Nippon Ichi Software always seems to strike all the right chords with their artsy little indies. By "artsy indies" I simply mean their ambitious puzzle platformers that each contain a fairy tale driven lesson built into the story being told. As with other NISA releases in this particular sub-genre of puzzle platformers "The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince" weaves an interesting tale through hands-on gameplay and voiced art panel inclusive intermissions that border on being mature while pulling at your heartstrings in a nostalgic childlike manner. As if it were your own parents reading to you from your favorite children's storybook. The story at hand, as it were, is unfortunately one that if explained away in too much detail, could ruin the many surprises you'd get to enjoy by experiencing the experience for yourself. I can say, however, that it all starts with a curious prince and a gifted wolf who happens to have a beautiful singing voice. A voice that attracts the Prince, and in a twist of fate, has the two characters both leading a lie, and living one. In an accidental encounter the wolf feels morally obliged to right her wrongs against the prince, and ultimately seeks the help of a witch to restore what was lost to him. The journey that ensues due to the unfortunate circumstances and a metaphorical deal with the devil is an interesting, and endearing escort mission in which you get to control a now shape shifting wolf who can change forms from wolf into a human princess in order to maintain a lie about said wolf's identity. All due to a mutual appreciation that went awry without warning.
Friday, February 8, 2019
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Odallus: The Dark Call + Oniken: Unstoppable Edition (NS)
*EPILEPSY/SEIZURE WARNING!!!*
Today I've got a treat for you readers. A to the point review of two new retro games that are coming out on the Nintendo Switch. One of which is "Odallus: The Dark Call", and the other "Oniken: Unstoppable Ed.". I will go over key points, and give my opinionated verdict based on time spent with the game at the end of each breakdown. I hope you enjoy reading up on these two DigeratiDM releases! ...
Onto Odallus & Oniken ...
Odallus is an RPG metroidvania created in an old 8-bit style graphics with a chiptune soundtrack fitting of the era. It's story is light in content, but the in-game tells of a deep seeded tale about a world where the old Gods have abandoned the people. In the mix of it all Haggis, a lone warrior, embarks on a mission to save his son. He faces off against 8 grueling stages filled with a wide variety of enemies, and tough as nails bosses. His main weapon is a sword that can be leveled up to dish out more damage as well as a throwing weapon. On person, Haggis, is limited in what he can carry, but carries with him his weapon, his armor, and a satchel that can be upgraded to increase carrying capacity. He will earn orbs for defeating foes, and in turn use said orbs as a currency at the shopkeeper's stand which stands at key points within a stage alongside checkpoints that can be activated. As you purchase everything from health refill items to revive amulets, and even throwing weapon refills the price for wares will increase making the journey from beginning to end all the more perilous. Along the way there are secrets to find, puzzles to solve, and treasure to loot. It's what you'd expect from a game of this sort, and on the Switch it plays out perfectly. Keep in mind the game also comes with a map menu that allows for character skin change (default, red gargoyle, vampire hunter, and knight). Ultimately paying homage to retro platformer heroes of old. Also to note is that this game comes in a couple of difficulty settings with 'Veteran' being among those. An optional challenge for an already challenging game.
The presentation of Odallus is simple, and to the point. Story tidbits are scattered throughout the game including within the intro opening, and the key character conversations you'll encounter throughout your playthrough. Visually it is a colorful 8-bit game with it's own theme. A theme that borrows some things from old NES classics. Controlling Haggis is smooth enough leaving the challenge with learning enemy patterns, and environmental hazards. Bosses also require individual strategies to defeat, but with the right approach can be defeated. When it comes to the soundtrack it too harkens back to the bygone 8-bit era with chiptunes that are quite nicely done. Overall it's definitely a game worth adding to any metroidvania fan's Switch library. A retro gaming delight for hardcore gamers.
Today I've got a treat for you readers. A to the point review of two new retro games that are coming out on the Nintendo Switch. One of which is "Odallus: The Dark Call", and the other "Oniken: Unstoppable Ed.". I will go over key points, and give my opinionated verdict based on time spent with the game at the end of each breakdown. I hope you enjoy reading up on these two DigeratiDM releases! ...
Onto Odallus & Oniken ...
Odallus is an RPG metroidvania created in an old 8-bit style graphics with a chiptune soundtrack fitting of the era. It's story is light in content, but the in-game tells of a deep seeded tale about a world where the old Gods have abandoned the people. In the mix of it all Haggis, a lone warrior, embarks on a mission to save his son. He faces off against 8 grueling stages filled with a wide variety of enemies, and tough as nails bosses. His main weapon is a sword that can be leveled up to dish out more damage as well as a throwing weapon. On person, Haggis, is limited in what he can carry, but carries with him his weapon, his armor, and a satchel that can be upgraded to increase carrying capacity. He will earn orbs for defeating foes, and in turn use said orbs as a currency at the shopkeeper's stand which stands at key points within a stage alongside checkpoints that can be activated. As you purchase everything from health refill items to revive amulets, and even throwing weapon refills the price for wares will increase making the journey from beginning to end all the more perilous. Along the way there are secrets to find, puzzles to solve, and treasure to loot. It's what you'd expect from a game of this sort, and on the Switch it plays out perfectly. Keep in mind the game also comes with a map menu that allows for character skin change (default, red gargoyle, vampire hunter, and knight). Ultimately paying homage to retro platformer heroes of old. Also to note is that this game comes in a couple of difficulty settings with 'Veteran' being among those. An optional challenge for an already challenging game.
The presentation of Odallus is simple, and to the point. Story tidbits are scattered throughout the game including within the intro opening, and the key character conversations you'll encounter throughout your playthrough. Visually it is a colorful 8-bit game with it's own theme. A theme that borrows some things from old NES classics. Controlling Haggis is smooth enough leaving the challenge with learning enemy patterns, and environmental hazards. Bosses also require individual strategies to defeat, but with the right approach can be defeated. When it comes to the soundtrack it too harkens back to the bygone 8-bit era with chiptunes that are quite nicely done. Overall it's definitely a game worth adding to any metroidvania fan's Switch library. A retro gaming delight for hardcore gamers.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
BlazBlue Central Fiction Special Ed. (NS)
Making it's way in complete form on the Nintendo Switch is Aksys Games' last BlazBlue series release known as, "BlazBlue Central Fiction". This special edition gets all the former steam, and PS4 DLC including announcer voices, color palettes, lobby avatars, stages, BGM soundtracks, and the bonus characters which would have set you back $7.99 a pop. The DLC characters include Susano'o, Jubei, and Mai Natsume. Along with the extra content comes the full game experience. Everything from the in-depth tutorials starting from beginner, and ending with expert to the free training setup, and character missions that better help you understand specific character mechanics are included in the mix. Also returning is the fleshed out story mode full of animated art panels, and character conversations pertaining to the ongoing drama between the NOL, the Nine, the science division, and other key characters of interest.
Beyond the story you will find extra activities such as the Grim Abyss, and Speed Star. Two modes that take the fighting game mechanics, and apply a sort of variation to the normal fights. Things that include routes to take, grimoires to equip for added effect, and bosses to defeat. In Speed Star, specifically, you will be choosing route A, B, or C as you follow the guidelines such as performing special attacks while fighting off opponents in an attempt to complete the route before the timer depletes. Grim Abyss, on the other hand, is more of the RPG spin off in which your chosen character battles a series of opponents, and earns grimoires and skills of varying rarity that can be added for perk sake. Things like health regen, and stuff like that can be obtained, and used in the fight to unlock "Boss Rush Mode".
Beyond the story you will find extra activities such as the Grim Abyss, and Speed Star. Two modes that take the fighting game mechanics, and apply a sort of variation to the normal fights. Things that include routes to take, grimoires to equip for added effect, and bosses to defeat. In Speed Star, specifically, you will be choosing route A, B, or C as you follow the guidelines such as performing special attacks while fighting off opponents in an attempt to complete the route before the timer depletes. Grim Abyss, on the other hand, is more of the RPG spin off in which your chosen character battles a series of opponents, and earns grimoires and skills of varying rarity that can be added for perk sake. Things like health regen, and stuff like that can be obtained, and used in the fight to unlock "Boss Rush Mode".
Death end re;Quest (PS4)
I never thought I'd see the day that IFI went full-on mature with their games. That day has come though, and as much of a surprise (or shock) as it was it was a pleasant one. I've always saw beyond the character driven antics into IFI's more brilliant plots pertaining to the industry, and it's many involvements in real world goings on. I could always read between the lines, and find a deeper meaning in the cute facade, and fantasy features that were a built upon staple of all their creations. In "Death end Re;Quest" all of the above still holds true. Through it's deeply applied character building, and layered mystery solving you will be fully immersed in the gritty world of cyber-hacking, criminal investigations, and the implementation of revolutionary VR game development accented by AI programming that is not too indifferent from applications of our own real world.
Enter Shina, and Arata. Two employees working for a game development studio known as Enigma. A studio working on a groundbreaking VRMMO engine known as the Alice Engine, and a virtually real gaming experience known as World's Odyssey. It is through the back and forth real world scenarios of Arata, and the resulting contact and ongoing combat situations of Shina through her mysterious VRMMO resurfacing in World's Odyssey after having gone missing for a year that we are clued into the spidery web of happenings that go beyond corporate interests into cyber-sleuthing in a dual attempt to get to the bottom of things. Through the staff at Enigma together with Shina, and Arata the fight to find out the truth about what's going on will take them deep into the metaphorical rabbit's hole as they follow Shina to the true ending of the World's Odyssey. A task, and undertaking that will not only effect Shina's fate, but also the fate of the world in which Arata, and his team of coders are struggling to deal with the aftermath of Shina's disappearance, and the resulting impact of it on the tech world.
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