@games Sacre Bleu
Oh boy, it's absurd to pretend completeness during a demo showcase, but for this one ... I feel like it was released a bit too early for its sake: missing sounds, finicky controls, and overall not a good impression, one positive note is that it manages to blend 2d sprites with 3d environments better than others, but I do believe that the dev should have waited the next event and spent a bit more time cooking, because as now, it feels too much half-baked, even for a demo
@games Pipsqueak!
There is a niche set of developers who produce games under certain limitations, mechanical or thematical however may it be, I suspect that this project was born of a similar cloth, specifically from those who create games as if they were to run on a GBA, kind of like Goodboy Galaxy, it's an interesting way to create games, it has that feeling to it, and luckily, it also has the charm and a feel of polish for a game from such a console
@games And for today's theme: 2d platforming
With Ghost Knight: A Dark Tale
This charmingly Halloweeny game is a project I've been waiting for 4 years, since its reveal in 2020, and while we may still be far from its release, even in this small slice I could see the potential of a sweat little gem, this is a passion pet project through and through, and I can't wait for its maturing
@Aielman15 Thanks, I'm going to make a video recap of all the demos I'm playing at the end of this Next Fest
@games Silence of the Siren
I took me 2 minutes of playtime for a grin to start forming in my face, for I recognized what the project was aiming to achieve: this is a turn-based title following the same design principles of the Heroes of Might and Magic series, but in a sci-fi setting. It has everything: random resources on the map, stacked units, abilities, equipment, city management, the hexagonal battle map, plus some other unique tricks, this game is an instant wishlist.
@games NecroKing
I'm acquiring a certain taste for auto battlers, and this one has definitely a lot of charm, the graphical style reminds me a bit of Loop-hero, albeit in a more simplified matter, and the deck building is an interesting choice for progression.
My only doubt is about variety of enemy encounters, for now there is only the human kingdom, so I hope for more factions and more races in the future, still, I'll keep it in my radar.
@games EcoGnomix
Bizarre premise, and even more bizarre gameplay, it's a turn based economy and savaging game, economy because half of the gameplay loop is about constructing your city to reach the bottom and the treasure, the other half where you have to scavenge level by level the resources need to survive, mainly wood to hire gnomes and food to keep the bats at bay.
I came out of this demo with a perplexed face, I'll have to double think whether if this premise is appealing to me or not
@games Today I even have a theme: strategy games
Crab God
I wasn't expecting much from this, and yet I came out positively impressed,
it can be defined as a more refined Kingdom Two Crowns-type of tower defense. Instead of using coins, the player uses faith, crabs can specialize in 5 roles, it's level based, instead of having a singular map, progressing once gathered enough food. I suspect that this game was made by a marine biologist, no other way to explain the detailed in-game encyclopedia.
@games Warden's Will: now, there is a lot of potential in this 3rd person shooter, to fly cape flapping in the air superhero style is something that few games can claim, however, I'm afraid the devs may focus so much on the Co-op aspect that they may neglect the single-player balancing, it felt way too slow to conquer the radar points, I'll have to take a second good look once the project matures a bit
@games The Big Catch: Man, with a little graphical change, this demo would fit right into the Game cube catalogue, the level of polish of this 3d platformer is astounding, and the dreamlike desert setting/music reminds me a lot of the desert chili-induced visions of Homer from the 8th season of The Simpsons, my favorite sketch from the series, I can't wait to see what else this game has to offer
@games Voidwrought
This MetroidVania (or as I like to call them explorative platformers) belongs to the birthing category of Hollow Knight-likes, the graphic style, the subtle narrated story, and even the combat, resemble that of HK, the whole judgment hinges of whether the devs are going to be able to match its level of quality, if they will, that's going to be great! If they don't, it's going to be forgotten faster than the failed vessels thrown into the abyss