A quiet look at FAR: Lone Sails, a traveling game where you drive a grand but fragile machine through the wide country.
It takes some cues from cinematic platformers and reformats them to a kinder, but still moody world.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Born of a daughter’s request to have a version of Ghosts ‘N Goblins with a playable girl, Battle Princess Madelyn carries both the spirit of that childhood desire and the series it pays homage to. This results in a game that both challenged and charmed me, bringing spooky character designs with a sense of cuteness, alongside familiar chaotic action.
It leaves a good first impression. I was drawn into the world and simple joy of warding of the assault of the undead. Changing the damsel into a pup that needed to be avenged (and watches over you as a spirit) was a cute, if sad, touch. But as I went on it slowly dawned on me that it wasn’t the game I wanted. The levels were unfocused, too often full of sprawling areas that felt barren and tedious to navigate. Alternate paths and secret areas seemed promising but often led to…dead ends? Or side quests with no tangible reward.
I felt pretty down on it. Until I was met with the realization that Battle Princess Madelyn was actually two totally different games.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Curly returns to help me take a look at Lethal League Blaze, a fighting game where you bounce a ball around the stage until it builds up time distorting levels of speed through your volleys.
It’s a hell of a sequel with a hype soundtrack to boot.
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Sam joins me again to take a look at The Void Rains Upon Her Heart, a corny but very earnest game about loving the monsters that have come to break your heart in the midst on an endless rain.
by Amr @siegarettes
Arca’s Path is straightforward. It’s a game about rolling a ball through abstract spaces, framed in a basic sci-fi plot. It never struck me as something with any big ideas, about its worldview or its mechanics. What it does have is a wonderful sense of tangibility.
The environments are basic but are rendered in chunky shapes and textured with visible brush strokes. Objects fade into view, with a gentle fog revealing the path and objects unfolding into full detail. Paired with VR’s 3D display it gives spaces a diorama-like appeal, where the materials themselves catch your attention. This works even better within its story scenes, where its comic style presentation lays panels in impressionistic spaces and uses the panel borders as windows into multi-layered scenes.
By: RJ (@rga_02)
“I’ve been waiting for this,” – a line made famous by Akihiko Sanada in Persona 3. His words rang true to my head when ATLUS announced Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight a year ago. “Finally,” I said to myself, the Persona game with the best music will take center stage. But will SEES get a standing ovation?
by Amr (@siegarettes)
Sam joins me again to take a look at Imperishable Memories, a shooter that cites, Tohou, Nier, Ikaruga, Evangelion and other big names as inspiration for its angsty teenage drama.