All posts tagged in Platformer
Aug 2, 2019
Jenny LeClue is a thrilling crime-solving game created by indie developer Mografi (Joe Russ), based in Florida. You can download a free playable demo on iOS here and PC here (Gumroad, itch.io). The game is set to release this Fall 2019 on Steam, Humble, iOS, Android, Windows, OSX, Linux, PS4, and the Nintendo Switch. Become a detective and make hard choices along the way while trying to find the real killer behind this murder mystery.
About Jenny LeClue
Jenny LeClue is a handcrafted adventure with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and a unique aesthetic. It’s also a coming-of-age story about the blurred lines between right and wrong. This is a game about your choices and how they affect Jenny and the author’s story. It’s a rich metanarrative with delightful surprises and interactions. Jenny LeClue also explores mature themes, complex characters, and an epic tangled mystery.
You play as Jenny, a brilliant young detective, living in the idyllic college town of Arthurton. Jenny is a sharp-eyed, relentless pursuer of the truth. But nothing exciting happens in Arthurton, and Jenny longs for real adventure.
Jenny gets more than she bargains for when her mother is accused of murder, and begins an unexpected journey to find the truth. She soon discovers every cloud has a dark lining, and nothing in Arthurton is what it seems. Unseen forces will stop at nothing to keep Jenny from the truth. And she will have to use all her skills of deduction to find the real killer.
Key Features
- Beautiful Handmade Art Style – Sleek and gorgeous hand drawn style with vintage midcentury aesthetics.
- A Living World – The goal is for everything to be interactive, to reward players who poke and prod at every last item and object with insight, secrets, and humor.
- Choosiness On A Massive Scale – Players will make choices in their individual game, and some of those choices will be tallied to permanently influence subsequent chapters, essentially “writing” the story collaboratively. The choice players make about the cliffhanger ending of episode one determines the beginning of episode two.
- Female Protagonist – Jenny is a brilliant young detective, sharp eyed, intuitive and a ruthless pursuer of the truth.
- Dialogue With A Twist – Jenny is able to move the camera around during dialogue scenes and observe the subject for visible clues that might reveal their guilt or innocence that would otherwise go undetected.
- Story Within A Story – Jenny LeClue weaves a rich metanarrative. The “author” of Jenny’s adventures, Arthur K Finklestein, acts as narrator and guide, but his presence also allows you to change the way Jenny’s story is written. Players choices will also affect Finklestein’s own story.
- Not Just For Kids – Complex relationships will be explored with themes of family, loss, and identity influenced by horror, sci-fi, and mystery genres.
- A Diverse Cast Of Characters & Locations – Explore Arthurton’s expansive world including the abandoned mines, the forgotten graveyard, the misty mountains, the old observatory, the police station, the shops and eateries on Main Street, and Gumboldt University’s Library. You will meet many intriguing and suspicious characters, in a town whose population is representative of the US Census demographics.
More Information
To learn more about the game or to pre-order your copy, go to Jenny LeClue’s official website here. Furthermore, for more mystery games you can check out our articles here: The Good Life – Snap Photos, Solve a Murder, Turn Into a Cat/Dog and Top Ten Crime-Solving & Mystery Games.
- Jul 25, 2019
It goes without saying that the MyPotatoGames fam loves animals. I’ll say it anyway, though: we love animals! The latest animal game on our radar is Doggone – an in-development game where you adventure as a lost dog. Raconteur Games is the developer and publisher working on this new doggy adventure.
About Doggone:
Racounteur Games focuses on storytelling in their games. Doggone is based on the classic animal story that we’ve seen in so many movies and books – but never before in a video game. Doggone is touted as an emotional rollercoaster. Don’t worry though! They promise a happy ending.
In this puzzle-platformer, you play as a lost English Foxhound trying to find their way home. The game features, what the developers refer to as, “dog things.” These things include smell-o-vision to guide you and the ability to sniff out pathways and hidden items. You can also bark and roll around!
The game is 2.5D. The graphics are colorful and full of whimsy – inspired by the work of Eyvind Earle, a background artist on the animated Sleeping Beauty.
The game will be episodic with a planned release of Episode I in March 2020. Episode II will follow in Summer 2020 followed by Episode III, the final part, in Fall 2020. It will be released on PC.
You can support the game through Kickstarter which also has a playable demo. The Kickstarter runs until August 15th and will fund Episode I. You can also follow Raconteur Games on Twitter or join the Doggone Discord for updates.
Love dogs? Of course you do! Here are some of our favorite games featuring doggos and puppers: The Good Life, To The Rescue, and Pupperazzi.
- Jul 25, 2019
Chapeau (French for “hat”) is a fast-paced multiplayer platformer, where you play a quirky hat! Challenge your friends or team up together for different objectives while engaging in mid-air combat. Salt Castle Studio is the independent game development studio behind this wacky game and they are based in Salzburg, Austria. Customize not only the color of your hat but the type of hat as well (i.e. knight hat, jester hat)! Also, we here at myPotatoGames find it quite funny that you must try to land on people’s heads!
About Chapeau
In Chapeau, you will have to try your best to stay ahead while fluidly jumping, gliding and dashing through beautifully crafted levels, inspired by Austria’s historic city centres. Keep your momentum going to move faster, snatch any objectives away from your competition, and avoid falling to the ground by using the environment and roaming people to your advantage!
Key Features
- Multiplayer: Gather your friends on your couch and compete in action packed multiplayer sessions. Test your skills in a variety of different game modes and jump your way up to victory.
- Hats, hats, hats: Some hats require different playstyles. Unlock and collect a number of different hats, all with their own looks and personality.
- Fast-paced movement: Easy to learn, hard to master. Allowing you to develop that certain competitive edge while keeping it beginner friendly for those multiplayer sessions with your friends.
- Dynamic Environment: Watch your step, the environment is unpredictable. React quickly and use it to your advantage or use it against other players.
On Chapeau’s official website they state “Alpha Coming Soon” so we’re keeping a close eye on this game. The creators have confirmed with us that the Alpha will be playable on Steam.
- Jul 19, 2019
A Juggler’s Tale is an atmospheric 3D puzzle sidescroller set in a medieval puppet theater play. The game is currently in development by a team of indie developers made up of: Sven Bergmann, Steffen Oberle, Enzio Probst, Dominik Schön. The release date window is between late 2019 and early 2020 coming first to PC, and then PS4 and the Nintendo Switch.
This hauntingly beautiful and creepy art-style coupled with the story’s tragic tale reminds us of the movie Coraline. Alternatively, Coraline is turned into a ragdoll when stumbling upon the Other World. In A Juggler’s Tale, you’re trying to escape the life of a controlled puppet forced to perform! All the while you can hear the narrator explain Abby’s actions and the voice of the antagonist tempting you to return. Most of which is being recited in rhymes might we add. Although you must forge on and help Abby to navigate the dangers of the world, and free her from her strings (shackles)!
About A Juggler’s Tale
Play as the string puppet Abby as she flees from her captors into freedom and adventure: a world of beauty and wonder – but also danger! She finds herself in a war-torn, medieval fairytale, surrounded by ravaged, starving citizens and hunted by the relentless cut-throat, Tonda. Who can she trust? Can she avoid the traps and betrayal? Despite dangling from her threads, Abby learns that she can still influence her destiny – if only by winning over the audience. Help Abby navigate a traumatized, yet hauntingly beautiful world. Lead her forward through riddles and around traps, evade her pursuers and find – perhaps – freedom!
To follow the creators on their official website, click here. Furthermore, if you enjoy the telling of sombre fairytale stories and solving puzzles, check out Another Sight – Fantasy Adventure With A Cat.
- Jul 12, 2019
Melbits World Pocket, created by indie developer Melbot Studios, is a mobile game inspired by Tamagotchi and Lemmings. As your adorable and colorful Melbits walk around in a 3D platform world, you must help them navigate by solving puzzles before time runs out. The testing is now closed but the full version will be releasing within the next few months. There’s also a PlayStation 4 PlayLink version out now!
We had previously mentioned an upcoming Melbits POD in the works in our mobile game review here. Now we have some more information and how that POD works! There will also be a Kickstarter campaign coming soon so follow them on their website here to be the first to know when a date is set.
Prototype premiered at DreamHack Melbot Studios is all about creative thinking, invention, and imagination. Now, with a completely new project, they’re integrating videogames and technology with a traditional wholesome toy; the Melbits POD. This toy has multiple sensors that react to light, temperature, and movement. You have to get creative to hatch and nurture your own little Melbits. The prototype POD is still in early development but the developers hope to have it ready by Christmas this year with several different designs and colors to choose from.
How the Melbits POD Works
Thanks to smart bluetooth technology, your mobile device can interact with the cute toy egg. It combines on-screen interaction with your virtual Melbits and physical toy egg that you use with your surroundings. When you place the POD on a smartphone or tablet, your Melbits will start to incubate and emerge with different sizes and personalities. This all depends on which types of Melbits you would like to create. For example, there are Melbits that like heat, so you will have to put the POD in the sun. Other Melbits like to play, so you will have to physically move the POD around.
We’ll keep you posted on this very interesting venture so stay tuned! For another mobile game that focuses on and using AR, check out our article on TokoToko here!
- Jun 26, 2019
ThroughLine Games is an independent game development studio focusing on story-driven games with high artistic ambitions. The team, located in Denmark, are the ones behind Forgotton Anne, a seamless cinematic adventure game that released on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC in 2018.
The creators have won numerous awards for their visual design and writing since then! Therefore, it comes to no surprise that in addition to the platforms mentioned above, we can enjoy the game for iOS devices today (June 26th, 2019)! What’s new on the iOS is: gameplay trailers, splash screens, and minor updates. The game is free with some in-app purchases. See below to learn more about Forgotton Anne!
About Forgotton Anne
Forgotton Anne is a cinematic game that combines puzzle platforming and adventure game elements. You are Anne, the enforcer keeping order in the Forgotten Lands, as you set out to squash a rebellion that might prevent your master, Bonku, and yourself from returning to the human world.
The World of Forgotton Anne
Imagine a place where everything that is lost and forgotten goes; old toys, letters, single socks. The Forgotten Lands is a magical world inhabited by Forgotlings, creatures composed of mislaid objects longing to be remembered.
Key Features
- Discover a beautifully realized world of wonder filled with Forgotlings, charming everyday objects brought to life, bursting with personality.
- Uncover the truth behind the harrowing conflict taking place between an impassioned ruler and ruthless rebellion.
- Harness the power of Anima, the energy that brings life to the Forgotten Lands. Use it to solve puzzles and command ultimate control over Forgotlings’ lives.
- Choose carefully. Your words and actions can alter the tale being told thanks to a branching dialogue system that places the power in your hands.
- Run, leap, and soar as you strive to guide Anne home, unlocking areas and abilities along the way.
- Enjoy hand-animated visuals created using the same traditional techniques that brought your favourite animated movies to life.
- Immerse yourself in a soaring orchestral score performed by the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra.
Get it on the App Store here and embark on a breathtaking journey today! To find out more about Forgotton Anne or to purchase some beautiful merchandise, go to ThroughLine Games’ official website here. Similarly, for another thrilling story-driven game, check out What Remains of Edith Finch, now coming to the Nintendo Switch!
- 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 17, 2019
Elliot & Ko is a Paper Mario inspired game about cute animal friends exploring! This slice-of-life platforming game is about interacting with many areas each with their own lovable anthropomorphic animals to meet and puzzles to solve. The sole developer is Jacob, with the help of Angel who has done some wonderful concept art and designs for the characters and the architecture. The game is still in very early development but is planned for PC and mobile on both iOS and Android.
We here at myPotatoGames would like to thank Jacob for taking the time to answers our many questions about Elliot & Ko and we are very excited to share everything with you down below!
Right to left: Elliot and Ko Meet the Elliot & Ko Team
Play as Elliot, accompanied by Ko, and meet new friends along your journey. Some characters are sassy, some are anxious, some neurotic, but all tend to be charming and friendly (in their own right), and always ready to chat. There’s a big focus on interactions and dialog so you’ll really enjoy talking to these quirky villagers.
Elliot: a sleepy sheep boy. They recently learned to count to 50, enjoys 12-hour naps, and is a little too hard on themselves.
Ko: a frosty deer that loves the cold (see t-shirt), relaxing, and eating food. He tends to be very quiet but certainly isn’t unfriendly!
Nettles: the cutest little bird witch around. She has too many plants, makes plans and immediately forgets about them, is a huge nerd, and wants you to like her boots and books.
Lily: a precious little frog that loves to skip around. More will be revealed about her at a later date.
Milk: loves Boba tea and growing her little garden. She grew up rather sheltered and became materialistic. However, she wants a chance to change and leave behind the boring daily grinds of the city.
Your Adventure Begins…
In the prologue, you are in an ‘origami ocean’ in a lovely papercraft boat sailing toward the main town to the east. During this time, you will be given small challenges and taught the basics of controls, mechanics, and turn-based battles. When you reach the dock, you’ll enter the hub world. This Victorian area is a sophisticated town in beautiful pastel colors where posh aristo-cats live. Jacob continues to narrate the intro: “Its residents all take to the two little explorers quite quickly, if not in kindness at least in attention. Various interactions with the townspeople will set off plots and (side)quests throughout the game, including setting the first chapter in motion with the sprawling, dark, industrialized metropolis hidden beneath, unseen and unheard, an unspoken secret. Surely it’s nothing sinister, but a sign that the perfection and high society whimsical life above is not without its costs.“
Origami Ocean Four Areas, Four Very Different Environmental Designs
Among the other residents, in the pastel town you will meet Meringue; a lazy cat that picks fights with the sailor rabbit down by the harbor. You’ll also meet his sister Muffin who owns her own little bakery. They are both very sassy and very rich.
Meringue and Muffin 
Sailor Rabbit
This industrialized metropolis has very glamorous and large skyscrapers, with a heavy cyberpunk theme. Elliot and Ko quickly discover that many of the little workers here seem overworked.
There are currently two other worlds with two more chapters that Jacob is working on: a train that will lead you through a western canyon and directly into space, and a little snow-covered village. This mysterious and naturalistic town houses spirits and hidden ruins. The people that you will meet here aren’t immediately willing or able to speak with you. Below you’ll see images of the area-in-progress with snowflakes, steps made of ice, and northern lights.
Snowy Village Battles, Quests, and Items
When you meet Lily, Nettles, and Milk, they will join you on your adventure and even in battle. You can choose your own party of three at all times. Each party member will have their own unique abilities. Re-enter past areas or keep checking out the hub world to discover new ways to use your partners’ abilities and gain access to new areas you weren’t able to reach before. Don’t forget to frequently speak to all of the NPCs for quests and other things to do, as well as shopping for supplies. These items include crafting materials and new abilities. You can also forage for items or receive them from enemy-drops.
Jacob emphasizes that the battles themselves will not be either repetitive nor a grind. You’ll be able to do microgames to pull off special moves and therefore should be plenty unique, fun, and engaging. Each battle may even have different conditions to fulfill. If enemy drops are wearing you down, the developer plans on creating cute little couriers that are more than willing to come and fetch any excess baggage you may want dropped off back in town. Jacob says he plans on having these couriers be adorable little puppies that come to you by parachute.
For More Information
To learn more about Elliot & Ko’s development and progress, you can follow along on Twitter here and the Discord channel here. We wish Jacob all the best and can’t wait for the finished product of this adorable game and sweet/charming art style.
