Random Gaming Thoughts II ~News Items Beware~

Venue in general – I’ve got to be honest and say that I preferred the NEC last year to Tobacco Dock. There was a difference of opinion in our party (one of us was related to the person that redeveloped it – #luvvie) but, although the separate rooms meant it was easier to group things, e.g. Sony’s area, Microsoft’s area etc. But – admittedly due to the higher number of exhibitors and visitors which is a good thing – a lot more of the overall area is taken up by windows and walls (not the My Vitriol song). As most games only had/have one demo station, at the NEC 20 people could watch while 1 plays; not so here.
Retro bit – no retro bit this year! Boo.
#idarb – Yeah, I guess it’s sort of... The actual gameplay (side-on  platform game football with interruptions via Twitter) is sort of fun, and I do like all the built-in pop-culture teams. However I fear that the “events” will only be funny for the first 5 minutes. Also, allowing people to create their own pixelated squad has its issues. Hooray, we’re against the dickbutts…
AdventureBox – As recommended by a guy dressed up as a Ghostbuster. Are you demonstrating a Ghostbusters game? No? Then stop sir. Apparently it’s an adventure game authoring system. You can even import Minecraft Levels! The alarm bells rang at that point. Looking back at the Alpha trailer, I can see they’re trying to be adventurous (ho-ho) but the trouble is, as soon as you make something Voxel-based, you’re going to look like a Minecraft clone.
Afro Samurai 2 – You like the anime? Cool. Otherwise… circle button, circle button, circle button, circle button, circle button, circle button, circle button, circle button.
Beyond Eyes – This game looked beautiful, in an Unfinished Swan kind-of way, and I’ll keep an eye on how it progresses. If you dunno, you control a blind girl in a blank world; “revealing” it to her by moving around. The concern I have is that it might be really sad! It certainly feels like you’re waiting for something terrible to happen.
Big Pharma – This might be the true successor to the Bullfrog Theme games of the 90s; it’s essentially Theme Pharmacist. There’s a dry humour to everything, including the leaflets they were handing out. Also quite factual. Keeping an eye out for this.
Bloodborne – It’s basically Dark Souls III, with a bit more forward-pushing. Which is terrible, except THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT – WOOOOOOOOOO
Flick Screen Space Adventure – Wasn’t at the show, but Jimbob is such a fucking arsehole he thought it would be funny to mention the game that he’ll never finish making in this article, as if it gives him some sort of credibility.
Friendship Club – The annoying thing about this game is that the concept is incredibly basic; I’m sure I’ve half-made something like this on Klik’n’Play. But it’s undoubtedly fun, and might be the new generation’s answer to Bomberman, with Twin-stick shooting instead of bombs. After the four of us got to the demo area, the guy demoing it spent very little time explaining plots or theories – straight into “choose this option, it’s left stick to move, right stick to aim” etc. – he went straight to showing us why the game is worth playing. Well done sir – that’s the way to do a Rezzed. The only real downside is that it’s currently PC-only; setting up four controllers on one PC is a disaster waiting to happen. But it’s a great laugh. And any game with a duck pope called the Canardinal deserves your time.
Line Wobbler – A curio, certainly – controlling an actual line of LEDs (not even on a screen – gasp!), but no-one’s going to get one of these, unless they sell them in Hawkins Bazaar or something.
Magicka 2 – A better version of Magicka. On YouTube you can find people who know what they’re doing. My friends an I don’t.
Montstrum – A procedurally-generated horror game’s a brilliant idea. The current version appears to be more stable than last year’s, where my mate’s go had the start and end rooms spawn next to each other with no scares at all.
Mutiny – Like Friendship Club, this is a one-screen multiplayer bonanza. But unlike Friendship Club, even with 6 of us playing (on a PC? Witchcraft I say) no-one had a bloody clue what was going on.
N++ - I played N loads. It’s great that it’s revamped, but the twitch-reaction-parkour-platforming became so difficult so quickly that I’m actually afraid to play this. That’s only just an exaggeration. (Linked video bonus fact: Aren’t you glad you’re not called Russ Frushtick?)
Omega Agent – Like Pilotwings, but with an Oculus Rift. Which sounds awesome. Wait , Samsung what?
Ratz Instagib – Just pretend that Goldeneye or Counter-Strike never happened. Hooray. That’s sarcasm.
Shovel Knight – I already have this! But I’ve not had time to start playing it yet thanks to a backlog, so we actually played it more at Rezzed than my own house. Also worked round woman preparing for a camera piece… OH WOW IT’S KATE WHAT WAS FROM ONM! She’s working for the “man” now. *is sad*. P.S. have started playing it now. It’s great.
Starbound – I love Minecraft, but didn’t quite like Terraria, therefore hope that this (when they finally put a stake in the ground and call a build the “finished” build) will be awesome. May get on Early Access. Having said that, it suffers from the same thing as all the other similar games – jumping straight in leaves you with no idea of what to do. I couldn’t work out how to get out of my spacecraft. ALSO: While playing, the guy in the demo pod next to me leant over and said “you can look around with the Ctrl key”. 1) I’d worked that out anyway. 2) I’d read the control sheet. 3) How does that help me use the spacecraft’s instruments. 4) Why did you lean over to tell me that? Really confused. Really confused.
Steamworld Heist – Could only see from a distance, but it looks like a stealthy game set in the Steamworldworld. That is to say, great. Those guys know what they’re doing.
Superglad – Only saw this a way away, but… just watch the YouTube video. If you don’t absolutely love this, there’s something wrong with you.
Talos Principle – out already, I know. A slower-paced Portal. Very pretty-looking, and something I’d probably jump in and out of. Not quite sure why the almighty would get you shuffling lasers about though. Felt a bit sorry for the kid failing the puzzles in front of an audience of strangers.
Taphobos – A coffin simulator. What’s wrong with these people? (Also even dumber: they had an actual coffin for you to get in, thus negating the need for a coffin simulator).
Tembo the Badass Elephant – Like a wackier Donkey Kong Country. That’s not a complaint. Can’t believe that this is from GameFreak!
Titan Souls – It’s more Zelda-ey than anything; as if Nintendo licensed their franchise out to Polytron. Looking forware to this.
Tulpa – Looks like Limbo. Plays like a dull platformer, with jarring pauses as you place objects down as “ghost person”, before switching back to “person person” to jjump across objects. There’s some cool shit happening in the background (I seem to recall a giant robot preying mantis) but the foreground was lacking in fun.
Volume – Er, sorry Mas, I couldn’t see this. But (cheats by looking at video) I think the stealth-em-up is a little oversaturated now; you just have to assume that it’s going to be a bit clever because of Mike Bithell’s previous work.