I got to play Kakele at GDC and liked it enough to try to get a deeper experience. Make sure you check out my original post for additional information. Kakele is a free-to-play pixel art MMORPG that you can play on IOS, Android, or PC. There is cross-play between devices, and your saves carry over. If you are looking for and cute MMO to try, you should consider Kakale.
I played on both the PC and mobile versions and enjoyed them the same. Each version has its advantage. On PC, I felt like I had better control of my character, and made fewer mistakes in combat. Mobile was much more convenient, and I liked being able to play on the go. I loved that I could grind out some levels while I waited for my oil change. I didn’t feel an unfair advantage between devices, but most players I talked to preferred PC for endgame content and PVP.
Kakele has a voice-acted story, but there are some syntax errors due to the translation. It isn’t so bad you won’t understand what’s going on, but it is noticeable. The voice acting is computer generated, but I appreciate that I don’t always have to read the text. I found the story delightfully quirky, and it did enough to set up its lore. I am curious to see where they take the story, but the English translation needs some love. According to players I chatted with, the story is the quickest way to level up your character.
Kakele has an undeniably adorable aesthetic, but some of the maps can feel a bit cluttered. The character creation is limited to a few sprites and color changes, but they want to sell you skins. The early leveling experience is great. The game does enough to ease new players into their new roles, and there is enough to do to keep players busy. Outside the starter zone, the difficulty felt well-scaled. I felt I was given enough of a foundation to grind efficiently while still feeling challenged. It is easy to get overwhelmed by mobs of enemies if you are playing too passively, or aren’t properly geared or leveled. The combat felt active. I liked that I didn’t have to wait for global cooldowns, and had a blast kiting with the mage.
There is a grind, but it doesn’t feel any different from modern MMOs. You can pay for premium or buy boosts to level up faster, but I leveled quickly without having to spend money. There are global boosts that can be applied to the whole server in the cash shop. I was lucky and always got to play with a global boost and it made the grind more pleasant. At least this early in the game’s life, some charitable players love the game enough to help grow the community.
One issue that might be a barrier to entry is the social element. If you speak Spanish or Portuguese, you will find a healthy supply of friendly players ready to help you. I am fluent in Spanish and understand enough Portuguese to get by. All the interactions I had were pleasant and made me want to play the game more. I was never able to find English-speaking players, at least not on the North American server. I don’t think this is much of an issue because there are plenty of players walking around who will help without the need to communicate. I doubt you will have issues finding groups for PVP or PVE content. At least that was the experience on the PVE server, I can’t speak for the PVP side. If you want to level up with English-speaking players, I recommend you convince friends to join you.
I liked Kakale and played it more than I should have. I love the combat system, love the tone, and enjoy its simplicity. The combat is complex enough to keep the game from growing stale, but the simple graphics means this game can run on anything. I am a huge proponent of games made for all gamers, not just the ones that can afford high-end computers. The game is a lot of fun, and the community is very welcoming. If you are looking for a new MMO while you take a break from your main one, consider playing Kakele. It’s free to play, so you have nothing to lose.
You can download load Kakele for IOS, Android, and PC. Make sure you also check out my previous post for additional information.
Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition
Rise of the Triad is getting a pretty impressive reboot and new features. If you like retro shooters or want to relive some nostalgia, this game should be on your wishlist.
Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition is a fast-paced retro shooter with zany weapons, a fun story, and an epic soundtrack. The remake will have a jukebox feature so you can listen to your favorite song as you create carnage and mayhem. But the jukebox isn’t the only change you should be hyped for. This game will perform better with up to 4k resolution with more frames for a smoother gaming experience.
If you like PVP, there will also be online multiplayer with new sprites to choose from. If that isn’t enough, there is also a pretty comprehensive map maker. Now you can make your levels and share them with your friends. If you are like me and don’t have any, there will be Steam Workshop support. You will be able to download community-made levels or share some of your own. I am not creative, but very excited to see what the community has in store.
If you have already played this game, it might be time to relive the experience. There will be a new story, designs, and features to make this a fresh experience.
Rise of the Trian: Ludicrous Edition is releasing on the Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, and the Nintendo Switch for $19.99. There is no release date yet, but make sure to wishlist it on Steam. A demo will be available on June 19.
GDC Recap: Viewfinder
To conclude my coverage of GDC, I want to talk about the nifty puzzler, Viewfinder. Viewfinder is a first-person puzzle game where players can reshape the world by placing printed media like photos or drawings into the world. It is a cool concept that is masterfully implemented around an interesting story. If you like puzzle games like Portal, you need to get Viewfinder.
The biggest draw to Viewfinder is the freedom of creativity that this game allows for. There are many ways to solve puzzles, and players are only limited by their imagination. I spent way too long reshaping the world because it was fun and not because I was solving the puzzles. This game has the potential to be a huge time sink if you like to mess around with map editors. It is unbelievably cool to watch how you reshape the world with different art styles. By the end of a puzzle, you will have this insanely beautiful fusion of art that you created.
I was blown away by the amount of work that went into making this game work so well. Everything in this game works smoothly. I tried to break this game, but the physics was just too good. You can make it rain sideways or make objects fall from the sky with no visible latency. I will be the first to say that Viewfinder has an unlimited potential for shenanigans and that alone should be enough to make you wishlist.
I spent too much of my session admiring Viewfinder’s novel experience. Everything in this game from the art to its innovative gameplay is perfect for people who want to pick up a game to have fun.
Viewfinder is coming to the PlayStation and PC sometime this year, but no date has been set yet. Until then, do yourself a favor and wishlist it on Steam!
I want to thank the game’s writer for sitting down with me and answering all my questions. The game is great, the story is solid, and I can’t wait to play it!
I also want to thank you, guys, for your continued support. I was only able to go to this event because of you. I got to meet some cool people, make important connections, and play some cool games. I never thought people cared about what I had to say, and never dreamed I would have such a wonderful opportunity. I am overjoyed that there are people that enjoy my writing, and I will strive to keep doing better. Thank you so much. I love you all!
****Images are from press kit, gifs are from the steam store. I don’t own them.
Cart Life
At GDC I got to play the interesting slice-of-life game, Cart Life. This is the most unique game I have ever played. While it may not be for everyone, it does deserve some attention.
I like the contrast between the simple pixel art and the complete narratives it tells. The art style reminds me of the Gameboy Pocket era games. Cart Life lets you play as everyday people as they work their jobs, build relationships, and deal with the hardships of living in a city. As you try to juggle your personal and work life, you realize that it is impossible to balance everything. You will be forced to make some difficult choices.
In the demo, I got to play the Ukrainian immigrant Andrus as he begins his life in the US. During the day, you run his newsstand, and by night you have to care for his cat. At work, I had to set prices, stock shelves, and service my customers. It seems simple, but there were a lot of factors to consider to make sure my day was successful. I didn’t get much time with this game, but I can see how easily everything can stack up and make the game difficult. It was a nice change of pace from what I am used to, but in a great way. I’ll be trying to get a copy for review as soon as I can.
If you like the slice-of-life genre and looking for a game with a strong narrative, you should consider looking into Cart Life. The gameplay is unique, the art is pleasant, and the narrative is award-winning. Cart Life is releasing on PC sometime this year, but there are plans for a console release if it does well. For now, I recommend you wishlist it on Steam and follow it on Twitter.
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine
I got to play Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine before it was announced to the public, and I wasn’t ready. Up to that point, I had sat through some beautiful and relaxing titles that had me feeling peaceful. But this peace was short-lived and destroyed by one of the most insane match-four games I have ever played.
Dr. Fetus wants to make the perfect Meat Boy clone but needs your help. Match the clones as they fall through the machine, but avoid the deadly traps that make this task nearly impossible. How far can you make it before you throw the controller at the wall?
As is tradition with Super Meat Boy, this game is unforgivingly difficult. It will give you a false sense of security as it starts you with a cute and relaxing match-four experience. It then slowly introduces manageable traps to ease you into an experience that you will never be ready for. Before you know it, you are avoiding missiles, dodging saws, and other deadly obstacles while still trying to match those tiles. It is colorful mayhem that will frustrate most players, but it is a gameplay loop that will keep you coming back.
The art for this game is deceptively cute. The clones are adorable but don’t get too attached. They will all die the most gruesome deaths, leaving behind their viscera to decorate the machine. At first, I liked that the blood didn’t disappear after the reset, but it slowly became a shameful reminder of my failure as it came more often. I got incredibly lucky to get as far as I did with the devs next to me, laughing at my struggle. By the end of the session, my heart was beating so fast that Siri asked me if I needed an ambulance. It was such an intense way to end a session, but one I’d definitely do again. I’ll be working on getting myself a review copy.
If you like Supper Meat Boy or the matching tile genre, you should look into this game. It is a game that will leave you incredibly frustrated, but that frustration is part of the fun. Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine will release on the Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC through GoG, Epic Games, and Steam. The price hasn’t been announced, but Nintendo has it at $9.99. There is no release date yet, but there is a demo available on Steam. Don’t forget to wishlist!
Strayed Lights
If you like action-adventure games, you might want to look into the upcoming title, Strayed Lights. This game looks beautiful, and the bit of music I’ve heard is amazing! You play as this being of light and dark as you travel over this dreamlike world on a quest to become awakened. But the path is full of angry monsters. Use your powers to soothe the beasts and free them of their inner demons.
This game looks so pretty and promises a new form of combat that I am interested in trying. The soundtrack is composed by Grammy-winning Austin Wintory, so it might be at least worth the listen. I’ll be getting my review copy soon, and I can’t wait to hop on in.
Strayed Lights is releasing on April 25th for $24.99 on the PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC through Steam, Epic Games, and GoG. If you preorder from the official website, you will get a cool digital art book and a copy of the soundtrack. There is also a demo you can try on Steam.
To stay up to date on all the news, make sure to join the official Discord and follow the socials: YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Don’t forget to add it to your wishlist!
Images taken from the press kit
GDC Recap: Portal Fantasy
GDC showed me that the era of Web3 gaming is here. At the very least, we are in the early stages of its development, and it is time for gamers to accept it is the future of gaming. There has been resistance to this shift, but from what I saw at GDC, there is no stopping it. Gaming on the Blockchain will be the standard like loot crates and battle passes are now. The big publishers have already taken steps to slowly implement the shift to Web3 so that when it does become mainstream, we won’t notice the change.
I know there is a lot of stigma surrounding Web3 because of all the negative press, but the early era of the internet wasn’t without its faults either. Now the internet is essential and useful if you are smart about it, and Web3 will be the same. I am not here to convince you to buy NFTs or get into crypto, but I am here to tell you that you shouldn’t be as afraid to look into the projects coming out for this new era of gaming. You might even find your new favorite game.
There were a lot of Web3 games featured at GDC, and a couple piqued my interest. One game I am particularly excited about is the cute monster-catching game, Portal Fantasy. Portal Fantasy is a browser-based pixel art monster catcher game that has some clear inspiration from Pokémon. The art is great, and the gameplay reminds me of the best era of Pokémon. But Portal Fantasy isn’t another Pokémon clone gunning for your money. The story is a lot darker, and the game has a few promising features that will set it apart from Pokemon.
The Pyli kingdom is under threat by an unknown evil force. The Porbles that fill its land have suddenly grown murderous. In retaliation to this new threat, the kingdom uses its last bit of magic to summon the heroes from another realm to ait them. With the help of the Porbles that catch along the way, the heroes must work together to rid the world of this evil. Only when this land knows peace will they be able to return home.
If you want to know more about the lore, go check out the webcomic. It comes out every two weeks, and the story is pretty solid. I love the art style, but I was not expecting the story to get so dark. This isn’t going to be another Pokémon clone, at least not lore-wise. The webcomic is free to read, and I think it’s worth checking out. Who knows? It might even get you interested in trying the game. I know it did for me.
I didn’t get enough time with the game to form an opinion about its mechanics or gameplay. The art looks great and has a unique aesthetic I can get behind. The game will have two classes at launch, Architect and Adventurer. Adventurers are players who roam the land catching, trading, and battling Porbles. Architects will have access to what seems to be a promising world-building mechanic that I am sure will excite you creative folk out there. Architects will be able to create bases, quests, and even stories that adventurers can enjoy. This feature has me the most excited for this game because of the potential for content this game will have. Nothing is worse than finishing the story content in an MMO and having nothing to do. If this game is as community-driven as I hope it will be, there will always be something to do or try. I am very interested in seeing what the community can come up with.
The game is currently entering beta for blockchain users only. I am still trying to get into the beta. I will return with my impressions as soon as I get enough data. If you don’t want to get a wallet, the game will be free-to-play at launch, so make sure you keep tabs on the official Twitter for news on that release. For those who don’t mind, setting up a wallet isn’t hard. There are easy-to-follow instructions on how to do so on the official website.
The biggest barrier I see for this game and Web3 games is overcoming the stigma that surrounds it. There are also a few too many steps to gain admission that the average player won’t want to take. As Web3 becomes the norm, many of the hurdles will eventually disappear. It is great to be cautious, but it is also good to learn new things. Now is a great time to start educating yourself on the future of gaming and maybe even start following projects that interest you.
I will be following Portal Fantasy closely. If you are a fan of monster catcher games, I suggest you do the same. I think the art is great and the lore is cool so far. The game will be free-to-play, but there will be some monetization. The game license will be $20, and you will get a cute avatar NFT to play as. Follow them on Twitter to stay up to date on all the news. I will be back with more news as soon as I can get it.
Pictures were taken from the official site
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!
To stay up to date on all the news, make sure you join the official Discord and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, and YouTube.
GDC Recap: Worldless
I got to try Worldless at GDC, and it was one of the few times I have ever enjoyed a platformer. Worldless is a 2D minimalistic adventure platformer with an interesting battle mechanic. This game is beautiful, but the game has a great design. You play as this character of light and travel through this abstract world, fighting against monsters and marveling at how pretty everything is.
As far as platformers go, this one isn’t that bad. According to the game’s producer, the devs wanted to make the focus of the game its combat system. I don’t like platformers, but I found the experience pleasant and relaxing. I particularly loved how the world changes around the main character as you move her through the world. This feature was implemented to keep players from getting lost, and it works perfectly. It also looks great in practice.
The combat is where I had the most fun with the game. Combat is turn-based, but there is a slight rhythm mechanic to it. You can easily button-mash between turns to get through fights, but it is more efficient to get the timing correctly. The loop is simple. On your turn, you cast spells and abilities, and on theirs, you block. There are elemental weaknesses, resistances, and other quirks to keep combat engaging. Worldless also features a relatively expansive skill tree that you fill by absorbing monsters or finding hidden nodes. You can fill up the whole tree, so make sure you explore everything!
The demo does a fantastic job at slowly introducing mechanics as you explore the world and builds up perfectly to a final boss. The game design for this game is terrific, and I appreciate the attention to detail that went into the making of this experience. If you pay attention, the encounters give you enough hints to make the final boss fight easier. I was told that the boss in the demo isn’t as hard as the bosses in the full game, but I was also told that I was one of the few to beat it on the first try. I found the encounter to be challenging enough to keep me engaged. I wouldn’t have been able beat the boss without a solid strategy or proper game design.
If you like RPGs and platformers, you should be looking into Worldless. The combat is fun and engaging, the platforming is relaxing, and the game is beautiful. I loved my limited exposure to this game, and I look forward to its release.
Worldless is coming to the PC and Xbox sometime this year, but an official date hasn’t been announced. The Demo is available on Steam, and I highly recommend you go download it. Don’t forget to wishlist it while you’re there!
Shout out the Dev who was so kind and answered all my questions. Make sure you follow them on Twitter and Join the Discord so that you are always up to date!
Wildfrost
Wildfrost is a cute new deck builder coming to the Switch and PC on April 12, 2023. Use the power of your cards to face off against the dangers Wildfrost has to offer to save your friends. Do you have what it takes to end this eternal winter?
I love card games and deck builders so this will be a must-buy for me. The art is super cute and the gameplay looks interesting. If you can’t wait for the 12th, there is a demo for the switch you can try. I might check out the demo later if I can, but I will definitely be adding this game to my collection. Pre-order it today on the Nintendo Switch or Steam.
