Figure I can pop my head in once more for this.
Posted this on our forums, but figure it's worth clarifying here as well: Don't let the "Touhou" name fool you, as this isn't a mainline Touhou entry. Rather, it's a fan game made by another company, and it is -- for all intents and purposes -- another game in the Napishtim/Felghana/Origin line of Ys titles.
Like, straight-up, it's basically a spiritual followup to Ys Origin (multiple playable characters and all), but set in a variety of outdoor areas reminiscent of Felghana. And it's GORGEOUS -- I actually think that visually, it surpasses the games that inspired it, with some of the most colorful, detailed 3D backgrounds I've ever seen in an indie title. It joins the ranks of games like Astebreed in proving that indie does not necessarily equal pixel-art 2D, and in the right hands, indie 3D can truly be breathtaking.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, then, follows the trend of every Shantae game feeling similar to the last, but doing something completely different at the same time. The first game was kind of like a really polished take on the Castlevania II formula, the second used the layer-cake approach of Monster World IV, and the third was more of a traditional Metroidvania but split up onto a bunch of islands with a single hub world in the middle. Half-Genie Hero, then, feels more arcade-like in its approach, but with a Metroidvania twist. It's very fun, and will definitely live up to the high standards set by the current Shantae trilogy. (I'd say more, but it's not really in my place to do so, since this is still WayForward's baby first and foremost! So it's up to them to give you guys all the grand reveals on features, unique levels, story elements, etc.)
And Exile's End... is already out on Steam, through our parent company, so some of you have probably already played it. But if you haven't, all you need to know is this: if you like Metroidvanias, you're probably going to enjoy Exile's End. Its creator was mostly inspired by classic "cinematic platformers" like Out of This World/Another World and Flashback, and this shows particularly well in the introductory scenes... but as the game progresses and the world opens up, the Metroidvania label he desperately wanted to distance this game from (he stresses in the Steam description that this game is NOT a Metroidvania) becomes harder and harder to avoid. That's not a bad thing, though: Metroidvanias are my favorite genre in the world, and even when measured up against other Metroidvanias, Exile's End is a very good game. Atmospheric, fun, and well-designed, it's a quality experience that's quite engrossing from start to finish. Which I can say with confidence, because when I was asked to check out this game and see what I thought of it, I... kind of couldn't stop playing it. I even left work on time a few days (which I typically never do!) so I could go home and play some more.
All three games are great, and I'm proud that my name will be in some way associated with them all. I've long said that indies represent the future of the industry, and between Corpse Party and this trio of games, I think we've cherry-picked some really, really good titles that really showcase just how diverse and awesome the indie scene can be.
-Tom
