After voicing my desire to highlight great non-shooter games in Indie Game Lookout last week, I received a few suggestions. I thank everyone who sent me suggestions. There will be one shooter game here, though, because I couldn’t stay away forever. As always, if you know of any great indie titles, let me know via Twitter.
Also, we have started an Indie Game Lookout group on Steam that highlights the games we write up. The group can’t add games that are on Greenlight, but once they’re listed on the main site, they will be added. Give us a follow so you can check out the status of any Steam game featured here.
A Rite from the Stars
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Developer: Risin’ Goat
Platform: PC, Mac, Linux
Release Date: TBD
Available via: Steam Greenlight
The point-and-click adventure game is one genre I haven’t touched on too much. It’s a shame, because I cut my PC gaming teeth with many games in the genre. Risin’ Goat’s A Rite from the Stars is a new entry in the genre, and it looks great.
The game takes place on the island of Kaikala and puts the player in the role of Kirm, a mute child from the Makoa Tribe. He must overcome a rite of passage and leave his childhood behind. The rite requires the player to complete three paths – Wisdom, Courage, and Spirit – and complete a final trial.
The three paths have varying gameplay and it pulls them off well. Wisdom seems to rely on puzzle solving in a temple full of traps. Courage takes place in a cave where you and Power Animal must navigate simultaneously. And Spirit has Kirm navigating around a volcano and entering the Spirit World to navigate through and around obstacles.
Visually, the characters and world ooze lots of personality. The framerate looks a bit janky, but I’m sure that will be addressed before launch. Gameplay-wise, the point-and-click mechanics are great for this game. Each path mixes them up in order to account for that path’s mechanics. From picking up and placing items in Wisdom to the movement of two characters in Courage to switching between realms in Spirit, the controls are simple to pick up.
Occasionally, I like something that doesn’t have the twitch gameplay of a shooter. It’s refreshing to focus on working my brain and giving the old thumbs a break. A Rite from the Stars seems like the perfect game for those moments. It has successfully navigated both Greenlight and Kickstarter, and I can’t wait for it to be released.
Shadows of Adam
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Developer: Something Classic
Platform: PC, Mac, Linux
Release Date: TBD
Available via: Developer Website
I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the JRPG. I first fell in love with Dragon Warrior on the NES, and I have been hooked since. My absolute favorite JRPG era was the 16-bit era on the SNES. I constantly debate with myself on whether Final Fantasy II or Final Fantasy III is the best JRPG on the console. Shadows of Adam takes everything I loved about those two games – including their 16-bit presentation – and serves it up on my PC.
I intended to play the online demo for a short time, just to get a feel for it and see if it really lived up to its heritage. Two hours later, I ripped through the entire demo! You play as Kellan and Asrael, the son and adopted daughter of Orazio. He left the village of Adam 10 years prior, leaving them behind, and never returned. To find him, Kellan as Asrael must unravel a secret he left behind. This secret, though, could doom the entire world.
Everything about this game is a loving tribute to the 16-bit JRPGs of the 90s. Combat is purely turn-based. Character sprites have that old-school super-deformed look to them and are animated emotively. Enemies are shown on the screen, a welcome departure from the random encounters that littered many pure JRPGs. The only thing this game lacks is Nobuo Uematsu’s masterful soundtrack. This game is a throwback in every positive sense!
Shadows of Adam has been successfully Greenlit and Kickstarted. All that remains is a full release. Once it is released, I will lose myself completely in it!
SpaceCats in Space
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Developer: Robotic Potato
Platform: PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: Q2 2017
Available via: Steam Greenlight
I have to thank Jim Sterling for this one!
Jim has a series on YouTube, “Greenlight Good Stuff”, which highlights good game trailers on Steam Greenlight. I’ve seen a couple of the games there that I’ve written about here. SpaceCats in Space, though, was a slam dunk for me. Yes, it’s another twin-stick shooter, and I know everyone is tired of me harping about them. But…it has Nazi Space dogs! How can I NOT talk about this game?
You play as Crown Princess Angelina Contessa III of the Kingdom of Meowfyre, leader of the Royal Navy’s Cougar Squadron. (Yes, it’s a kingdom of space cats with a navy! You see??? THIS IS MAGIC!!!) Her goal is to defeat Oberluft Kommandant Von Schloss and his legion of SpaceDogs. To do so, you must navigate your ship through space and obliterate any SpaceDog unlucky enough to be in your path.
Fans of my series (thank you both!) know that I usually gloss over the story in twin-stick shooters and gush over the gameplay. But…seriously, go back and read that last paragraph. It is absolutely AMAZING!!!
The gameplay is absolutely solid. I tore through the demo and had an absolute blast. The game supports local 2-player co-op and features some pretty intense combat for a demo. It works great with an Xbox 360 controller and includes shooter staples like power-ups and awesome specials. This game has all the basics down pat. It’s the premise that takes it over the top.
SpaceCats in Space is currently seeking support on both Greenlight and Kickstarter. The goal on Kickstarter is a bit steep, but I have bought in and hope they make their goal. I need this game in my life!
