Kikaiki

Games ~ I play them/break them/write about them

[kikaikiga]

~ Alba : A Wildlife Adventure ~

“Even the smallest person can make a big difference. Join Alba, as she sets out to save her beautiful island and its wildlife. And possibly start a revolution.”

Picture this – You are two years old, on a sunny island with your grandparents. Your grandpa wants you to take a picture of him and grandma together and gives you his phone to use. You do your best to aim at them both and actually end up taking a picture of a rare Lynx in the background. Gramps is thrilled!

Roll on 10 years, you are back on the same island visiting the grandparents once again. Grandma tells you go to and play until food is ready so you start to wander around the island talking to everyone you can find. You double check on the Paella and then make your way to the beach with your best friend after hearing a sound. The sound? A stranded dolphin caught in a load of netting! One villager round up later and the dolphin is back in the water and thankful for the help <3

From this you and your counterpart create the AIWRL – The Alba and Inés Wildlife Rescue League!

The next few days are spent saving goo covered squirrels, fixing birdhouses and renewing tourist animal watcher signs whilst collecting signatures to stop your beloved nature reserve turning into a rich man’s hotel site!

Only by restoring the reserve and helping out the locals do you have a chance in getting all the signatures you need in time … Are you up for the challenge?

An adventure of mystery, exploration, exploitation and education, ‘Alba – A wildlife adventure’ is an adorable animal collector game with some big messages packed inside it. After all, how else do you get people to care about the environment and raise awareness of those trying to destroy it for selfish needs? Make it cute and throw in a ton of collectible achievements of course.

So how does it work? As Alba, you have free reign of the Island to run around with your grandma’s phone that has a wildlife collector app on it. Using this app, you ‘scan’ every living thing you see with your camera and fill out your ‘Fauna Mediterránea’- Your wildlife guidebook.

Only once you have completed certain tasks and hit certain milestones will the rarer animals appear, but even some of the more common beasts can be hard to find if you’re looking around blind like I was (No I still can’t find the common Kestrel, leave me be…)

Now I have to admit, as much as I love the low poly art style of most games, some don’t quite render too well, especially when put on a bigger screen. Alba however looked stunning in the simplistic art style running through my steam link onto my Sky Glass and my controller responded fluidly. Being able to lounge back and just wander around discovering all there was to see was therapeutic in its own way, and my toddler certainly enjoyed watching me do it - Extra points for allowing mum chill time along with child distraction all in one!

Another point I find kind of neat is that, if you decide to progress the story but haven’t found everything yet, you can carry on your saved game after the ‘end’ and go and get that 100% completion. I only wish it would transfer through as steam achievements, albeit it purely for bragging rights and a way to say ‘look mum I managed to focus on something till the end!’. Currently there are only 9 steam achievements, and all of these are linked with the main story. There’s nothing wrong with in game only achievements, I just like showing off my achievement badges on my steam profile … it makes me feel successful in something, even if it is only in fictional worlds!

Anyway, enough of that. 14 languages and a couple of fairly accommodating settings pages later, the only real gripe I have is that there is no windowed Fullscreen. It gets kind of annoying when every time you click out of the game everything minimises, which is especially annoying if you’re in the middle of big picture mode and streaming to another device. Apart from this, your settings are pretty much standard.

To sum up – Would I play it again? Probably, but it’s one of those that once you played it through, you wouldn’t be looking to replay it until sometime in the future when you need a chill break from the backlog of games you’ve got going on. Also, I don’t normally comment on price, but if you’re going against the pound per hour of play standard, £13.49 (at time of writing) is probably a bit much for a game that could be completed in a couple of hours by someone who is playing without the curse of being squirreled by everything in sight. Even with this, I finished (and near 100%) in 8 and a half hours … Take from that what you will.

[kikaikiga]

Little Big Workshop vs Smart Factory Tycoon

Little Big Workshop:

“Manage your workers, stations, machines and create awesome stuff as your little big workshop grows into your dream factory!”

Smart Factory Tycoon:

“Smart Factory Tycoon inspired by Little Big Workshop is a tycoon management game about running your dream factory with robots. Design your dream factory, plan all steps of production, research new technologies and become a tycoon!”

-------------------------------------------------

You say Tomato I say Tomato – You say sidewalk I say pavement – You say Factory I say Workshop?

I will be honest, when I first saw ‘Smart Factory Tycoon’ come up in a bundle option I was convinced it was a rip from Little Big Workshop. Some further digging shows that it is more of a love letter to it and trust me, when they say ‘inspired by’ they mean it – Smart Factory Tycoon (SFT) literally screams Little Big Workshop (LBW) in nearly every pixel!

This kind of has me dodging the question of the blurry lines between ‘inspired by’ and ‘idea steal’ but I’m going to leave that well alone. On this occasion I want to compare just how similar these games are and what each does well and, well, what each doesn’t.

So, to kick us off, let’s start with the basics shall we?

Loading/Start screens:

Both start screens show a preview of your latest Factory/Workshop, and both give useful hints and tips while loading. Nothing criminal here, let’s move on.

Settings: Video, Gameplay and control wise these marry up pretty well, I will say however that on the Audio side of things, this is where SFT wins it’s first point. Little big gives you the option to change Music, effects and ‘Minion’ effects separately which is great, however Tycoon goes an extra step and also lets you adjust the machines, Robots, ambience, vehicle AND UI volume all as their own entities – For someone with hypersensitive hearing, this is literal music to my ears!

Workers hiring, skill progression & customisation:

I must admit I’m kind of torn a little on this one … I’m not even sure I’m torn for the right reasons.

SFT allows you to hire robots – You can choose which ones you hire based on pre-allocated skills, change their colour, names and the building they are allocated to. However, all robots look the same and, until you pay considerable money to unlock an ability which gives you higher skilled robots to purchase, your stuck with the 0/half star robots that need charging every 5 seconds. One thing to note on this is that, when they do eventually level up, you can choose which skills they level up in your own preferred order.  

LBW does not allow you to choose who you hire, other than a worker or hauler. You can change their name but nothing else, however they are all randomised in appearance so you never get the same looking worker twice. They do however all start with minimum experience and have to work up to any noticeable skill level. Once sufficiently experienced, you can choose their skill speciality and turn them into a specialist assembler, wood worker, metal worker or plastic worker. For haulers, they can become technicians or super haulers.

Why am I torn? Because one gives me the option to focus on speed or stamina first whereas the other gives me little people I can watch do weird little actions while they moan about being overworked and sleep deprived … I honestly can’t choose a preference.

Worker Energy:

Speaking of overworked and sleep deprived, I will admit robots are sooooo much easier to maintain. You build them a charging station and a lubricant shower and they are good to go in an endless cycle of work -> recharge -> repeat. Minions on the other hand have the audacity to moan like toddlers when they haven’t had a coffee break after making 4 shelves. Not only that, if they can’t get to the break room on time they will pass out in the middle of the floor until their cat nap is done and then wander around trying to figure out what they were meant to be doing. Robots win on this one, hands down … err … yeah hands, let’s stick with that.

Leaves, Tree’s and everything green:

This is probably one of the more finnicky parts of both games. Tycoon requires you to have forests and solar panels to reduce your energy impact and costs, whereas as workshop has grumpy people that want plants LITERALLY EVERYWHERE or they collapse all the time.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for being green and using renewable energy, and I also understand plants in the workplace make people happier BUT … I draw the line at needing every room looking like I’m running a garden nursery business on the side.

Blueprints and planning:

This is where things get as finickity as it comes, and where both games kind of merge into one. Apart from some visual differences, the base of it is pretty much the same. You choose your materials making sure the requirements are met, link your machines and the execute the plan, all the while hoping you have enough bodies and machines to get the work done in time! Visually, I prefer LBW, along with the fact that if you are missing a workstation, you can go and buy it mid planning and come back where you left off. In tycoon however, if you are missing a machine and you exit the plan to go and buy it, you have to start the plan from scratch. It’s not the end of the world as such but it does get annoying after a while, especially if you need multiple machines.

What exactly is the aim:

This my friends is where my decision gets made for me. Little Big Workshop has a Storyline! You have allies to make, rivals to beat and even minigames with a cash bonus if you complete them. Tycoon has none of this and your goal is literally to build a big factory. Yes there’s a leaderboard of Fake factory’s but this doesn’t actually mean or affect anything. If I had to make a decision between the two, this would be my main deciding factor.

To sum it all up:

Both games are a decent way to lose hours of the day and leave you having nightmares about lack of storage space and not enough foliage. Both games also get you frustrated at workers taking breaks at the worst possible moment, causing that oh so vital order to fail/lessen in value. Both games scratch the itch of wanting to micro manage a factory environment to make toys. However, only one of them actually gives you a purpose for doing all of this in the first place. Now please excuse me, I have imposters in my workshop to deal with!

[kikaikiga]

~ Tin Hearts [Demo] ~ EGX#22

“Behind every brilliant invention, hides a magical story. Guide a troop of tin soldiers through a magical toy-filled world, in this immersive puzzle adventure game from members of the team that brought you Fable”

Did you ever play lemmings as a kid? If you have no idea what I’m on about with that first sentence, go ask your parents to explain it and then come back to me. Tin Hearts is basically the 2000’s version with added story line, modernised game engine and flawless graphics. Surprisingly enough, when I played the demo at EGX, I was more interested in progressing the game to find out the full story rather than seeing how many ways you can smash a toy soldier to bits (although I did find several of those too!).

The most accurate way I can think to describe this is basically 3D lemmings let loose in Geppetto’s workshop. You can manipulate certain objects to hinder/assist your progress, and also have the nifty ability to fast forward or rewind time. I have to admit, it took me far, far too long to realise that the game wasn’t going to give me two extra soldiers to replace the two smashed on the floor, and that I had to rewind all the way back to be able to use them again. I guess it helps if you actually pay attention to ALL the tools the game gives you!

Anyway, when I finally got over my momentary dim-wittedness, I started to wonder if this story line didn’t have some kind of sinister under tones to it. Now, bear with me while I explain my train of thought on this one. You start as a ghost/spirit man and then slowly progress to being a solid physical form. You follow what seem to be memory flashes of a woman and young girl around the house, which I’d be fairly confident in assuming are your wife and daughter - which begs the question … where are they now?  

Now, I wasn’t actually able to deduce much further than that as I managed to completely crash the game and got reset to a previous level, so I left it there and let my brain run wild with unanswered questions. Did I want to continue playing? Absolutely! Did I want to redo all those levels I’d just done? I’ll be honest, not really … even with the ability to speed it all up.

I love the look of this and would absolutely love getting to play the whole thing, but It’s either going to be a one and done for me, or at least one and then maybe 8+ months later. Don’t get me wrong, it looks to be an amazing game, but my attention span for lemmings was 2 maybe 3 levels at a time at best, and It hasn’t really improved much the past 10 years – no matter how awesome the graphics are!

[kikaikiga]

~ Wildmender [Demo] ~ EGX#22

“Unearth the past to protect the future. In Wildmender, you face the challenge of restoring the environment. Explore the landscape, revive withering plant life, cultivate your garden, and build a better world alone or with friends in 4-player online co-op”

Have you ever been so distracted with one particular part of a game that, even though you’ve sunk double digits worth of hours into it, you never actually progressed in the story? My worst culprit is Earthlock, where you have to grow your ammo and then harvest and tailor it. I accidentally lost 6 hours to wandering around my farm the first time I played - the other 30 or so after that were semi-intentional.

So what does this have to do with Wildmender? Well, it’s pretty much the next culprit of loosing hours in a game to one particular aspect – Farming/Gardening. Like Earthlock, you need to grow and restore plants to make a variety of items, however instead of ammo it’s edible exploring aids. You are also able to shape the ground around your home tree and, although this is meant for you to expand your limited water pool, there’s no way you give me a tree and water and don’t expect me to build a moat around it!

The general vibe of the game is kinda like Earthlock meets Zelda (if you haven’t played either you really should!) and I love it. You can spend your time growing your base and making things, or you can explore the world and find anything from Secluded towers to Friendly spirits. The best part – you’re not pressured into doing anything specific at any time. You wanna go fight the big purple balls of death and all that comes with it? Sure! You wanna farm your life away till you can’t farm any more? Great! That big purple ball will still be there ready and waiting for whenever you feel like you need to up the pace. You set your pace of play and the game pretty much works with you, however you feel like doing it. One thing I will say though – Don’t leave going adventuring too long, there’s a lot of nice shiny items out there waiting to be found!

Now, I only had access to the demo at EGX so didn’t get to experience the Co-op/Multiplayer aspect but, If they’ve done it right, I can easily see this being mine and Zane’s next chill game together. With that classic low poly indie graphic style and a really chill soundtrack, my ADHD has found it’s new happy place.

I can’t wait till Wildmender get’s it’s full release and definitely recommend picking it up when it’s available! I’ve never wanted to take a game home with me so much and I think I started to creep out the Kwalee guys with how much I was hovering around it (sorry about that!). If you love exploring and farming, this game is everything you need – Just remember your basic self-care when you go on those long farming stints – Eat, drink and pee!

[kikaikiga]

~ Grid Force - Mask of the Goddess ~ EGX#22

“Conquer the grid in REAL-TIME in this tactical bullet-hell RPG with a large, diverse roster of heroes to recruit and evolve, lightning-fast combat, and a deep story that adapts to your choices. Play as Donna, a fighter in search of the perfect team who can defeat the goddesses and save the future”

Let me just start by confessing something here – I’m not a major fan of grid-based games and I really don’t get on well with bullet hell’s. That being said, I easily killed at least an hour on the demo of this at EGX out of pure stubbornness trying to kill one of the bosses. Does that mean it’s a ridiculously hard game? No. Am I just that bad at figuring out enemy attack patterns? Yes … It’s a flaw, I’m over it.

Anyway, It took me several occasions of walking past and watching other people play to actually consider giving it a try, and it was only when one of the team approached me that I did just that. Now, although it was more an anxiety panic response, I figured I’d play for a few minutes and then head off, at least then I can say I gave it a try. Much to my surprise, the graphic style actually sat relatively well with my ADHD and the story was able to grip me enough to want to discover more. What I discovered is this was not in fact the Turn based shooter I first thought, but actually a lane based arena where your enemies move around in erratic patterns.

Fast forward an hour and I’ve got most of the dev team stood watching me, willing me to beat a boss level that was probably an easy 5 minute thing to everyone else that actually paid attention to the attack pattern. For me though, I had hyper focused on one specific way of killing this corrupted god and by god was I going to do it … I got a T-shirt for my commitment.

So what is this game that made me so intent on beating it? A grid shooter where you play as a ‘reborn champion of the gods’ with no memory of your name or … well, anything really. After a few ‘I’m on your side don’t kill me’ introduction fights, you learn your identity and the general gist of why you exist – to deal with the corrupt goddess’s that are destroying the world. Oh, and apparently, you’ve done this several times before.

How are you expected to accomplish this? By recruiting team members and levelling them through an element focused skill system. Be careful though, the XP pool is shared! (In no way did I completely skip over this warning and plunge everything into the main character … boy did I regret that later).

The art style is easy on the eyes and the graphic novel style cut scenes are a refreshing take on story telling. The bright, almost neon-esque colour scheme works well without being too harsh, and fits the game pretty well. Put simply – cool graphics and complimenting colours makes it easy for my brain to submerge into this rabbit hole of plot twists and secrecy.

Considering the time it took me to defeat one of the boss levels, I didn’t play much of the extensive demo that was on offer as I had that convention anxiety of people stood behind me waiting to play. So, once I was finally victorious, I conceded my spot and thanked the devs for their patience as they watched me fail at their game. This didn’t stop me hanging around after though to catch a peek at the other levels and characters available.

All in all, a game that I had been so hesitant to give my time, ended up being one of my most enjoyable and memorable from the whole convention. Definitely something I will be picking up in the future and, if you’re not sure yourself, there is currently a demo available on the steam store to try out first! (Accurate at time of writing)

Do I have anything else to add? … Koniko rules. That is all.

[kikaikiga]

I don’t believe in NY resolutions ... but.

Christmas has been and gone, as has the whole New Years wave of ‘I’m losing weight’, ‘I’m going to the gym’ and ‘I’m never eating meat again’ et cetera, et cetera.

I’ve long given up on making statements like these mainly because ... well, I can’t keep to them. I cave in too easily to temptation and to be honest, never have the proper motivation to do what I aim to do. Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate the whole idea as, after all, it’s basically forcing the mind set of ‘Anything is possible if you only believe’ and ‘No dream is unreachable, follow your dreams no matter how big they may be’.

I guess I’ve just got used to settling into ‘the norm’ of daily life and not wanting to leave the comfort of ‘just getting by’. Yes I’ve had dreams to do all sorts of different things and become so much more than I am, some of which I even started to do but, true to form, I give up or lose sight far too easily.

Alot of this is due to the utter lack of self confidence I have. Mix this with some anxiety and Bi-Polar and well, I’m amazed I get anything done at all to be honest.

Anyway, I did actually have a point to writing this bunch of waffle so I guess I should get too it. To help you get where this is coming from, let me sum up the past week or so;

I’ve spent most of this past week busting my bones at work, as per usual, which I actually don’t really mind because, despite all the moaning, I do genuinly love my job. It does however burn me out from time to time as I hit points where, despite putting in all the hours and doing the best I feel I can, I feel like I’m stuck in a rut. A rut of going nowhere and just being a figure used by company CEO’s that sit behind desks, neatly writing out how my job should be done. CEO’s that dont spend a second on the damn job floor and think that, because it fits on their lines and tables on paper, it will work perfectly when put into action. Obviously, because that’s how business works ... not. 

Anyway, I had one of those moments this week and it ended with me questioning if I’m actually where I want to be in regards to work. The answer? Suprisingly, yes. I know progress takes time and I don’t have anywhere near as much patience as I should. Then came the otherside of it. I may be content with work but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realised that It’s how I am outside of work that has been bothering me.

What do I mean by this? Well, despite all that’s been happening the past year, I’m content with the decisions I’ve made in regards to my social life. Some decisions have been heartbreaking and so hard to make but, despite this, I feel I’ve taken the best course I could have for my own mental health.

I realise I seem to have contradicted myself here but just bear with me. So, yes socially I’m okay with where I’m at, however there’s more than just a social life when your not at work. Hobby, activity and interest wise, I’ve sunk.

Now let me explain and get to the point of this whole essay. I’ve been streaming properly since 2015 yet, my love and passion for games started long before, to when I was just a kid. Yes I know, this is the story with most gamers but isn’t that one of the things that bonds us all? Even so, my point is that, for something I’ve loved all my life, I’ve lost the spark.

Dont get me the wrong way on this, I still love playing but I feel like there’s something I’m missing and I can’t figure out what ... or at least I couldn’t until today. I started streaming because I was playing games and had so many moments where, without actually seeing it to experience it, regailing tales of my play just didn’t share the spark I got properly to other people. Those funny moments where you couldn’t do it again if you tried? Not funny if the person your sharing it with wasn’t witness to it at the time. This kind of feeling applies to reviews aswell.

I started review writing because, despite all of the opinions already out there, I wanted to share my two-pennies worth in way that was fair and different. It helps me get out everything I want to say, in my own way, without the feeling i’m being judged for my opinion. And yet, this too I’ve lost the spark for. The feeling I used to get from writing I just don’t get anymore. But I think ... I think I may have figured out the reason why.

After alot of pondering and musing on life decisions, I’ve realised that alot of what I’ve tried to do recently has been forced. I’ve been slowly pulled into the mindset of doing things because it’s expected by others, rather than for my own want and satisfaction. I’ve been thinking long and hard about who I want to be and where I want to take my life and I think ... I think I’ve finally got myself facing the right direction again.

I know It’s not going to be easy and Im well aware that I need to properly want it for this to work ... but I’m at least willing to try and that to me is a good first step. To save me writing another half an essay, I’ll simply bullet my list and hopefully manage to at least sway towards some of these in the coming time:

x Regular review writing on all kinds of games

x More frequent streams, not neccessarily scheduled but more often

x More confidence in myself, as a person, a streamer, a writer and a friend

x Better organisation of stream/writing space. Keep my desk clear and light, but still decorated and game orientated

x More confident in streams ... talk more, joke more ... generally have a better time

x keep my flat tidy and sorted, tidy house tidy mind and all that

x drink more, eat more, stop depriving body of what it needs

I know to many this list may seem either stupid, or common sense or whatever but, these are things I really struggle with. Many people struggle with the simpler things in life and I am definitely one of them. I really do want to change that though. I want to be happy with who I am, what I’m doing and how I’m doing it. I know there arn’t many that will read this through but to all of you who support and follow me ... thankyou, you don’t know how much you help a girl out <3

[kikaikiga]

~ Dicey Dungeons ~

"Fighting against fortune would be a lot easier if you weren't a walking dice."

WARNING!! IF YOU READ PAST THIS POINT BEWARE!!! MANY TERRIBLE DICE PUNS ARE ABOUT TO ASSAULT YOUR BRAIN!!!! (some knowledge of dice rolls may be needed to fully appreciate certain references)

Think you know dungeon crawlers? One after another, all the same old game but just wrapped and packaged slightly differently? Well it's about time that trend was broken and I think I've just found the winning contestant. Allow me to introduce you to 'Dicey Dungeons' - A Dungeon Crawling game show where everything depends on the roll of the dice ... quite literally.

Now, I know that with the amount of DC's out there I'm gunna need to do some serious convincing so let me start from the beginning as, after all, it's generally a very good place to start. As it goes, beginnings typically have introductions and ours is given by the hostess of the evening - The rather brutal Lady Luck. A wise word to all contenders - Beware this keeper of fortune, for she is not all that she seems.

Speaking of contenders, let's look along the board and inspect our players. 6 entities, 6 dice, 6 different playstyles. Seeing a pattern yet? No? Well let's see if I can help clear up those snake eyes. Each of our rolling stones have their own unique playstyles, with some differences being as small as a slight skill variation and others being a total upheaval to the standard gameplay style. My advice? Stay away from 'Railroad Nine' if you want to have a simpler time!

I guess i've been a bit vague as to actual gameplay so let me enlighten you a little. On each floor map you spawn on a random tile, surrounded by either Monsters, Health, Chests, Merchants and/or the exit door. Now, depending on your playstyle you could go the quickest, most direct route possible and ignore 'optional' enemies and chests etc., or you could explore every path and interact with everything on the level. Either of these ways could work, but bear in mind that if you play in a hurry, you may be dead before the dice hit midnight.

Okay, okay, so I might be getting a little carried away with all these puns but they just roll of the tongue! Anyway, back to the game at hand. After each encounter with an enemy, you gain experience towards levelling up , providing you've won the battle of course. You can also gain a maximum health increase, a random reward (extra die/weapons/skills) and some very valuable coins. What can you buy? Well, we shall come to that shortly. Backtracking a second to those chests I mentioned, you've got all sorts of weird and wonderful goodies to potentially be found; From weapons/skills to item upgrades and a few other little perks that i'll leave for you to discover. After all, it's no fun if I give away all the secrets on the first roll of the dice!

Right then, about those coins you're so eager to spend. You'll come across two different types of caravans on the map; One is a merchant, one is a blacksmith. The merchant will allow you to buy skills, weapons, health or upgrades (redirects to the blacksmith) whereas the Blacksmith allows you to improve on your attacks. This may sound rather simple but theres one minor detail you need to keep in mind ... your bag is limited. Why would this affect things so much? Well let me explain.

Your backpack consists of 20 slots, I know, sounds like a lot. However, you can only equip up to 6 items at a time. Still not seeing an issue? Well what if I told you that all your items are different sizes ... yep, you read me right. Some items take up two slots rather than one, meaning you're going to have to compromise between the amount of skills you have against the strength of the skills you have. Not so simple now is it.

Moving forward a few rolls, things start to get a little dicey. Dungeons typically have bosses and this is no exception. After climbing through several floors, you get to battle one of the many brutes of the realm, each of which have their own special skills and their own quirks. All I can say is good luck, your going to need as much of it as you can get.

After an initial run through with each character, things begin to start unlocking all over the place. For starters, a challenge hall full of enemy profiles which, in my opinion, are well worth taking the time to read through as there are some pretty funny lines in amongst it all. Next, an episode room where we start to realise this game is a lot bigger than it initiialy seemed ... as in, 36 episodes bigger. And to finish up, a suprise spin the wheel game at the end of each episode ... what more could a young diceman want eh?

I realise I havn't given my usual half essay on settings etc. but this is one of those games that doesn't really need much saying in that regard. Even so, I guess I should at least do this properly and give you the general gist. The entire game artwork appears to be all hand drawn, and I must say, very skillfully at that. It's light and easy on the eyes and keeps the game playable for longer before burnout which, for me at least, can be a major issue if a game is too dark or too heavy on the graphics side of things.

I can happily say that this Dungeon crawler is tab friendly, with options for Fullscreen or windowed, and seperated audio levels for music, voice and sfx which is always a happy find. An unexpected detail I found whilst browsing the steam store page is that this game supports 6 different languages. Not a big deal for those of us that aren't bilingual but I can appreciate the effort that goes into little extras like that. Speaking of extras, a cool little feature I found is that, as you unlock each combatant, the title page changes slightly ... how? Well that would be telling.

Now, this is where I hand in my dice and say goodnight as, although theres plenty more I could delve into, I feel the rest is best discovered by playing for yourself. 'Dicey Dungeons' definitely has a lot more to it than meets the eye on first glance and it's well worth sinking some time into, especially if your an achievement hunter/completionist as steam has 53 achievements, seperate to the ingame unlocks. Each time I re-launch the game to double check something I seem to lose hours discovering new and intriguing gameplay so that's got to count for something ... right?

Play on, Play well, and may Lady Luck be gentle with you.

[kikaikiga]

~ Ori and The Blind Forest (Original Edition) ~

“Ori and the Blind Forest” tells the tale of a young orphan destined for heroics, through a visually stunning action-platformer crafted by Moon Studios for PC”

There is absolutely no need for me to put together an introduction for this … but here we go. For all of you who aren’t typical indie gamers, allow me to introduce you to what is basically Indie royalty – Ori and The Blind Forest (Original). Stunning graphics accompanied by a bewitching soundtrack carry you on a mystical journey to save the forest you call home, while simultaneously making and breaking your heart in a vicious cycle.

That’s it, that’s all you need to know, now go and play! Okay, okay, fine, I’ll ruin the magic a little more for all you strange people that need some convincing. Ori will take over your world and claim a piece of you that you are never getting back. Don’t fight it, just accept and embrace.

Graphics and music speak for themselves, so I guess I’ll focus on the actual story and mechanics this time around. I shall make this point now, and only now: SPOILERS WILL HAPPEN PAST THIS POINT!

SPOILERS INCOMING – POINT OF NO RETURN

Okay, now we’ve got that whole disclaimer bit sorted, I guess we should start at the beginning. We begin our story watching the spirit guardian ‘Ori’ be ripped from his home in an intense storm and become adopted by ‘Naru’. However, it doesn’t take long before catastrophe strikes, and we get thrown into an emotional spiral of events.

Jump forward a bit and we start to learn skills and tricks, from ‘on the spot’ save points to being able to breath underwater. A tri-part ability tree allows for customisation based on personal preference, meaning several play styles are possible. Are you all about fire power and aggression? Simply follow the combat ability path to boost your attack early on. Maybe your more about environmental survival and choose to follow the utility branch.  Or alternatively you prefer utter completion and would rather be able to see everything on the map? In that case, the efficiency route is the one for you.

Whatever your playstyle, there are multiple ways to approach it. I personally leaned towards a balanced build that was more towards the Utility side of things. Of course I got that quick flame upgrade pretty quick, but after that it was all about reducing energy costs and finding every pickup possible. Now, on top of this ability tree, we also have access to a skill tree which provides a separate set of mechanics which are crucial to being able to move forward within the game. With both of these skill sets in our arsenal, you soon become a jack of all trades.

Another feature to aid our journey is a small wisp like being called ‘Sein’, who is effectively our very own friendly neighbourhood hint giver. Sein is actually a lot more important to the story than you might think and if you look closely, the smallest actions hint at this bigger picture by the way that Sein acts throughout the map. That, however, is all I’m saying on the subject.

Our journey is not without peril though as, much like any story, there are those that are against our quest. The first we meet is a spider-esque creature called Gumo. He is the last of his kind (the Gumon Clan) and aims to put as many obstacles in our way as possible. Move on a while and Ori leads Gumo to change ways and he actually becomes an ally. However; Why, when, and how are all things that you will have to discover for yourself.

Now here’s the main thing you need to worry about. Our biggest threat comes in the form of a stunningly drawn, giant owl creature named Kuro. This beautifully terrifying beast has a very personal vendetta against Ori and Sein and has enough power in her wings to make sure you never reach your goal … or at least make it extremely difficult. The more you progress with the game, the more of Kuro’s story comes to light and let me tell you, it’s some painful stuff. My advice? Take your heart out, put it in a box, lock that box and hide it somewhere. Save yourself that stab in the feels and lock all emotion away … or don’t and live this story the way it’s meant to be.

Ori is a puzzle platform exploration game meaning there are bound to be frustrations. My biggest issue? Getting that perfect timing whilst trying to aim Ori around a giant tree that is attempting to drown me. Each and every person has their own issues with puzzle games as we all handle problems in different ways. Some are better at the quick time as opposed to the methodical block placement, whereas others (much like myself) can handle all of the hard thinking stuff but absolutely suck at pressured, on the spot actions.

The only advice I will give you is don’t rush. Take your time, find a comfortable build, and live in the moment. This is not a game to be rushed but to be embraced in all its glory.

This review is based on the original game release, but I fully recommend buying the ‘Definitive Edition’. I have played both versions of this amazing game and will happily play over and over and over and over again. If you have played, or intend to play this, and fall in love with it, keep your eyes peeled for it’s successor. Ori and the Will of the Wisps has been teased for a while now and we are still waiting for a release date. Who knows, maybe we will hear more at this year’s E3 event.

[kikaikiga]

~ Farm Together *Early Access* ~

“Grow your own farm all by yourself, or cooperate with your friends in this unique, relaxing farming experience!”

Ever wanted to chill out doing some adorable, mindless, addicting farming? Yeah? Well find a seat, grab some snacks and settle down because ‘Farm Together’ is exactly that. This game quite literally does what it says on the tin – Go it alone or play with friends to … well … Farm Together. Because of the very nature of this game, this is going to be one of those shorter ‘quick insight’ reviews as there is only so much I can say without single-handedly killing it myself … Yeah let’s not do that.

So, this is still an Early Access game, but it is being given the attention that we wish all early builds would get. Frequent updates, player support and a fresh experience every time meaning we get to farm our lives away without getting bored of the same old stuff.

Now, I must have easily sunk 20 odd hours into this within the first 3 days of buying it, mainly because it’s just so … airy. You don’t feel constricted, there are no ‘in-game’ purchases and you can pretty much do whatever you want. Don’t fancy doing those quests? No worries, just plant a load of veg and watch your level steadily increase, allowing you to unlock new items at a fairly decent pace. Fancy those set quests? That’s all good as well, as either of these approaches get you climbing the ranks and expanding at a pretty impressive rate.

Player usability is pretty decent as well as, although not entirely tab friendly, graphics and audio are fully customisable. Fancy the full farming experience? Whack that music up with those ambient effects and be absorbed into the full picture or, if you’re like me, tone it down a bit and stick on some chill music as you wander round killing hours in what feels like mere minutes. You don’t need a high spec PC to play either as it ranges from what I would call ‘standard indie graphics’ all the way up to detail mania!

As far as pricing goes, I’d say its worth it. £11.39 feels to be approaching the higher price range for early access games but, if you go by Pound/Dollar an hour value and level of developer involvement, it easily pays for itself. For a game that is being updated regularly, gives pretty much full farm and character customisation and basically lets you loose into a field of endless possibilities …. Go for it!

[kikaikiga]

~ Guards ~

“Four heroes are facing a horde of evil! Ultimate abilities, magic artifacts, hero upgrades and clever tactics... All these will help to defeat the Boss”

Okay, first let me apologise. I know It’s another indie game and I know you want something different and don’t worry, you will get it ... eventually. For now though, I’ve got an awesome little turn-based strategy game for y’all. Now, I love the idea of strategy games, however that doesn’t mean in not amazingly terrible at them. I’m too impatient to get my brain working well enough to be any good ... that being said, I can still appreciate a decent game when I play one!

So, what actually is ‘Guards’? Well, to elaborate on something more than the actual game style, it’s a fighting adventure full of quests and upgrades that forces you to play by its rules. What am I on about? Patience dear gamers, patience.

When I say patience, I mean it in every sense of the word. Not only do you need it whilst reading this, you definitely need it in the game. ‘Guards’ is one of those games that you aren’t supposed to be able to complete first time (at least that’s what I’m telling myself). It all boils down to a lot of trial and error and a ton of self-control ... or just a lot of trial and error.

But it’s just a turn-based fighter I hear you say! True ... but also false. This particular battleground has rules. Rules that must be followed otherwise the game can not be played, literally. Without giving too much away, let’s just say you are forced to make certain moves you may not want to make and, from time to time, characters must travel to impractical positions just to move the game along.

This is definitely a game you need to go a play yourself to get the full experience. The minute you load into the game your drawn into a vicious yet mindless cycle of turn based grinding - Fight, Die, Upgrade, Repeat. What makes it bearable? Maybe the smooth, mesmerising graphics, maybe the lulling background music. Who knows? What I do know is that, for £3.99, It’s an amazing time killer that never gets old and is well worth acquiring!

[kikaikiga]

~ The First Tree ~

“A beautiful, 3rd-person exploration game centered around two parallel stories: a fox trying to find her missing family, and a son reconnecting with his estranged father in Alaska. Uncover artifacts from the son’s life as he becomes intertwined in the fox’s journey towards The First Tree. ”

Take a minute for yourself … breath … relax … Now prepare to be ripped apart emotionally by this beautiful heartache of a game. ‘The First Tree’ is a stunning exploration sim that hits deep in the feelings department and makes no apologies for doing so.  To give you a rough idea of what to expect, think back to games such as ‘Gone Home’ and ‘Dear Esther’, add a bit of ‘Shelter’ to the mix and you’re pretty much there.

So, I invite you, in fact I implore you – take my hand and come on a journey with me. Let us wander through the fields of memories and discover the paths of two parallel stories that have been entwined together in spirit. This invitation does however come with a condition … don’t forget the tissues! Now I realise at this point there is probably a line of people at the door trying to escape the mushy splurge of words I just threw together but bear with me! The more ‘mature’ review type stuff is next up to sate all you boring grown up people (Calm down I’m kidding … Mostly).

To the point of the matter then; cast your eyes if you will, to the classic Indie graphics that make this game so soul absorbing. I feel that the simple, yet almost magical art style is why so many games like this are becoming popular as, although still visually appealing, the soft design causes the player to focus more on the narrative rather than just speed running a play-through because it looks good. I mean this whole heartedly as I have seen many a gamer come across a shiny looking game and not pay attention to the story that actually makes the game what it is, just so they can rush through top notch graphics and get a quick completion. This however is a topic piece for another day, so I shall leave it alone for now.

On the subject of narration, not much beats impassioned dialogue between two people when trying to pull in an audience. No overwhelming music, no barrage of voices, just you and two strangers sharing in an intense exchange of conflicted emotion as if you had been together since the beginning. Now, as much as I’m praising the narration, it does lead me on to the one qualm I do have and if you know me at all, you will no doubt be able to guess what it is. Any good game has a decent balance with settings and any awesome game allows you to adjust that balance to suit individual wants and needs. Before you think I’m moaning just for the sake of having something to write, let me say that’s not entirely true. I agree that settings are an easy thing to ramble on about, but Simulator games especially should be on top of things like this.

When you create a game that centers on dialogue you really need to have an option for audio levels at least. If not, then you desperately need to go and make some … GO! NOW! All game music is good music but I have found, particularly when streaming, that if your music is going to play over your speech then you NEED to have a way to adjust it, even more so if you don’t bother making it happen automatically within the game itself. Music that drowns out someone talking is a sure-fire way to lose an audience that desperately wants to be involved. Now, the in-game music does dim down slightly but it occurs well after someone starts to speak and at times, doesn’t really simmer down enough to make it worth it. Many of you may think I’m way too drawn up on this but when you live and breathe this sort of game, the basic things like audio and graphics become unavoidable sub-conscious critique points that you just can’t escape.

Moving onto the actual game play, I’m happy to say it’s pretty decent. Considering this is a game based entirely on moving around multiple areas and finding things to interact with, it’s safe to say that the character motion side of things is fairly well polished. On the interaction side, it’s pretty solid although to me feels kind of empty. Yes there are objects to find and yes there are items to collect but given shear map size, I personally feel that there is something missing. Now, had there been few more ways to interact with random points on the map (trees or flowers for example), or an increased number of random collectibles, it would have felt a bit less sparse.

ANYWAY, I think it’s time I stopped rambling and brought this particular jumble of words to a close, more for your sakes than mine (I could ramble all day). Despite the qualms and the personal preferences, I am in love. I have fallen so hard for ‘The First tree’ it’s insane. Yes it broke me emotionally and yes it traumatised me but this just makes me love it even more. The story is rich and powerful, the animation is masterfully done and the whole thing just works so well.

My suggestion? Grab some blankets, a hot drink, and some snacks. Settle yourself down and play this in one big sitting. Take your time exploring, search every inch of every map and absorb absolutely anything. Fall in love, experience heartbreak and let your soul discover the deeper meanings … it’s worth every minute and every penny.

[kikaikiga]

Some sappiness for y’all

The last couple years have been a heck of a fecking emotional rollercoaster and today is a rare day. I'm chill - chill in myself and where I'm at.

I'm streaming again ... maybe not that often but just having the confidence to put myself out there is a huge battle I have with myself frequently.

I'm writing more. Again, not as much as I would like but the support I have had from the last few pieces has been amazing.

This leads me on to probably the biggest point of this rambling of words - familia. I am settled into a few small communities that have accepted me like family. I have all the support I could want ... even when I have stupid moments and my confidence drops, leaving me feeling like a burden and a nuisence to those I have come to love as my chosen kin.

So to all of you who stick around when I feel it feels like I should just dissapear, when I'm down and out and struggling to get back up .... thankyou. I love you guys so much and you will never quite know how much you mean to me ... you are my lifeline <3

Tomorrow may be a good day or a down day but I will always know where I belong. Every conversation directed my way - every game invite - every mention, even if it's just a smile or a simple 'hi' - every 'how are you' or 'I've missed you' or 'good to see you'. These mean far more to me than most will ever know.

[kikaikiga]

~ Deadline: Ransom Note Agency ~

“It's your first day on the job as a professional ransom note designer. You're tasked with creating and transmitting ransom notes for masterminds who don't have the extra time to perfectly craft their criminal message. It's a busy season for them and you're here to help them out! Be quick though, because the deadlines are TIGHT “

I’ve always wanted to make a ransom note! Wait a minute ... that didn’t come out right. Obviously I meant that purely from an Arts & Crafts - inner creation point of view ...  not convinced? Moving on then ...

Take a minute to flashback to all those classic crime stories and somewhere buried there you will find the good ole’ blackmailers letter.  The gloss magazine, cut to pieces with the kitchen scissors and then dotted about with a trusty old glue stick ... ah those were the days. 

Anyway, now we have a way to to satisfy all our ‘creative’ urges by making our very own ransoms! Welcome to Deadline: A Ransom Note Agency - a blackmailers go-to company where you get hired to do the dirty work others can’t be bothered with ... no crime there right? 

Deadline is an awesome little puzzle game, albeit a bit on the basic side. Granted, each client has their own twisted needs that bring some amusement, but as far as content goes this is definitely one of those ‘I have 15 minutes to kill’ kinda games.

The first couple of letters bring intrigue but unfortunately this soon wears off with the repetition aspect. It wouldn’t be so bad if you were able to do more than three letters a note or if the style changed around a bit.

However, considering it’s only just come out of 2018′s global game jam, I am inclined to let it off the hook. The gameplay is smooth and the voice acting is pretty on point, not to mention the fact that it managed to panic me whilst I was busy getting stuck on a word and the timer was ticking.

All in all, if you fancy some brain training I would definitely suggest giving this a quick run through. I mean, it’s free so why the hell not? ~ https://globalgamejam.org/2018/games/deadline-ransom-note-agency

[kikaikiga]

~ Gauntlet: Slayer Edition ~

The classic Gauntlet 4-player co-op action gameplay returns in a completely new experience! Battle the endless hordes of foes as you and your friends fight for treasure and glory via both local and online co-op multiplayer. Invade the Darkness!

If you’ve been after a good old beat ‘em up dungeon crawler to kill some time on, this should definitely be added to your list. With both solo and co-op campaigns available, this Atari classic remake is the perfect way to spend your evenings with or without company. So, grab a beverage, blanket, and snacks, and prepare to be surrounded by death … just don’t let him touch you.

Gauntlet: Slayer Edition is one of those games where, if you’re playing with a team, you really need to hope they won’t hold a grudge if you accidently (and most likely repeatedly) cause their death … No pressure or anything. A single stray or misplaced attack can quite easily make or break a game, so when you’re fighting for your life, maybe just check to see if you’re about to obliterate a food source before you try to be a hero.

Now then, whether you’re a veteran from the 1985 original or fresh blood from the new era, Gauntlet easily appeals to all. The classically charming and heavily sarcastic one liners are as patronising as they ever were, whilst the graphics have been given an updated, modern day feel. The 4 classic characters have kept their old school allure but are now equipped with unique and distinctive play styles and skills meaning even the old timers can have a fresh, new experience.

One point I feel I should make is, like a good majority of co-op games, this only works if you all stick together. Hold back the eager beaver and help out the weaker players because if the party splits, people are getting very stuck very quickly. All it takes is an impatient player to run ahead to make that corner you were stood in suddenly inescapable until they turn their booty around … I really hope death incarnate isn’t following you right now.

As far as price is concerned, £14.99 feels a bit steep to me. Sure, you get plenty of play time out of it but, unless you have 3 other people who are also willing to pay out, there is a limit to how much you can enjoy on your own. I totally recommend acquiring this classic but maybe wait until there is a sale on, get the 4 pack at a discount, and then choose your victi-, urrm … team mates …. Yeah, your team mates. Good luck.

[kikaikiga]

~ Dungeon Defenders ~

“ Create a hero from one of four classes to save Etheria in this 4-player coop Tower Defense Action-RPG. Includes Steam exclusive Portal gun & TF2 familiars! “

Okay, I need to be totally honest right off the bat ... I can’t stand tower defence. I hate it with a passion. I find the genre boring, unnecessarily complex and generally a giant headache. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! Before you disappear back to browsing the latest memes and crazes going on in the world, give me a chance to explain and redeem myself.

My issues with this particular game type tend to come from my background of playing story driven, character developing, shiny graphics games (RPG’s basically) that I can settle into for hours without feeling like I’m grinding away. Now, Dungeon Defenders may well be the solution to ending this little vendetta of mine and I think I’ve figured out a few reasons why.

For starters, let’s look at the graphics side of things. It’s sparkly and glossy and 3D (yes I know - best description ever!) and makes you feel like you’re jumping into something completely different. There’s no 2D, flat looking, grid based maps that are harsh on the eyes and no standard, basic design enemies that just feel like dots on a set path. Basically put, It looks good!

The next thing that stands out is that, unlike most Tower Defence games, there is actually a story to it! We are given a reason to grind! In my opinion, every good game has a goal to achieve, but every brilliant game has a story to live. A well written plot can be all it takes to get people invested into a game for the duration and can make all the difference when it comes to gaining and keeping a captive audience. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a good read.

Now then, every story needs a hero and we get 4 (unless you’ve acquired some DLC) to choose from! Each has their own difficulty level and can all have their colours customised for the more personal touch. With class specific weapons and units each character has a different play style to experience and can even be swapped in and out during co-op play. I would definitely recommend having a play around with each class, you never know what secrets you may discover.

Moving on to actual gameplay, it’s so much more enamouring than basic TD. All heroes have their own unique arsenal to play with including upgradable weaponry and even the optional pet! There is so much choice and freedom when it comes to levelling skills and equipment that you can pretty much build anything and everything to suit your play style. 

So, although I’ve started this off by slating the overall genre, Dungeon Defenders is actually something I have had in my library for a long time and will always love playing. I have sunk many hours into both solo and co-op campaigns and I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoy playing this game to death. Go spend that tenner, bug your mates to shell out aswell and go save the land! Game on y’all.

[kikaikiga]

~ The Uncertain: Episode 1 ~

“ The Uncertain is an episodic story-driven adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Experience the mysterious vibe of each of carefully explored locations, solve diverse puzzles, make fateful decisions and discuss intriguing matters to find out the whole truth being kept from you “

This has got to be one of the most visually enthralling games I’ve ever played. From the minute you open it to the very last second the graphics are truly mesmerising and plunges you right into the atmosphere of this post-apocolyptic adventure. I know, I know, graphics aren’t everything but credit where credit is due!

So what is it exactly that I’m so hyped up about? ‘The Uncertain: Episode 1 - The Last Quiet Day’ is an elegant and enchanting walking-sim that introduces you to a world after humans. ‘RT-217np’, a seemingly self-cognizant robot, is living in the outskirts of the city in an abandoned cabin and appears to have an interest in what remains of the former human presence.

As you explore your way through the environment, all is not as it once seemed to be and a larger story unfolds around you. Interact with anything and everything to learn all that you can about the world and progress through the story.  Be careful though, certain things you do or don’t decide to do could make an impact later on.

It’s hard to find much at fault with this particular game but I guess I have a few minor things that personally bug me. In certain speech cycles you have a choice of 4 possible replies but you can only use one. This irritates me only because the options are generally a mix of either gaining some backstory to someone/something or receiving information related to a current objective. As someone who loves the random bits of trivia that build on character and story development, I feel robbed that I can’t have it both ways. I guess I can’t have my cake and eat after all.

What’s my other issue? This game is episodic. I guess this isn’t so much an issue as it is an unsated want for more. It will be interesting to see what Episode 2 brings as a delayed release date and rumoured story mashup could potentially make or break this series. I guess we shall just have to wait and see. Although, for £10.99 a piece, I’ll be waiting for a decent sale to come along before I pay out to continue this particular adventure.

[kikaikiga]

~ Stories:The Path of Destinies ~

“Stories: The Path of Destinies is an Action-RPG, an enchanted storybook filled with madcap fantasy tales, each told by a zippy narrator attuned to the player’s choices and actions“

What if I’d gone left instead of right? ... What if I’d been a mage instead of an archer? ... What if I’d saved that guy instead of killing him? ... What if?

We’ve all had that moment - The one where you’re sat at your desk staring into space wondering what would have happened if you’d done things differently. Sometimes it’s on a fictional basis, othertimes its closer to home. This then begs the question of if you could go back and change some things ... would you do it? Could you risk losing how everything is now just for the possibility that another path may have been better? Even if it could turn out much, much worse? I know my answer.

Well that started rather deep; let’s lift things up a bit shall we? Stories: The Path of Destinies is a domino effect game that takes the concept of cause and effect and provides you with 24 different ways to meddle with fate. However, unlike actual life, you can start over if it all goes horribly wrong.

So, allow me to introduce you to Reynardo - The brave, caring, hopelessly in love, rogue warrior fox who just can’t seem to catch a break. It’s your job to help this slinky fellow overcome the trials of destiny and win not only the war but the heart of his lover-turned-enemy, Zenobia. Oh, don’t forget to avoid being taken over by a demonic god or ripping the boundaries of space and time in half ... no pressure right?

Moving on then. As far as graphics are concerned it’s easy on the eye and smooth enough to absorb you in pretty quickly. The art style is also a personal favourite of mine and I could quite happily sit and play for hours on end. I would laud it up more but I think this game can justify itself by the first 5 minutes alone.

However, if the graphics aren’t enough to keep you hooked, maybe the narration will be. Whack that audio up (via that oh so efficient settings menu) and allow yourself to be carried through story after story with puns, jokes and witty remarks from narrator and character alike. Whilst you’re at it, make sure to listen out for the ever present references to other games that the boys and gals at Spearhead have snuck in there. You’ll definitely get a few laughs along the way ... and maybe a few cringey groans.

Unfortunately pretty much every game has it’s downside and ‘Stories’ is no exception. You have 24 different paths to take, each choice point giving you two options, which is fine. The thing that gets me is that, to be able to go back and change your choices, you have to play every map from the very beginning. Let me put that into perspective for you - You’re on the last choice set of a path and you choose your first option. To go back and change that path, you have to start right at the beginning and remake EVERY.SINGLE.CHOICE. I hope you’re patient enough for the repetition.

Now, as far as completion goes, this particular game holds a very annoying and addictive grip on any gamer with even the slightest hint of an achievement hunter mentality. A full run through will get you pretty much all the achievements possible, leaving just a few that you can’t help but keep playing to get. I guess that’s perfect completion game number 4 for me then.

Overall I think this is an awesome game to sink some hours into and I would highly recommend getting stuck in. However, when I bought this there was a sale on and a rather satisfying discount meaning I only paid £1.09 as opposed to £10.99. Considering it takes around 20 hours to complete I’ll let you be the judge as to whether It’s worth full price or not.