Suffer the Night just came out on PC, and it might be worth looking into if you are a fan of retro horror. Stacey plans on a quiet night of gaming, alone in her secluded cabin one dark and stormy night. But her quiet night turns into a night of nightmares and survival. Stacey must now beat her game and survive the horrors that manifest from it. Will Stacey survive the night, or is this Game Over?
Suffer the Night combines a text-based dungeon crawler with first-person survival horror. As Stacey, you must play through the retro dungeon crawler to progress through the story and survive rounds of traps and monsters in between. The text-based game will help players relieve a different era of gaming, while the first-person gameplay will give them anxiety. The trailer shows terrifying mayhem with fast-paced gameplay.
I like the game within a game motif for Suffer the Night. The meta-narrative, when done correctly, creates a dynamic where the game is given its depth by how well the two genres mesh. It isn’t a new concept, but it is one that I’d love to explore. I enjoy text-based games, and if done correctly, might prove harder than the fps that will exist outside it. I don’t do well in horror games, but I will try to get a review copy.
You can pick up your copy of Suffer the Night for PC through Steam, GOG, and itch.io. You can buy the game for $12.49, but it is currently on sale for $9.99 till April 24. There is also a demo available if you aren’t ready to commit.
To stay up to date on the news for this game, make sure you join the official Discord or follow the socials: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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.
The Libary of Babel
The Library of Babel just released on PC and all consoles, and it might be worth looking into if you like stealth platformers. The Library of Babel is inspired by Jorge Luis Borges’ short story of the same name. I remember reading and enjoying this story when I was younger, and I am curious to see how much this game draws from the source material.
It’s been 20,000 years since the fall of man, and a civilization of robots has risen to take their place. The origins of this new civilization are unknown, but there seems to be peace in this ignorance. But this peace isn’t permanent. The discovery of the library shakes the foundation of this new society. Within its walls is everything that was ever written. What dark truths lie within those ancient pages? Use your proficiency in stealth to sneak into the library and find out.
I like the cartoonish stylized art for this game. The cinematics looks beautiful, and the world carries a distinct post-apocalyptic flavor. Despite how cartoonish the game looks, the stealth mechanics look intense. At least from the trailer, the danger is palpable. I am terrible at stealth games because I don’t have the patience for them, but I am willing to give it a shot because I like the story. The platforming might also be a barrier for me, but it might be worth it if you enjoy the genre.
You can play The Library of Babel now on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games. You can pick up your copy for $18.99. You can at least add it to your wishlist for later.
To stay up to date on all the news, make sure you join the official Discord, and follow all the socials: Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
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!
Game Review: Drop – System Breach
I was given Drop – System Breach as a review code. I am grateful for the opportunity, but I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be an honest review of the game.
Drop is a fast-paced hacker simulator for PC that you should consider if you like these types of puzzle games. In a city full of hackers, you must prove your worth. Take odd jobs, join a faction, and test your hacking skills. Do you have what it takes to be the best?
I had to uninstall this game because of how addicted I became to the gameplay. I understand it may not be for everyone, but there is something in its simple gameplay loop that I couldn’t get enough of.
I love the aesthetic of this game. The graphics aren’t high-end, but they are appropriate for the game. It looks like something you would see in a movie or tv show about hacking.
The gameplay loop is simple. You log into a network of computers and start unlocking the network of nodes until you complete the objectives. You will install viruses, steal data, or do anything else a hacker will do. But you will not be without resistance. Systems will have alarms, viruses, and other defenses to obstruct you. The trick to this game is to efficiently manage your resources while you finish the objectives to maximize your profits. The deeper you get into this game, the more you have to mitigate. This game appears simple, but it gets intense.
There is a story, but it isn’t important. There are also factions, but like the story, they only exist to add flavor. If you miss any text, you aren’t missing out on anything important. I read all the messages, and while I appreciate the flavor it added, I noticed a lot of syntax errors. It won’t ruin the game, but it is hard to overlook.
So should you buy this game? It depends. I enjoyed the game way more than I should have, but it is repetitive. The puzzles feel different because the system’s defenses are always different, but the loop will always be the same. If you don’t like the repetitive loop that is common in roguelikes, you won’t like this game. If you don’t mind the reputation, this game is fantastic. The aesthetic is cool, the gameplay is fun, and the soundtrack is fantastic. You can buy Drop – System Breach for $9.99 on Steam. I think it’s worth the money.
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.
Best Student Game: Slider
This year’s winner of the IGF award for Best Student Game went to the cute 2D adventure puzzler, Slider. Use the power of a magical artifact to change the world around you to solve puzzles, aid humanity, and save your cat. The game has nine regions to explore, each full of increasingly difficult puzzles. This game has tactical combat, grids, and time travel.
I didn’t get to play Slider during my time at IGF, but I did see people play it. The puzzles are unique, and I am a huge fan of pixel art. There is no release date for Slider, but there is a free demo you can try. I will be trying the demo and return with some more impressions then. Until then, head over to Steam and try it for yourself. Don’t forget to wishlist it if you like it.
*Feature image taken from press release
Excellence in Narrative: Immorality
This year’s winner for the IGF’s Excellence in Narrative award went to Immorality, a fantastically done mystery about the cinema. Marissa Marcel was a prominent actress with great promises, but she disappeared after making three unreleased movies. With your ability, you must jump between these movies to piece together what happened to Marissa Marcel.
Immorality is a beautiful mystery as you get to jump between scenes filmed with real actors. It is a very creative way to tell a story and one with many choices to make. I have always missed this genre of gaming, but I was fortunate to try this for a few minutes. My experience left me wanting more because everything was well done. I love the grainy feel of the footage you sift through, the acting is fantastic, and the concept is so good. I will be trying to get myself a copy of this for review, but till then, you should at least Wishlist this.
You can buy Immorality on Steam, Xbox, and GOG for $19.99. The game is currently on sale at GOG for $14.99 or free on Game Pass if you have a subscription.
Excellence in Audio: The Forest Quartet
This year’s winner of the IGF award for Excellence in Audio was a delightful little puzzle adventure game, The Forest Quartet. Take control of a recently deceased singer, Nina, as she travels into the minds of her old bandmates, attempting to reignite their love for music as they grieve for their lost friend. Can you solve the puzzles that will help the band move through the stages of grief?
The Forest Quartet’s minimalistic style and music score create a soothing gaming experience, but one that leads to a powerful narrative. While I was only able to play the game for a bit, I was struck by its pleasing art and music. I love Jazz, so there might be some bias in my assessment. If you love jazz or are in the market for a new puzzle game, The Forest Quartet is worth looking into. I didn’t play it enough to be able to critique it, but I am at least interested to try it out. Hopefully, I can find the time. The Forest Quartet is available on Steam and PlayStation for $9.99. PlayStation has it on sale for $7.49 ($5.99 for gold members) until March 29, 2023.
Pixel Ripped 1978, Possibly Your Next VR Purchase
The first game I got to try out at GDC was Pixel Ripped 1978, a VR game that lets gamers relieve their Atari nostalgia through a quirky meta experience. You play as Dot as she works alongside her human counterpart Bug, a programmer at Atari. Together you work to perfect a game, but the evil Cyblin Lord has gone back in time to make sure he is the hero of your game. Can you stop him before it is too late?
Pixel Ripped 1978 is the third game of the series, but the developers assured me that 1978 will be a standalone story. There will be references to the previous games, but you won’t need to play them to understand what is going on. You should still go out and play them, and I am hoping to make some time to try them out before the game’s release this summer.
Pixel Ripped attempts to capture the love of gaming by creating an homage to its different eras. With the Atari partnership, the developers were able to implement games from the Atari era without running into licensing issues. This love can be apparent when you look at the protagonist. Dot was inspired by the many heroes from the games the creator played growing up. Characteristics from characters like Princes Peach, Link, Samus, and Megan can be seen in Dot’s design. Ana Riberio, the creator, wanted to create a strong female character that was cool because there weren’t many back then. I think she was successful. Dot is a cool character with fun and interesting powers. You can shoot with your laser, hit things with randomly generated melee weapons, and build code that changes the game. Playing the demo left me wanting to see what else she has in store.
Pixel Ripped 1978 is an interesting meta experience where you are playing a game about playing a game. In parts, you will pick up the controller and play a game on the classic Atari in a virtual world where deal with real-world distractions. While playing the Atari, people will come to ask you questions, try to talk to you, and just try to get your attention. There was a moment I had to move my head to see around the person blocking my TV. It was incredibly immersive, and I was easily distracted by the people walking around in the background. It creates this neat dynamic between an adventure puzzle game and a simulator.
The other feature of this game is that you get to go into the game world and play as Dot. You get to move through this beautifully stylized pixel world fighting enemies. The combat in this game was arcadey and fun. The world is vibrant and colorful, and enemies are beautifully nostalgic. It was very reminiscent of the Adventure Box event in Guild Wars 2, but here you get to be in it.
This game will release on the Oculus, Steam VR, and PSVR. I tried it on the PSVR, and it was spectacular. I almost want to buy a PS5 because I felt it to be a superior VR experience to my current Meta Quest 2. Everything looked great, there was a minimal light leak, and the tracking felt great. But this isn’t a review about that.
Pixel Ripped 1978 is looking to be a fantastic dive into a nostalgic era that everyone can enjoy. The gameplay is fun, the tone is quirky, and it is a solid VR experience. Keep an eye out for news, or try out the previous two.