sushi about the salmon piece in the pic above? Normally, it should slide off, but it does not. Therefore, The physics inconsistency sinks the game instantly. This is regardless of how good the rest of it, and the rest of it is honestly alright.
SAT-BOX needs to slow it down and take their time. Sushi Drop is mediocre at best, and I know they can do better, they have done better. This gets a Not Recommended with a five back-end score. If they patched the physics to make things consistent, I’d probably give Sushi Drop a much better verdict and score, but as it is, it gets what it gets.
Overall: Sushi Drop could have been a lot better, and should be a lot better. But terrible physics sinks it. SAT-BOX, do better!
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 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.
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.
The most read review on my site, by a thousand views, is the abysmal Hentai Golf, quite possibly the worst golf game ever created. So in comes Easy Come Easy Golf, which is absolutely delightful, but flew completely under the radar. I had never heard of this 2022 title until I randomly found some guy on X who talked about completing it recently. At his word and recommendation, I bought it, and after putting several hours into it, it is completely worth the money. Its not like a PGA tour game, its more like Hot Shots Golf, which is made by the same developer of that series, Clap Hanz. .
The catch to Easy Come Easy Golf is that each hole requires a different character. You start off with 4, the rest filled with a generic “mini-golfer” and over the course of the long campaign, you will unlock thirty in total. Each character has their own strengths and get more powerful by leveling them up via play. You unlock new characters by winning regular tournaments, which spawn matches against characters. Win those, and characters get unlocked. In additions to tournaments and match play there are distance challenges that unlocks character colors and outfits(which raise character level. New courses are unlocked with tour rank, which is raised once you win enough tournaments, which spawn the boss battles, and you win.
The golf itself is great, not surprising given the pedigree of Easy Come Easy Golf. Its easy to pick up, hard to master. You get a choice of two shot types, either flicking the right stick, or the the three tap system. I used the stick system, but either work. The game is gentle early on, but packs a punch later once you level your team and learn the mechanics.
The meat of Easy Come Easy Golf is the single player campaign. However, there are numerous online modes where you take your leveled team online and face others. But I have to wonder how easy it is to find others, given the game’s age and low visibility. My only other complaint is that the loading takes a long time, longer than it should anyway.
Easy Come Easy Golf gets a must Play with a nine back-end score. It is truly is a delightful golf game and should be as popular as Hentai Golf sadly seems to be. There is a serious golf game here that fans of Hot Shots Golf, or golf in general, will love.
Overall: Easy Come Easy Golf is a Hot Shots Golf spinoff by the same developer. Given that pedigree, its not surprising it is great!
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.
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.
Fantastic Fest has announced an exciting partnership with Day of the Devs. From September 20 to 22, 2024, Fantastic Games: Presented by Day of the Devs will be hosted by Fantastic Fest!
Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the U.S. specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and action, will partner with Day of the Devs, a non-profit that celebrates the creativity, diversity, and magic of video games, to host Fantastic Games: Presented by Day of the Devs. The partnership will feature many exciting video game showcases from September 20 to 22, 2024.
Fantastic Games: Presented by Day of the Devs is a video game showcase that will be taking place during the 9th edition of Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. The showcase will feature 12 horror games the attendees can play, with some being playable for the first time. Fans of the exciting festival and horror games can purchase various badges now to access the festival and the video game showcase!
Game developers interested in submitting their games for consideration to be part of the Day of the Devs showcase will have until today, August 5th, to apply through this form. Developers from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply, but only games or projects in the horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and action genres will be considered to fit this year’s Carnival themes.
As the attendees enjoy the Fantastic Fest and play games at the Fantastic Games: Presented by Day of the Devs, the event will be sponsored by five gaming brands. The sponsorships included are:
Blumhouse Games – Releasing Fear The Spotlight later this year.
Devolver – Released the Hotline Miami series, Katana ZERO, Human Fall Flat, and many more.
Double Fine – Released the Psychonauts series, Headlander, Grim Fandango Remaster, and many more.
Iam8bit – Selling physical copies of games that are digital only such as The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe, Neon White, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, and many more.
Raw Fury – Released Regions of Ruin, Blue Prince, Zet Zillions, and many more.
Are you looking forward to the Fantastic Fest and Fantastic Games Presented by Day of the Devs? If so, be sure to keep up to date with the Fantastic Fest and purchase your badges by visiting the website!
No people, animals, or drugs were harmed in the making of this review.
Video games allow us to do many things that we wouldn’t do. From copiously murdering peasants in Kingdom Come Deliverance to slaughtering gang members in Cyberpunk, they let us be someone we are not in real life.
That brings me to today’s episode. Drug Dealer Simulator 2 launched on Steam a couple of weeks ago. Big thanks to the developers at ByteRunners for providing a review copy. When I started playing, I had doubts due to the rough technical performance. Multiple crashes in the opening couple of hours, frequent frame drops and a host of other glitches like broken moving animations turned me off at first. Fortunately, Drug Dealer Simulator 2 was added to the Geforce Now cloud service. I no longer had to worry about my laptop melting like an ice cream in a heatwave, although I wasn’t saved by stutters. In its current state, it requires a pretty powerful system and even with the RTX 3060 rig on Geforce Now, I had a few stutters here and there.
I’m a little surprised they released this as a full title instead of Early Access because it is rough around the edges. Part of the technical problems have to do with my ageing laptop, but there are plenty of bugs infesting this beautiful archipelago. We don’t have many games that are dedicated to the drug business, so it is nice to see another one. I played a lot of Byterunner’s first drug sim and found it enjoyable despite its jank. Seeing DDS2 in the rough launch state was a little disappointing.
I do have some good news, and for all the issues I have with this game, I’m enjoying myself. It needs a lot of work, but there is an engaging game here. It kicks off with your player character (Eddie, apparently) in the gorgeous archipelago of Isla Sombra to start anew after escaping the law. Upon finding a grotty hideout, it is time to rebuild that lucrative drug empire. The voice acting is a little stiff, but it gets the job done.
I recommend advancing along the main missions at least for a couple of hours because they give you better tools such as the power boat, new vehicles and money to get started. You are open to exploring most of the world from the start, and this is a gigantic map. There are cheap ways to travel with barges and buses, but vehicles are the way to go. I’m not a fan of the limited save system (you can only save inside safehouses) but there are plenty to go around and you are never too far away from a save point.
The drug labs are for… well, you can guess. You start off small selling cannabis and build up from there. There’s a lot of detail and time management that went into the drug growing mechanics, and while it involves a fair bit of waiting, there’s enough to do that you shouldn’t get bored. Clients will come and make requests, and you’ll build up your budding empire by making alliances. Gangs might make your life trouble when travelling at night, and I had fun beating the tar out of them in fistfights. The combat is a bit wonky but still seemed to work alright. DDS2 offers a bunch of difficulty options to make things as relaxed or challenging as you wish.
Despite some odd animations and physics like climbing a ladder or jumping over a fence (it’s hilarious but it’s not how ordinary human veins jump), the exploration is pretty damn fun. There are several ways to travel across the big open world, and while it has some muddy textures with terrain, the water is gorgeous.
So far, Drug Dealer Simulator 2 has been a bit of a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Every time I get annoyed with buggy physics, frame drops, and the limited save system, I find myself wanting to play more. I decided on a shorter impressions piece today because I want to see how the game plays in a couple of months. If you don’t mind some jank and want to dive into this strange little gem, it’s worth the time. Otherwise, it is probably worth waiting a while so that the performance problems get squashed.
Despite the enormous success of Dead Cells, I only started playing it recently. It’s easy to overlook just how much influence Dead Cells had on the indie gaming industry. While I enjoy roguelikes, I’m a little burnt out on them. So many are out there now that it’s working out which ones are worth playing.
We’re still in the Steam Summer Sales, and I’ve been making a spreadsheet of stuff I’m interested in. I’m weird like that, but it helps me prioritize what games I want to play. I’m at the point with my library where I want to buy games I know I’ll play sooner than later. I will probably write up my Steam Sale pickups once the sale is over, but for now, I get to enjoy the endless search. Onto today’s episode of ‘Scar Tries’, that brings me to The Rogue Prince Of Persia. There was a reason I mentioned Dead Cells because the team that took over from Dead Cells development in 2019 (Evil Empire) is behind Rogue Prince! Some of my rambles are on topic.
Onto Rogue Prince. The Prince of Persia franchise has long been a popular one, and Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown back in January was a pretty good time, all in all. The Rogue Prince of Persia takes players back to the Persian realm as they try to fight off the massive Hun invasion. Launching in Early Access on the 27th of May, Evil Empire managed to push through some tricky times and the result is a solid piece of kit. Despite the technical problems and optimization facing players at launch, I was lucky to avoid most of it.
As this is a ‘Scar Tries’ article, I’m sharing only my early impressions of the game, so this won’t be a very long piece. I’ve finished just a few levels so far. The current Early Access version features the first act of the story with six levels, a bunch of secret areas, and two boss fights.
With Sargon under relentless attack by the mighty Huns, the player must save their beloved city from the horde. Rogue Prince is incredibly fast-paced even by action roguelike standards, blending aggressive swordplay and acrobatics to create a solid gameplay loop. The usual roguelike structure is in here: finding increasingly powerful buffs and artefacts, unlocking new tools for future runs, and finding new characters to interact with. It’s a difficult game for certain, but I like how well Rogue Prince balances challenge with accessibility. Evil Empire wants The Rogue Prince of Persia to be playable for everyone, and I’m having fun. Movement feels fluid and enjoyable. While I had success playing with a mouse and keyboard, Evil Empire recommends you play with a controller.
The enemy Huns come in different forms. Some like the classic grunts will die easily, while others need their stance broken before you can wail on them. Both you and your opponents can go down quickly if not careful, so keeping mobile is key. With the excellent movement and different tricks you can do during gameplay, the combat feels challenging and fair in equal measure. I got my ass handed to me several times during these initial impressions, particularly the first boss fight. Even when I lost, I still had fun.
Ultimately, that was the biggest takeaway I had. The Rogue Prince of Persia has a long way to go, and the current Early Access version only contains a sliver of the content available. Despite the early setbacks, Evil Empire is easing into this new development cycle. If you’re in the mood for a good-looking action roguelike with great movement, The Rogue Prince of Persia might just be worth looking into.
Good things come in small packages, and the newly released Shrot meets that description beautifully. If you’re in the mood for an RTS that is simple to pick up, Shrot might just be the game for you. For transparency, this is not a long article. As part of my ‘Scar Tries’ experiment, this is for games I’m experimenting with to see if it is worth more time.
The Steam Summer sale is nearly upon us, and that means spending a chunk of cash on games that I’ll eventually get around to. We all suffer from the backlog trap! I’m trying to get better at that, but it’s always nice to pick up some video games.
Developed by Spytihněv, Shrot is a spiritual successor of sorts to his first game HROT, a fantastic FPS that everyone should try at least once. This is designed to be a small real-time strategy game influenced by the RTS titles of old, and it accomplishes that role pretty damn well. You can buy Shrot on Steam for 10$, although it currently has a 15 per cent discount until July 4th. After tinkering with it for a few hours, Shrot is worth the asking price. We don’t get many RTS games anymore, so it’s always nice to appreciate the ones that do launch. Shrot is one of the good ones!
Shrot calls itself a ‘bite-sized’ RTS, but it packs a decent amount of content in such a small package. Between the campaign, multiple tutorial missions, multiplayer and an unlockable sandbox mode upon completing the campaign, there’s more than enough for strategy fans to enjoy. The graphics might be archaic, but you’ll never get lost in the terrain trying to find your units, and the interface is easy to understand.
As gameplay goes, it is relatively simple as strategy games go. There are only two resources in the game: money and oil. There is a capitalism joke in there but I’m not going to bother pointing that out.
Plop down an oil pump against that delicious lake of brown gold to gather oil, which is needed for everything from generating electricity to building stuff. Money is gathered with combine harvesters that roam the map for hops. That’s a new one, but it suits the harsh setting of the game. You can train a wide range of units, from infantry and cavalry to tanks and engineers, and they all have their different uses and strengths. Engineers can build pontoon bridges and clear minefields, while aircraft have the advantage of the sky (Obviously). The dozen mini-tutorial scenarios help with understanding how they function. Shrot might not be as complex as other strategy games, but there is more than enough depth for you to enjoy.
With so many game releases, it is easy for some to slip between the cracks no matter how good they are, and Shrot deserves more eyes on it. It does not cost much, it runs on pretty much anything (It’s even playable on the Steam Deck with the WASD/Keyboard profile), and it’s a lot of fun to play.
Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to play more of the campaign.
One downside to seeing many games released every day is attention. Some games get a ton of it, while many others lack the coverage they otherwise deserve. As my mother likes to say, I ‘only got one pair of hands’, so it is a challenge working out what games to prioritize.
It’s exciting digging through the underlooked hidden gems! We’re officially in summer here in the UK, which means humid weather and small brick houses. Excuse my British complaints about the weather! I’ve got a lot of reviews upcoming here on SG. While my work over at SteamDeckHQ takes priority, I love what I’m doing here. The Steam Summer Sale starts in a couple of weeks, so I’ll happily delve through my massive wishlist and see what I can pick up.
That brings me to Trappist, a colony sim that needs more attention. Trappist is quite the endearing little game, the work of solo developer Sirrah. The colony sim market is pretty competitive. Most of my recent reviews feature them in some shape, and it seems I’m not tired of them yet. That’s a good thing because Trappist packs serious quality in a tidy 15$ package. I’m not far into the story campaign yet, but I’ve played enough to get a feel of the mechanics and the gameplay loop. So far, I’m impressed!
Following the traditional evacuation of Earth after it becomes a wasteland, your happy little Ark full of colonists arrives in the Trappist-1 system, 40.7 light years away from the Sol system. Naturally, these colonists from Earth want to get their feet wet on new planets, and that is where you come in. There’s a lot of dialogue alongside interactive tutorials to learn the mechanics, and the lore in-game is surprisingly meaty for the genre. As someone interested in narrative, I enjoy checking out stories in my games, and Trappist combines the threat of interstellar travel with comfortable gameplay well.
At its heart, Trappist is a space colony simulator, and it throws a lot at the player to manage despite its humble design. Managing the Ark, surveying planets to locate good landing sites for colonies, bringing citizens down onto the planets and building settlements are all part of the gameplay loop. The colony management has all the basics. Buildings need power to sustain their production, while colonists need food and water to avoid dying horribly. It also helps building houses to keep them safe.
The usual colony sim gubbins are all here, and I appreciate how Sirrah approached the management systems. Buildings are put down instantly while resource production requires little micromanagement. Making sure your colonists survive can be tricky at first, especially early on when you’re relying on ferrying resources from the Ark to each colony, but things get easier. Trade logistics are automated once you have a couple of colonies going. It reminds me of the excellent Slipways in how they both minimize fuss, although this has a more organic city management design.
Honestly? Trappist does a lot of things well. The graphics, while simple, still look nice, especially the planets. It runs on very modest hardware without trouble, and it is relaxing to play while still offering enough challenge. The colony management doesn’t waste time, either, so it doesn’t feel like you’re spending ages micromanaging a thousand colonists’ needs instead of focusing on the gameplay. A recent patch also added controller support, and I’ve had fun testing it on the Steam Deck. The only irritating thing I found was that it was occasionally problematic when clicking on a planet colony, but that might be a problem with my keybindings rather than an issue with the game.
While Trappist is technically complete, it is still in active development with more in the pipeline. It might not be the longest, deepest, or most engaging colony sim out there, but the full package on offer is solid. With so many games released and in development, time is a resource that can’t be ignored. I’m more cautious now about what games I decide ‘this is for me right now’ while putting others into a backlog library if I’m not willing to engage with it for the moment. I’m happy to say that Trappist joins my ‘To finish’ list.
You can buy Trappist on Steam for $14.99. If you’re in the mood for a comfortable colony sim that’s still challenging with a good story, Trappist might just be what you are looking for.
Pros
Considerations
Comfortable gameplay while still offering enough options and challenges to make it engaging
Main story is not particularly long (but still fine. New Game Plus options add extra replayability)
The story is pretty solid!
I sometimes have trouble with the controls
Despite its minimalist take on citybuilding, there’s more than enough meat in this sandwich
Great performance even on low hardware (and Steam Deck playable!)
The weather has been odd here in the UK. It’s either blazing sunlight or torrential rain, and I’ve been caught out in the downpours more than once.
Things are going smoothly enough on my end, and you should expect more articles in the coming weeks. I’ve got a dev interview with the lovely mind behind Little Odyssey releasing next week, including a few impression reviews. Summer Game Fest was incredibly busy, featuring a delicious buffet of game reveals and release dates. Streets of Rogue 2 is probably my most anticipated title from the festival, and I can’t wait for August.
Today, I’m featuring Penkura, an Early Access survival game from 2018 that’s enjoyed a rebirth of sorts! Developed by Lionsart, they’ve managed to return full-time to the development of Penkura, and I’m incredibly happy to see that.
Game development is hard, even more so when it’s a small team behind the wheel. Given how turbulent the world has become in the past few years, it’s a small wonder we can make toast. I’ve been on both angles of game development, both as a guy who games and reviews them and working in the industry, so I try to be understanding. It’s why I’m so happy that these guys managed to return to Penkura after a long hiatus. They have an incredibly ambitious game, and it is a delight to play. These are very early impressions so far, but I know for certain this is a game I want to keep playing.
At its heart, Penkura is an open-world survival crafting RPG, but it is so much more than that. Part exploration FPS, part topdown base builder, I’m impressed how much Lionsart has crammed into this game. It carries a bunch of time travel science magic, featuring deep, underground complexes and powerful artefacts. The sci-fi/occult setting is pretty damn unique for the genre, and it’s one of the most in-depth survival worlds I’ve played in a long time. Just check out the narrative on the Store page:
“Deep beneath Antarctic ice, a Polish research team uncovers an ancient temple, a portal to a captivating new world.
As Earth faces overpopulation and devastation, Project “Gemini” initiates the migration of humanity to this promising planet. For 41 years, pioneers traverse the singularity, until contact is mysteriously severed.
Now, as a mercenary, you embark on a perilous journey through the unstable gateway,
tasked with survival and uncovering the secrets of the unknown world beyond.”
How cool is that?
With its Unreal Engine, Penkura not only has great visuals, but it runs darn well for an Early Access game. Even on my obsolete, slightly unfit laptop, I experienced no crashes or stutters, and the environments are beautiful to look at. With the aid of a sentient AI, your job is to uncover the truth behind the ghost city. This is a hardcore survival game, so you’ll need to manage important things such as sleep, food, water, and oxygen. Death punishes you by losing your items, although you can retrieve them afterwards. With the new world’s environments and fauna wanting your blood, this is a dangerous world. No pressure, then?
I acknowledge this is not a full review. Heck, it’s barely an impressions review. With my schedule so hectic right now, I wanted to get some initial thoughts on Penkura out of the way and play enough to decide if it warrants further exploration. My answer to that is yes. Oh god yes. Penkura is a fairly unique game with a lot on offer. Now that Lionsart is back full-time on development, the next few months will be interesting.
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