Ally
Dec 5, 2017
Today, Nine Parchments surprised gamers by being released on the Steam Store with little warning. The game is an action co-op RPG by Frozenbyte for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. In the game, runaway apprentice wizards seek the elusive lost nine parchments in the hope of completing their spell books. The wizards acquire spells, but without learning the proper safety procedures that come with them. This hasty progress inevitably leads to a few fatal accidents..
You can get the game here.
More to follow..
- Dec 1, 2017
[dropcap]D[/dropcap]o people keep asking you what you want for Christmas? Struggling with gift ideas for those casual gamer friends? Look no further as we have compiled the ultimate Christmas wish list, comprising of the most recent and relevant games.
Portal Knights:
Portal Knights is an award-winning 3D sandbox action-RPG game for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, developed by Keen Games and Published by 505 Games. The game has been referred to as a ‘pretty Minecraft’ but it is way more than just that! Defeat enemies in real-time combat, explore a variety of randomly-generated islands and restore peace to a war-torn world torn apart by ‘the fracture’.
Nine Parchments:
Nine Parchments is an action co-op RPG by Frozenbyte for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. In the game, runaway apprentice wizards seek the elusive lost nine parchments in the hope of completing their spell books. The wizards acquire spells, but without learning the proper safety procedures that come with them. This hasty progress inevitably leads to a few fatal accidents..
The game is released for Switch in the US on December 5th.
Harvest Moon: Light of Hope:
Harvest Moon: Light of Hope is a new adventure RPG/farming simulation created by Natsume and released for PC on Steam. Although initially it received a fair amount of criticism and has been described as a little buggy, those who have spent time playing the game have generally praised it due to it’s simplicity, adherence to the Harvest Moon franchise, and the fact that they can play it on PC. Either way, it’s definitely worth a play to make your own decision on whether the game deserves it’s place in the Harvest Moon series.
The game is released for Switch in early 2018
World of Final Fantasy:
World of Final Fantasy is a new RPG by Square Enix. A more cutesy spin on the original Final Fantasy games, this is a must-have for those who like cute and story-rich games. Join your two siblings in the land of Grymoire in an attempt to untangle the past and save the future! Capture, Customise and evolve iconic creatures by stacking them to form monster towers.
Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee is an action-adventure game by Playtonic. After waiting for what seems like ages, Switch owners will be pleased to hear it finally has a release date for the Switch! Brought to you by the masterminds behind Banjo-Kazooie, play as Yooka or Laylee and thwart evil Capital B’s plan to absorb all the world’s books in an effort to profit from them. From playing puzzles to beating bosses, this game is sure to keep you entertained over the festive period.
The game is released for Switch on December 14th (just in time for Christmas!).
- Nov 26, 2017
Ooblets is an upcoming Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing and Pokémon inspired game. Your character, which looks similar to one that might have walked out of a Sims game, gets to fish, grow and train Ooblets and befriend villagers, plus more in this cute and colourful indie game. It is expected to be released for PC through Steam at some point in 2018. You can see some of the gameplay footage here.
The developers have recently posted a small series of updates in regards to how the game is coming along.
Merch store
The developers have set up an Ooblets merchandise store for patrons which sells an Ooblets poster, Ooblets T shirts and Ooblets pins.
Furniture store name
Rebecca, the game’s creator, has come to a decision on a name for the in-store furniture name (‘TYSOOT’ which stands for Things You Sit On and Other Stuff).
The little things
Small things are being implemented such as: player energy; placeable fences and paths; new crops, buildings and Ooblets; and a new accessory (a money belt).
Crafting and Quests
New crafting machines (such as the cupcake press), quests, and Ooblet quests are also a thing.
Other additions and changes
The devs have created a Police Station/Sheriff’s office, introduced windows to buildings, created more NPC’s for Nullwhere, created an interior for the café, plus made some changes to the clothing shop.
From the images shown in the latest update, it looks like Ooblets is going to be cuter than ever! c:
- Nov 22, 2017
Spellbound (the working title of the game) is a game currently being developed by Chucklefish, the publishers of Stardew Valley. Being described as ‘Stardew Valley meets Harry Potter’, the informally announced game is an RPG sim set in a magic school.
Going on images that can be found on the internet, the characters with pointy hats make the game look very much like a pixel art version of Little Witch Academia.
CEO and lead designer of the game, Finn Brice has said in an interview with PC Gamer that “There are many different kinds of magic/crafting/potion making/farming systems in this game and each of those needs to be rewarding and satisfying in their own right. Expect to have a lot to do in the final game, but to progress regardless of the activity.”
Designer Rosia Ball says that that game aims to capture the nostalgia of school life. “A school operates very differently to a town. We’re working hard to include what we think are the essential elements of a school simulation while remaining within a familiar format that existing fans of the genre will be able to jump straight into.”
Spellbound will allow players to have relationships with other characters in the game. However, Chucklefish have said in an interview that Spellbound will have teen awkwardness and is more true to real-life High School experiences. “Where other games are inviting you to live out your perfect fantasy, in that you can date whoever you want, you can get married to whoever you want and it’s up to you, Spellbound is a little less forgiving. Dates can go wrong, things can go wrong, it’s more about that school experience. You might get a few hard knocks.”
However, fret not. As the game is inspired by Harvest Moon, JK Rowling, Studio Ghibli and other young adult literature and fantasy, you don’t have to worry about your love-life being too non-existent. “Ultimately you’re not going to have a horrific time, and it’s going to work out in the end—and you’re a wizard right? It can only go so badly!”
- Nov 14, 2017
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ineko’s Night Market is a cute cat-themed upcoming game for PC by Meowza games. You play as Mineko, a girl who has just moved to a superstitious island overrun with cats. The aim of the game is to find materials, craft items and sell them at the Night Market. You can befriend villagers, fish, undertake quests, play mini-games, plus more! The game is expected to be released late 2018.
Meowza games have recently posted some Twitter updates regarding whats new in the game’s development. New features include more resources, character development, friendships and mini-game development. For even more on the cat loving game, check out this exclusive interview with Mineko’s Night Market creator Brent.
Resources
There is now a larger variety of fish to catch, gems to mine and flowers to pick. Even better, they change with the seasons!
Crafting
Crafting will now involve playing mini-games. Different crafts such as sewing, pottery and woodwork (plus more) have their own unique mini-games.
Bartering
Nearly everything found or made, can be sold at the Night Market. However, you won’t make a lot of money until you have become relatively good friends with villagers.
Friends
Villagers now have unique schedules, phrases and favourite things. You can befriend villagers by choosing gifts you think they’ll appreciate.
Collectibles
More super cute collectibles have been added, which include Boximals (the latest craze), which you can either gift to other villagers, or add to your own collection.
The Night Market
The Night Market looks very sorry for itself at the beginning of the game. However, buying and selling, plus doing well at market events, can improve the ‘health’ of your market.
Cats!
Finally, more cats have been added. Yay for more kitties!
- Nov 13, 2017
[dropcap]F[/dropcap]or those looking for some great casual games, both the well-known and the less talked about, plus some to look out for in the future, look no further. Here’s some of our favorites.
Night in the woods is an atmospheric adventure game with a great soundtrack, colourful graphics and an interesting and unusual storyline. The game is both brilliantly relatable and relevant yet intriguingly unfamiliar at the same time. ( Steam page – PC, Mac)
Rakuen is a beautiful fantasy adventure game which takes you on a journey with a hospitalised boy. Adventure into the breath-taking fairy-tale world of Rakuen with him and his mother and help assist various characters in need. ( Steam page – PC, Mac)
RiME is a mysterious adventure puzzle game with amazing graphics. Your find your character washed up all alone on an island and get to explore, collect items and unravel the island’s mysteries. This game is also available for purchase on Nintendo Switch as of tomorrow (14/11/17) which is super exciting! ( Steam page – PC
? Stardew Valley ?
Stardew Valley is a colourful indie,farming RPG. It has a characterful aesthetic and always offers plenty to do, meaning you’ll never get bored of it. Like Rime, this game has also made the transition to Nintendo Switch. ( Steam page – PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, Xbox One)
? Ooblets ?
Ooblets is an upcoming Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing and Pokémon inspired game. Your character, which looks similar to one that might have walked out of a Sims game, gets to fish, grow and train Ooblets, and befriend villagers, plus more, in this cute and colourful indie game. ( Steam page – PC, Xbox One)
? My Time at Portia ?
My Time at Portia is an upcoming simulation, open-world RPG. Your player inherits a workshop and builds things out of old relics and harvested materials in this post-apocalyptic setting, where humans are scarce. For a more realistic experience, characters go to school, work and partake in leisure activities. They also have stories that your player can unravel and there is the ability to have relationships. For more on my Time at Portia, and on how to play the free demo check out our previous article here. ( Steam – PC )
- Nov 12, 2017
Here are some games to tide over avid Animal Crossing fans until the release of Pocket Camp.
✨ Enchanted Folk and the School of Wizardry (Magician’s Quest: Mysterious Times in US) ✨
This game is a must-play for fans of Animal Crossing. Animal Crossing meets Hogwarts, this game has all the favourite attributes of animal crossing such as animal residents, cute graphics (which are visually similar to animal Crossing), having your own room to decorate, fishing, bug catching and a variety of shops to browse. However, in this game there are unique perks such as: Being able to attend classes at the Magic school, being able to play instruments, being able to perform spells (such as invisibility, which is useful for eavesdropping) and the ability to date the other residents (which is alarming if you think about it, considering you’re a human and they’re animals/aliens/fruit, etc).
? Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns ?
This game is a great addition to the Harvest Moon series. The story is of two towns (Bluebell and Konohana) that used to have a connecting tunnel between the two towns and were friendly with one another. But as years went on, they fell out and become more and more isolated from one another, with the tunnel eventually becoming blocked, meaning a long trek is necessary to travel from one town to the other. You can choose which town you want to inhabit at the beginning of the game. Your character’s aim is to restore peace between the two towns. You can choose to fall in love with one of the residents from your own town, or from the other town. In addition to this, there are all the Harvest Moon perks that we all know and love, such as Animal farming (Bluebell) and Plant farming (Konohana), shopping, horse riding, gathering etc., as well as regular food festivals held by the goddess at the hill between the two towns. As your character participates in more competitions, the friendship between the two towns will increase.
Psst! There’s also rumours of a remake called Harvest Moon: Tale of Two Towns +
? Fantasy Life ?
Fantasy life is a game brought to us by Level 5, the company that created the infamous Professor Layton series. The beautiful unique graphics and music are a good indicator of this. In this game, after creating your character you get to choose a ‘life’ (basically what career you want). The 12 life classes to choose from are: Alchemist; Angler; Blacksmith; Carpenter; Cook; Hunter; Magician; Mercenary; Miner; Paladin; Tailor; and Woodcutter. After you have mastered one life, you can choose another. In each life, you learn a new skill and can make/obtain new items (dishes as a chef, clothes as a tailor, ore as a miner etc.), meaning once you’ve mastered all 12 lives, you are saving a lot of Dosh (the currency) and resources. Like in Animal Crossing, you can decorate your houses, engage with locals, as well as being able to take on quests, slay dragons, and complete the exciting storyline.
This game also has a sequel that will soon be released for mobile! You can check out a first Fantasy Online gameplay video right here.
? My Sims Kingdom ?
This was one of the first DS games I played and therefore sticks in my memory. I vividly remember retrieving it out of my stocking from Santa and spending Christmas day curled up on the sofa being even more anti-social than normal (if that’s possible?!). So good was this game that my mum decided to steal it (along with my DS console), create a save file of her own, and play it whilst I was in school. This game basically consists of following a storyline where the King gives your character the task of solving the mystery around who’s been stealing public works projects and houses from the Kingdom and causing chaos?! Alongside following the story, you get to decorate your houses (you get multiple), go shopping, play mini-games, complete mini quests (such as finding all the escaped zoo animals), create public works projects and place new houses.
? Stardew Valley ?
I haven’t actually played Stardew Valley in depth, but I’ve heard very good things and definitely want to put aside some time to play it properly. Stardew Valley is a Harvest Moon like, farming RPG game developed by ConcernedApe. Your character inherits a farm plot from your grandfather and your job is to create a successful farm and a thriving community. It has been well received and has been given a 10/10 rating by Steam! Nintendo have also released a version of it for Switch. 🙂
?️ The Sims 3 ?️
The Sims 3 is great fun. Don’t get me wrong, I like The Sims 4, but there is very little space for development in your town, EA received a lot of backlash for not including pools and toddlers (amongst other things) in their initial release of the game, which forced them to include them in updates, and it has more of a mobile Sims game feel than the PC Sims games I’ve grown up with.
The Sims 3 has better graphics than The Sims 2 whilst also having super cool expansion packs such as The Sims 3: Supernatural (you can create and meet fairies, plant people, vampires etc.) and The Sims 3: Island Paradise where you can create and run your own resorts. In addition to this, The Sims 3: University Life offers a more realistic University life for your Sims (perhaps too realistic for some, the stress of getting them through university is unreal).
- Nov 11, 2017
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]at Quest, which was released for Nintendo Switch yesterday, is an open world, action adventure RPG set in a world of cats, developed by The Gentlebros. The Cat Quest page on the Nintendo website (which is full of cat puns) explains how your player’s sister is kidnapped and you therefore embark on a journey to save her from the evil Drakoth.
There is a huge overworld map with a variety of characters and many side quests for players to enjoy. The game takes place in real-time and your player can fight and defeat enemies, as they are encountered, with spells. Your player can choose from a variety of equipment and armour. Combinations of armour, equipment and spells can be created to match your play-style. From a possessed town, to the Bermewda tringle, plus mages and loot filled dungeons, this game has plenty of places, characters and concepts to interact with, explore, and enjoy. The game can be purchased digitally on the eShop for a reasonable $12.99.
