All posts tagged in Action
Nov 28, 2019
Lost Ember is an adventure game where you play as a wolf that has the power to inhabit other animals. Travel across beautiful landscapes and discover what happened, through memories, to the ancient civilizations now in ruins. Lost Ember is available now on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Steam (current 10% discount). I’d like to thank Mooneye Studios for supplying me with a PS4 code in order to share this review with you today!
When I started to play Lost Ember, I was expecting to really enjoy playing as several animals from birds soaring through the skies to fish swimming in the depths of the sea. What I wasn’t expecting is the emotional journey I was about to embark on complete with amazing voice acting and a breathtaking soundtrack. Although the ending is a happy one considering, be prepared for some tears!
A Tragic Story of Greed, Violence, and Loss
Lost Ember is a tale of the Yanrana people and their once mighty city. They believe that by giving their dead their traditional funeral, their spirits can freely pass on to The City of Light. You awaken to a talking ball of light wondering why it can’t pass on and why it appears trapped with no one able to hear it. As it is said that those that are denied The City of Light stay behind and take the form of animals, the ball of light, or rather spirit guide, assumes you must be a Lost Ember, a lost soul. Together you set out to remember who you were in your past lives and if you can be redeemed.
All names of the Yanrana people are carved into medallions that they wear around their necks. You find one with the name Kalani inscribed on it. Another spirit appears and bestows upon you powers that will help get you were you need to go. Scattered around several environments like lush green hills, snowy hilltops, and dark caverns, are memories represented as red smoke. With each memory regained, you can break through “barriers” and move forward. I don’t want to give away more than that as this should be experienced for one’s self. Piecing together what I was seeing had me constantly questioning what kind of person my character was. The larger point of the premise is to see things through others’ perspective.
Controls, Rendering, and Frame-Rate Need Improvement
The animals you can change into were the ones I knew about such as the adorable wombats and moles, but there were a few surprises like bison and elephants! The movements felt quite real although I found it a tad annoying to have to repeatedly press the X button to move and use L2/R2 for up and down when it would have just been easier to move around with the joystick.
As the wolf you can hold R2 to run quite fast so I found myself using that animal the most. That or a bird as it was hard not to just fly everywhere when my wolf got stuck often outside of the marked paths. This was a little frustrating for an exploration game where you can check hidden places for collectibles. Sticking to paths at times and not being able to jump down more than 5 feet or die took me right out of the moment.
Another complaint I had with the controls was the lag whenever I moved too quickly or entered another area, the occasional crash, and the glitches. I would run into invisible walls not knowing where I can and cannot go which often got me stuck trying to button-mash my way out. One time as the mole rat, which allows you to dig underground to get to another side, I rose up in a pile of rocks and couldn’t move. As I panicked, I decided to release my mole from my possession and watched as it ran off and faded from my view as I continued to be a disembodied being becoming one with the earth. Luckily, you can Restart Last Checkpoint and not lose much time.
The Animals are Adorable and Full of Life
There are no enemies and when you fall, the game just puts you right back where you were. This helped put me back into a relaxed mood as I can just sit back and enjoy the scenery and story. I also wouldn’t have been able to bear it if I had to hurt any of the animals. However, it did feel weird to possess their bodies at my will only to abandon them in areas probably far from their homes, exposed out in the open. I tried to remind myself that this was just a game. Then, when I was a fish and transformed myself back into a wolf on land, I saw the poor thing flopping around unable to get back into the water! I quickly re-possessed it, dropped it off somewhere nice with some friends, and doggy-paddled my way back to shore.
It would probably ease my mind if every time I approached the animals, they didn’t run away as fast as possible. Even though I understand that I am a wolf and therefore a predator. Are all the animals actually people inside anyway or is that just a legend? It was still nice to become these animals and have the wolf disappear and become part of the gang. You can also do many “silly things”, as the game puts it, like munching on some berries or taking a nap. It made everything feel so much more alive, and made for some great snapshots too. They also added some baby animals that you can inhabit which significantly upped the cute factor!
Can’t Stop Thinking About What I Just Played
With all of the negatives I just mentioned, I still found myself immensely enjoying the game. The beauty and care that was taken in creating the wildlife and this emotional story far supersedes any of my grievances. My heart ached when I looked around and saw how much nature was thriving now that the humans were gone. The very same humans that over-cultivated which lead to pestilence and hunger. The song with lyrics at the end of the game along with certain revelations had me crying. Lost Ember took me only a few hours to play through but I still find myself thinking about my experience.
- Nov 15, 2019
Yesterday we had some new World Premiere announcements and ports for Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass during Microsoft’s X019 Inside Xbox live-stream. Xbox’s library continues to grow with its own exclusives and third-party games, and today, we get to add another one to that list!
I first heard of Tamarin, an adorable 3D platformer, during this past E3 as it was announced to release on Steam and PS4 in Q4 2019 (which hopefully means next month). Now, the creators behind Tamarin, Chameleon Games, have posted a Tweet stating that the game is currently in development for the Xbox One! It probably won’t have the same release date but I’m happy it will be accessible to more people all the same.
Tamarin Xbox One Announcement Trailer
- Nov 12, 2019
This stealth game with a simple premise and slapstick humor created by House House, has recently become an internet sensation, memes and all. I have been following along Untitled Goose Game’s journey since 2017 and have been preparing myself to honk at, annoy, and steal from all of the townspeople. Thanks to the developers, I was able to play a copy on the Nintendo Switch and I was not disappointed.
The idea for the game started out as a joke and has evolved from there. It seems that everyone can relate with similar stories of their encounters with unpredictable geese. They don’t seem too menacing, but approach one the wrong way and expect to be chased. There’s just something comical about how they waddle and House House has captured the goose’s movements and actions quite realistically.
You’re a Mischievous Goose, Not A Malicious Goose
Even though the goose’s antics never get too out of hand, some people were hesitant on being horrible to lovely people minding their own business. However, to a certain extent, the game allows you do decide on how to accomplish goals, via a to-do list, so you get to project some of your own personality into the goose. The classical background music also cleverly reacts to your steps and antics which made me feel encouraged to follow through with my plans. Well, not so much plans as let’s just throw everything everywhere and see what happens.
Every character is faceless and there is no dialogue but they’re still so emotive. They’re all just living out their daily routines until you come by and give them a hard time. I actually enjoyed returning to the same areas again and seeing the townspeople putting their items back in their place and fixing things I might have broken. This way I don’t feel as guilty because nothing you do is permanent. No harm, no fowl. It also allows for you to do things over and over again, like a true sandbox game.
You can and should purchase Untitled Goose Game on the Nintendo Switch here, or on Epic Games Store here.
- Nov 9, 2019
Nintendo has just surprised us with a game available now, as of November 8th, 2019, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. The Stretchers is a physics-based cooperative (1-2 players) action and puzzle game developed by Tarsier Studios (Tearaway Unfolded). You’re medics tasked with saving residents struck by the Dizzies and delicately (not really) bring them to the ambulance! There’s just something about physics-based games, such as Grabimals, that’s way too funny.
About The Stretchers
The world has a bad case of the Dizzies—residents dizzied by Captain Brains—and only you can rescue them! Work with a friend in co-op or skillfully control two medics on your own to overcome the physics-based puzzles of each madcap mission. Either way, how you go about it is totally up to you, whether you work together to transport many Dizzies at once on a stretcher or work in parallel by splitting up dragging the Dizzies to the ambulance one by one. As you play and replay missions, you’ll complete bonus objectives and uncover hidden collectibles with hilarious results!
You’ll also unlock additional hats, costume colors, and furniture for your home base by exploring mission areas and the world map. When you receive a distress call, don’t be afraid to get curious and experiment. You never know what hilarity will ensue, whether it’s the laugh-out-loud writing or yet another unexpected slapstick situation. But don’t let the levity distract you from your ultimate mission: to stop the evil mastermind Captain Brains and the spread of his chaotic Dizzies!
You can purchase the Stretchers on the Nintendo eShop here for only $25.19!
- Nov 7, 2019
Of course, you are probably all aware of this title that released just this past Halloween on the Nintendo Switch! I have been playing the game myself and do agree with other critics that it is the best game of the series to date in terms of graphics, gameplay including the new moves (Slam is my new fav), and Gooigi. Another significant addition that made all the difference, the game autosaves every time you walk through a door.
Playing with someone cooperatively as Gooigi reduces the time it takes to suck everything up and significantly helps in boss battles and when surrounded by ghosts. The best part, Gooigi can die via enemies and water, but he can always come back shortly after without using lives. With all of these exciting new features in Luigi’s Mansion 3, I wanted to take the time to focus on Polterpup, the star of the show, as he should not be overlooked.
Polterpup is Part of the Family
During the end of the second game, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon on the 3DS, Luigi actually adopts this lovable and hyper ghost-doggy, My heart melted when I started up the new title which has Luigi and co. riding the train to the Last Resort hotel along with the family pupper. Polterpup’s in-game bio is as follows: “A ghost dog who loves Luigi and is always by his side. He’ll come to Luigi’s aid when he’s in truly dire situations!” Every time Polterpup helps Luigi, I love to hear him respond with: “Aw, Polterpup” as lovingly as possible.
Instead of having to use your Dark-Light and chase this little troublemaker everywhere, his role is that of a guide. At the beginning, he will show you which buttons to press and when, as a sort of tutorial. Throughout the game your guide-dog will show you either the right direction to follow to complete your objective, or show you a secret spot with either money or gems to collect.
Polterpup Saves the Day
There still isn’t much to purchase with all of that cash you save up that is very useful, besides the Golden Bones again. Especially when you can only purchase so many until they’re sold out before needing to progress the story. When your health reaches 0 and you have a Golden Bone in your inventory, Polterpup will lick Luigi back to life and take the bone with him as payment. Although I know he would do it for free.
I had a lot of fun playing Luigi’s Mansion 3 and it was nice that this time around the levels were a little shorter, as well as the overall game. Which actually makes it perfect for the portability of the Switch. You can also use your joy-con motion sensors to make using your Poltergust G-00 surprisingly easier to use when changing directions. My only wish now is to get a spin-off all about Polterpup, and Polterkitty, on an adventure Homeward Bound-style!
I loved every minute playing this game from the wacky ghost shennigans to the sneaky Easter eggs, and of course every scene with Polterpup. I highly recommend you purchase the game on the Nintendo Switch eShop right now or you can grab it on Amazon for a small discount right here!
- Sep 28, 2019
Now that it’s the fall, I’ve been in a very festive mood for Halloween. That’s why I found OBAKEIDORO available now on the Nintendo Switch eShop for only $19.99! This creepy-but-cute party game (up to 4 players) is developed by FREE STYLE and was the winner of BitSummit 7 Spirits Popular Selection Award. In this PVP game fun for the whole family, you have 3 minutes in which three Humans face off against one Monster. Gameplay can be as deep or casual as you want to make it!
About OBAKEIDORO
As a Human, don’t just simply run away! Use your Lantern Attack to fend off the Monster. If you time it just right, you might be able to turn the tides in your favor. As the Monster, utilizing your powerful skills is key to your victory. Use skills like Glide and Track to capture the Humans. Can you escape the Monster? Can you hunt down the Humans?
The Story
“The demon world comes to light in the dead of the night.”
Two children, lost in a world full of monsters.
Can they make their way home unharmed?
For more gameplay information on the game, you can check out the official website here. For another game with a similar dark atmosphere, check out our article here: A Juggler’s Tale – A Sidescrolling Puppet Theater Game.
- Sep 10, 2019
Unrailed is a chaotic co-op multiplayer (online and local) where you have to work together with your friends to build a train track across endless procedurally generated worlds. Master random encounters with its inhabitants, upgrade your train and keep it from derailing! Unrailed is developed by Indoor Astronaut and published by Daedalic Entertainment and blibili. This adorable low-poly voxel inspired building game is available now on Steam Early Access here.
About Unrailed!
Your train is constantly moving and you have to hurry to build tracks by gathering the resources (wood, iron) around the unique levels. However, you only have access to one of each tool type within your team. Cooperating is therefore paramount as you will also encounter several obstacles. For example, flocks of ‘unbudging’ cows, choke points due to the terrain, and the possibility of your engines catching fire. Upgrade your train to effectively overcome certain obstacles by adding an atomic engine, upgrading your crafting wagon, attaching a supercharger, and more! You can choose to play cooperatively with up to 4 friends, or if your teammates don’t conduct themselves to your liking, compete against them in 2 vs. 2 challenges!
Key Features
- An intense and chaotic railroad construction experience
- Online and local couch co-op multiplayer
- Procedurally generated worlds with different difficulty levels
- Dynamic weather system & day and night cycle
- Game modes: Endless, Quick (up to 4 players) and Versus (2 vs 2 players)
- Distinct biomes (5+)
- A bunch of upgradable wagons (10+) to modify your train in Endless mode
- Unlockable characters
- A replay system
- Simple controls & split controller mode
- Blocky to the core
If you’re a fan of this art style and procedurally generated maps, then check out our article here: Cube World Is Finally Within Our Reach. If you like doing puzzles that involve trains, go here: All Aboard on Steam – Locomotion is Out Today.
- Sep 5, 2019
During Nintendo’s Direct last night we finally got the official title for Town; Little Town Hero! This strategic RPG is created by none other than GAME FREAK, the geniuses behind the classic Pokemon games. With a new trailer we got to see a lot more of the battle system, the townsfolk that will be aiding you, as well as some of the single boss monsters you’ll be facing off against. Little Town Hero will be releasing digitally on the Nintendo Switch on October 17th, 2019 for $24.99 US. You can pre-order it now right here!
About Little Town Hero
The story is set in an isolated village on the edge of the world. The only gate leading outside is heavily guarded by a castle, and the villagers are not allowed to leave. Most of the villagers don’t give it a thought, and happily go on with their everyday lives. However, the protagonist is a little different from the others – he wants to see the world outside. One day, a “Monster” appears in the village, shocking everyone because until then, no one knew such creatures existed. The protagonist is able to fight it using a mysterious Red stone he found in the coalmines. In the course of his defense of the village, he gradually unravels secrets of how the stones and the monsters came to be…
Catch the Live Stream
GAME FREAK’s 30th Anniversary Celebration Stream will go live on Oct 16 (JST), 2019! In this special stream Junichi Masuda; one of the founding members and composers of GAME FREAK, will give us the history of the company, reveal information about their game development system, and give us the latest information on Little Town Hero along with another title. You can watch the live stream on GAME FREAK’s official channels on Twitter Periscope and YouTube Live. You can also check out their official website here.
