More_Badass
Member
According to the description, the dev says it's not a game but rather an "evolution simulator". Sounds more akin to something like Mountain, something you have in the background and come back to now and then
Indie Games 2015 [December] Let's talk about anything Indie!
- Thread starter Toma
- Start date
Hmm, ok. The idea is very interesting. I really liked the idea in Boss Constructor where you could just have up 52 copies of a ship fight each other on 100x speed, reconstruct themselves from broken off bits until you have the most efficient combination through natural selection. Unfortunately it doesn't work super well yet.
SnakeLordJelly
Neo Member
Hey guys, long time thread lurker here. I have found so many amazing games thanks to this thread and I finally got around to making an account. Just wondering, is it okay if I participate in GOTY voting?
More_Badass
Member
Sure, of course. And welcome to GAF and the Indie threads!
Picking up anything during the Steam sale?
More_Badass
Member
Can someone give me the rundown on Mini Metro? I just tried the demo again, and I'm still not getting it. What exactly is the strategy/depth to the gameplay?
SnakeLordJelly
Neo Member
I'm definitely grabbing the Talos Principle DLC, might also pull the trigger on Subnautica finally.
SnakeLordJelly
Neo Member
I've been staring at the character creation screen for the last 40 minutes trying to plan out a build. Sounds amazing from the impressions I've heard though.
More_Badass
Member
chrominance's impressions of Sublevel Zero ($11.99) sold me on the game
In hindsight, it feels obvious. The joy of single-player Descent was always about tumbling through space, trying to get a bead on the vicious robots trying to kill you while dodging laser fire and spoofing homing missiles. But the most tense moments--and often the most thrilling ones--were when you were down to a sliver of life, desperately trying to stay alive long enough to find a shield powerup and hoping the robots around the next corner wouldn't flay you alive. Imagine a Descent successor that distilled the single-player campaign down to the moments where your life hangs in the balance, and you have Sublevel Zero.
The biggest thing Sublevel Zero gets right is the feeling of movement. Like the official modernization of the Descent formula, Descent Underground, but unlike so many other six-degrees-of-freedom games, Sublevel Zero nails the sensation of zooming through claustrophobic mine tunnels in a zero-g fighter ship. The second biggest thing Sublevel Zero gets right, though, is in carving out its own unique identity. It's a roguelike, you see, so death is permanent. There's that desperation again, built right into the game design. Randomness is part of Sublevel Zero's DNA as well: all the levels are procedurally generated, and your arsenal of weapons is completely dependent on what you find scattered about and what you can craft. Even the nanocarts you earn at the end of a level are randomized, meaning you can never be quite sure what benefits will be open to you each time.
Because there's so much uncertainty to each run, and because you only have one life to live, improvisation is the name of the game. This helps solve one small issue with Descent's campaigns, which is that sometimes the variety of weapons feels superfluous. The bread and butter weapons like the plasma, quad lasers and vulcan/gauss were often all you needed, leaving the more exotic weapons to collect dust. In Sublevel Zero, sometimes you have no choice but to pick up that Firebolt or those grenades and figure out the best way to use them.
I've played a bunch of roguelikes in my time, but most of them never managed to click with me. Either they felt too much like the product of luck, or they required skills that I didn't really have and didn't feel like training for (hello, every platformer roguelike ever). Sublevel Zero is the first roguelike where I felt like I could reach the end even from the very beginning of the game, once I learned the patterns and remembered how to fly properly. It never once felt unfair, and even when I made dumb mistakes (ask me about my RAGEQUIT achievement) it was easy to start again and hope this run would be the one. More than any other game to date, Sublevel Zero is the inheritor to the Descent legacy. Sigtrap should be proud.
Heya, we are always looking for more people to participate, as it also gives the threads more exposure.
Would love to read your impressions in the future or see you participate in the threads in general.Re:Sales
I only picked up the Endless Legend DLC so far, I havent given that game enough time yet.
Definitely participate! The more votes we have the more exposure we can bring to games - and a better, more comprehensive list as well.
More_Badass
Member
Heh, yeah, that thread moves crazy fast, right? Here are the recommendations I posted in that thread:
I have to highly recommend Infested Planet @ $4.94
Simple description: Starship Troopers meets 300
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKyrJRreqV0
Like the Spartans standing against the massive Persian forces, here you control a small squad of space marines facing overwhelming alien hordes. The extraterrestrial menace spawns in waves of hundreds from hives across the map and your tactical prowess and advanced weaponry are the only advantages against such odds. Flamethrowers, mini-guns, powerful turrets and mines, airstrikes, buffed troopers, and more allow you to bolster your squad and adapt your defenses. But your enemy is just as reactive, able to mutate new forms and abilities to counter your own tactics.
Every battle is a desperate push and pull across the map, as you destroy hives and build bases, spreading out your men and defenses to hold back the encroaching hordes. However the tide can turn at any moment; perhaps the horde mutates heavier armor, or poisonous projectiles, or creates an organic minefield. Perhaps the hive spawns alien clones of your troopers or becomes resistant to your turret fire. Suddenly your frontline is breached, and there's a panicked rush to assess and adjust your strategy. Can you sacrifice a turret maintaining a critical chokepoint to call down an airstrike? Can you manage one front while sending marines to hold back a new horde? This fluid moment-to-moment action makes Infested Planet a thrilling strategy game
Here are the lesser known picks from my GOTY list:
Mushroom 11 ($9.99) - An innovative platformer where you control an amorphous fungus that can mold and shift into any shape. Constantly introducing new mechanics and unique challenges
Dark Echo ($1.01) - A minimalist horror exploration game where sound is sight. Like Daredevil, the sounds of your steps and environments reveals the world...and the things hunting you. Puzzles, stealth, and lurking horrors
Snakebird ($3.49) - A deceptively cute game that's actually one hell of a brain-breaking puzzler. This is a devious puzzle game that wrings every ounce of challenge from its simple mechanics
Guns, Gore, and Cannoli ($6.69) - A silly over-the-top run-n-gun shooter with a gorgeous hand drawn art style
TIS-100 ($3.49) - The other 2015 puzzler from Zachtronics (aka the dev of Spacechem. It strips that pseudo-programming/looping assembly line puzzling to its most minimalist and delivers a tricky, satisfyingly-complex puzzler
Flywrench ($6.49) - A revamped remake of the popular freeware game, from the developer of Nidhogg. It's a pure arcade spectacle of color and motion, with super tight and responsive controls,
Have you played 80 Days? Over 630,000 words of wonderful prose and a fascinating world to discover
http://store.steampowered.com/app/381780/
Here's another indie gem to consider: Deadnaut ($4.99)
Deadnauts, so named because theyre unlikely to return, must explore, investigate and fight their way through the derelict ships of dead civilisations. Every mission is unique and no two locations are the same. Each ship contains mysterious enemies and hostile security systems. Manage your Deadnauts' skills, talents, relationships and flaws - and you might get them out alive.
I'll let Pylon Trooper sing its praises:
More_Badass
Member
Conquest of Elysium 4 and Dominions 4
Any thoughts on those? Only have enough to get one
Any thoughts on those? Only have enough to get one
Like Toma said - between the people in this thread we could recommend you a thousand indie games. What kind of stuff do you like? (Baddy's list is pretty good though)
Dwarf Fortress for free.
Need to check those out at one point though, only heard good things.
Also, repost:
MushroomSamba
Member
Picked up Teslagrad for $2...seems like pretty good value! I've been meaning to play it for awhile now, but always had enough on the backlog as it is. For 80% off, what's one more to the pile?
Also considering picking up Momodora III for $2 as well. Seems very Cave Story-ish. Any of you got impressions on that one?
Also considering picking up Momodora III for $2 as well. Seems very Cave Story-ish. Any of you got impressions on that one?
Maybe post this in the Steam sales thread? Try and drive a few more people in there
More_Badass
Member
That thread moves way too fast. I'd wait till the regular Steam thread is up
One Foul Note
Member
I can't comment on Conquest but Dominions 4 is ace. Very deep and weird strategy war sim where you get to play with some truly world ending magics and monsters. Although I would only recommend it if you are willing to get super deep in with it, people do have the habit of overstating how complex it is however it is still an experience that needs to be played a few times before you can begin to grasp the logic behind the world.
It's very old news (June) but I have just noticed that Quadsmash is now totally free.
The game was a flop which is really unfair because the gameplay is fun and well-tuned.
It is a 2D physics-based ball game, with short solo and multiplayer, only local unfortunately.
I encourage you to try it out
The game was a flop which is really unfair because the gameplay is fun and well-tuned.
It is a 2D physics-based ball game, with short solo and multiplayer, only local unfortunately.
I encourage you to try it out
Well I'll pick up Downwell and Dark Echo for sure(thanks Badass), and then some other older indies like LISA, Banner Saga.
Still looking through recommendations from here and the indie goty and have wishlisted a bunch of games. Happy to check out new games, some for the very first time.
It's just that I can't spend a lot of money, but I'm still happy to say I support indies as much as I can, even at 75% off.
Keep it up you guys
Still looking through recommendations from here and the indie goty and have wishlisted a bunch of games. Happy to check out new games, some for the very first time.
It's just that I can't spend a lot of money, but I'm still happy to say I support indies as much as I can, even at 75% off.
Keep it up you guys
Looking into upgrading Toma bot for the Steam sale threads. Already gives me a nice sorted list for the older offers, maybe I can get it to update prices automatically later tonight, then I might throw up the sale threads every sale.
More_Badass
Member
Sublevel Zero is really good. Like "Why the hell didn't I get this game earlier" good. It's not my first 6DOF game (that would be NeonXSZ), but it's definitely the tightest and most enjoyable one I've played. Thrusting though tight tunnels, strafing enemies while deftly evading their fire, desperately retreating around corners when you're low on health and your foes are closing in for the kill. Each weapon feels powerful and the varied arsenal lets you modify your playstyle in myriad ways. Personally, I like stunning enemies from a distance then boosting in and finishing them off with a shredder shotgun blast. The art is gorgeous too
Ghost_Messiah
Member
So my favourite games of the last year or so are Shovel Knight and Castle in the Darkness respectively. Retro-inspired, side-scrolling adventures with upgrade mechanics in the vein of the Wonderboy series from back on the Master System/Genesis. Something about these types of games strikes a chord with me and reminds me of gaming in my childhood.
Are their any games out there that are specifically like those? I know Monster Boy (the real Wonderboy successor) is coming up for 2016 and then there's Shantae: Half-Genie Hero but is there anything else that's either out now or coming up in 2016?
Are their any games out there that are specifically like those? I know Monster Boy (the real Wonderboy successor) is coming up for 2016 and then there's Shantae: Half-Genie Hero but is there anything else that's either out now or coming up in 2016?
One Foul Note
Member
I should have posted this a few days ago but with the xmas preparations I totally forgot, but badass of the week goes to Sunburned Games who are developing The Great Whale Road.
Sadly, their kickstarter ended without reaching its goal but as thanks to their backers they are giving steam keys to their early access when it comes out. Basically for free for the early support. It is certainly above and beyond the call of duty for them but I appreciate the gesture for sure.
You might get on with Odallus: The Dark Call (it's on steam). It's kinda modern take on the level based Castlevania games with a bit of upgrading and exploration and alternate exits for levels and that kinda thing.
Sadly, their kickstarter ended without reaching its goal but as thanks to their backers they are giving steam keys to their early access when it comes out. Basically for free for the early support. It is certainly above and beyond the call of duty for them but I appreciate the gesture for sure.
You might get on with Odallus: The Dark Call (it's on steam). It's kinda modern take on the level based Castlevania games with a bit of upgrading and exploration and alternate exits for levels and that kinda thing.
That is super neat, thanks for sharing.
More_Badass
Member
You might like these:
Elliot Quest - http://store.steampowered.com/app/293440/
Environmental Station Alpha - http://store.steampowered.com/app/350070/
Finding Teddy 2 - http://store.steampowered.com/app/341020/
Rex Rocket - http://store.steampowered.com/app/288020/
Success, Toma Bot now can automatically update all game prices. So I suppose I only need to have it create the proper thread layout, divide the posts into 30,000 character chunks for gaf posts, create hyperlinks and I can throw up a sales thread.
Indie sales thread up:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1161525
Will take a few days until we have the basics for 2015 covered, but feel free to help.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1161525
Will take a few days until we have the basics for 2015 covered, but feel free to help.
SO BROKE!
Be sure to post your impressions of Waking Mars - I could not get on with it at all. I assumed it wouldn't be level/puzzle based but more about experimenting in an ecosystem.
Earthtongue!
What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? on Vita!
I'd love more of these games though.
Yeah - just to see how stuff interacts, watching things unfold. Relaxing...
Ok I've gone crazy - leaving the office now and making the journey home for Christmas!
Frostt
Member
Already finished it on iOS back when it was released and I loved it. Is a gardening game with a metroidvania structure all over it. You are the first man to arrive to Mars and you discover alien life, then things happens... you basically fly with a jetpack, placing the right plants (here lies to puzzles, having to combine the right amount of them) on each room to make Mars shine again, sort of. There are no enemies, more about exploration, learning about the story and how the plants work... I like it a lot, but I have to say that about around 80% in it started feeling the same and
having to make ALL rooms viable was painful to get the best ending
More_Badass
Member
Might give it a try next month, but december was overkill with looking some goty nominees.
More_Badass
Member
Currently on sale for $4.99, so I might just pick it up anyway (either that or Aaru's Awakening)
The Kickstarter turnaround for 12ibt6 has to be some kind of record. Campaign ended in October, game released in November.
Also seems kind of shady. The estimated release date of the KS was March 2016, and according to KS comments, dev hasn't commented on or sent out physical/digital rewards or how the game was released so ahead of schedule
One Foul Note
Member
Random question, does anyone know the date that Speedrunners left early access? It is a potential candidate for my indie game of the year list, but it I am kinda unsure when it technically came out.
Hmmm, makes me a bit wary about supporting it tbh. Using a finished game to get KS money "just because" is kinda problematic. Might look into that a bit more closer before buying it to see if we know anything else.
More_Badass
Member
The Captain - Free alpha demo (Browser)
Day By Day - Free (PC)
http://www.sysiac.com/thecaptain/
As you decide to land on planets, dock onto distant star stations or engage in a personal rescue mission, you activate that specific mini adventure (Graphical Adventure). You could see this as episodes in your favorite sci-fi series. Every such adventure will have multiple solutions or endings.
Your character will evolve and age during each playthrough. You equip him and his ship as you see fit. The universe is packed with gadgets and recourses for you to find and use.
Day By Day - Free (PC)
http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-34/?action=preview&uid=3968
Thousand of men are enlisted to the great war. This is not a story about them, this is a story about those who are waiting for their return.
As far as I can tell, the developer didn't explain any of this via Kickstarter updates or comments. Real shady shit.
edit: And the assholes charged extra for beta access and even more for alpha access.
More_Badass
Member
Made a thread about NEO Scavenger being 50% off
http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1161900
In case anyone wanted to share their impressions there
http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1161900
In case anyone wanted to share their impressions there
More_Badass
Member
Here we go. There was some discussion on it in the TIGSource devlog:
https://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=45421.msg1198746#msg1198746
Here were the dev's response:
And the reply from the developer/poster who was asking why the game was out so early: