Oct 15, 2019
After reaching out to the developer, David Martin-Bennett, we got a much closer look at Leafvale Island.
For those that missed it, Leafvale Island is an upcoming 2D action/adventure game in the style of classic Zelda games, with a touch of Harvest Moon. Obviously, with a description like that, I just had to know more. So I reached out to David, and he was kind enough to take his time to tell us a little bit more about the game he is creating.
Yup, the palms are harvest-able. What is Leafvale Island?
As the game is still in it’s early stages, the plot is yet to have hard definition. David informed me, however, that Leafvale Island will be in its recovering stages when the game begins. A past evil having wrought terror, the general motive is reconstruction of the land and stabilization of the the community. The town of Leafvale is set to be the center point of action on the island.
Simple yet elegant, like all 2D adventures should be! When it comes to the gameplay, we can expect the best of both worlds, Harvest Moon style when managing home and community, and Zelda style when exploring and battling. Expect to to earn your way when it comes to rebuilding, as gathering resources is already planned. Also expect all the go-to’s when it comes to our favorite 2D games, like building, crafting, mining and farming.
Inspiration for Leafvale
David mentioned being inspired by games like Stardew Valley and Rune Factory, but wished to have a game that brings more balance to the gameplay. We can expect Leafvale Island to have an even focus between crafting/building and combat/dungeon crawling.
Some dungeon action! What’s in the pottttts??? David also touched on the fact that the town of Leafvale will be restored from the ground, up. This will ensure that the action is steady and always engaging, constantly unlocking new things to do and places to explore.
As previously mentioned, Leafvale Island is still in early development, so all details are subject to change. This also means that we don’t currently have a release date. Fear not, because you can follow David on Twitter to keep up with the game. Leafvale Island is already shaping up to be a wonderful addition to the 2D adventure genre!
- Oct 14, 2019
Mythic Ocean, created by Paralune, is a relaxing underwater adventure where you can befriend and influence gods. Explore coral reefs, caverns and more, all while talking to the local inhabitants! Now, you can try out the free demo which will allow you to experience the first 3 branching storylines. Below is the full gameplay video (with some edits for brevity) of the prologue along with my thoughts on the game. If you’re interested in trying it out for yourselves, go to the Steam page here.
Which God Will You Choose?
You play in first-person view and awaken to a talking eel in a dark cavern with no memories. I’m not even sure what kind of being we are but perhaps that is part of the mystery. You are told that having no memories is the way things should be in order to make a fair judgement. You must choose one of the gods to create a new world but to do so, you have to get to know them, ask them questions and even present to them a new ways of thinking (if you want). I always love games that let you make decisions and then give you different outcomes depending on those choices.
Meet the Locals and Three Gods
As you swim around and take in all of the beautiful underwater scenery, you can use sonar abilities to help guide you in certain directions. Keep an eye out for missing pages, fish to talk to, and new areas that house a god. You’ll learn that the gods don’t remember their past either but dream of distant memories. In this prologue you will meet Lutra (an adorable water bug), Amar (a literal party-animal) and the Twins (playful but hot-headed children). I tried my best to keep the peace with everyone and have them befriend each other as well so they weren’t so lonely. When you return to the eel, Elil can tell you which god you are currently closest to and what they are thinking.
The story had a lot more intrigue and lore then I was expecting and now I really want to find out what happens next! What kind of world will the gods create? Why is Elil technically no longer a god? Which fish is truly the ultimate life of the party?
To find out more about the full version of Mythic Ocean releasing sometime in Early 2020 on Windows PC, check out my previous article here. Want to try out some other free demos? I’ve got you covered here: Wholesome Game Demos You Can Try Out Now for Free. Finally, you can also check out my playthrough of the prologue for Stranded Sails here.
- Oct 14, 2019
Pokemon Go is still going strong even years after it first released. The upcoming Halloween season is going to be super spooky in the world of Pokemon Go.
Niantic has finally revealed how you can celebrate Halloween in Pokemon Go and the developer didn’t shy away from going all out this spooky season. Along with all the shadow Pokemon making a return and frequently crossing your path, you can also expect to encounter a Shiny Yamask – that is, if you are lucky enough!
Of course there will also be plenty of new customization options for your avatar so you can dress up for Halloween as well! Check out the full event feature list below!
The event will kick off October 17th so make sure to charge your phone prior to the event and be ready to go hunting and catch them all! Make sure to do so at the beginning of the event as most of to will end right after Halloween on November 1st.
More Pokemon related news came from Pokemon Sword and Shield where Nintendo revealed a first glance at the first town you will encounter in the game!
Starting Thursday, October 17, 2019
Features
– Rescue more Shadow Pokémon from Team GO Rocket — Be ready to rescue the following Pokémon from Team GO Rocket Grunts at PokéStops near you: Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Electabuzz, Magmar, Lapras, Mareep, Seedot, Nuzleaf, Sableye, Trapinch, Cacnea, Shuppet, and Duskull.
– Thrilling threads in the Style Shop — Play dreadful dress-up with new avatar items, including a Zubat Bag, a Pikachu Onesie, a Cubone Cap, a Litwick Cap, and a Mimikyu Bag!
– A Spooky Shiny Pokémon makes its debut — If you’re lucky, you might encounter Shiny Yamask.From Thursday, October 17, 2019 to Friday, November 1, 2019
Features
– Don’t be scared! More Ghost- and Dark-type Pokémon will be appearing in the wild, in Eggs, and in raids — Gastly, Murkrow, and more will be appearing. Making its Halloween debut is Yamask, the Spirit Pokémon!
– Pokémon wearing creepy-cute Halloween costumes arrive in raids and in the wild! — Some Pokémon have donned costumes to celebrate Halloween this year! Look forward to Bulbasaur wearing Shedinja costumes, Charmander wearing Cubone costumes, and Squirtle wearing Yamask costumes in raids. In the wild, be on the lookout for Pikachu wearing Mimikyu costumes! If you’re lucky, you might even encounter these alarmingly adorable Pokémon as Shiny Pokémon!
– The Pitch-Black Pokémon makes its ominous debut in Pokémon GO! Darkrai will be appearing in five-star raids!
– Frightful and fun Field Research tasks will be available for a limited time during this event.
– You’ve received a spooky message. Check out your Special Research when the Halloween event begins, Trainer, and you might face a Forbidden Pokémon…Bonuses
– 2× Catch Candy
– 2× Hatch Candy
– 2× Transfer Candy - Oct 14, 2019
Leafvale Island is described by the developer as a cross between Zelda and Harvest Moon, and I can’t wait to find out more.
With what little I could find, I can can already tell that Leafvale Island is one cute indie that I will be keeping an eye on. In my opinion, there could never be enough 2D adventure games. As soon as I finish one, I am ready for another. I’m always excited to meet new people and creatures, and discover countless worlds and environments.
Being described as a cross between Zelda and Harvest Moon, Leafvale Island immediately attracted my attention. I could tell by the images that this game certainly has a charm that cannot be denied. I don’t know if it’s the beady-eyed tree or the happy waving little man, but I know I want to play this game!
However, it does appear that this game is still deep in development, so details are bit hard to come by. Luckily, you can follow the developer on Twitter to get a better idea as to what to expect in Leafvale Island. For more awesome 2D action, check out my coverage of the most recent update to Stardew Valley!
- Oct 13, 2019
We’ve seen a lot of awesome gameplay so far! Now we get a closer look at the first town in Pokemon Sword and Shield.
In a recent video shared by the The Pokemon Secret Members club, we got a super close look at the first town in Pokemon Sword & Shield. In the video, there is a nice little walk through the town, showing the locations of the shops and centers.
Not only do we get to see the town, but the video also features some original music from the game, that many have said is reminiscent of the Sinnoh theme. I just can’t get enough of all the gameplay that we have been seeing recently. Especially after getting such a close look at this years E3.
With the release of Pokemon Sword & Shield being so close, I say the more spoilers the better! This new video really helps to give the feel of how this grand new journey will begin, and I can’t wait to dive in.
Initial Town Video
For all the details one might need about this installment in the Pokemon Series, be sure to check out the official website. Or you can check out my coverage of the game here.
- Oct 13, 2019
Nintendo Live is in full swing and features an amazing Animal Crossing New Horizons booth. During the first night of the convention a Splatoon 2 concert took place that featured no other than K.K Slider who stopped by to perform some of his songs.
The Nintendo Live is a similar event as the E3 and takes place in Japan. During this years Nintendo Live, fans can participate in a Splatoon 2 and Smash Bros. Tournament and can also attend this amazing Animal Crossing New Horizons Booth to experience the upcoming game in real life and meet some beloved characters.
The concert however took place at the end of day one, you can watch K.K. Slider perform ahead of the Inklings below. So cute!
- Oct 13, 2019
Nintendo just kicked off a huge convention for gaming fans. Nintendo Live takes place in Japan and next to Splatoon 2 and Smash Bros. Tournaments the big N promised a huge treat for fans eagerly waiting for Animal Crossing New Horizons.
At the event that takes place from October 13th to October 14th, attending fans will be able to experience Animal Crossing in real life and even win Animal Crossing New Horizons merchandise. According to the the official website we will also be getting some news for the upcoming game in the series.
Begining of the Animal Crossing New Horizons Tour Thanks to GAME Watch we can also take a glance at the amazing Animal Crossing New Horizons booth that features photo ops with beloved characters such as Isabelle, Tim Nook and even – personal favorite – K.K Slider.
The booth is designed after Tom Nooks Getaway Package. The tour starts by briefing fans on how to purchases the deserted Island getaway package. Once you begin the tour you are greeted with an introduction video showcasing some of the new Animal Crossing New Horizons feature such as the NookPhone and crafting system.
Further down the tour you will be able to see some of the items you can craft in the game in real life. Take a look at the hatches, axe and other familiar tools below!
Real Life Replicas of Animal Crossing New Horizons Tools Once the tour is completed you can take a photo with your favorite Animal Crossing character in a lovely Animal Crossing New Horizons setting. This tour looks absolutely stunning and everyone who takes it is entitled to play the lottery in hopes to win some adorable Animal Crossing Merch. I am in awe!
If you can’t wait for the next Animal Crossing game, make sure you check out every villager confirmed to make a return in New Horizons!
- Oct 12, 2019
We’re nearing Halloween, a wonderful time of year, and I wanted to keep you all in the festive mood this month! Although, I’ll never understand why people love pumpkins in October so much. I mean, potatoes are awesome every day of the year! Last month in September 2019, a creepy and cute little indie game gem was released for Steam, Origin, GOG and Humble Bundle. It’s a short casual and story-driven game with dark undertones but the narration by Mr. Voice and other voice acting really has me interested! If you’re a fan of A Series of Unfortunate Events, then you should probably check out this title.
About Little Misfortune
Little Misfortune is an interactive story, focused on exploration and characters, both sweet and dark, where your choices have consequences. Starring Misfortune Ramirez Hernandez, an imaginative 8-year-old, who seeks the prize of Eternal Happiness, as a gift to her Mommy. Led by her new friend, Mr. Voice, they venture into the woods, where mysteries are unraveled and a little bit of bad luck unfolds. Sharing the same universe with the cult video game Fran Bow, created by the visionary dev-duo Killmonday Games.
Key Features
- You may pet a doggy, a fishy, a wolfie, the Kraken, the kitty and the foxy.
- Visit a pet cemetery with a shovel.
- Now with real human voices: Hear Misfortune say some pretty cute things!
- Missing children.
- There’s a monster!
- Commit petty crimes.
- Original art by Natalia Martinsson.
- Original soundtrack by Isak Martinsson.
Stay tuned for more news on announcements for PC, console and mobile versions! For another interactive and spooky narrative game, check out this article here: A Juggler’s Tale – A Sidescrolling Puppet Theater Game.
