Phawx
Member
I get anxiety from my queue of review code. It's practically a sisyphean task, like walking-up a down-escalator.
I still got to go through my LD31 games as well. Thankfully those are great, small concept games.
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Indie Games 2015 [January] Now Voting - Post 305!
- Thread starter Toma
- Start date
I get anxiety from my queue of review code. It's practically a sisyphean task, like walking-up a down-escalator.
I still got to go through my LD31 games as well. Thankfully those are great, small concept games.
Unsure if you allow shameless self promotion, but I'm working on a game called Monstrum which is going into Early Access at the end of the month.
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=227960559
IndieDB: http://www.indiedb.com/games/monstrum
There's also Malebolgia which is another Gaffer's game. They're aiming for full release/exit early access pretty soon too:
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/318860/
IndieDB: http://www.indiedb.com/games/malebolgia
So there's two fairly different horror games for the price of one
.
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=227960559
IndieDB: http://www.indiedb.com/games/monstrum
There's also Malebolgia which is another Gaffer's game. They're aiming for full release/exit early access pretty soon too:
Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/318860/
IndieDB: http://www.indiedb.com/games/malebolgia
So there's two fairly different horror games for the price of one
.
SerTapTap
Member
I briefly thought I would at least respond to them all. I have accepted I will probably not even so much as play half of them and consider it more of a triage situation. Especially since it's not a full (or even really part time) job for me.
I wanted to keep an eye on LD games but it ballooned way beyond anything where I can even pretend I'm playing "the good ones", I just wait to hear about specific LD games elsewhere.
More_Badass
Member
Someone asked what were some good Kickstarted games over in the KS thread and as I was listed them, I realized that Kickstarter might have been the best thing to happen for indies in a while. I mean, just look at the line-up. And that's only some of the released games
- SpaceChem
- Shovel Knight
- Sunless Sea
- Divinity Original Sin
- Lifeless Planet
- Full Bore
- RimWorld
- Catacomb Kids (public alpha soon)
- Octodad: Dadliest Catch
- Banner Saga
- FTL
- Race The Sun
- Risk of Rain
- Volgarr The Viking
- Knock Knock
- Ring Runner
- Kentucky Route Zero
- Sir You Are Being Hunted
- Chivalry: Medieval Warfare
- SpaceChem
- Shovel Knight
- Sunless Sea
- Divinity Original Sin
- Lifeless Planet
- Full Bore
- RimWorld
- Catacomb Kids (public alpha soon)
- Octodad: Dadliest Catch
- Banner Saga
- FTL
- Race The Sun
- Risk of Rain
- Volgarr The Viking
- Knock Knock
- Ring Runner
- Kentucky Route Zero
- Sir You Are Being Hunted
- Chivalry: Medieval Warfare
OP impressions!
3030 Deathwar
Top down space exploration/trade/combat game, which sounded very promising with its focus on story progress and walking around space stations. Unfortunately, it has some UI bugs that make the game sometimes hard to play (I cant click on missions because that opens the map for example) and the actual content is very repetetive. The story started off interesting and there are missions that require you to do some other tasks or where you need to have certain upgrades, but overall its just missing too much, even though it has a promising base to build on.
A Postcard From Afthonia
New entry in an adventure game series I really like with a lot of heart and intelligent texts. Its not quite as gripping as his previous games, but still worth a look of course if you have the time to dive into a world full of little details.
Cat-ana
Neat art style and stylish realization of the the LD theme. Unfortunately, the game stumbles quite a bit with the gameplay mechanics, since it basically plays like an action game, with grid & turn based restraints. Its too slow and too stiff to make the gameplay fun, but still cute overall.
Chromyrinth
Intriguing little puzzle game about finding and making the correct pathways. Finishing it might take you longer than first expected.
Detective Chirpums
Cute little Noir Adventure Bird story. I enjoyed playing through it, but it was sorely missing on more interesting puzzles. As it stands, its more of a visual novel, than an adventure game and I wouldnt recommend buying it, even though I enjoyed it enough to not feel screwed over buying it.
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Highly recommended:
Recommended:
A Postcard from Afthonia
Chromyrinth
Decent-ish:
Cat-ana
Detective Chirpums
3030 Deathwar
Not recommended:
3030 Deathwar
Top down space exploration/trade/combat game, which sounded very promising with its focus on story progress and walking around space stations. Unfortunately, it has some UI bugs that make the game sometimes hard to play (I cant click on missions because that opens the map for example) and the actual content is very repetetive. The story started off interesting and there are missions that require you to do some other tasks or where you need to have certain upgrades, but overall its just missing too much, even though it has a promising base to build on.
A Postcard From Afthonia
New entry in an adventure game series I really like with a lot of heart and intelligent texts. Its not quite as gripping as his previous games, but still worth a look of course if you have the time to dive into a world full of little details.
Cat-ana
Neat art style and stylish realization of the the LD theme. Unfortunately, the game stumbles quite a bit with the gameplay mechanics, since it basically plays like an action game, with grid & turn based restraints. Its too slow and too stiff to make the gameplay fun, but still cute overall.
Chromyrinth
Intriguing little puzzle game about finding and making the correct pathways. Finishing it might take you longer than first expected.
Detective Chirpums
Cute little Noir Adventure Bird story. I enjoyed playing through it, but it was sorely missing on more interesting puzzles. As it stands, its more of a visual novel, than an adventure game and I wouldnt recommend buying it, even though I enjoyed it enough to not feel screwed over buying it.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Highly recommended:
Recommended:
A Postcard from Afthonia
Chromyrinth
Decent-ish:
Cat-ana
Detective Chirpums
3030 Deathwar
Not recommended:
More_Badass
Member
Phawx
Member
x-post from steam thread, but only them indies.
My Let's Play of Dr. Green:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyMDdH85mRs
My Let's Play of Tengami:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLBV0BzgCxw
My Let's Play of Towers of Altrac:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk_Tl_8F8z8
My Let's Play of Dr. Green:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyMDdH85mRs
Sega Master System visuals and decent sound track. Definitely has a heavy Sega feel to it, some weird blend of Sega Arcade and Sega Master System platformers. Story is a bit weird, has a heavy opening and then the forest raises you and you need to save it with a gun that shoots acorns? When you destroy baddies they explode into a pile of leaves.
The bosses are where it's at though. Decently difficult. All told, I recommend it.
The bosses are where it's at though. Decently difficult. All told, I recommend it.
My Let's Play of Tengami:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLBV0BzgCxw
Excellent visuals, okay-ish music, interesting pop-up-book mechanics all in a Point and Click adventure shell. I don't think it's that long and puzzles are pretty easy, but it's still satisfying to appreciate the art that went into it. Recommended.
My Let's Play of Towers of Altrac:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk_Tl_8F8z8
A middling TD game. Horrendous render distance, lot's of pop-in at Ultra settings. Three different factions each with their own sets of towers that visually look different but are the same basic tower.
I really liked the ability to go first-person mode on any of the baddies in the wave. Just a so-so TD game.
I really liked the ability to go first-person mode on any of the baddies in the wave. Just a so-so TD game.
More_Badass
Member
I thought Anomaly 2 was pretty good, but it isn't traditional TD. It's Tower Offense, with vehicles that can transform into secondary mech forms
http://store.steampowered.com/app/236730/
Know that already (that was the game I was thinking of when saying "non-superpopular", since that is rather well known), can anyone name something I havent looked into yet?
One Foul Note
Member
Off the top of my head, Space Run, Unstoppable Gorg, iBomber Creeper World 3, Sentinel 3, Sang-Froid and Infested Planet. They all have their fair share of flaws but I enjoyed my time with each of them in their own wonderful ways.
PurpleMoustache
Member
Petrichor - Mac, Windows, Linux
http://sundaemonth.itch.io/petrichor
Petrichor is the smell of rain. You wander the forest, breathe in the damp air. Eternal rain leaving puddles. You light a fire under a ledge to stay warm. In your pocket is a damp note you found in the mud. "Remember The Sound Of Now - Δ" You tightly grip the handle of your umbrella as you toss the note into the fire. It turns to ash and its fragments rise into the air. The path calls you back.
In the woods I waited 4414
In the dark I dreamed 3124
By the fire I remembered 7777
Thanks for the shoutout! There are what appear to be some amazing games in this thread and we're proud to be listed among them.
More_Badass
Member
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=966752
Great to see 80 Days, War of Mine, Outer Wilds, Invisible Inc, and bunch more games I really enjoyed getting recognized
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=966752
Great to see 80 Days, War of Mine, Outer Wilds, Invisible Inc, and bunch more games I really enjoyed getting recognized
Mmmm Outer Wilds goodness.
Don't worry man - Eidolon will get the recognition it deserves one day.
Not sure, things are too easily forgotten these days.
Those are some sweet recommendations, I already played the last 3, but I'll look into 1 & 2.
ChosenPredator
Banned
Ashen has me more excited then No Man's Sky for some reason
More_Badass
Member
You haven't played Creeper World 3?
Also, Sentinel 4 is on Android. I enjoyed it
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Origin8.Sentinel4&hl=en
Ah dang it, I meant the last 4. Creeper World is a fun game, but yeah I just want something new to dive into. New towers, new art style, new balancing.
More_Badass
Member
Toma, did you ever get around to Terrorhedron?
http://store.steampowered.com/app/299720
http://store.steampowered.com/app/299720
In fact I did not, but since I now bought it AND it fits into my TD craving, I might as well try.
Phawx
Member
I'll probably wait to update that impressions thread for your 3rd preview. Any reason why you didn't do 2nd preview?
The glitch gun is dope.
SerTapTap
Member
I played the 2nd preview but ended up not doing a video, wound up busy and christmas and yadda yadda. Will do 2 and 3 in the same go I guess, I saved a save file from the end of my first LP. I can't even fake a preview 2 since Steam updated my build and that's all I have for 2 I think, don't even remember where exactly it ended.
And yeah, glitch gun is awesome. If you use it on the enemy spawning hive thing, it spawns health drops instead! Amazing.
Phawx
Member
/nods I'm hoping for additional variation as the glitch gun upgrades. For any that care, I actually went through the game and tried glitching all the things possible in preview 2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Yk4umlNe4
SerTapTap
Member
I heard the "big glitches" couldn't be removed with the gun so I didn't bother backtracking that far yet. I love that it works on enemies though, and the aesthetic is pretty close to real NES/SNES garbage. More interesting, really, since lots of real sprite glitches are just really obviously random tiles mashed together (because they are).
BTW does it crash for you if you click out of the window? The joy of preview builds
BTW does it crash for you if you click out of the window? The joy of preview builds
Phawx
Member
Yea there are different glitches that require an upgraded glitch gun. I haven't fired up preview 3 yet. Preview 2 was rock solid aside from a reproducible bug. I'll let you know if I come it.
More_Badass
Member
Did we ever talk about Nested? It was featured back in the August thread, but I don't think anyone ever checked it out. I just re-discovered it yesterday and it's pretty addictive. I love exploration in games and this is exploration distilled to its purest, most minimalist form in a simple text format. An infinite amount of things to discover, universes, countries, the thoughts of a chieftain of a primitive village or the memories of a member of a weird church. It's literally endlessly fascinating
RockPaperShotgun did a good article on Nested, that explains the appeal pretty well
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/07/30/nested-free-procedural-generation-game/
Here's a mere glimpse of what you can discover:
RockPaperShotgun did a good article on Nested, that explains the appeal pretty well
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/07/30/nested-free-procedural-generation-game/
Here's a mere glimpse of what you can discover:
Phawx
Member
LPs and Quick Impressions GO
My Let's Play of Cubot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQXT8lEZGAo
My Let's Play of GoScurry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THjcrRuT4yg
My Let's Play of Cubot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQXT8lEZGAo
Quick Impressions: Initially starts off as a standard cube-based transport puzzle, but quickly starts to seperate itself from the pack by implementing multiple cubes that have different properties (Double roll, reverse roll, reverse double roll) and color-based mechanisms that impede flow. The first four stages are easy enough and can be treated as lite tutorials even though it's definitely a part of the game. I'm a fan of transport/sokoban type puzzle games and Cubot exceeded my expectations. Nice chill game.
My Let's Play of GoScurry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THjcrRuT4yg
Quick Impressions: Skill-based endless runner type. Turning takes a bit of practice to get right. There is this motion your ship makes when you turn that kind of works like a wave of sorts. The result is that if you turn just too early, even just a little bit, you'll fall off the edge of the track. But, if you turn late, like you're going-to-go-off-the-tracks late, you'll survive. It's not totally unfair, but it takes a bit to calibrate and when it starts getting hectic with the turns, it's very easy to lose. Outside of that you can control your boost (which I prefer to toggle on) and you need to jump and dodge out of obstacles that procedurally come in your way.
Music is good. Here's a gif of one of my runs.
http://i.imgur.com/jaLXm5q.gifv
Music is good. Here's a gif of one of my runs.
http://i.imgur.com/jaLXm5q.gifv
More_Badass
Member
RPS did a Wot I Think on this, sounds fun
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/01/08/wot-i-think-the-depths-of-tolagal
The Depths of Tolagal - $9.99 (PC, Mac, Linux)
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/01/08/wot-i-think-the-depths-of-tolagal
The Depths of Tolagal - $9.99 (PC, Mac, Linux)
http://the-depths-of-tolagal.com
The Depths of Tolagal is an addictive roguelike dungeon crawler with an emphasis on tactical combat.
You are searching for your missing apprentice within the deep, dark dungeons of Tolagal. Did he go there willingly, or was he kidnapped? You don't really care, you just want your damn apprentice back!
I played the free version, combat definitely requires more thought than traditional roguelike combat.
PandaPedinte
Member
Thank you for bringing attention to this game, I remember seeing it on the August thread and being interested in trying but for some I forgot. Anyway, it's very interesting you can explore various universes, some are similar to our and others have some differences. Another good point is when you stumble with an alien creature you expand the body section and try to make sense of the strange anatomy it has.
Some interesting findings:
Bears like to think loudly
I also did found a lasagnaverse and a baconverse
SerTapTap
Member
PandaPedinte
Member
Drift Stage - Even on early alpha stage it already shows a lot of promise, the visuals work greatly in motion and even though it only has one stage where you race to get a better time I can say I'm impressed by it's aesthetics even the main screen and the loading screen are pleasant to look, the music evokes a 80's vibe and fits in the game. From the little time I've spent with game I can say that the controls are easy to get but are hard to master. Highly recommended, even on early alpha you can have an idea how the game may turn.
PandaPedinte
Member
Oh man! The nanobots on Nested must be my new favorite thing on this game. :]
PandaPedinte
Member
Drift Stage Kickstarter campaign is doing great! They are at $16,101 with one day past.
Edit: GAF thread http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=968195
Edit: GAF thread http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=968195
More_Badass
Member
Developers just want to spend my money, huh? Children of Morta KS in January, Neptune Have Mercy KS in February
More_Badass
Member
Finger Crafts - ????
Hektor - PC, Mac, Linux
Artificial Immunity - Free (PC)
SORS - PC, Mac
Artificial Selection - PC
Devouring Stars - 2015 (PC, Mac)
Apathy - PC
Wanderers - ????
Sky Arena - Free (PC)
Royal Agents: Sweet Zombies - PC, Mac, Linux
Dark Train - ????
SLaVE - PC
Starr Mazer - ????
http://seanographies.tumblr.com
Finger Crafts is a game about dermatophagia. In the game the main character is comfronted by a series of problems which induce anxiety, to combat this the player can bite, bleed out or lick a finger which each represent a solution to their problems.
Hektor - PC, Mac, Linux
http://www.indiedb.com/games/hektor
Hektor is a first-person, psychological horror game where nothing ever stays the same for long. Explore a world that literally moves with your every twist and turn, as corridors shift and change before your eyes. Uncover cryptic clues to help you find your way and elude the horrors that only madness can conjure.
Artificial Immunity - Free (PC)
http://gprosser.itch.io/artificial-immunity
Fight off infection from incoming pathogens in this fast-paced arcade-style shooter
SORS - PC, Mac
http://www.sciencegamed.co.uk/games/sors/
SORS is a narrative driven game where you must diagnose and help patients whilst also trying to work out who to trust, and what's going on at the hospital. All this whilst dealing with hackers....
The game is set in the near future, where the earth's population has grown to the point where mankind has expanded upwards, living in ever-growing skyscrapers, and criminals are sent to live on floating solar-powered ships in the sky (prison ships).
Artificial Selection - PC
https://twitter.com/ArtiSelect_Game
Artificial Selection is a top-down shooter with evolving enemies that adapt to your strategies. It features millions of possible weapons and gadgets with many unique elements
Devouring Stars - 2015 (PC, Mac)
http://devouringstars.com
An abstract strategy game distant cousin of Eufloria and Galcon, but with a pure STR control scheme and some heavy work on movements and dynamics.
In that game you play a tribe of godlike entities lost in Tartarus, a large spatial labyrinth. Your entities have the ability to "devour" starfields in order to protect and attack.
Apathy - PC
http://reachgamestudios.tumblr.com
Apathy is an open world FPS RPG with heavy online components.
Set in the future during a War of Apathy which threatens to end Earth, you are a researcher sent to explore New Gloria, a new galaxy cluster with the potential to be a stronghold for the future of humanity. After a rough landing, you find yourself on Ferramor, a place with more evil and despair than back home.
Wanderers - ????
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=43484
Open world adventure roguelike
The game features multiple civilizations, which may be at war with each other. You may take part in these wars, or you may go explore underground dungeons and forests infested with monsters.
Sky Arena - Free (PC)
http://www.skyarenagame.com
Sky Arena is a multiplayer shoot em up in which you pilot a jet fighter to battle either against three of your friends, in local couch-multiplayer, or online against the rest of the world. You can even bring your friends to the servers and play 4 player split-screen online.
Remember, or learn for the first time, what couch multiplayer is all about: Huddling together with three of your friends as you smack one of them in his face, because he was peeking at your screen. Watching them cringe with rage while you place the perfect bomb at the perfect place with perfect timing, wiping every single one of them out.
Royal Agents: Sweet Zombies - PC, Mac, Linux
http://royalagents.tumblr.com
Turn-based adventure/strategy video game where you control a team of agents trying to stop dark rituals in time for tea.
Dark Train - ????
http://www.paperash.com/dark-train/
Dark Train is at the core an story-driven skillbased game that offers a unique way of sensing the environment in which it takes place. The player is the main driver of the train, which gives it complete control over the machine.
This is, however, by far, no ordinary train. Trainset outweigh within individual wagons detailed models of heterogeneous environments with atmospheric events. Everything works correctly only if the machine has enough energy and attention. Then, begins inside the model, life of its own, which hides a variety of tasks and secrets. The most difficult task is to run the train successfully to the finish.
SLaVE - PC
Starr Mazer - ????
efyu_lemonardo
May I have a cookie?
right, so copying from here, at Toma's request.
I actually had no idea there was this much of a debate on the matter, but I'm also not one to usually care about traditional genre distinctions, as sooner or later they all tend to get a bit vague and arbitrary. I prefer looking at the individual components of each game's mechanics.
I will definitely agree that FTL is closer to Oregon Trail. And if you say that's not the same genre as a Roguelike I'll have to take your word for it
I actually had no idea there was this much of a debate on the matter, but I'm also not one to usually care about traditional genre distinctions, as sooner or later they all tend to get a bit vague and arbitrary. I prefer looking at the individual components of each game's mechanics.
Fun fact: "Roguelikes", are games "like Rogue".
FTL is not like Rogue, so therefore not actually a roguelike. Still a fantastic game however. The terminology is utterly confusing at this point though, so I started to use the term "Traditional Roguelike" to get the point across when talking about these games.
OP, you still should check out FTL (after you played Tales of Maj'Eyal
I mean, you can't ignore the many similarities it has with games in that genre. Whether or not it's unique enough to be considered a different genre is a bit of a semantic argument.
If you prefer, we could look into the different characteristics that usually define games in this genre:
Feel free to add more..
- Randomized environments.
- An inability to see what's ahead of you until you're actually there.
- Permadeath.
- Turn based interaction/combat (this is the big one where FTL differs)
- Emphasis on inventory management, planning, and a combination of skill and luck.
Definitely not discounting that, but FTL is the very reason this debate started so feverishly and got people thinking about differentiations between roguelikes and "games with randomization and permadeath". I definitely see why people would use the term roguelike so.. freely, but FTL is closer to Oregon trail than a classic/traditional roguelike and Oregon Trail is not widely considered a roguelike.
But anyway, offtopic
If you want to continue talking about this, lets move ot the Indie thread instead:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=964561
I will definitely agree that FTL is closer to Oregon Trail. And if you say that's not the same genre as a Roguelike I'll have to take your word for it
I will definitely agree that FTL is closer to Oregon Trail. And if you say that's not the same genre as a Roguelike I'll have to take your word for it
Well, I am curious what others in here are going to say on the matter and I dont really mind that much personally, but currently I dont see any reason why there shouldnt be two distinct genre categorizations for such games.
I think the only reason why these get so jumbled up in the first place, is because "randomization+permadeath" was inherent to roguelike game design with it being the only genre that used these aspects in such a way. Since roguelikes are the only comparable genre, the notion of all those other games being "roguelikes" simply stuck.
It just seems to me that those "Roguelites" are like a new breed of games that lend some prominent aspects of the roguelike genre to create their niche. I mean we have other genres that are quite a lot closer being distinct genres too. 1st person and 3rd person shooters have some different mechanics that are common to each distinct type (the difference in how cover and cover based shooting is used for example), but overall, they are about moving 1 guy with a gun to shoot enemies in a usually very "cinematic" way.