All posts tagged in Adventure
Aug 12, 2018
[dropcap]P[/dropcap]icontier is an upcoming pixel art-stylized miniscape RPG. The game’s retro 2D art style, alongside its life simulation elements, make it comparable to Stardew Valley and the original Harvest Moon games.
Picontier is designed by indie label SKIPMORE, who are best known for their Fairune and Drancia series titles. It is being published by Flyhigh Works Co., a company established in 2011 that specializes in localizing Japanese, English and Chinese titles.
It has recently been announced that the PC version of the game will be released via Steam this winter. Whilst FlyHigh works did not mention other platforms in their recent broadcast, the game has previously been announced for PS4, Switch, and 3DS.
About:
Picontier is a mini RPG game that allows players to enjoy slow-living on a whimsical island after being washed ashore. Its life simulation elements include farming, crafting, fishing, and mining. Like Stardew Valley, the game also appeals to the more adventurous of gamers by offering excitement. In this instance, players can journey to the dungeons to fight monsters. Additionally, the game contains a charming story and a variety of strange island creatures to communicate with. The game therefore seems to tick all the boxes where depth is concerned.
- Jun 25, 2018
Bit of a tongue-twister eh? Are you forever skint like myself? Or are you a thrifty person who feels guilty forking out on video games? Never fear, for the Steam summer sale is here! Lasting until the 5th July, you can now nab those games you’ve been wistfully browsing through and adding to your Steam wishlist. Here are 6 discounted great games that you should totally grab whilst they’re on offer.
1) Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Being a Level-5 BANDAI NAMCO game, this sequel is naturally of excellent quality, which unfortunately is reflected in its price. It’s original price of £49.99 was too steep for me to even consider. However, it’s current sale price of £29.99 (40% discount) makes it very tempting.
2) The Witness
Currently discounted by 70% (£29.99 to £8.99), this game is hands-down a bargain. However, there’s also a bundle available on sale, which includes The Witness + Braid for just £9.82. Their combined cost would be £40.98 when purchased individually at their normal price. ????
3) South Park: The Stick of Truth
South Park: The Stick of Truth is very highly regarded on Steam. It’s one of those games you’re always tempted by, but can’t justify forking out for. Well now you can! It is currently reduced by 75% from £26.99 to £6.74.
A bundle containing South Park: The Stick of Truth + South Park: The fractured but whole is also on sale. The bundle is massively discounted by 73% from £76.98 to £20.91! ????
4) Broken Age
This beautiful game (made by indie developers Double Fine) is still adored 4 years after its release. If you haven’t already had the opportunity to play it, you can currently nab it for just £2.99, which is an 80% reduction from it’s usual price of £14.99!
(Pssst! You can also get the Double Fine bundle, which contains 18 items, for 90% off. That’s £145.83 down to £15.01!) ????
5) Undertale
One of the most loved games of 2015, you probably already own this charming and interactive pixel-graphic game. If by the off chance you don’t, you can currently get it at half-price for only £3.49.
6) Firewatch
Firewatch is repeatedly praised for its narrative and interactivity. If you want to play a unique, story-rich game that bridges the gap between games and digital writing, you’re in luck. Firewatch is currently discounted by 75% from £14.99 to £3.74
If none of these games tickle your fancy, there are plenty more bargains to choose from in the Steam Summer Sale.
Just remember to get them before the 5th July!
Happy gaming!
- Jun 12, 2018
What is Guildlings?
[dropcap]G[/dropcap]uildlings is an upcoming mobile game for both iOS and Android. Currently in development by Sirvo, (the creator of ‘Threes!’), the single-player episodic adventure game is set to be released this summer. Combining ‘Wizards and Wi-Fi’, Guildlings (alongside upcoming magic school games Ikenfell and Witchbrook ) capitalises on the popular combination of teen angst and wizardry.
Overview
With amazing graphics, beautiful audio, and a focus on story, Guildlings is split into chapters, and is designed for longer play sessions than most mobile games. The JRPG game has you play as Coda, a home-schooled teen with a cursed smartphone. Recruiting your friends as Guildlings, you utilise their magical powers in an attempt to rid yourself of the curse, whilst also saving the world.
Gameplay
Gameplay combines exploration, conversation and non-traditional combat, which are connected by a mood-based character system. Each of your Guildlings have their own unique powers. However, in the realm of Worldaria, magic is driven by emotions. Essentially, your Guildlings can only use magic when they are feeling a certain way (eg confident). Therefore if your Guildling is afraid when they need to be confident, your task as a Guildmaster is to figure out how to influence their emotions and mood.
A sneak-peak of Chapter One
The first chapter offers players the ability to:
- Embark on a grand Quest to Save the World
- Reunite with long-lost friends
- Duel with a grumpy kitchen appliance
- Navigate a maze of trashbag-crabs
- Annoy your big sister by insulting her love life
- Collect tons of gold then spend it all on snacks
- Snap selfies at the mysterious Makeout Temple
- Narrowly avoid being crushed by a giant apocalyptic bird (?!)
Influences and Goals
Guildlings was inspired by games such as Earthbound, and interactive narratives like 80 days. It was also influenced by the much-loved Studio Ghibli films and globally adored Harry Potter franchise.
The game’s developers have said that their two major goals upon starting Guildlings were:
- To build a fun, inspiring coming-of-age adventure for mobile.
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To make the phone feel like a small portal into a large fantasy world.
More info
You can read more about the game (and obtain a free Guildlings mobile wallpaper) here.
- May 28, 2018
We recently posted about Chucklefish (publishers of Stardew Valley) collaborating with Pixpil games to deliver an exciting new game entitled Eastward. In a recent interview with Red Bull, more information about the previously elusive game has come to light. Therefore we thought we’d take this opportunity to update anyone interested.
Eastward is an upcoming JRPG adventure game with pixel graphics, which is set in a post-apocalyptic Shanghai. The game, which focuses on a father and his daughter, is said to be very emotive and exciting. Eastward has beautiful graphics similar to Chucklefish’s farming simulation Stardew Valley and their upcoming magic school game Witchbrook (which you can read more about here). Therefore, Pixpil’s decision to partner with Chucklefish is undoubtedly a positive and prosperous one.
Pixpil initially started out as a small team of three. As the game progressed however, the team started to grow. There are currently around a dozen people from Pixpil working on Eastward. The company’s office is located in a Shanghai shopping mall, and is surrounded by many furniture stores. Pixpil have said that the ‘small and sneaky’ location of their headquarters has influenced the game.
Having also been compared to games such as Zelda and Earthbound, and inspired by Japanese anime, and the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, it’s safe to say the game has a wide variety of influences.
Pixpil’s co-founder and designer, Feng Ye talks about the game’s protagonists:
“The main characters are John and Sam,” Ye explains. “A tough, hard-working guy, and a long white fluffy-haired girl respectively, who start their journey in a mysterious underground place isolated from the rest of the world. In the outside world, the human population has shrunk to an all-time low, and strange creatures are beginning to descend on the cities. After leaving their small underground village, John and Sam are about to discover what has made the world become so dangerous and what destiny awaits them.”
Despite taking place in a bleak post-apocalyptic world, the upcoming JRPG still has a plethora of interesting characters to discover and engage with. For example a merchant character called William, who has an adopted robot-boy assistant, undergoing surgery to become a real boy.
Although the game is single player, players will have the opportunity to switch between the two protagonists in order to solve puzzles. The game will feature John the most, but will still incorporate his daughter Sam in order to add variety and different characteristics. On same occasions, the pair will need to be separated in order to proceed. This mechanic adds more complexities and possibilities to the gameplay.
The game combines 2D art with 3D effects. Eastward consists of tried and tested game art methods, as well as more modern effects, created with a variety of equipment, and a bespoke Homebrew engine. This very unique combination has resulted in beautiful graphics.
Eastward’s visual allure is one of the key reasons that Chucklefish got involved, according to producer Rosie Ball. “From the moment we saw Eastward we absolutely fell in love with the art style, and we just wanted to find out more! After we spoke to the Pixpil team and got hands-on with the game, we were so happy to discover that it’s not just a pretty game. It’s also really interesting from a technological point of view, with what it’s doing creatively with pixel art. The Pixpil team are being very innovative with their techniques, and that’s something that really excites us at Chucklefish.”
The developers have also made it clear however, that they want the audio in the game to be just as compelling. Due to difficulties in finding local composers familiar with their game language, Pixpil have decided to outsource audio to Joel Corelitz The Unfinished Swan, Gorogoa, Tumbleseed) and Hyperduck Soundworks (Dust:An Elysian Tail, The Adventure Pals). Pixpil are working closely alongside them to ensure the music and audio is exactly how they want it and that the soundtrack is well-matched to the game.
It has been hinted that Eastward is ‘moving towards completion’, although no fixed date for the game’s release has been set. Pixpil have said that they are very proud of their game, and belive that their partnership with Chucklefish has been very helpful in getting the ball rolling. Currently, the game is only set to be released for PC and Mac, although developers have expressed interest in releasing the game on other platforms, such as Linux.
Could this mean a spot beside Stardew Valley in the Nintendo eShop?
The full interview can be read here.
- May 24, 2018
About
[dropcap]R[/dropcap]aft is a multiplayer survival adventure game. The early access version of the game was released on Steam on May 23rd 2018. The game was developed by Redbeet Interactive, and published by Axolot Games.
(Below is an axolotl Kirby meme for your enjoyment)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQC7NWoO538
You’re welcome.
The developers have said that they released an early access version of Raft due to an overwhelmingly positive response to the game’s prototype.
The aim of the game is to survive at sea as you adventure across a vast and perilous ocean. You can either play by yourself, or with others, due to the game’s online co-op feature.
You start the game by awakening on a tiny raft in the middle of the ocean with only a plastic hook to your name. Survive by collecting any debris you come across with your hook, scavenging the reefs below and the islands above, expanding your raft in an attempt to make life easier, and facing whatever dangers the ocean may bring.
Features
● Multiplayer – Survive with friends by using the game’s online co-op.
● Hook – Utilise your trusty hook in order to obtain debris necessary for survival.
● Crafting – Craft survival equipment, weapons, crop plots, plus more!
● Building – Transform your raft from a basic wreckage to a floating masterpiece.
● Researching – Using the research table, discover a plethora of new things to craft.
● Navigating – Navigate your floating home towards exciting new places.
● Diving – Anchor your raft and explore the reefs below, in order to scavenge more resources.
● Fighting – Defend your raft against any threats the ocean may bring.The Early Access version can be purchased for a reasonable £14.99, which going by the game’s reviews, is good value for money. You can buy the game here.
- May 19, 2018
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]at lovers of My Potato Games, here’s some news for you to sink your claws into!
Developer’s The Gentlebros, have recently made a Paw-some announcement. Their highly regarded RPG game Cat Quest is getting a Sequel!
The sequel will be entitled Cat Quest II: The Lupine Empire, and will be released on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Android, iOS, and Windows.
Whilst there isn’t currently a release date for the game, it has been hinted that a trailer will be released soon.
For those who haven’t heard of the original Cat Quest game, it is an open-world cat-themed action RPG, which contains a plethora of characters, stories and cat puns (yay!). Cat Quest was initially released on Steam on the 8th August 2017, with releases on iOS, Android, PS4, and Switch following shortly after.
The game has obtained a 10/10 rating on Steam, as well as receiving many ‘overwhelmingly positive’ reviews. Being a lighthearted game that combines cats, combat, loot, and stories, it’s unsurprising that Cat Quest was a hit! You can read more about the first game here.
Did you enjoy the first Cat Quest game? What are yours ‘felines’ about a sequel? Let us know in the comments
- Feb 27, 2018
[dropcap]K[/dropcap]ynseed is a sandbox RPG simulation with beautiful graphics. It is not dissimilar in appearance to Rakuen and Stardew Valley. The game allows you to make choices and therefore carve your own unique story. You even get to continue your legacy after your character’s death by stepping into the shoes of your descendants. The game is being developed by the creators of the Fable series, and is set to be released as an early access on Steam at some point in early 2018.
If you love RPG games with farming elements, as much as we do, check out Fantasy Farming: Orange Season. If you want to enjoy your farming sim with a side of some dark and interesting storytelling, check out Gleaner Heights. Chucklefish, Stardew Valleys publisher is also working on a new magic school game called Spellbound, get caught up here.
About Kynseed
Live your life in a quirky world where everyone ages and dies, including your pets! Take control of the mystical Kynseed and grow your family legacy over generations as you pass your skills and powers down to your children.
- Run a tavern, apothecary, goods store or blacksmith. Farm your land. Go adventuring and battle dark faery tale creatures. Or do them all. The choice is yours.
- Develop relationships with NPC’s who have their own lives and loves, and who will remember your deeds, actions and pranks!
- Find and use Proverbs to unlock the secrets of each ingredient, creature and inhabitant of a place where folk tales are all true.
- Gather the materials to create better items, craft beers or to mix cures for a range of bizarre maladies for the simple people of the land.
- Deal with the mysterious Fae gentleman, Mr Fairweather and buy strange artifacts from him that aid your chores, help you in combat or let you just mess with the world….but be aware of the life tax he extracts annually!
In Kynseed, live your lives the way you choose in a lovingly hand-crafted and huge 2D open world.
Kynseed main Features
An Aging World
The land is affected by your choices and deeds. Seasons come and go and affect the world both visually and in gameplay.Living Things Have Memory and Grow Old
Individuals and animals grow old and eventually die. Families remember your good deeds or wrongdoings for generations.Unique Life Mechanic
Pay the mysterious Mr Fairweather for powerful upgrades and revivals, at the cost of years from your life! Will you miss out on your child’s development to buy that music box that makes dragons dance? Will your business suffer because you bought a pet cat that turns people to stone?Real-time Combat
Wander from The Path and indulge in meaty combat against various nasty faery tale creatures that guard the materials and loot you need to become the greatest in the land.Meaningful Relationship System
Build friendship into romance and produce heirs to continue your legacy. Do favours for others and not only gain friendship but also juicy information and gifts.
Event Calendar
A calendar keeps you up to date of festivals and events. Learn where and when the best ingredients grow. Attend various competitions, annual fayres, and don’t you dare be late for a date!Monsters and Creatures
They’re more than just sword fodder. Each creature has a sim and their own traits that you can take advantage of. Remember, even dragons need to go to the bathroom now and then. (That wasn’t a pile of gold that Smaug sat on!)Run Your Business
Own a tavern and craft beers with bizarre effects. Be a blacksmith and forge weapons and tools to order. Manage your apothecary and mix cures for a variety of bizarre poxes and curses.A Land Where Superstitions Are True
Heed the advice of the Old Fishwife and the locals to find out everything from where the rarest items can be found to where and when the best places to conceive are! We’re not just a little stitious. We’re super stitious.
Olde Traditions
Every village has their own customs and quirks. Visit the annual cheese bowling rite and encounter Wiki Men, Fred Barleycorn and wear the Trousers of Fertility, as passed down through generations. (I really hope they wash them…)Recipes
Hunger dictates combat prowess so a proper breakfast before some monster slaying goes a long way. Discover and use proper recipes though, and you can take your fighting to the next level, or even use the Traits in food to distract, weaken or even scare away enemies!Item Traits
All items and materials, have unique traits. From medicinal to hallucinogenic, shrinking to fattening…Want to feed laxatives to herds of sheep and lead them through town? The creative possibilities for fun are endless.Be Friends with Animals
Domestic animals and critters have opinions of you based on your actions. If they like you enough they may just let you ride them!Lovely Music
No mythical world would be complete without music to go with it. The title music has been made by Russell Shaw but also helping us out with some beautiful world music is Matthijs den Daas. Here’s a couple of tracks you can expect to hear in our prototype. We’ll be adding much more music as development continues. - Jan 30, 2018
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]re you a fan of aesthetically pleasing games? We are too! Here’s a list of 5 beautiful games you can look forward to in 2018.
The Last Night
The Last Night is an upcoming Indie Cyberpunk adventure game with pixel graphics. Set in a future where machines surpass humans, in a time referred to as the ‘era of leisure’, the game focuses on Charlie, someone who cannot engage with the augmentation surrounding him due to a childhood accident. The world around him seems pointless and meaningless and he sees an opportunity to change the way things are. But at what risk?
There isn’t currently a release date for this game.
The Gardens Between
The Gardens Between is a surrealist puzzle adventure game, developed and published by The Voxel Agents.
The game follows two best friends, Arina and Frendt, who find themselves in a beautiful world with garden islands. Players can go backwards and forwards in time, giving them the ability to discover each garden’s secrets. Throughout the course of the game, a story is revealed about friendship, childhood and growing up.
The game is set for release on Steam in Q3 of 2018.
Ni No Kuni II
The developers of the game are Level-5 and we therefore have high hopes for pleasing aesthetics. The publishers of the game are BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment.
Ni No Kuni II is an anime adventure RPG where the player follows young king Evan on a quest to found a new kingdom. Accompanied by newly made friends, the king attempts to save his people from a terrible evil.
The game’s release date for Steam is January 18th 2018. The Playstation 4 version will follow a little later, you can get it here.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an upcoming-platform adventure game developed and published by Moon Studios and Microsoft Studios respectively.
The game is a sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest, released in 2015.
To progress in the game, players have to move between platforms and solve puzzles. Throughout the game, players will discover the world beyond the forest of Nibel, uncover the truths of the lost ones, and unearth Ori’s true destiny.
There isn’t currently a release date for this game. You can play Ori and the Blind Forrest in the meantime!
The Swords of Ditto
The game is an indie action adventure RPG with colourful graphics similar to Adventure Time.
Explore a charming overworld, discover dangerous dungeons and improve your player in a delightful village whilst on your quest to banish the evil that plagues the island. Experience a unique adventure every time you play as different Heroes of Legend in an attempt to defeat the evil Mormo. Use the legendary sword of Ditto and join other players in co-op battles as you embark on the adventure of a lifetime in a world filled with a variety of characters, loot and battles.
There isn’t currently a release date for this game.
Looking for beautiful games to play now? Why not check out Rakuen or RiME. Night in The Woods is also a good choice if you want an autumnal game with a great soundtrack!
