I’ve been gone for two weeks, but I’m back! Why was I gone? World of Warcraft: Legion, that’s why! Don’t worry, my school and job didn’t like that excuse, either. Thankfully, my school forgave me when I told them about Overwatch’s free weekend.
So here I go. These are the games that I’ve come across that I find notable. If you know of any great indie games that you would like me to check out, let me know via Twitter. And follow us on our Steam Groups page. We’re constantly adding new indie games to our curator’s list; hopefully, your game will be on there soon!
Cursed Coins
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Developer: Vilmantasj
Platform: PC, Android, iOS
Release Date: TBD
Available via: Developer Website
What better way to start this lookout than with a bit of pew pew?
Cursed Coins is a pixelart defense game with a simple premise. Four grave robbers steal some cursed coins form a skeleton king, and now armies of the undead are trying to exact their revenge. The four characters are pinned on the left, and the enemies come in waves toward them. Players control the four characters, managing their abilities in an attempt to fend off the horde.
Gameplay looks pretty chaotic. The characters have 2 unique weapons each and are able to switch between different kinds of attacks. Bullets, arrows, and explosives pepper the field, and occasional air strikes and energy balls clear mobs temporarily. The characters will be able to level themselves and their abilities up as they mow down the hordes. The sheer number of enemies can seem overwhelming at first glance, so knowing that your team has ample firepower is some consolation.
The developer promises randomly generated levels. Regular gameplay consists of 10 waves of enemies, followed by a boss battle. So far they have detailed five bosses. There will also be an endless mode, where the bosses are randomly thrown in after 10 waves.
This game is shaping up rather well. The developer is promising a downloadable alpha soon. Any excuse I can find to plow through dozens of enemies will work for me.
The Path to Die
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Developer: Cat Logic Games
Platform: PC
Release Date: TBD
Available via: Steam Greenlight
A top-down sword fighting game set in Feudal Japan? Yes, please!
The Path to Die chronicles the adventures of a ronin, a samurai without a master. He wanders the countryside with the goal of being useful again. Along the way, he will cleave numerous enemies.
The main feature of this game is its combat system. Using a gamepad, the player can control the swings of their katana with the right analog stick, slashing and thrusting with ease. The character can switch between his katana and a bow, and both weapons’ attacks can be controlled the same way. It adds a pretty cool dimension to the gameplay, but it does require a gamepad. Keyboard-and-mouse combat is currently being worked on.
It’s tough to really gauge the gameplay on a pre-alpha video, but it looks pretty tight. The visuals are pixelated but very nice. Everything has a very stylized look to it, almost like Japanese watercolor art. If the gameplay is as impressive at the visuals, I’ll be happy.
This game is currently on Steam Greenlight looking for votes. A Kickstarter campaign will follow. I am hoping this game succeeds.
Riders of Asgard
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Developer: Gobbo Games
Platform: PC, Mac, Linux
Release Date: TBD
Available via: Developer Website
A Viking BMX game? Sign me up!
Riders of Asgard scratches an itch I have had since Tony Hawk Pro Skater stopped being good and Matt Hoffman BMX just stopped being. I love grabbing serious air and pulling off insane combos, and this “historically correct Viking BMX game” delivers in spades.
How tight is this game so far? I downloaded the Alpha of the game, breezed through the tutorial, and started playing. Four hours later, I decided it might be a good time to take a break.
The gameplay is real tight for an Alpha. I was ripping off tricks in no time, and the more tricks I did, the more satisfying it felt. Again…THIS IS AN ALPHA!
The game goes for a cartoony look and I like it. The track layouts I have seen are pretty wild, and performing tailwhips and barspins while switching across half pipes is cool. Your rider and bike are customizable, allowing you to change the helmet, shield, bike frame and wheels, as well as your rider’s signature move. Being an Alpha, there weren’t many options when I played it. That is easily remedied later down the line. What matters is the gameplay, and that is solid.
Riders of Asgard has been successfully Greenlit. There is no word on a release date yet, which makes me a bit antsy. I want this game already!
