I’ve been excited about the release of Sea of Stars since I first saw the trailer. I love the art, and I am always in the market for a good RPG. I grew even more excited when I got to try the demo. Needless to say, I got Sea of Stars the minute it was on the eshop. If you haven’t played this game yet, it needs to be in your collection. Sea of Stars is a fantastic RPG and one you will be replaying.
I’ve written about this game before, so I’ll try not to repeat myself too much. Sea of Stars is a fun twist to the classic RPG genre that innovates in a way that you see to appreciate how good it is. This game is one of the first games in a while where I slowed down because I wanted to savor the experience. It has a fantastic soundtrack, a fun and quirky tone, a nice story, engaging and manageable puzzles, and a fun combat system.
I adore the combat system in this game because it fixes the problem I have with a lot of RPGs. Instead of waiting idly while the characters finish their turns, you press a button to get a bonus melee attack, cast a stronger spell, or mitigate some damage. The small bonuses you get from this mechanic could mean the difference between wiping and beating the encounter. This game felt a lot more tactical, but it could be a result of the mechanics being a lot more engaging than I am used to.
I love the unique flare Sea of Stars brings to the genre, specifically the relic system it implements. Throughout the game, you can find or purchase relics that you can activate as a permanent buff to adjust the game’s difficulty. You can toggle these buffs to make the game as casual of an experience as you want. One of the first relics you find in this game automatically brings your team up to full health. Between save points, the only way to heal is through spells or cooking. You will be constantly managing your food, supplies, and mana to keep your team alive, and you can easily find yourself low or out of all three. This relic eliminates this challenge so you can focus on other aspects of the game, which is a completely valid way to play this game. There are other relics like this throughout your adventure, and they are all optional. I love when games allow players to adjust the experience because sometimes I want to have the feeling of achievement I get from beating a nearly impossible run, and sometimes I want to sit back and chill.
Now I didn’t turn on every relic I came across, but I turned on enough to make it an easier run. That said, I never felt the game got too easy after turning on the relics. I still had to plan out my combat and the boss encounters needed some thought. Boss fights are a different form of puzzle that will claim a few of your teams. It is a lot of fun trying to find the right way to kill a boss, but there are solid guides out there in case you need them. The cool part about wiping in this game is that you don’t lose much progress between saves.
If you haven’t played Sea of Stars, it should be on your list. This quirky RPG has a beautiful retro feel with some impressive innovations you need to experience at least once. You can play Sea of Stars on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch for $34.99. It’s also included on Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra if you have a subscription. But if you need further convincing, go check out the demo.
The Wandering Village huge update and release on Game Pass for Xbox and PC
I’ve always enjoyed the village builder genre a bit more than I should. I can lose weeks playing a good village builder, and I will always recommend the genre to those looking for a casual and relaxing experience with enough of a challenge to stay engaging. I typically do my best to avoid titles in the genre because of how much time I end up spending on them, but I like to keep my eye out for what’s available just in case.
I’ve been eyeing The Wandering Village for a while now, but I have been strong enough to not pull the trigger. The art is cute, the music score is nice, and the gameplay is what I’d expect from a cute and casual village builder. Now is a great time to get into the game because it is now available on Game Pass for both Xbox and PC, and it is getting its biggest update since its release. Players will now have access to the ocean which introduces a new biome, mechanics, and structures. If you are looking for a cute and casual entry into the village builder genre, it might be worth looking into The Wandering Village.
If you don’t have Game Pass, you can pick it up on Steam for $24.99. It’s currently on sale for. I just got my review code and will post a review as soon as I get back from vacation.
GDC Recap: Planet of Lana
I got to play Planet of Lana at GDC and was blown away by how beautiful this game is. I spent most of my session simply admiring the art. I loved all the little details that went into making this world so vibrant. I loved how the branches would sway in the breeze and how perfectly they got the water effects. You couple this with a solid gameplay loop and a wonderful music score, and you have an experience worth looking into.
I’ve added an album because it was hard to choose just one picture:
You play as a young girl whose sister has been taken by aliens. It is up to you and your cute little cat-like companion to brave the elements and bring her back.
Planet of Lana has a very relaxing loop. You and your cat travel through an impressive landscape and solve puzzles. The game is a 2D side scroller, but they use an impressive layering technique to give the world its depth. You give your companion commands and use them to interact with the world. The game gets creative with its puzzles, and it is cool to see how you affect the world as you solve the puzzles. The puzzles are well-designed. They are not too easy, and I felt that there were enough clues to help you solve them. If you like relaxing puzzle games, this should be on your list.
I loved the demo, but it is too early to tell if this game will be good. At the very least, this game is looking very promising and worth checking out. Planet of Lana will launch on PC and Xbox, but no release date has been set. It will also be launching on Game Pass. The demo is available on Steam, so go download it! Don’t forget to add it to your wishlist while you’re at it!
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