The dark love story of Eternal Hope coming to Xbox and PC

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The dark love story of Eternal Hope coming to Xbox and PC

Inspired by the art of Studio Ghibli, Eternal Hope will not only weave players in and out of dark, dead worlds but rip at their heartstrings as they progress through a game that deals with death, life, love, and the pain of all three.

Players will follow Ti’bi on a quest to rescue his soulmate from purgatory, also known as the Shadow World. No easy task to be sure, but Ti’bi is granted the ability to move between dimensions, a nifty thing to have when trying to save someone from death. This also makes things interesting for the player who will have to think fast when faced with obstacles and enemies.

Along the way, Ti’bi will meet allies, run into no small amount of monsters, face his own daemons in the Shadow World (a little reminiscent of Carl Jung there), and attempt to bring his beloved back from the dead.

Eternal Hope is a puzzle platform hailing from Doublehit Games, a Brazilian indie development studio. It was voted “Best Brazilian Game” by the infamous IGN last year at the Brazil Game Show (BGS). If that’s the word, then it’s definitely a game to check out. The screenshots alone look amazing and the art is enthralling. If you’re a gamer who can’t get enough of those shadow, side-scrolling horror games, this looks like one to tuck into the videogame library.

Gabriel Oliveira, the director and sound designer of the studio, told Uberstrategist, “Eternal Hope asks that players deeply consider what they would do with everything on the line.”

He went on to say, “This is not only a video game but rather, an emotional and thought-provoking story…”

It seems the story of Ti’bi will reach for those dark places and force players to experience more than just a mindless distraction as they progress the game. The art and even the music will further the emotional experience as the player traverses between worlds alongside Ti’bi and help him accomplish his quest to save the person he loves.

There’s a lot to be excited about in this game and luckily we won’t have to wait too long. The game releases on Steam this August and later on the Xbox. Click here to see more.

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REVIEW / Pong Quest (NS)

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REVIEW / Pong Quest (NS)

 

Early video games were simplistic by necessity; the hardware to support more complexity just didn’t exist. Over time, video games expanded greatly, but these new games never replaced the originals. People are still playing Super Mario Bros. even though we have Odyssey because that game never stopped being fun; in fact, the former’s visual and gameplay style are even integrated into the latter. The same is true for the classic that introduced video games to the general public, Pong. I talked about this back in my review of Atari Flashback Classics, but Pong’s simplistic take on table tennis is still a lot of fun to play. And apparently others feel the same way, as Atari and developer/design studio Chequered Ink Limited quietly released a new game called  Pong Quest back in April.

While it may have been in part because of the ongoing pandemic, I’m actually sort of surprised that Pong Quest didn’t get much media attention. The first new game under the Pong title since 2012’s Pong World for iOS, Pong Quest mixes the original classic’s simple gameplay and visuals with dungeon crawling and some humorous writing. Most of the game takes place in dungeons reminiscent of the original The Legend of Zelda, completing various challenges and puzzles. The core gameplay is in the battles, which are fought through a slightly updated version of Pong. You and your opponent are armed with different kinds of balls to battle with, such as a bouncy ball, a fast ball, a ball that creates a Breakout-style barrier, and a healing ball. You and your foe primarily damage each other by getting the ball past each other’s goals, but you also take a little bit of damage when you successfully hit the ball back, providing an incentive to end the fight decisively. Combat is actually a lot more difficult than you’d think. Switching balls mid-battle and managing your (initially very small) inventory can be frustrating at first, but I got used to it soon enough. The bigger challenge was trying to use the different ball types effectively. If you fight a lot of enemies, you’re going to lose a lot of health, and opportunities to heal may be limited. That being said, it’s a lot more fun than regular Pong, and the wide variety of ball types allows for a lot of strategy. Different opponent classes use different ball types as well, so you can try to set up your inventory going in. I don’t know if this adds enough to interest anyone who doesn’t already enjoy the original game, though,especially given the time it takes to understand everything. I should also note that Quest features online and offline multiplayer, both for the game’s unique battle mode and the classic mode. Given that this version of the classic mode is actually designed for analog sticks (unlike the emulated version in Atari Flashback Classics), I would definitely consider that to be added value.

While some are calling Quest an RPG, I don’t think there’s really enough depth to warrant that. What the game does have is humor and charm, at least at the start. Pong Quest is aware of its history, presenting a fantasy kingdom inhabited by…Pong paddles, and references to other classic Atari titles. The player character begins as a rectangle with a face, and can be customized with cosmetic equipment found in the dungeons. The story (such as it is) involves an absent-minded king sending the player character, a random paddle, off on an adventure to save the world. The dialog got some legitimate chuckles out of me, and the ridiculous enemy types added a little bit of extra insanity to the dungeons. The writing here isn’t earth-shatteringly original, but it raises Pong Quest above being just another arcade re-imagining. And that’s important, because as I said before, the core gameplay really is just Pong. 

For those who enjoy that classic gameplay, I definitely recommend Pong Quest. It isn’t something you’re going to sink a ton of hours into, but as a fun diversion, it’s worth giving a shot. The humor helps get through the growing pains, and you can have a surprising amount of fun with the multiplayer. Just know going in that this is an evolution of the original, and not a revolution. And if the idea of paying money to play a souped up version of Pong sounds ridiculous to you, you’re probably right. I don’t regret picking it up, but my play time has also dropped to almost nothing between the game’s release date and the posting date of this review, so take from that what you will.

 

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REVIEW / The Summit of the Wolf (PC)

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REVIEW / The Summit of the Wolf (PC)

 

Games that make me have touchy-feely moments are really exciting for me. When I got the chance to review The Summit of the Wolf via Steam for the PC, I read that it is inspired by true events of a survivor of abuse and trauma. It was a tale that would merge fantasy and the real world based on the eyes of a child. That got me hooked.

 

 

The narrative of The Summit of the Wolf follows little Ophelia, who after going to bed one night, wakes up in the middle of an ethereal garden. Lost and no memories of how she got there, she meets a goddess who tells her that she must summon and follow a wolf at the mountain summit to get back home. The goddess also tells her that she will learn more about the painful truth during her journey.

The Summit of the Wolf is your standard point-and-click adventure and visual graphic novel game. You will guide Ophelia in her journey by solving simple puzzles. Some puzzles may require Ophelia to collect items, combine them, and/or give them to other characters in order to advance. There are a few instances of quick-time events, and they are very simple and forgiving.

 

 

Ophelia meets a cast of characters during her journey and a couple of them will actually join her. They are not playable characters, but they are essential links to her connection to the real world. Speaking of the real world, there are certain points in the story where you do go there and play as Brianna, one of Ophelia’s nurses tending to her health after you find out that Ophelia’s in a coma.

As Brianna, you try to become the detective to figure out the tragic truth. Asking Ophelia’s parents what happened gets you that standard “she fell off the stairs.” Is that really the truth though? Luckily, you get some flashbacks of what happens to Ophelia, and you do see the events that transpired. And boy, is it dark.

 

 

When you start this game, a huge warning that this game has some graphic nature pops up. It surely does. There are depictions of suicide that are definitely not kid-friendly. By the way, did I mention that despite the fantasy theme and how you play a twelve-year-old kid, that this game is not for kids?

At the end of The Summit of the Wolf, you do witness the horror, and you do feel the survivor empowerment. However, the narrative feels disjointed. There are some characters that seems unnecessary, at least for Ophelia’s story. Also, as mentioned previously, you don’t really learn about what happened to Ophelia as Brianna, the flashbacks are what tells the dark truth. There’s no subtlety to it either.

 

 

The Summit of the Wolf is a short game that can be completed in a couple of sittings. You may have to have the stomach to deal with some of the story’s intense moments, but if you go through it, you’ll realize that this is the truth for some people out in the real world. That’s the powerful outcome of this game.

 

 

 

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.

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Aqua Lungers splashes onto Switch

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Aqua Lungers splashes onto Switch

We haven’t had a bit of multi-player madness in a while. I mean, those games you’re going to get the most fun out of with your mates as opposed to single-player experiences with the option to play with others. Think Mario Party and you’ll catch my drift. Speaking of drifts, this is the entire point of this ramble. Aqua Lungers, a game designed around multi-player shenanigans, has just drifted onto your Switch.

Originally a Steam release, Aqua Lungers pits four players off against each other in a race for under-water gold. For centuries, the last great treasures have been lost to the depths as shipwrecks filled the seas with sunken loot. Those wanting their own piece of this treasure must don brightly colored swimsuits and go where few dare.

In Aqua Lungers, players will race through challenging stages while contending with deadly creatures and, of course, each other in a quest to collect the most treasure.

While the goal may be the same for everyone, there are various ways to get the drop on your opposition. Are you going to use speed and agility to outpace your rivals? If the answer is no and you’re looking for more of a brawl, you can always slow them down with a range of devastating attacks and just steal their hard-won gold.

As I’ve mentioned, Aqua Lungers offers a four-player, local split-screen experience for players wanting to get into it with their friends, but what if you want to play solo? Those of you looking for a single-player experience can absolutely find it here. While essentially the same as the “default” game, retaining the gold collecting mechanic, single-player mode increases the penalties for deaths on each level. This shifts the challenge from PVP racing to PVE survival.

This isn’t a small game. In Aqua Lungers, you’re being asked to survive seven massive zones comprising of 21 stages and seven bosses. This should give you more than enough to keep you occupied and add much-needed replayability to your game.

If you’ve been playing on Steam, you’ll get even more for your gaming buck. Improvements that have been made to the Switch version have also been added to your Steam release. These include a new zone with three new levels and its own final boss, as well as level text which has been added to the level select map to help players learn about Aqua Lungers as they progress through the game.

Those of you looking for a new way to one-up your friends on your Switch may well love this title. Interested Steam owners would do well to grab Aqua Lungers now for a fuller experience. All in all, this title definitely sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

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Zengeon arrives on Steam

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Zengeon arrives on Steam

An interesting bit of news here for rogue-lite fans amongst you. A new title is coming to your favorite genre and it’s got an anime twist. Zengeon has appeared on Steam and will be coming to your PS4, XB1, and Nintendo Switch in the non-too distant future. Being a giant gaming masochist I obviously had to learn more about this, and being the nice guy that I am, thought I’d share.

Zengeon has been lovingly created by the folk over at IndieLeague Studio and is inspired by the culture and deities of ancient China. This is not only reflected in play but also in the aesthetic. The beautiful anime-style reimagines ancient Chinese culture in a super stylish way. As such, you are being invited to explore mystical levels, strange dimensions, and impressive arenas full of passion and detail.

It will be your task to uncover and collect Memory Fragments. Being a rogue-lite means the levels in which you’ll find these will change each time you play. The positions of these important items won’t be the only thing that will randomize each playthrough. Bosses, enemies, power-ups, and puzzles will all change on subsequent runs. This allows for a lot of unique play both solo and in an online multiplayer with a party of up to four members.

You will be able to choose from six unique characters. Each student of the Celestial College controls their own Guardian Spirit with unique features and abilities at its command. It will be up to you to choose the pair that best compliments your play-style if you are to succeed.

As with all games in this genre, losing your life means losing everything in the process. This is one of the key tenets that makes the roguelike/rogue-lite genre so loved. This is also very much the case in Zengeon. Death means losing everything so it’s not something to be taken lightly. You will, however, be able to keep the Memory Fragments you’ve collected ready for future plays.

I spoke briefly of power-ups before. These give you a range of abilities from summoning minions like lighting elementals, to manipulating the weather with blizzards, to healing. You won’t be able to use the same build every game so you’ll have to learn what works for you as you go.

There are a lot of players out there that can’t get enough of this style of play and I’m very much in that camp. Being forced to think on your feet instead of using the same combination of characters and items every time is fun to say the least. Knowing you won’t be getting any save-points and certainly won’t be getting any more lives forces you to play like your existence depends on victory; largely because it does.

If you’ve never played anything like this before I strongly recommend giving this genre a whirl. Once you’ve had the adrenaline rush that comes with roguelike and rogue-lite games and enjoyed it, it’s very difficult not to want more. Zengeon may well be a very good place to start.

 

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September brings Tony Hawk 1 and 2 Remasters!

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September brings Tony Hawk 1 and 2 Remasters!

“Kickflip McTwist!” “Pop Shuvit!” “I think I just broke my wrist!” 

Just brushing off my skater terminology.

Activision explodes the hype meter with its announcement of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 Remastered! Developer Vicarious Visions, the team that resurrected Crash with The Crash Bandicoot Trilogy, is helming the reboot of the fan-favorite.

The developers have made an effort to match the geometry of the original games “inch by inch” to truly capture the feel of the beloved classics.

Though the revert, a trick allowing players to link huge combos together, did not come along until the 3rd Tony Hawk installment, it will be available in this remaster from the get-go.

Most of the iconic original soundtrack will return. Most notably, Goldfinger’s “Superman” is included, so we can all rest easy. “Cyco Vision” did not make the cut, but come on- we all skipped that track, anyway.

Interestingly, Tony Hawk 1 and 2 have been released in some form in every console generation since the PS1 and Dreamcast. They appeared as a bundle on the original Xbox. The games also received a lukewarm remaster treatment during the ps3/360 era but received a mixed reception. 

Activation is also referring to this new installment as a “remaster,” despite it resembling what has more commonly been referred to as a “remake.” I am not going to delve into the terminology here, as I already have to relearn what a “One Nollie Flip Other Flip” is.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 Remastered will be released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on September 4, 2020 for $39.99. A collector’s edition includes a sweet skateboard deck!

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Starena is ready for a brawl

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Starena is ready for a brawl

Who likes a good boss rush, then? These started out as a way of making games more difficult and artificially a bit longer. If you wanted to get to the big bad in your favorite game, you had to get past a few of his (or her) mates first. The idea became so popular amongst gaming masochists that a good idea turned into a mode for people that wanted a challenge. This in turn slowly mutated into a genre and we now have games devoted to beating a series of bosses. Really good examples of this are Furi, Titan Souls, and moving away from the indie circuit, Shadow of the Colossus. Those of you that like this style will be pleased to note that Starena, a new addition to this little family, will be available on Steam very soon.

 

 

Coming May 21st, Starena is a gladiatorial style combat game. There won’t be any lions or getting sand stuck in uncomfortable places here, though. Coming from the folk over at Darksun Studio, Starena will see you facing off against a series of deadly robots from around the universe. You’ll be needing both skill and cunning in equal measure because they’re definitely bigger, meaner, and stronger than you are.

Starena is a boss rush arena game with RPG elements. This being said, each battle is a boss fight against new and unique enemies; each with their own mechanics, special moves, and weaknesses. Each enemy is also destructible with detachable parts; meaning if you play your game right, you’ll make your life a lot easier.

By blowing off body parts, you’ll not only be able to neuter your opponents, making them lose their ability to perform certain moves, but you’ll benefit in the process. Lopped off limbs and other extremities can be repurposed to power your own mech.

Every weapon is unique because you’ve built it yourself

In arena-style games, the audience is often forgotten. This isn’t the case in Starena. Those watching from the stands love rooting for a good underdog. If you perform well by completing in-game dynamic goals, they’ll help you by throwing med-kits and other special items into the ring.

Make sure the crowd is in your corner

I mentioned earlier that Starena has RPG elements. Crafting is going to play a big part in this, as the weapons you create will be unique and truly yours. You can also personalize your entourage, ensuring you have your best fans accompanying you to the arena. Each of your top fans can help you in different ways and you can position them in varying places amongst the rest of the crowd in the arena, so you always know where to turn for help.

This sounds like it’s going to be a blast. The problem with some boss rush games is they start to feel a bit rinse and repeat or they’re designed to be so hard they’d give Dark Souls aficionados a twitch. Starena is certainly going to be action-packed but the strategic elements should allow you to turn the tide in your favor instead of feeling like you’re being beaten down by an all-powerful foe. If you’re looking forward to letting the bullets fly, you’ll only have to wait a week before battle commences.

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The ViveStream shelters in place and gets stuck at SteamVR Home

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The ViveStream shelters in place and gets stuck at SteamVR Home

Apologies for another long delay; I recorded an episode a while back, but time and technical issues destroyed it. So instead, we’re taking the action down a bit and exploring SteamVR Home, which is exactly what it sounds like. We explore a few very impressive locations, including a near-complete (non-interactive, sadly) recreation of Super Mario 64. Check it out:

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SGS: Winter War arrives on PC

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SGS: Winter War arrives on PC

There are different kinds of strategy gamers, largely because there are different types of strategy. Personally, I prefer the “easy to learn, difficult to master” approach. I like simple rules because it makes the layers of strategy shine through (in my opinion at least).

Then you have the other end of the scale and those people who won’t say you’re playing properly unless you have a library of rule books sitting next to you. Either approach is fine; it just depends on how much time you have.

A new title hit this genre last week and it appears to be walking the tightrope between the two ends of the spectrum and this is great. It’s called SGS: Winter War and we’ve got a bit more info to help you decide whether it’s your thing.

SGS: Winter War is coming from the folk over at Avalon Digital and, as I’ve just mentioned, is available now over on Steam Early Access and the Avalon Digital website. This title focuses on the conflict between the USSR and Finland in 1939. As such, you will either take the role of the Russian forces as they attempt to achieve their goals in the Finnish peninsula or side with the defending Fins, protecting their territory against Soviet expansion.

SGS: Winter War uses a new, fast-paced, card-driven engine. Each game lasts 16 turns, each of which represents a week in the war between December 1939 and March 1940. Each side comes with its own strengths and weaknesses. The invading Soviet land and air forces are numerous but poorly led and badly organized at the beginning of the game. With these numbers, however, comes the ability to call reinforcements effectively and quickly.

The Fins are playing a waiting game against tremendous odds. They have the advantages of superior quality and a good knowledge of the land allowing for strong defensive positions. They need to hold out while Allied forces attempt to stop the efforts of the Russian bear amid threats of their own intervention.

This isn’t just a game of combat. The cards allow for great replayability as the political, diplomatic, and economic as well as military circumstances they create can greatly affect the course of the game.

History buffs should love this one. This is a lesser-known conflict in a war that is much represented in video games. Strategy fans should also get a kick out of a strategy card game that isn’t the norm. It’s definitely worth getting your teeth into if you fall into either camp.

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REVIEW / Tropico 6 “Spitter” DLC (PC)

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REVIEW / Tropico 6 “Spitter” DLC (PC)

If you’re like me, you probably had a little chuckle about the title for the newest DLC for Tropico 6. I wonder if Twitter had thought of this as a potential name/brand?

 

 

Spitter is the second DLC released for the island builder management sim Tropico 6 from Kalypso. Like the previous DLC, Spitter adds a new mission, a couple new buildings, and a new feature called “Spitter”. The llama-based faux Twitter service provides some funny quips alongside interactions with notable people in the world of Tropico (and beyond the islands). You’ll be able to bolster standing with leaders by liking their posts and unlock traits using Spitter.

Celebrities are a new type of tourist that you’ll want to plan to have visit your island nation. Like all celebrities, they are extremely active on social media and are very much entitled. They require some additional investments to get them to make the trip, but you can turn them into permanent citizens with the right infrastructure (like the new Rehab Center or Beauty Farm buildings). I don’t usually depend on tourism to build my coffers unless the map missions require it but these wealthy newcomers can add some additional bang for the buck with the passive traits to unlock. With any positive comes the negative: you’ll have to balance favoring the celebrities and political leaders as you build up your island and hope to win re-elections (if you are into democracy).

 

 

The new map (which I mainly played) starts you off in the modern era (you need smartphones to Spitter!) with a healthy supply of automated factories and modern amenities. I liked the setup of having a tourist island and a industrial island working simultaneously to build my treasury. While it seems like you are good to go from the start, you’d be smart to spend some time laying that integral foundation down before paying attention to the main missions. I was pretty far in before I realized I was missing some key buildings.

The new map missions are fun and quirky, playing hard into social media and the hubris of modern day celebrities. I allowed my play-style for this map to be a bit more in line with my celebrity counterparts and felt more enjoyment with the interactions on Spitter (and would encourage you to do the same if you’ve already played through the main missions).

 

 

There are some additional tracks and customization options, but that’s about it for the DLC. So where does that leave us? While I like the new additions, I’ve gotten a lot more out of a $10 DLC. I try to review games and DLC content agnostic of price point unless it becomes unavoidable. Maybe it’s becoming harder to tell what warrants the cost of DLC as some devs/pubs are charging considerable cost for new content (see The Sims 4) or nothing at all (see The Witcher 3). Either way, I hope the next Tropico 6 DLC gives us something meatier to chew on to help balance the cost of the recent content.

 

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