Pak Watch - Another round of Adventure games

The adventure game format seems to be thriving in the indie game community.   It may be just a great format to do narrative experimentation. It helps that the controls and interface are usually fairly simple, and game maker tools for Adventure games have been around a long time.  

Memoranda
Bit Byterz
PC
Based on the work of Haruki Murakami, one of my favorite authors.  Kickstarted in 2015.  Story is of a woman who is gradually forgetting her own name.  I love surreality, and I love how murakami does it.  I am very interested in this game.  $15 on steam.  
I was originally shown this game from an article on Open Culture.

Therapods
Kostas Skiftas
PC
A dinosaur based adventure game, originally made for 2015 Adventure game jam. Short game, looks cute, what's not to love? Free to play.

Beard in the Mirror

Oh, a Rock! Studios
PC
Beard in the mirror is a classic adventure game style game. It looks like a very silly game, celebrating the humor in early PC adventure games.

Pak Watch - more pixely art indie game goodness

Takume, the dreaming daughter
talecrafter
PC
Takume is a very short (around 5 min.) and linear atmospheric and dramatic adventure game. A mystic story about identity, dreaming and dealing with past events. I like the art. Free to download and play.

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Rain World
Adult Swim Games
PS4
Rain World. Looks sweet. really like the rusty pixel art graphics. You control a white, weasel-like creature called a 'slug cat.' Looks like instense, atmospheric platforming. When the rain falls, it falls hard, shakes the ground, and will kill you. I don't own a PS4, but if I did, I'd be interested.

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Totem Teller
Grinning Pickle
PC/Multiplatform
The graphics in this game are totally nuts! I love how it's glitchy and grainy, but also looks polygonal? Colorful. Some kind of storytelling theme. Not a lot of detail. Press kit says "Explore a world without prompts, golden paths or other hand holding." Intruiging.


-D

Pak Watch: February 2017

I collect games for Pak watch at a rate far greater than I post things for said column. This is my endless challenge of this blog. Not Pak Watch, specifically, but posting things at any kind of a rate. That said, have a look at these upcoming games:

State Machine
PC
estimated release: 2017

Terry Cavanagh of VVVVVV and Super Hexagon fame, is making an RPG! The graphics are distinctly Cavanagh, and I am thrilled. I don't know if I'll ever find the time to play said game, but I'm just happy to know he's developing it, as I love his games.

(note: I misspelled Cavanagh way back at the beginning of our blog, and have thus been misspelling it every since. I think I've fixed these instances. Apologies to Mr. Cavanagh)

Hell is other Demons
Steam Greenlight
estimated release: Q1 2017

Speaking of Cavanagh: SoulEye, the composer from VVVVVV is composing for this new game. This is a bullet hell shooter with low resolution and few colors. I think it looks pretty sweet! I'll give the soundtrack a listen at the very least.

Death Trash
PC
estimated release: 2017 (or later)

"A Grimier, Scarier, Nastier Fallout" - Rock Paper Shotgun. Music to my ears! This game certainly looks gross and imaginative. You may remember that I shared an image from this game some years ago, however, at the time I wasn't sure it was a game and not just an image. Now we know: It is a game! Should be fun.



This was a fun bunch of games to bring to you. I should do this more often ;)


-D

Pak Watch - Zombies and Ghosts

Despite the fact that I haven't really been playing video games since Magic took over my brain, I still take note of the interesting-looking games that I come across.  I've got a backlog of Pak Watch games that I've just been to lazy or distracted to post about.  Better late than never, I hope.

The Final Station
Do My Best games

Steam

This is a game where the action takes place on a train, traveling through a mid/post zombie apocalypse landscape.  The story is told indirectly, through the backgrounds you pass through and the stations you stop at.  I really like this story telling device, I think this game looks very interesting.

Indiegames.com article

 

 

Hellhunter

Ballistic Interactive

still six days left on the kickstarter for this game, and they could use some more money.  I like the aesthetic of this game.  3rd person, flashlight, grey, hunting for ghosts.  It's being billed as an RPG.  Hunt for ghosts in the dark, what's not to like?   

Pak Watch: Killscreen

So like... almost half of the interesting games that I save for Pak Watch come from Killscreen.  They just seem to have a sense of taste that matches up with mine.  So, just for fun, I thought I'd do a Pak Watch with *only* games I found out about from Killscreen.  Click on the game titles to read the killscreen article.  There are many more than this, but here are four to get started:

Nest
low-fi game about best bird buds.
Nest is a short exploration game where you play as a crow, searching the forest.  It's low-fi and free to play.  I haven't played it yet, but I would like to. 

• This game is available now and free to download. 

Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor
A game about being a janitor and digging through space-trash.
The title of this one draws me in.  The graphics look like Playstation 1 style, which, as it turns out, is now delightfully retro.  The visual style draws me in as well, I want to go exploring int his pixely world and rummage around for trash.

• Developer blog, including music and images. Coming soon.

Fulcrom
low-poly snowboarding game with spooky neon goodness.
I am always interested in a new snowboarding game, even though I've only ever played 1080 snowboard on N64.  But I played a LOT of that one.  Anyway, this game is taking a more abstract approach, which is reflected in the visuals.  The designers want it to capture some the spirit of snowboard and to encourage exploration.  Sign me up!  Beautiful racing games always make me want to go off-track. 

• Game is in early development, no estimated release date.

Inside

new game from LIMBO people.  Looks atmospheric and spooky.  mechanical, creepy.  Comparisons to War of the Worlds.  Probably fantastic.   

• looks like this game has been released for Steam and Xbox.  Later for PS4. 

Pak Watch: Nadia was Here

I've played about 30 minutes of the demo for the retro RPG "Nadia was Here".  So far, I am enjoying it. There is an original take on combat systems, using positioning in lanes to affect combat.  The characters are fun and distinctive.  The graphics are retro and use interesting color palettes.  This isn't NES retro, I'm not actually sure what kind of art this reminds me of.  Almost Game boy color.  

The plot seems really interesting.  Something about the world being erased and rebooted every hundred years, and the struggle to build a legacy with the knowledge that it will all be gone.  Each character will deal with this knowledge differently.  They start with no real goals and gain a sense of purpose as the game plays on. I'm looking forward to the character development in this game.

I was originally linked to this game from a Kill Screen article.  Check it out for more info on the game.  They also have an interview with the designer, Jeop Alben, of the Netherlands.  There's a Kickstarter, and the game is set to come out in Winter of this year.  I'm going to pass them a few dollars after I finish the demo.  It always feels good to donate to a kickstarter.   And this is the kind of super-small scale indie stuff that I love supporting.  

Download the Demo

Contribute to the Kickstarter

Read More

-D

Pak Watch: retro fantasy action

This week, I've got a triple shot of cool looking games, all of which I first noticed on PixelArtus.com.  

Eitr
Eneme Entertainment
PC
In Development
I love the art style, I love the way the game moves.  It makes me think of a fine retro tune up of old beat'em'up games like Golden Axe.  I wish this game were available to play in an arcade machine at a local bar.  The story and environments are based in Norse Mythology.  Tasty.  

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Wizard of Legend
Contigent99
PC 
In Development
What can I say?  This game looks neat too!  Similar to Eitr, more of a top down perspective.  Combos, beating up, neat looking pixelated graphics.  My heart warms at the imagery.  A dungeon crawler of some kind.  I just want to mash some buttons!

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Odallus, the Dark Call
Joy Masher
PC/Steam 
Available Now
This is one of the most retro games I've ever seen.  Look at the art style and the stiff animation! Somehow,  the embracing of 8-bit limitations and conventions makes me even more keen on trying this game out. Which I can do, because it's available for $15.  If I do, rest assured, you will hear about it.

-D

Pak Watch: Pretty Pretty games

Beyond Eyes
PC
Beyond Eyes is a game where you play a little blind girl looking for her lost cat.  For whatever reason, this is depicted by beautiful water-color looking landscapes on a white background.  I really don't know anything more than that, but just look at it!  So pretty.  I am generally in support of games with unusual and down-to-earth premises that many call 'walking simulators.'  Additionally, I can't resist a game with a eye-catching art style.  Beyond Eyes is available on Steam.  

Way to the Woods
Platform Unknown
Way to the Woods is a game designed by a 16 year old kid, which rocketed to the Tumbler front page and got a lot of attention.   And just look at it!  So pretty.  I have no idea how this works, except that you are two deer wandering in strange landscapes.  Another walking simulator?  Sign me up!  Way to Woods is still in early development, I'll post updates as I get them.  

Vane
PC
Vane is an 'open world adventure game based on mystery and exploration.'  It follows a little boy with unusual powers wandering through a desert and the ruins of an ancient civilization.  Sounds like a beautiful way to waste a bunch of time.  This game is still in early development, and has the best looking desert I've seen since Journey.  



-D

Pak Watch: Tsioque

Tsioque
oh noo Studio
 
Tsioque is a point and click adventure about a young princess who is kidnapped, and has to use her wits to escape.  It is drawn and animated in a delightful and whimsical cartoon style.  I showed some animated gifs of Tsioque to Jane, and she said this was just the kind of game she wanted to play.  I really suggest you have a look at the animation at Screenshot Daily.

Tsioque has been fully funded and will be available on Steam in September, 2016.  There is a demo, which I have yet to play, available on the game website.   

-D

Pak Watch: Racing The Sun (PC) (Wii-U)

Race the Sun
Race the Sun is a  minimalist polygonal flying game that we all missed our chance to download for free.  Oh well.  I may just have to buy it for full price after reading this great little article about the creators in their young days playing SNES, the influence of Star Fox on their game design, and their letter-writing relationship with Nintendo of America.  As someone who wrote Nintendo dozens of times, I am touched reading their story.  

Article:  We wouldn't be making games if it weren't for Nintendo answering our letters.    <-- how cool is that?!

Available on Steam and Wii-U

-D

Pack Watch: Flying games

Aer
Play as a girl who can turn into a bird.  Fly around to floating islands!  Nice looking, colorful polygons that aren't too complicated.  I think this art style is what N64 was going for a lot of the time.  Low res, not complicated textures, but looks great!  The technique is called 'flat shaded polygons'
I saw my first glimpse of this game over at Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

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Sky Rogue 
This game just looks fun!  I'm not sure why, given I don't normally like flying games much, but every so often, something jumps out.  I think it's the flat shaded polygons.  Head over to Rock, Paper Shotgun, for more info. 

Pak Watch: Super Mario Maker (Wii U)

I am super-duper HYPED about Super Mario Maker.  It looks great.  It looks like the spiritual successor to Mario Paint, which was an awesome game.  Of course, there's a lot of hype about this game floating down my twitter feed, so that contributes a great deal to my own excitement.  But, but!  There's lots of hype about lots of things, and I still am more excited about Mario Maker than anything!  All of my favorite publications are writing about it.  Castlevania: Symphony of the Night creator Koji Igarashi had fun playing it.  

I feel like a little kid; getting hyped about the latest Nintendo product.  I have always loved level editors, from Excitebike to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and I encourage more of them.  Somehow, with Super Mario Bros, It all seems more accessible. I'm excited to make levels and to play some of the online posted levels.  The interface on this game looks really cool.  And it comes with this crazy idea book, which you can view online.  

Super Mario Maker comes out tomorrow (9/11/2015) and I am seriously considering buying a Wii U just so I can play this game*.  A real shame it isn't coming out on 3DS.   I really hope Nintendo will do so at some point. 

-D

*And Mario Kart 8 and some various Mario games that came out on the Wii.  But Mario Maker might be what pushes me over the edge.

Archive Reference

Here is a place to find links to the previous incarnation of our blog, which now serves as an archive of posts before July, 2015.  Specifically, to our more robust post topics:

• Book Review
• Emulator Hour
• First Impresssions
• Full Review
• Game Scores
• Links
• MIDI Week Singles
• Monthly Update
• Pak Watch
• Second Impressions