All posts tagged in Action
Jun 18, 2019
Here Comes Niko is a light, breezy, and charming platforming and adventuring indie game currently in development. The studio behind this game is called Frog Vibes, which is made up of two team members. Stijn is the creator and music composer, and Lisa is the lead artist. Together they have come up with a bright and colorful world full of animal islanders that need your help to complete tasks. You can check out our previous article on Here Comes Niko here.
Frog Vibes was kind enough to take the time to speak with us and answer all of our questions (because we couldn’t wait to find out like everyone else)! We had to know more about what they are currently working on and the story behind Niko’s adorable design and how we can interact with this beautiful island full of talking animals. See below for our exclusive interview with some new and exclusive screenshots!
We’d like to thank Frog Vibes and let them know that we here at myPotatoGames are really excited about playing Here Comes Niko. The game that looks like we’d be taking a wonderful virtual vacation in the tropics.
Q&A with Frog Vibes – Creators of Here Comes Niko
[su_service title=”Can you tell us if there’s a story behind Here Comes Niko and a bit about the gameplay?” icon=”icon: star” icon_color=”#8300ff” size=”32″ class=””]The main story behind Here Comes Niko is that Niko is a new resident in the area of the game and has started a new life and job there. Niko’s job is to make others feel happy or help them with their troubles in a way. Doing this job, you will hop around islands to find people in need and explore the surroundings of Niko’s new living environment.
As for the gameplay it is very active and is based on running, jumping, climbing and other ‘active’ movements. Our goal is to make this a calm and fun game so the way of moving through the environments is smooth and fun, without many frustrations. This makes Niko accessible to both very skilled platform-gamers (who can do speedruns and other cool things if they like) and beginners or casual gamers![/su_service]
[su_service title=”Are all the islanders talking animals? We saw the cat one in the fishing GIF on Twitter and found it very adorable. ” icon=”icon: star” icon_color=”#8300ff” size=”32″ class=””]All islanders are various animal, yes! The island that is featured on Twitter is called ‘Hairball City’ and has cat inhabitants. Other islands will have other species (some islands may have 1 species, others have different animals). Also note, all islands will have a handful of frogs on them too![/su_service]
[su_service title=”Speaking of fishing, what are some of the other activities you can do in this game?” icon=”icon: star” icon_color=”#8300ff” size=”32″ class=””]Activities we have now are fishing, volleyball, collecting/finding objects, and we have some more planned but will have to be a bit more into development before sharing or being set on those.[/su_service]
[su_service title=”Can we have regular conversations with all of these animals? Does Niko have a house and furnishings that we can interact with?” icon=”icon: star” icon_color=”#8300ff” size=”32″ class=””]All NPCs will have at least one small convo/text that is only for them. More important NPCs will have even longer text and varying text for their dialog. Niko does own a house with furnishings but we probably won’t have changeable furniture due to the game’s primary focus being platforming.[/su_service]
[su_service title=”What was your inspiration for the art style and overall idea for the game?” icon=”icon: star” icon_color=”#8300ff” size=”32″ class=””]The general thing is that Stijn and I both love Animal Crossing and Stijn is a fan of the Mario franchise (especially Mario Odyssey and other platformers). Where platformers often have frustrating parts or can be complicated, Animal Crossing lacks in active gameplay but has a super cozy and friendly feel. Niko hopefully fits in the gap between calming and active that doesn’t have the frustrations of being boring or too difficult.
Inspiration for the art style also comes from Animal Crossing and Mario but mostly from art movements that both Stijn and I adore. Also, cute influences from things we have seen on Twitter. As for the added 2D elements to a 3D world, we decided on that because 2D it reflects exactly what we want; 3D models can have some confusing angles, but the 2D does not![/su_service]
[su_service title=”We at myPotatoGames love Animal Crossing and Mario games as well! Will there be any other items to collect in-game other than the previously mentioned coins?” icon=”icon: star” icon_color=”#8300ff” size=”32″ class=””]You can collect cassettes, which will have music of the game and allows you to change the music and the in-game sound systems. We also have 2 other collectibles: one which will have an impact on game progression and one that has an impact on the storyline. But I cannot give more information about those at this point in development![/su_service]
[su_service title=”That’s great! This next question is specifically for Stijn. We’ve listened to some of your pieces and they have a beautiful tropical feel. We’re you inspired by minimalist composers?” icon=”icon: star” icon_color=”#8300ff” size=”32″ class=””]The soundtrack is mostly by recent post-modern music, as well as Latin American music with a ton of other genres. I can’t think of any minimalist composers who directly inspired the soundtrack, but it’s very possible some minimalist traces have crept their way in.[/su_service]
[su_service title=”Finally, do you have a release date in mind for Here Comes Niko? What will be the platforms for the game?” icon=”icon: star” icon_color=”#8300ff” size=”32″ class=””]As for a release date, we’re currently discussing things but we will release some information when we know more! As for platforms, we are planning PC and possibly the Switch if there is enough interest in our game.[/su_service]
Be sure to follow them on Twitter by clicking here and on Discord by clicking here! Stay tuned with us at here at myPotatoGames as we give you the scoop on family-friendly and wholesome games!
- Jun 16, 2019
Knights and Bikes is a quirky action-adventure set on a fictional British island in the late 1980s. The creators convey that they were “inspired by coming-of-age movies like The Goonies and classic games like Earthbound and Secret of Mana.” Knights and Bikes was funded successfully via Kickstarter in March 2016, which you can visit to view their items for sale.
The developer, Foam Sword, is a little game company by Rex Crowle (Tearaway, LittleBigPlanet) and Moo Yu (LittleBigPlanet, Ratchet & Clank), who are dedicated to making games about fun, friends, and imagination. The publishers behind the game are Double Fine Presents. Although there is no set release date as of yet, the game will be available for PS4 and on Steam.
You play as two characters: Nessa & Demelza (cooperatively online or locally). They’re tough and imaginative girls exploring the island of Penfurzy in search of mysteries and on a quest to find the legendary treasure. Cycle around on bikes, explore the natural beauty of the environment, and save the ancient island from ruin. Meanwhile, you must rescue the adults that have gone missing!
Deal with enemies in an endearing child-like and hilarious way by using frisbees, water-balloons, a cranked-up stereo, a pet goose (you can high-five your goose), and more. Moreover, the trinkets you collect from adventuring and from the islanders you save, allows you to upgrade your bikes, learn new abilities, and to travel further.
Key Features
- Best friends forever! Play single-player with an AI companion, couch co-op or online co-op.
- Solve puzzles and deal with enemies using your improvised abilities! These include: frisbees, water-balloons, puddle-stomping welly boots, and a powerful boom-box stereo.
- Work together! Both characters have different skills so you’ll want to experiment with how they combine in order to succeed.
- Explore the island! Seek out its modern tourist-attractions and ancient ruins, both on foot and on your customised bikes.
- Discover treasure! Ranging from trinkets like broken action-figures and animal skulls, to the legendary riches rumoured to be hidden on the island.
- Upgrade your bikes! Barter with adults (offload your junk) so you can personalise your bikes, unlock extra abilities or at the very least: get those training-wheels removed!
- Tend to your pet goose! Captain Honkers has a keen nose-beak and can help you find what you need, if you keep him fed and happy.
This game offers a completely hand-painted visual art style which gives it a very unique look. Interested in fun and different graphics? Check out our most recent news of LUNA, a point-and-click game. Like the idea of having a pet goose? Check out this upcoming game here.
Photo Gallery
- Jun 7, 2019
Super Chicken Catchers is a colorful party-game created by White Smoke Games, an indie studio based in France. The game was released on Steam Early Access here in April 2019 and already plays amazingly well with regular updates. The team also puts together actual tournaments online for the community on specific dates. You can check out the schedule and sign-up here and become the Supreme Chicken Catcher.
About Super Chick Catchers
Welcome to the wackiest tournament! In this crazy action coop game, a team of two players compete against another one. In each team, one player is the mount, the other is the rider. Both have very different yet complementary abilities. To win they will need to catch the chicken and run away from the other team in order to score points and become the Super Chicken Catchers!
Play on a couch with your friends or online to show off your skills. Split, regroup and pass the chicken at the right time, use your environment to flee, chase or fight your opponents and try to master the duo complementary abilities!
Our Early Access Review
Firstly, we’d like to thank White Smoke Games for providing us with Steam codes to play this adorably quirky game. We wish them all great success and truly can’t wait to get our next fix and catch those darn chickens.
Learning the Ropes
The tutorial at the beginning of the game is quite detailed in teaching you how to be both the rider and the mount. However, it became obvious that I forgot the either-or concept of character selection and for some reason panicked and forgot how to use all the buttons during my first match. I just started mashing buttons which is definitely not the way to win and requires a little refined practice. Although, I was later told that the buttons you need to press are helpfully displayed on the screen at all times, if you dare take your eyes off the prize for one second.
Available Modes
Right now you have the option to either play local split-screen with four friends (no more, no less) or online with four friends. It would be really great if the two were mixable but perhaps this will eventually be added at a later date. When playing online, you can create a Custom Game or a Quick Game. Quick Games are great because you will earn points and therefore coins to be able to purchase items to customize your character in the Lockers menu.
Choosing Your Strategy
When choosing whether you want to be the rider or the mount, you must consider their pros and their cons. Specifically, the rider is very slow on ground when running but can jump, glide, throw bombs, and really can reach the most amazing heights. Alternatively, the mount can’t jump but can charge at the enemy and the chicken, run really fast, and pull-off some really awesome drifting moves. I personally was in love with the rider because I felt so free just flying around all over the place. Also, the rider looks like a Minion and that’s amazing.
Who’s Holding the Chicken?
When you’re playing together with the rider on the mount, which you are free to decide to do at any point, you can basically combine both of their unique abilities. For example, while my piggy partner was running away, I was throwing bombs at the opposition and occasionally flew us into the air when needed. Once the chicken is caught however, whoever is holding it won’t be able to perform one of their abilities. Meaning, if the mount is holding the chicken then it can no longer charge. If the rider is holding the chicken, then they can no longer fly. Feel free to pass the chicken around between the two of you whenever possible.
You really do have to think things through quickly and communicate with each other! Even though the game could be so fast-paced, I found it very easy to know where my partner was at all times. Not only are you both the same color, but there’s also a clear line that links both of you together in case you lose each other. Or if you want to corner the enemy for example. You also know which direction the chicken has gone and who is currently in possession of it with the glowing feather symbol.
How to Win
This depends on what type of game you decide to play. A new goal has been recently added to the latest patch which has a different objective. In the regular game, you need to flee from your opponents for as long as possible and hold on to that chicken. A meter bar at the top of the screen will start to fill the longer you have the chicken and you must reach 100% to win the match. The percentages will not drop even if your opponent takes the chicken away from you so it can make for a very intense game.
The new game is about catching the chickens and then bringing them to your flag location to score points! Earn enough points and you win that round. Furthermore, in this new update, there’s a new magenta chicken (as opposed to green), which will allow you to score five points at once! It only appears a few times per game so you must keep an eye out for it. What I found really interesting was that if there’s a certain team that is ahead, their flag location will start to change places so as to make it more difficult and give the other team a fighting chance.
The Arenas
There are a few arenas to choose from in the game and all of them offer very unique features. I absolutely love how colorful and detailed they are and try to not spend too much time gawking at the scenery while playing. The clever design of each arena offers tons of replayability and ways to change up your strategies. One area had moving window panes that you can choose to fly through, another had targets you can bomb for shortcuts, and another had the occasional burst of lava that could get in your way. I loved them all!
We highly recommend this game to anyone that wants to have a good time and a good laugh. Below we have 15 minutes of gameplay for your viewing pleasure of a couple of matches I participated in. I’m the blue rider most of the time and I win once! The last game I was orange which threw me for a loop. Just goes to show how this game can keep you on your toes. Also, please excuse my frequent and fervent clicking of the bombs (they need to refresh). Looking for other players to join you online? Check out the Super Chicken Catchers’ Discord right here. If the video hasn’t convinced you yet to try out this game, keep reading below for a nice surprise we have in store.
Giveaway – Win Steam Codes
If all this chicken madness seems like fun to you, and you’d like to give Super Chicken Catchers a try, you can win your very own Steam key right now! We have three keys to give away to give some of our followers a chance to try this hilariously hectic game. Simply comment on the post below that you would like throw your name in the hat, and you will have done exactly that. Two weeks from today, on Friday, July 12th, we will choose three separate winners, each to receive one code! Good luck to all, and we can’t wait to play Super Chicken Catchers with you!
Update: Due to a chaotic E3 2019, we have extended our giveaway to a new date! See the edit above.
- May 16, 2019
Moving Out is created by SMG Studio in Australia (and in collaboration with Devm Games in Stockholm), an indie game development studio that won awards for their games such as Death Squared. This hilarious action, puzzle, and physics-based moving simulator game is a nice mesh of Frogger and Overcooked! I mean who doesn’t want to become a F.A.R.T (certified Furniture Arrangement & Relocation Technician)? For now, you can wishlist the game on Steam, which has a release date window of 2019.
Complete the 50+ levels that will let you get into all sorts of shenanigans. For example, unloading cargo off moving planes, smuggling giraffes out of the zoo, and transporting goods to strange locales like haunted houses and outer space. Furthermore, customers appreciate prompt delivery so you can break down the walls, throw things, and use technology like portals and ray guns!
Local Co-op and Multiplayer
Be an independent contractor or team up with a friend! Moving Out features both local and online play across its arcade, story, and versus modes. Each level also adjusts the experience dynamically to account for the number of players on screen, thereby welcoming Smooth Move employees of all ages and skill levels. Moreover, with party mode you’ll be able to compete for the highest score locally or against the community.
Character Customization
As you can see in SMG Studio’s latest Tweet, you can change your avatar’s hair and skin color. You can be blue, purple, or green; anything goes in this quirky game!
Check out their website here if you want to sign up and follow them for more information. For another wacky and cooperative game, check out our article about Knights and Bikes. If relocating and unpacking is your thing, check out Unpacking.
- Apr 15, 2019
Ary and the Secret of Seasons is an action/adventure game developed by eXiin & Fishing Cactus and published by Modus Games. It will be releasing during the third quarter of 2019 on PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4. The game won Best Unity award at gamescom 2017, was a finalist for Indie Prize at Casual Connect 2017, and was nominated at several other award shows. It opens a range of possibilities for amazing environmental puzzles as you manipulate and navigate between all of the seasons.
Story
Valdi, a world divided into four regions, has one specific climate for each region related to the four seasons. Balance and peace of Valdi was threatened by an evil mage 1,000 years ago. The mage was eventually defeated by the Legendary Warrior. The Legendary Warrior then sealed the mage inside the tomb placed in the very heart of the Dome of Seasons. The Guardians of Seasons were then formed to protect the Dome. Each Guardian owns a medallion that provides them with the power to control one season. For generations, Guardians of Seasons passed their knowledge from father to son.
Gameplay
You play as Ary, the impulsive daughter of Gwenn, the Guardian of Winter. A tragic accident befalls Ary’s brother and prevents his succession to her father’s role as Guardian of Winter. Ary then finds herself stepping up and, for the first time in centuries, a girl has become the new guardian. The Season Spheres are local zones where another season appears inside. Ary can now open up to 3 of them at the same time. For example, within the same area, Ary can jump from winter to summer.
Key Features
- Rewarding exploration – Harnessing the power of the seasons, Ary can traverse sweeping landscapes in search of new destinations, solving amazing environmental puzzles to progress.
- Captivating storytelling – You are recruited to help the Guardians of Seasons, an old organization caught up by rigid traditions. As you venture through uncharted locations across Valdi, you will discover secrets and hidden meanings behind the Guardian of Seasons.
- Dynamic environments – Manipulate the world around Ary with her environmental powers. Leap between ecosystems to bend the world and seasons to her needs.
- Fluid combat – Your skills will be put to the test as you encounter foes looking to thwart your progress – from local inhabitants to hulking behemoths, you will use all the tools at your disposal to overcome monumental obstacles.
- Alluring 3D world –A beautiful visual style combined with an enchanting soundtrack creates a lingering atmosphere that will surely become a memorable gameplay experience.
For More Information
To learn more about Ary and the Secret of Seasons, you can go to the official website here. For another adventure game with summer in mind, check out our article about the upcoming game Summer in Mara.
Photo Gallery
- Rewarding exploration – Harnessing the power of the seasons, Ary can traverse sweeping landscapes in search of new destinations, solving amazing environmental puzzles to progress.
- Mar 27, 2019
The developers of Cat Quest II have recently announced a few fun additions to the world of Felingard: Local Coop and man’s best friend!
“An adventure where two paws are better than one” Players will be able to play with their friends in a split screen experience. Explore the open-world cat universe, adventure on quests, and learn more about the lore of this furtastic world together.
Along with coop, there is another furry creature joining the adventure. Players will now be able to switch between a cat AND dog! So whether you’re a cat or a dog person, there is an adorable pal for everyone.
Grab a friend, family member, cat, or dog and enjoy local coop in Cat Quest II coming out in 2019.
Add the game now to your Steam List and stay tuned to myPotatoGames for an official release date. Happy Gaming!
- Nov 2, 2018
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n adorable indie action-adventure game is coming to Xbox and Steam very soon. The game, which is entitled TUNIC, is highly anticipated by both Xbox owners and PC gamers alike. The game was incredibly well received at Microsoft’s E3 presser earlier this year and has received numerous compliments on its alluring graphics, leading many to believe that TUNIC has the potential to become one of the best indie games out there.
About:
TUNIC is an upcoming cute indie action-adventure game that is expected to be released exclusively for Windows and Mac through Steam, and for Xbox One.
TUNIC has impressively been developed by just one man, Andrew Shouldice, who decided to quit his job at Silverback Productions to produce content of his own. In past interviews, Shouldice has said the following about TUNIC‘s influences:
“Tunic is inspired by lots of games, but at the forefront is the sense of discovery that we experienced when playing games as kids. That feeling of being in a place that’s new, a bit scary, and bigger than you! We often ask players what games Tunic reminds them of, if you feel like it’s in there, it was probably an inspiration.“
The game will be published by Finji, who also published the popular game Night In The Woods. A price and release date for the game have not yet been announced.
TUNIC takes place from an isometric perspective. With a distinct attractive art style, TUNIC has frequently been compared to games such as Zelda.
Originally entitled Secret Legend, TUNIC is an action adventure game focusing on the journey of a small yet heroic fox in a big world. Players can explore rugged landscapes, discover eerie ruins, and combat terrible creatures.
Features:
- A world made of cute, blocky items
- Discover monstrous dungeons
- Stumble upon spooky ruins
- Explore puzzle-filled lands
- Experience a variety of wild landscapes
- Uncover the game’s hidden secrets
- Fight terrible creatures from long ago
- Smart controls
TUNIC has undeniably been visually and mechanically influenced by Zelda games. However, it is also quite relaxed with a primary focus on exploration. Therefore success seems likely due to its seemingly family-friendly nature and its appeal to a variety of gamers.
- Oct 28, 2018
About Forager:
[dropcap]F[/dropcap]orager is an upcoming indie game that is being developed by HopFrog and will be published by Humble Bundle, who will also publish Ikenfell and Mineko’s Night Market. Forager was initially released for free on itch.io, where it was well received. After a year of development, the game will soon be available to buy from Steam, the Humble Store and the Nintendo eShop. Whilst no set release date has been specified, the game is scheduled for release during fall 2018, meaning we should hopefully be able to play it very soon!
Described as an “idle game that you want to actively keep playing”, Forager is a 2D open world game inspired by exploration, farming and crafting games such as Stardew Valley, Terraria and Zelda. The game contains a variety of lands and biomes to explore and players can craft, gather resources, uncover secrets and even build a base.
Features:
- Gather, collect and manage resources.
- Craft useful items & structures.
- Build and grow a base out of nothing. Buy land to expand and explore.
- Level up and learn new skills, abilities, and blueprints.
- Solve puzzles, find secrets and raid dungeons!
- Achieve anything you want! The choice is yours, you set your own goals to work towards!
New Features:
- New lands and biomes (Deserts, Graveyards, Snowy Mountains, Volcanoes, and more!)
- Combat mechanics have been added! (Dungeons, Bosses, Raids, Night time invasions, etc).
- NPC interaction. Find quirky companions to trade or talk with.
- Farming mechanics, including caring for animals and the harvesting of all sorts of crops and herbs.
- Archaeology mechanics. Play as a professional secret-finder as you raid ruins, dig for artifacts and display your findings in your own museum!
- Alchemy & Rune Inscription mechanics. Allowing you to go all in on the crazy wizard fantasy, destroying big masses of resources with a single bomb or creating trees out of nothing with a powerful spellbook.
- 16+ new skills to learn and master, in a free-form upgrade system that allows you to customize your experience as you see fit. This brings the number of skills up to 64 total, each unlocking new items, structures or gameplay modifiers!
- Random events have finally been added!
- New resources, objects, structures, animals, puzzles, secrets and more! More EVERYTHING!
- Steam only features!
