PAX East 2019: Necrosphere Brings Fun And Frustration
Another title I anticipated to check out at PAX East this year was 8-bit platformer Necrosphere from South Brazil developer Cat Nigiri. Following the death of Agent Terry Cooper, he finds himself in the afterlife and must run his way through the underworld back to the real world. Agent Cooper’s cause of death was sourced from a headshot wound during a secret mission with two other colleagues accompanying him on the expedition. After the other agents left Terry behind, the guilt caught up with them and turned to the advanced technology of their agency to contact Agent Cooper. Leaving notes throughout the course of the game as tutorials for the player. At the studio’s booth on the show floor, I spoke with the game’s level designer Caio Lopez and discussed with him on the difficulty of Necrosphere and the choice to keep players on their toes with each segment of the game. Lopez stating the inspiration for Necrosphere spawned from the 2D platformer vvvvvv, intending for the player to die a lot. But rather than making the player mad, he wants players to be annoyed rather than aggravating for them. Lopez expanding on the concept of players facing over difficult levels, he states: I want players to think when they play the game [Necrosphere]: to see what they are trying to do and view the challenge ahead of them as practical or truly impossible. Discussing that users should see all options that are accessible and to try all possibilities that are available to overcome the obstacle. Difficulty also shows to be what fans enjoy the most when playing the game, especially at events like the Penny Arcade Expo Cat Nigiri Designer Marcello Lima added. Expanding on consumer input, I asked how the game has been received since the game is already out on most major platforms. Where both explained that players on the Steam platform reviewed the game well compared to its console counterparts: specifically PlayStation 4 as the game is currently not out on Xbox One, but Cat Nigiri is planning to expand to Microsoft’s console in the coming months. But for Nintendo Switch, it seems that the platform’s reception seems to even out similarly to PC. The developers shared that the introduction of the game’s Deluxe Edition of Necrosphere opened the door for the title to expand to other platforms. The newer iteration on top of offering an additional mission, ‘Terry’s Dream’, the game also launched on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch after the game’s debut on PC. Seeing how fast you can play through the game, I asked if there were any chance of a speedrun mode that will be patched into the game in a future client update, but Lopez explained that there isn’t any added mode that can track players time throughout the length of the game. Regardless of that, players have still chose to speedrun the game anyway and one even finishing the title in just 18 minutes roughly. Necrosphere is currently out for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita.
PAX East 2019: Atomic Wolf’s Liberated Offers A New Way Of Storytelling
As like every event I go to, I look for what titles stand out the most from the plenty that are displayed on the show floor. For this year at PAX East in Boston, one title that stood out directly from the form of how a story is told through the media of interactive play, Atomic Wolf’s side-scrolling platformer Liberated does just that. Rather than the plot of the story being told through playing the game traditionally, you play and read the title as if it is a comic book. The transition between the two forms of media is in sync which makes the flow of the game even more enjoyable. Set in the near future you live in a world of an overpowering government who has surveillance of everyone’s single move through the bevy of online moderating, scattered cameras, and credit score tracking. For the example of the demo, I managed to get my hands on the first issue of four available for the base game where I play a programmer who’s more than aware of the what is happening in the game’s world. Each issue will cover different viewpoints throughout the game’s universe varying from the standard Joe to an higher-up in the totalitarian government. Discussing the game prior to the hands-on, it was mentioned that decisions I make will play a major role in how the story will go down which either results in favor of the always watching government or to side with the rebelling faction that want an end mass surveillance. After being tracked by the all seeing system, I chose to run over complying with the authorities which kicked off the story. Eventually being captured, it was revealed that simple crimes like walking across the street when not permitted could even provoke the higher administration. But my choice to run influenced a more violent outcome with the police and could of ended more differently if deciding to cooperate with them. This later leading to encountering the anti-government rebellion, the Liberated. Following the one of four protagonist’s stories, the back and forth between reading and playing kept a consistency of the same artwork and captured striking angles that simulate the pages of an actual comic book. Speaking with the game’s publisher L.INC, Co-Founder Robert Purzycki explains that the game’s artwork had to be the more difficult part of the game’s development when capturing striking angles and scenes in general. Then to maintain momentum of the game’s story was another obstacle at hand to continuously overcome. For the choice of a more diverse way of telling a story, Purzycki shares that many titles currently out there never took the opportunity and felt the game will stick out to be more unique with the decision. Stating that games and even movies that are adapted don’t typically stick to the print’s original form of telling the plot and follow how the director prefers it to be projected into the respected form of media. Players interested in the interactive graphic novel can add the game to their wish list on the game’s Steam page. The game is said to launch sometime in late-Summer this year with a price tag of $15 dollars. The studio plans to have a steady launch for PC then follow-up with the game’s debut on consoles in the months after.
PAX East 2019: Skellboy Is Another Charming Exclusive To The Switch
Looking at the list of indie titles that PAX East has to offer this year, I decided to return to publisher Fabraz with their next title in the making. Last year I checked out Slime-San in celebration of the Superslime Edition for consoles, now this year I checked in on the upcoming title Skellboy by Umaiki Games. The story for the medieval set action-RPG follows the journey of Skippy the skeleton. After evil magician Squaruman discovers that he cannot have the princess of the kingdom, he casts a spell on the same kingdom and accidentally resurrects the protagonist. Now Skippy must undo what Squaruman has done on the new journey ahead of him. The demo I played on the show floor lasted about 15 minutes. From the short time I got my hands on the upcoming title was enjoyable and I’m eager to see more in the coming months. The charming 8-bit design while implementing 3rd-dimensional level design has to be one of the most gripping parts about Skellboy. From traversing through courtyards to underground dungeons, taking in the different scenery’s really stands out with the choice for the game’s look. For gameplay, Umaiki Games chose to work combat through varying weapons and abilities. Speaking with the game’s Music Director Bjoern, he explained to me that combat differs based on the player with the use of combos and charged hits. For the demo, only a selection of weapons and different body parts for Skippy were available. But for the full game, things like hidden items, casting magic like fire balls and roughly 5-6 weapon types will be accessible. For the choice of the game’s engine and overall appearance, Bjoern shared that the project initially started as a side project on RPG Maker and later moved to Unity when choosing to pursue the game fully and chose to rework the game multiple times until reaching what we see currently. Expanding on the idea of the title being exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, Bjoern detailed to be the main reason for the game being available only on Nintendo’s platform. Stating to being a “huge Nintendo nerd” since a young age. Like many games, Skellboy will take advantage of the capabilities available on the hybrid handheld console as part of a post-launch update allowing the option to play one-handed for speedrun purposes. Already discussing the events following the game’s release date, when questioning about how side quests will play a role in the game, Bjoern shared that some will be available in the full version and will have to be played to see how they will turn out. But also following up with a comment that more are planned as the game is currently in development alongside more to be included in a free update. Just for fun, I asked if there were the chances of any nods towards Slime-san in the approaching title as the two games share the same publisher. Without much to explain on the subject, the developer did share that one might be in the game and players will have to look for themselves when the game is out later this year. Skellboy will be out later in 2019 for Nintendo Switch.
PAX East 2019: After Party Expands On What We Know From Its Predecessor
Night School Studio embarking on their next project with After Party excited fans who enjoyed the studio’s first title, Oxenfree which dropped back in 2016. Following the reveal of the upcoming title last year, fans are eager to see how the story stands on its own compared the first graphic adventure title. I can share that the new game does in fact differentiate itself with its cast of characters and new scenery set in the underworld of Hell. At this year’s Penny Arcade Expo held in Boston, Massachusetts I got the opportunity to demo the new title and played through the first sequence of the game within a 20-minute time-frame. Following the two protagonists, Luna and Milo, who recently became deceased from a lethal accident and find themselves in the netherworld. Rather than the more general expectations of Hell as a torturous cesspit for those who’ve sinned, Night School re-imagines the underground inferno as an overpopulated city comprised of lost souls and rundown structures. With life expectancy out the window now that you’re dead, demons look towards partying and over-drinking as a popular overtime since this is their new eternity. The two reach a bar with an accompanying demon to find answers on how to find an exit to Hell. In the process, they must converse with some of those occupying the alcohol drenched space. Which is where the strongest suit from the developer shines bright for those who haven’t played their previous title. From witty comebacks to nonchalant jokes and drunken arguments, the writing for After Party always kept me entertained and laughing. At one point, Milo is asked to play blood pong at the party held in the bar which amplifies on the already expansive dialogue options available. When drinking, which you will do a lot of, depending on the alcohol you drink will affect how you react to situations and give different conversation choices on top of your two standard discussion pieces. For the sake of the demo, the extra decision is a more arrogant, alcohol-fueled response to the conversation. This only blankets another layer that the first title lacked and introduces more possibilities when exploring the cast of different characters you will interact with throughout the course of the game. Gameplay for the actual blood pong is as expected, lobbing a ball into a row of three cups and even the option to bounce the ball is neat, but less effective in the long run. Leading after this the two take the party upstairs to find the one demon they came in with to find out how to get out of this hellish party. Where they were answered with having to head to a party the Devil himself Satan is hosting and must verse him in a drink off. The chances of winning are the same as “the Browns winning the Superbowl” as I met the end of the demo. Speaking with some of the developers following the demo, they shared that After Party is set to release sometime in 2019 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
