Showing posts with label indie games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indie games. Show all posts

Friday, December 28, 2012

Yeti's Indie Spotlight: Pokemon 3D.


Now come on: I don't have to write what Pokemon is, right? Everyone will know a pokeball when they see one. Most people at least heard about Pikachu, or Ash. And one thing is sure: every gamer has at least heard about the Pokemon games for every Nintendo console. Pokemon Red, Green, Gold, Sapphire, Stadium... At least some of them.

And because of that, I think all of us should get some info on this indie game. Made by an 18 year old guy. And it's a starting point for a Pokemon trainer's dream: Pokemon 3D

IN CASE IN NOT LIKING TO READ, skip to tl;dr

FOR AN MORE "UP TO DATE" VERSION CLICK HERE: Yeti o Grach - Pokemon 3D


Pokemon 3D Main Menu

The easiest way to describe this game is an FPP adaptation of Pokemon Gold and Silver for PC. You can see that from the first couple seconds of gameplay. A majority (if not all) of the gameplay is taken straight from the original Pokemon games. However, that is not an con. The same mechanics, with some tweaks, are the workhorse of Pokemon games since 1998.

When you click new game, you get the classical question: "What is your name?" asks Professor Oak, the introducing character from Pokemon Red/Green/Blue/Yellow. WAIT, WAIT, WHAT? Should there be someone else there? To be honest, I thought it should be Professor Elm in here, but I am not 100% sure after these few years I played Pokemon Silver/Gold.

But enough of my writing, first see some in-game action on the gameplay below. BE WARNED, IT'S QUITE LONG.


At first we entered Professor Elm's Lab, to get a Pokemon. I have not paid much attention to that, because my first pick was decided from the start. I was somewhat surprised the starters were chosen from the previous Pokemon  but... whatever, they are still awesome. After that, we can go out, after we get a Potion from Elm's assistant. Now we can get out the town and fight some Pokemon. As you can see, the mechanic is 100% turn based, same is in the original. After a while of logistic thinking (the game is MUCH harder this way, you can get lost quite easily. Also, we see a quite classic screen when my Charmander fainted. After getting teleported back to home, I start my journey anew, this time with much more success. (P.S: how the heck it got snowing so soon?). At the town itself you get a slight tour by an old timer, and have a chance to visit the Pokemon Center. This time, you don't risk pressing the "A" button one time too much :)

You probably saw more then is needed to get a first impression. As for me, it's an newly mined gem. And Nilllzz is making a great job trying to polish it to a high gloss. He posts frequent updates on his tumblr page.
Other than that, you can always watch my blog, I am going to inform you of all significant changes to the game. Mostly because I believe it can become a legend among Pokemon players. Someone finally took up the challenge to make an 3D game about training and battling with Pokemon. I am really surprised that it wasn't Nintendo's doing. But, seeing the results, and that this is still a VERY EARLY beta, we can't complain. We can even get happy with this :)

tl;dr : The game now is quite playable. More than enjoyable for any Pokemon fan. And it gets better in regular basis. If you like to play something new, than it's more than worth giving a shot :)

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Yeti's Indie Game Spotlight, Vol. 2

Since our hunger for games is insatiable, I have put together another selection of fine indie games that will rock your time. Unfortunatly, this time, they can also drain you of money slightly. But still... I think they are totally worth it.

Some good news: THIS TIME I ADDED GAMEPLAY VIDEOS :D

And also, remember to add +1 to my Google+ page here, so you can be up to date with my new blog posts:
https://plus.google.com/105593234731738899491/


Defender's Quest
An climatic intro. Minimalism rules :D
Type: RPG/Tower Defense
How much? 13,99 € on Steam, 
Who will like it? Someone who doesn't have luck. Or does not want luck to interfere with his gaming. This is all brains. Without tactics, planing, and flexibility  YOU LOSE. Add to that an interesting story, a cast of characters that you will long remember and a new game plus mode, that extends and complicates that game, and what you got? An worthy investment in spending your time on gaming. As an last sentence, an quote "Final Fantasy Tactics meets Tower Defense". 'Nough said on my part.  
WARNING, THE GAMEPLAY BELOW IS QUITE BORING, BECAUSE IT'S THE START OF THE GAME (I don't want to spoil the fun). Later it gets better :D


Torchlight II
The prelude to a slaughter :D
Type: Hack/Slash/Burn/Pierce (or just Hack&Slash) 
How much? 18,99 € (still less then Diablo 3)
Who will like it? You loved Torchlight? You got disappointed by Diablo 3 because of it's lack of endgame/nonexistent character customization/lack of a pet ferret (like me?)/"always play online" drm? Played and loved FATE? Then say hello to your new best friend :D Nearly nonexistent DRM, twice/thrice the content of Torchlight 1, endgame random generated dungeons, and a challenging new game+ mode. That's all here for you, soaked in a one-of-a-kind graphical style sauce. Satisfaction guaranted :D 
The gameplay below shows you a high-level character playing new game+. You won't wreck THAT MUCH havoc at the start :)

Quite awesome, right? That's what you get at endgame, so chill... the game won't be too easy for you :D

Dungeon Defenders
The logo-less main menu


Type: TPP/FPP/RTS Tower Defense 
How much? 11,99  (Good news: frequently discounted. Bad news: TONS OF DLC, worth approx. 40  )
Who will like it? Someone with a lot of friends he can bring in to the game. The Dungeon Defenders community mostly s***s, so you need to bring a friend along to have a REALLY good time. But even solo, you can have a satisfying gameplay. And with random people sometimes make MIRACLES in this game. Overall, the game is good. But it isn't the cheapest (a 100% complete game costs 52 €, that's plain nuts D: )
Still... the basic one is worth every penny, and the DLC's are not obligatory. You can spend hours playing without them, so... everything depends on your wallet :D

Once again: this character is overpowered, but you can get the idea what this game is about.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Yeti's Indie Game Spotlight, Vol. 1

In case you are one of the gamers that do not understand the question "Haven't you got enough games to play?", then here is my private selection of good, and not costly, games. Why I picked from independent ones? Because most of them need support to make more games. A view like the photo below is not so rare, as you could think. But not everyone deserves our money and our gratitude. Here is the first set of worthwhile indie games
Will Make Games for Food (Creative Commons Photo Credit: bugbbq)
So here, my first (and not last) set of gaming fun :D



Type: Strategy/Tower Defense 
How much? 8,99 € (Steam can discount it up to 80%, so keep calm, and wait for it ^^'' )
Who will like it? Anyone. Literally, the game is somewhat weird, when I think about it's difficulty. I have not met a person who played any other tower defense game, and could not succeed in completing the first couple of levels of the campaign. But mastering the game... It's a completly different level. I like this game because it can be played both casually and hardcore.
Type: cRPG
How much? Free2Play
Who will like it? Any fan of RPG's, who plays a lot of games, watches anime, etc. Why is that necessary? Because Matt Roszak  has put MILLIONS of funny references into his games. Name anything, it's there. Pokemon? Check.
Dragon Ball? Check.
Baldur's Gate? Check.
To much to mention further? Checkcheckcheck. Except the funny part, be prepared for Final Fantasy style turn based combat, and a cast of unforgettable player characters :D And also, a fourth installment of the series is almost done, and will probably be out before 2013. So you have loads of time try the previous parts (however it is not required)


Type: Old school dungeon crawler
How much? 3,99 
Who will like it? Anyone hardcore enough to play a game where you have only one life. You can turn off permadeath, but it's not funny then :X Also, this is another game, where nothing is serious. Once you will create a character that uses emomancy and mathemagic as their magic schools, you will get the idea. This game is a joke. A very good one. A very addictive one. 
Type: "Bullet-hell"  arcade shooter
How much? 7,99 
Who will like it? A masochist. Or someone who sheds tears because a lack of a challenge for his evading skills. Look at the screenshot below, and you will get an idea. Also, there is a very good backstory to this massacre of a game. Hardcore only. BUT, if you like a challenge, then go forth, and embrace the evasiveness required to win :D Otherwise STAND BACK (and watch someone else play this, it's epic even then)