Today we learned that Nintendo has finally given it’s E3 presentation a name. The event is called Nintendo Direct: E3 2018. The big N will let players get hands on with games like Pokemon: Let’s Go on Nintendo Switch. To further get fans excited about this years E3 – Team 17, responsible for amazing games like My Time at Portia, has announced it’s E3 lineup.
The long awaited and highly praised game (My Time at Portia) has been released on PC a few months ago. Check out our Early Access Review here. The game will come to console later this year. Team 17 will host an event showing of the game running on console for the very first time. Genesis: Alpha One will be at the show as well. Check out Team 17’s full press release below!
Genesis: Alpha One – *World First Console Hands-On* / Developed by Radiation Blue – Genesis: Alpha One combines a mix of genres including rogue-lite, FPS and ship-building. You explore a randomly generated universe, farming resources, dealing with alien infestations and cloning new crew members. It will be releasing on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC in 2018
Planet Alpha / Developed by Planet Alpha ApS – PLANET ALPHA is an atmospheric side-scrolling platform adventure game. Combining fast platforming, creative puzzles, stealth mechanics and a unique art style to create an unforgettable experience. It will be releasing on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch in 2018
Mugsters / Developed by Reinkout Games – Mugsters is an action-packed, fast-paced chaotic puzzler where you must outrun, out-manoeuvre and outsmart your enemies by experimenting with different sandbox levels, vehicles, environmental traps and explosives. It will be releasing on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch in 2018
My Time at Portia – *World First Console Hands-On* / Developed by Pathea Games – My Time at Portia is an engrossing 3D sandbox RPG set in a beautiful post-apocalyptic world inspired by Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon and Dark Cloud 2. Cut down trees, forage for herbs, mine in the ruins and even grow your own garden as you work to restore your workshop. It is currently in Steam Early Access with a full release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC due in 2018
For those with their head in the ‘clouds’, who have not yet played or heard of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, it is an aesthetic open-world adventure game. It was initially released for PC and PS4 on July 18th 2017. It will be released for Switch on 17th May 2018. The game can be purchased as a physical copy, or alternatively can be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop for a reasonable $26.99.
To any UK gamers, the game currently has a 10% discount and can be obtained for a reasonable £20.69 if pre-ordered today. You can pre-order it here. For players outside the UK, you can get the game on Amazon here.
Upon its release for PC last year, Yonder was praised for its beautiful graphics and amalgamation of different elements from popular game series’. It has been compared to Zelda, Harvest Moon, and Animal Crossing, as well as many other games.
Straight away I was able to see Zelda’s influence upon the game, with the beginning being suspiciously reminiscent of both Wind Waker and Breath of the Wild. (My boyfriend’s exact words upon watching my gameplay were “Oh look it’s Breath of The Wild!”). ????
A̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶p̶e̶n̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶h̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶r̶a̶c̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶c̶u̶s̶t̶o̶m̶i̶s̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ you begin the game on a ship set sail for Gemea, a mysterious island full of Sprites, animals and Murk (that darn Murk!). Unfortunately, due to a disastrous combination of stormy weather and incompetent crew members, you arrive at Gemea via shipwreck (you had one job guys!????). Armed with a handy compass to (literally) light the way, you set off to explore the first part of Gemea. The Grasslands.
Similar to the game RiME, death in Yonder is apparently impossible. Jumping into deep water or off of cliff edges results in your character either re-spawning or whipping out an umbrella to float to safety?! So in this sense, in combination with no time constraints, no combat, and free reign to explore Gemea (aside from a few essential quests for story progression), the game is very relaxing and family-friendly.
Things I liked about the game ????
Things I disliked about the game ????
(Side note: Is it just me who thinks the cats look kinda creepy? With their vacant eyes and ability to stand like a human..)
Additionally, some cats can only be discovered during certain seasons. Therefore after collecting all 55, I reckon players should be rewarded with more than just a stinkin’ trophy. Maybe a cat (or six) of our own, because who needs 55 cats anyway..?! ????
Music and Cinematics ????
The game’s music and cinematics play a big part in making the game appealing. Beautiful mini cut scenes (such as when a player discovers a new area) as well as enchanting music, creates a soothing gaming experience and contributes to the game’s ‘Breath of The Wild’ feel. Even the little things have been thought of by developers. For example, the presence of pauses between music in order to lessen the likelihood of the player getting bored of the Soundtrack.
Relaxing, not taxing ????
Despite the murk casting a shadow over their homeland, the people of Gemea (mostly) remain welcoming, humble and charismatic.
This guy being an exception… With combat absent, the gameplay is calm, relaxing, and gentle, and focuses more on the player’s journey, as opposed to fixating on the destination.
Snow White’s 26 Sprites? ????
Finding Sprites is essential in Yonder in order to clear areas of Murk. Sprites can be found in many different locations, and each have their own unique personalities. They can range from forgetful, to grumpy, which kind of reminded me of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Although it can definitely be said that Gemea’s flittering inhabitants are a little more sprite-ly (heh) and helpful than their Disney counterparts.
Controls ????
The controls in the game are pretty straightforward, although players are given tutorials nonetheless.
Having Joy-Cons with joysticks makes the game more enjoyable and accessible for me personally. (Confession: I’m terrible at using WASD in PC games and will set the arrow keys as direction controls wherever possible). It is easy to use the compass (a useful tool) in the game by simply pressing the up arrow button (△) on the blue (left) Joy-Con.
I played the majority of the game in handheld mode, although graphics can definitely be appreciated more when the game is played on a larger screen.
Graphics ????
The graphics are hands-down the best aspect of the game for me. From twinkling sunsets over water, to luscious green breezy meadows, the varying utopia-esque landscapes are best described as eye-candy.
The attractive art-style is not dissimilar to My Time At Portia (MTAP). Both Yonder and MTAP are beautiful open-world RPG simulation games. They both allow players to craft items, manage a farm, and engage with a plethora of charismatic characters. They have also both earned a respectable 9/10 rating on Steam.
Bartering ????
Unlike many other games, Yonder utilises a bartering system. As opposed to just obtaining some of a currency and buying things, you barter with tradespeople instead. This is actually pretty useful as currency in games can sometimes be hard to accumulate.
Crafting ????
Some things can’t be purchased through bartering and will have to be crafted instead. An example being the Toy Cat (*whistles nonchalantly*). There are 8 different crafting classes (Guilds) in the game. Your character starts out as a Wayfarer, but can join different Guilds and become a:
Each class offers their own unique crafting recipes (not dissimilar to Level 5’s game Fantasy Life).
Farming ????
The game offers both crop and animal farming. Players can befriend exotic creatures such as the Groffle (by bribing them with their favourite foods). The creature will then follow the player. If lead to a farm with an animal pen, it can then be adopted.
You can also hire many characters in the game as farmhands (again, by bribing them with food). Farmhands will undertake a variety of tasks, and essentially help to keep your farm clean, tidy and running smoothly. Thus, maintaining its rating whilst you are away.
Exploration ????
There are eight different regions to explore in Yonder.
The Grasslands ???? – Grassy plains located in the center of Gemea
Crestfall Coast ???? – A coastal, temperate, tropical region
Dapplewood Forest ???? – A forest region crossed with creeks
Hearthwind Vale ???? – A region full of plateaus, valleys and swamps
Numino Peak ???? – A snow-covered mountain region
Radiant Sands ???? – A desert region
Sunderwind Wilds ???? – A prairie region
The Shivering Plains ❄ – A cold, snow-covered region
The different regions have their own unique climates, landscapes, characters, quests, guilds, wildlife and more.
Overall, I found Yonder to be an enigmatic game with lots of different features to keep players entertained. The variety of (sometimes kooky) quests, plethora of beautiful landscapes to explore, and the ability to farm, craft, mine etc, makes boredom unlikely, even for those with the shortest of attention spans.????
Whilst the vast landscapes may be overwhelming at first, you will become well acquainted with them over time. Having a large open-world isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it helps to make the game a little more challenging, as your compass doesn’t guide your character everywhere.
Put simply, if you are a fan of My Time At Portia, Stardew Valley or Fantasy Life, I would definitely recommend purchasing this game for Switch.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles will release on Nintendo Switch eShop May 17th, a physical version is set to release on June 12th, you can-pre-order it here.
Big thanks to Prideful Sloth for providing the review copy of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles on Nintendo Switch.
Team 17, known for publishing amazing games like my Time at Portia, just released a brand new trailer for Yoku’s Island Express. The new gameplay trailer introduces a cast of adorable new characters. Yoku’s Island Express is rolling on to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC in Q2 2018. You can already pre-order the game on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Playstation 4. Check out the cute new gameplay trailer. and some additional details below.
Award-winning international games label Team17 and independent developer Villa Gorilla have today released a new trailer for their delightful pinball platform adventure Yoku’s Island Express.
When Yoku arrives on Mokumana Island to take over the role of postmaster, he’s ready for the easy life, soaking up the sun and delivering parcels on a tropical paradise!
However, all is not well and Yoku will quickly discover that Mokuma the island deity, is trapped in a restless slumber, with his nightmares causing quakes and storms across the island. As Yoku embarks on a noble quest to save the troubled god, he will traverse the island using a unique blend of pinball mechanics, meeting a whole host of quirky villagers along the way!
Meet Fosfor who craves tasty Cove Mushrooms; Ohm, Tilo and Jamja the mountaineers clambering the Mt. Peak trail; Spina, Juice Master Jeepers and the rest of the Skull Gang and many, many more wonderful characters.
[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 )
For those that may have missed it, in Grow: Song of the Evertree players find themselves in a world called Alaria. The land once lush and vibrant has been abandoned and was recently taken over by the mysterious Withering.
The game, developed by the people who made Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, puts you in charge to re-grow the once so lush Evertree that overtime has turned into nothing more than a tiny sapling. It is your actions that will help turn Alaria back into what it has once been.
The game features an amazing soundtrack that will guide you through the living world where you meet dozens of unique characters as you reshape and rebuild the town of your dreams. You can even grow entirely new planets to suit your needs.
Grow: Song of the Evertree will release on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam on November 16th and will cost $24.99 on console and $19.99 on PC.
For more wonderful news from the adventure game world, check out what’s new in the latest DLC for Pioneers of Olive Town.
Cozy and laid back games have never been more popular than nowadays. With Animal Crossing New Horizons breaking sales records and new farming games being released nearly every other month, there is no end in sight for the popularity of relaxing video games.
In Grow Song of the Evertree players find themselves in a world called Alaria. The land once lush and vibrant has been abandoned and was recently taken over by the mysterious Withering.
The game, developed by the people who made Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles – puts you in charge to re-grow the once so lush Evertree that overtime has turned into nothing more than a tiny sapling. It is your actions that will help turn Alaria back into what it has once been.
The game features an amazing soundtrack that will guide you through the living world where you meet dozens of unique characters as you reshape and rebuild the town of your dreams.
Creativity is as endless as the developers promise you can “generate unique meadows, deserts, frozen worlds and… oh, well… Alchemy is not an exact science, some seeds may contain unexpected surprises.”
Grow Song of the Evertree will release sometime in 2021 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Take a look at the heartfelt announcement trailer below for a first peak at the game.
In case you happen to live under a rock, Untitled Goose Game is a hilarious indie game where you get to play as troublesome goose. Use your honk to scare people, and move things around to generally be a nuisance. It is a hilariously fun time.
Currently, Untitled Goose Game is available for $5 off in the Nintendo eShop! This makes the current price only $14.99. For more great deals, check out recent coverage of the Nintendo eShop sale.
For another great deal, Rime is also on sale in the eShop for $9.88, down from $29.99. Some really great deals going on in the Nintendo eShop!
Sony has officially released some information about the Next-Gen Playstation! Even though all of this info is focused on the hardware, there are some technological leaps being made. Here is what we know about the system so far:
With all of these new technologies being utilized in the PS5, there is no doubt that the next system is going to be visually amazing. Stay tuned to myPotatoGames for more info on the PS5 and current Playstation 4 games. Happy Gaming!