#free steam games 2018

[dennisboobs]

.

[limepigeon]

It's finally here!! Coming Home: A Fallen Hero Fanzine is the joint work of 30 incredible contributors and one editor, culminating in a 70+ pages long zine filled with artwork and writing! I am beyond proud of the work and effort we all put into this, it turned out to be a lot bigger than I initially thought but the result has blown me away! I have learnt a lot while organising this project which I am very grateful for. Thank you to all contributors who made this possible! And with that, I am very excited to finally be able to share it with you! Coming Home: A Fallen Hero Fanzine (2024) - Link to PDF

List of contributors: Wednesday (he/they) - crowshuh.tumblr.com Borf (she/her) - no socials Capricule (she/her) - Linktr.ee/capricule Sam (they/them) - seawardboundsammy.tumblr.com / Sandcloud27 (AO3) Allen "Chocolate Dreams" (ne/nem, it/its, they/them) - allens-chocolate-dreams.tumblr.com Beem (she/they) - callmebeem.tumblr.com Bookish (they/them) - silvery-bluish.tumblr.com Mo (he/they) - mosartandjunk.tumblr.com Wenrys "Echo" (they/them) - echoesofwinter.tumblr.com / EchoesOfWinter (twitter) Gingham (he/him) - glamgingham.tumblr.com Chainchaser (he/him) - chainchaser.tumblr.com Pulp (he/they) - sidesteppostinghours.tumblr.com Sal (he/him) - steelh4ze.tumblr.com Lori (they/them) - disastersteps.tumblr.com Jackal "Cigs" (he/they) - cigarettesandinevitablebetrayal.tumblr.com / Knockoff_Indulgences (AO3) Godshaper - godshaper.tumblr.com / Godshaper (twitter) Westealtoys (she/her) - westealtoys.tumblr.com Wonda (she/her) - wonda-fhr.tumblr.com Karo "HarbingersEcho" (he/him) - harbingersecho.tumblr.com Ripley (it/its) - asthecrowrambles.tumblr.com Ellie (he/him) - hawkepockets.tumblr.com Kalee (she/her) - bigfreckledears.tumblr.com Hen (he/they) - side-stepping.tumblr.com Isobel "Iggy" (she/her) - iggydabirdkid.tumblr.com / iggys_artstuff (IG) Idle (he/him) - idlenight.tumblr.com Dogueteeth (they/them) - dogueteeth.tumblr.com Phopho (he/him) - phosilli.tumblr.com / phosilli (IG) Aedan "Kidhellion" (he/him) - kidhellion.tumblr.com Shark "SixLeggedBoar" (he/they) - sexleggedboar.tumblr.com Cassie "Calnexin" (she/her) - calnexin.tumblr.com Tom "Lime" (they/them) - limepigeon.tumblr.com The print-at-home PDF will come later this year! Coming Home: A Fallen Hero Fanzine (2024) is a free, non-profit fan project based on the interactive fiction series Fallen Hero (2018). Fallen Hero (2018) is written by Malin Rydén and published by Hosted Games, it can be found at Choice of Games and Steam.

Tags for contributors under the read more

@crowshuh @capricule @seawardboundsammy @allens-chocolate-dreams @callmebeem @silvery-bluish @mosartandjunk @echoesofwinter @glamgingham @chainchaser @sidesteppostinghours @steelh4ze @disastersteps @cigarettesandinevitablebetrayal @godshaper @westealtoys @wonda-fhr @harbingersecho @asthecrowrambles @hawkepockets @bigfreckledears @side-stepping @iggydabirdkid @idlenight @dogueteeth @phosilli @kidhellion @sixleggedboar @calnexin Contributors, feel free to upload your zine artwork to your own socials and tag me or use tag fallen hero fanzine 2024 so I can find it and reblog it! 💛

[i-love-linux-and-reject-gender]

hey I've been considering downloading Linux for a while now could you tell me what about it is different from Windows?

alot of what I've been looking at has really just said that it's better without really saying why

1. there's a package manager:

you usually don't download software by going to a website, downloading a file and double-clicking it, you use something like an appstore (much much better than the microsoft app store). you can also just use the package manager (the software that installs and uninstalls software from the appstore) from the terminal. there you would run a command like "sudo apt install steam" to install steam. you can download almost everything you need using this.

2. it's free (also like in freedom)

linux is free and not in an ad-filled and selling your user data way. your operating system isn't telling you to buy it. all software in the appstore is also free.

3. it's (usually) more reliable

at least in my experience, windows is much more unstable than linux. the slowdown of your system after a couple months of usage doesn't exist. linux breaks less often, however when it does break and you are new to linux it can be more difficult to fix than windows (this changes over time in my experience). linux doesn't force updates on you, if you want you can just not update your system for years (not a good idea though). and updates are much less intrusive, you can run an upgrade in the background while not noticing everything, and reboots after upgrades don't take any longer than a normal reboot

4. performance

the system uses less resources. windows uses like 2-5 gigs of ram depending on the install just on the desktop, all of my linux installs use less than a gigabyte on the desktop. my linux laptop from 2018 is much more responsive in day to day use than my new windows laptop.

5. software compatibility

you can't run most windows software on linux

photoshop, microsoft office and stuff like that doesn't work

however, gaming usually isn't much of a problem (if you have your games on steam). steam has a linux compatibility layer for linux called proton, which allows you to run most games on linux. and that's the software shipped with the steam deck. in doubt, check https://protondb.com if your games are supported

please add anything else you might see fit, this is a quick list i made after waking up lol

[the-monkey-ruler]

Dota 2 (2013)

Date: July 9, 2013 Platform: Mac / PC / Linux Developer: Valve Corporation Publisher: Valve Corporation / Nexon Corporation / Perfect World Entertainment Genre: MOBA Theme: Fantasy Franchises: Dota Also known as: Defense of the Ancients 2 Type: Crossover

Summary:

Dota 2 is a free-to-play high fantasy action real-time strategy game developed and released digitally by Valve for the PC, Mac and Linux on July 9, 2013.

Built on the studio's Source engine, Dota 2 is the official sequel to Defense of the Ancients, a series of custom scenarios for the 2002 game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos that originally popularized the "Multiplayer Online Battle Arena" sub-genre. Development of the game is led by the original mod's final lead designer, IceFrog.

Similar to the original mod, the main gameplay pits two five-player teams (the Radiant and the Dire) against each-other as they work to escort their three endless waves of AI-controlled monsters (or "creeps") to the fortified enemy base in order to destroy the enemy "Ancient". Each player controls an individual Hero character and, throughout the match, earn experience (to level up their stats and abilities) and gold (for purchasing items and equipment) by eliminating enemies.

Rather than using a weekly free-to-play character rotation system (similar to other MOBA games at the time, namely League of Legends), the game makes all characters playable from the start and features cosmetic microtransactions (such as alternate appearances for each Hero's armor and weapons, alternate announcers, and custom UI enhancements) using the Steam Inventory and Steam Market systems.

The game received numerous updates since its original release, adding new Heroes, game modes (including support for custom modes), and features while revising certain gameplay mechanics. New features include better support for both new players (with integrated community-made guide support, coaching, and improved training modes) and competitive players (with improved replay and spectator support), as well as VR headset support (for spectating and viewing cosmetics). It also received a reworked client update in June 2015 (named "Dota 2 Reborn" for a short time), porting the game to Valve's Source 2 engine (the first game released with it), and received a complete map revamp on April 2023.

Dota 2 originally received an invite-only beta in November 2011, during Gamescom 2011. It was formally launched July 9, 2013, but access was gated via a queue system until December 16, 2013. It was also distributed as a standalone game in some regions, with Perfect World publishing the game in China, and Nexon publishing the game in both Japan and South Korea. The game also received spin-offs, including the 2018 digital card game Artifact, the 2020 "auto-battler" game Dota Underlords, and the 2021 animated series Dota: Dragon's Blood.

Source: https://www.giantbomb.com/dota-2/3030-32887/

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqtkfCLjJz4&ab_channel=DotaCinema

[zombielesbean]

My Gamedev Portfolio!!

here's every single game I've made!

Marshmallow in Fruit Land (2018)

my first ever finished game project! a cute little puzzle platformer about changing colors and collecting fruit! (and also... rubber ducks?)

Check it out on itch.io!

Super Climb Up (2019)

this one's an NES-inspired platfomer about climbing mountains! watch out for local wildlife and maybe clean up some litter along the way while you're at it!

Check it out on itch.io!

Pizza Time Explosion (2019)

an arcade-style game about collecting pizza toppings to build a pizza star to critical mass and bring about the pizza time explosion! you can also fight zombies, eat garbage, or make a pretty picture, if you'd like!

Check it out on itch.io! | Also check it out on Steam!

Marshmallow on a Roll (2022)

this one was made for a game jam! I worked on this one with two others, I did the graphics, and a bit of the programming! in this sequel to Marshmallow in fruit Land, you have to help Marshmallow defend his fruit from the onslaught of weirdos! however, the hazards the dice conjures up can hurt you, too, so watch out!

also, you can play this one for free!

Check it out on itch.io!

Grey Area (2023)

my newest (and biggest!) project is coming soon! Grey Area is a platforming adventure following Hailey, an eight year old kid who finds herself in a strange world between worlds, known as the Grey Area... there's strange creatures to meet (and to evade), surreal landscapes to explore, and mysteries to unravel!

Check it out on itch.io! | Also check it out on Steam!

[pigswithwings]

if you want to. can you explain what ultrakill is

WHY YES I CAN

ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced first person shooter that was released on Steam in 2020. It is currently still in development but you can buy it or get the demo for free right now :]

anyways the plot of ultrakill is thus: you are V1, a robot designed for war. you use blood as a way to regain health as you are traveling through the layers of Hell itself.

and by way of "use blood to regain health" i mean that there is a Lot. of blood. you can shoot and you can punch and you can explode things and it is so viscerally satisfying to watch an enemy explode into bits of flesh as you go back up to full health. did i mention that the enemies include other robots, demons, and also angels? it's a wild fucking ride

ultrakill is an incredibly stylized game - it has a very specific and very confident "retro" look (check out its graphics!!), it makes some very deliberate references to other sick games (castlevania, devil may cry), it has some really awesome music (which can be described as "breakcore" at most times).

and the thing about ultrakill as a full game is that it gives you room to grow and it genuinely feels good to get better at the game. there is a wildly high ceiling when it comes to "how well can a person kill this roomful of enemies" or "how fast can a person get through this game" but it also has several ways to accomodate people who can't or don't play fast shooter games very well. i think ultrakill was one of the first fps games i actully played, same thing with some of my friends who also had a great time.

the lore of ultrakill isn't always touched on by the wider community, but it has some really intriguing takes on religion, war, etc. probably unsurprising coming from the "you are in Hell from The Bible" game but if you take the time to read some of the entries or stories within the game it's easy to see that the people who created it put a lot in. i haven't even talked about how the developers themselves are rockin', composed of a bunch of very talented musicians, artists, programmers, etc. it's incredible to see a game that's been developing since 2018 reach this level of Cool and Sick.

i won't talk too much more so as to not spoil too much about the game itself. i haven't even talked about how you can shoot coins In The Fucking Air to deal additional damage, or how people use those coin mechanics to one-shot huge boss enemies, or how the music is dynamic and changes whether you're in combat or not, or the angels themselves, or that one angel who suffers from a huge Queer Realization and also religious guilt, or the machines themselves. but i digress. i think people should check the game out it's a really amazing experience and i personally found it super fun and a hell of a good time.

[heidengamedev]

Welcome to my gamedev blog!

My name's Heiden and I'm a solo developer with a passion for quirky emotional narrative games!

Work In Progress:

Who's That Mokemon?! (Working Title)

Being made for Yaoijam 2024. A comedy RPG where two boys go on an adventure to break the sleeping curse on their village! Will feature 64 creatures to wrangle, train and evolve. Form your very own mokemon party, kiss your rival and discover the secrets of the island!

There's no way I'm going to be able to finish during the two month jam, but will be diligently working on it during the jam!

Finished Games (in reverse chronological order):

Hug Embassy (2024)

Hug Embassy is looking for a new intern! Could that be you? A short 10k VN with hugging mini-games that can be played in-browser in a single sitting.

Available for Windows and Browser. Free.

Half Haunt Halloween (2023)

Move back home to your supernatural family and earn enough money to prevent the electrical company from shutting off your power! A 30k tragicomedy money raiser about making do with what you've got when the whole system is rigged against you. Also your little brother is a weeb. Nya~!

Available for Windows and Mac. Commercial Release.

A Heart of Butterblue (2023)

City girl Phebe has just inherited a farm. Her father was also just murdered and her grandfather is mysteriously missing. But she's mostly focused on adapting to her new routine.

A 30k horror western VN/farm sim with fully playable farming mechanics (plant, water, harvest, sell, plant), a foraging system, active clock and three characters to get close to and attempt to befriend.

Available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Steam. Free.

Tomorrow for Mar (2022)

Cast spells on a large cast of quirky characters as Mar attempts to pass their university final while battling the world's most obvious crush. Awkward.

A 2.5D VN with puzzles.

Available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Steam. Commercial Release.

Also available in French and Italian.

Ziva and the Wolves (2021)

Ziva is dying and there is no cure. Two knights both want the same legendary sword for opposing reasons. The three of them travel deep into the depths of the Goddess' temple to determine the fate of their lives.

A 5k VN with puzzles that take the form of SRPG battles.

Available for Windows and Mac. Free.

Heart is Muscle (2021)

Flex your way to become mayor! The town of Swoleville elects their mayor by way of a flexing contest, and poor Boro has just lost to his archrival. He's got 24 hours to contest the results but also-- the world might be ending?!

A comedy RPG/VN about getting stronger, helping people and saving the world!

Available for Windows, Mac, Linux and Steam. Commercial.

A New Don (2021)

Fia is set to inherit the title of Donna in one week, but has to survive the rest of the family's murder attempts first to get there! Features a nameable giant pet hog.

A 24k mafia-themed otome thriller with two LIs each with their own ending and a slew of bad ends.

Available for Windows, Mac, Linux and Browser. Free.

Also available in Spanish.

Kill the Prince?! (2020)

A prince is being married against his will. An assassin(?) is hired to take care of the issue. Wait, what? This game is gay?

A 5k comedy VN with espionage mechanics and four weird outfits to dress our assassin up in.

Available for Windows, Mac, Linux and Browser. Free.

Also available in Portuguese and French.

The Girl With The Gray Hair Awakens (2019)

A girl wakes up in a room with no memory and no color. Die, continue, die, continue again, and you might break the cycle.

Made in 72 hours as a 'flash gamedev challenge'.

Available for Windows, Mac, Linux and Browser. Free.

The Bog's Heart (2018)

Travel deep into the heart of the bog to find a cure for Meg's mom! But also your dog starts talking? That can't be normal.

A short (~5k) VN with puzzles made for Acejam 2018.

Dr. Frank's Build-A-Boyfriend (2017)

Dr. Frank's ex-boyfriend just stole his research and he's out for REVENGE. Build yourself the hottest bestest boy ever to SHOW UP his STINKY EX!!!!!

A 18k black comedy with point and click elements and a crafting system as well as a customizable custom made boyfriend!

Available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation Store, Microsoft Store.

Itch.io and Steam version Free. Console Port with New Epilogue Commercial.

Elvine (2013)

Elvine flees a horrible attack on her village to the ruins of an old castle. There she awaits news of the outside world while the ghosts of the past creep up on her...

A 32k somber otome game with two LIs and four endings. The first game I ever made!!! Look at how far I've come, omg.

Available or Windows, Mac and Linux.

[satoshi-mochida]

Dragon Quest Builders coming to PC on February 13

Gematsu Source

Square Enix will release the original Dragon Quest Builders for PC via Steam on February 13 for $27.99, the company announced. Users who already own Dragon Quest Builders 2 on Steam will be able to purchase Dragon Quest Builders at a discounted price.

Dragon Quest Builders first launched for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PS Vita on January 28, 2016 in Japan, followed by PlayStation 4 and PS Vita on October 11, 2016 in North America and October 14, 2016 in Europe. A Switch version followed on February 9, 2018 worldwide and March 1, 2018 in Japan, then iOS and Android versions on May 26, 2022 worldwide.

Here is an overview of the PC version, via its Steam page:

About

The first title in the Builders series, Dragon Quest Builders, is bringing its handy crafting features to Steam! Gather, craft and build to defeat defeat the evil Dragonlord and restore Alefgard to it’s former glory! In a world made out of blocks, everything that you see can be materials used to create! Farm ingredients, craft various items and build your base to unite the people roaming the ruins. From buildings to entire towns, you have the freedom to make your village your very own.

Story

Builders is set in the realm of Alefgard, the setting for the first ever Dragon Quest game. The world of Alefgard has been plunged into darkness, its light stolen by the evil Dragonlord, and this story begins with the appearance of a young hero with a mysterious ability to build things… And so the stage is set for an epic tale in which the dark world of Alefgard is returned to life with the power of creation!

Key Features

The first Dragon Quest Builders title, helpful crafting features include:

Place blocks remotely, or destroy blocks with ease, with just a single click of the mouse!

Now Includes a helpful Undo feature, which allows you to put things back to how they were before!

Now Featuring Big Bash, a useful feature introduced in Dragon Quest Builders 2 that allows you to break all objects in a particular area in one go!

“Terra Incognita,” Builders‘ free build stage, the stackable block height is doubled!

Includes fun side content, like collecting figurines of NPCs and monsters, or gathering pixels and exchanging them for a variety of handy items!

Use Build Cards to share buildings with other players and bring their buildings to life on your island!

Includes All Downloadable Content from Previous Versions of Dragon Quest Builders

The Steam version of Dragon Quest Builders includes all of the downloadable content from past versions including the free build mode, “Terra Incognita: Magic Carpet,” “Boss Monster Model Set,” “Astronomy Set,” and “Pixel Ring.”

View the first screenshots of the PC version at the gallery.

[rotbit]

Wheatley fanart from... 2018. Specifically, March 26th. This image... has history.

[I had to slightly edit the image, because I signed it with my deadname... but I think I did an OK job at making it seamless.]

Some lore for you. Back in the day, I was semi-active on a site called Lioden, where you raise lions or whatever. But there was also a forum board, and I had like, a free art request thread. And on February 7th, someone requested I draw Wheatley. If I remember correctly, this pushed me to actually pick up the game. And if my Steam account has anything to say about it, I started playing Portal 2 on February 23rd. And the rest is history. By March 2nd I had a plush of the bastard.

Bonus image:

So I've been a certified Portal fan for over 5 years now!!

[analogplaysgamessometimes]

Hey, y'all! I've been getting sidetracked a lot lately and haven't had much motivation to write, so my next full review is taking longer than I would have liked. This is also my first official post on Tumblr. Yaaaaay! In the meantime, I wanna shout out some completely free experiences I've played that I very much recommend! Some of which can be played in browser and take as little as five minutes to complete.

Discover My Body (2020)

Developed by Yames

A short, atmospheric body horror experience that sees you take on the role of a medical student supervising a Flowering. Available on itch.io

carcass (2024)

Developed by Tooth and Claw

A short psychological horror game involving themes of abuse, drug use, and body horror. You are the assistant to the Witch, working to expand your mind in order to create a more perfect form. Available on itch.io

novena (2018)

Developed by cicile richard

Less of a traditional game and more of a visualizer for a poem about the Ocean granting your wish. A beautiful experience. Available on itch.io

Operation: Harsh Doorstop (2023)

Developed by Drakeling Labs

An early access tactical shooter with a massive weapons sandbox and decent modding community. A military history nerd's wet dream. Extremely excited to see what this team puts out next, as apparently a huge update is close at hand! Available on Steam.

[demifiendrsa]

God of War Ragnarök PC - Announce Trailer

The PC version of God of War Ragnarök  will launch for Steam and Epic Games Store on September 19, 2024.

About

From Santa Monica Studio and brought to PC in partnership with Jetpack Interactive comes God of War Ragnarok, an epic and heartfelt journey that follows Kratos and Atreus as they struggle with holding on and letting go.

The sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018), God of War Ragnarok picks up with Fimbulwinter well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Odin’s forces in Asgard prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world.

Along the way, they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. As the threat of Ragnarok grows ever closer, Kratos and Atreus must choose between the safety of their family and the safety of the realms.

Key Features

A Future, Unwritten – Atreus seeks knowledge to help him understand the prophecy of “Loki” and establish his role in Ragnarok. Kratos must decide whether he will be chained by the fear of repeating his mistakes or break free of his past to be the father Atreus needs.

Fluid, Expressive Combat – The Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, and Guardian Shield return alongside a host of new abilities for both Kratos and Atreus. Kratos’ deadly Spartan skills will be tested like never before as he battles gods and monsters across Nine Realms to protect his family.

Explore Vast Realms – Journey through dangerous and stunning landscapes as Kratos and Atreus search for answers.

Master Thyself in God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla

Available right at launch with your purchase of God of War Ragnarok is access to the God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla downloadable content for no additional cost!

Accompanied only by Mimir, Kratos embarks on a deeply personal and reflective journey that pushes him to master mind and body as he is confronted with the challenges of Valhalla in an unravelling, replayable adventure that blends the beloved combat from God of War Ragnarok with brand new elements inspired by the roguelite genre.

An Epilogue to Ragnarok – Kratos’ journey continues as he enters Valhalla, a new location in the God of War Norse saga. Faced with echoes of his past, he fights to overcome the trials within himself and walk the path laid out before him.

Beloved Combat Reimagined – The beloved combat from God of War Ragnarok with fresh and experimental twists inspired by the roguelite genre. Valhalla will push you to master different aspects of Kratos’ arsenal during each attempt as you face new combinations of enemies and some surprises along the way!

Fight. Learn. Grow. – Death is never the end. Kratos will have access to his weapons, skills, shields and abilities, but each new attempt will reset his Stats, Runic Attacks and Perks. As Kratos progresses through each attempt, you will be presented with choices between rewards that will help you push deeper into the mysterious depths of Valhalla while building resources toward persistent upgrades.

PC Features

Partnering with Jetpack Interactive once again, God of War Ragnarok on PC will harness the power of the platform to deliver an exceptional experience.

Unlocked Frame Rates and High-Fidelity Graphics – Unlocked framerates and the option of true 4K resolution expand the full potential of our cinematic no-cut camera as you travel through the stunning vistas of the Nine Realms. Behold enhanced reflections, lighting, and higher fidelity shadows, as well as increased geometric detail.

Upscaling Technology – Full integration with NVIDIA RTX Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 3.7, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 3.1, and Intel XeSS (Xe Super Sampling) 1.2 will allow you to reach higher graphical settings and output resolutions.

NVIDIA Reflex Support – Utilize NVIDIA Reflex low latency technology allowing you to react quicker and hit harder combos with the responsive gameplay.

Super Ultrawide Support – Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Nine Realms in panoramic widescreen with 21:9 ultra-widescreen and 32:9 super ultra-widescreen support!¹

Controls Customization – Play your way. With support for the DUALSHOCK 4 and DUALSENSE wireless controllers, a wide range of other gamepads, and fully customizable bindings for mouse and keyboard, you have the power to fine-tune every action to match your playstyle.

Haptic Feedback – Feel your journey through the Norse realms, made possible by immersive haptic feedback and adaptive trigger functionality.

Spatial 3D Audio – Take advantage of highly accurate, spatial 3D Audio; hear enemies approaching from any direction, including from above and below you.

[fridge-reviews]

God of War

Developer: Santa Monica Studio Publisher: PlayStation PC LLC Steam Deck Compatibility?: Verified Rrp: £39.99 (Gog.com, Humble, Steam and Epic) Released: 14th January 2022 Available on: Gog.com, Humble, Steam and Epic Played Using: An Xbox One Control Pad and a Steam Deck Approximate game length: 40 hours +

I’m just going to say this now, until this one I’ve never played any of the God of War games. From what I’m given to understand this game is different from its predecessors in a number of ways, not least of which being the setting. For starters, Kratos (one of two main characters) is older than in the previous games, though it’s never specified how much older, another difference is the inclusion of his son Atreus (the second of the two main characters).

God of War originally released in 2018 on the Playstation 4 but has thankfully joined the slowly growing number of games that Playstation are allowing onto the PC (albeit five years later). The game is what I would call semi open world, where you can’t go just anywhere but the space in which you do have to play is quite extensive and densely packed.

Graphically this game is absolutely gorgeous and runs smoothly (even on my rig that's starting to show its age). On the Steam Deck it generally runs wonderfully though it does drain the battery incredibly quickly while not docked. I did have one instance of the game crashing while docked though it seems to have been a one off as I've not been able to replicate it.

As I mentioned this game is a densely packed semi open world so there is plenty to do. What I find quite impressive is that as you play through the game Kratos tries to use the various side missions as a way to teach Atreus lessons. I think that's a very smart way to show how Kratos has grown as a character from the previous games (from what I can tell) without making it explicit.

The combat is engaging and fast paced with multiple opponents trying to attack you at the same time forcing you to dodge and parry blows from different directions. If you do successfully parry an attack you’re rewarded with a brief window of time where the combat slows and you can take your opportunity to strike. Unlike many other games that saddle you with an NPC Atreus is actually useful, especially in combat, as he will attack enemies of his own accord or by your command. He even will sometimes restrain enemies allowing you to get free hits in or a moment's respite.

As you fight you'll build up ‘Spartan Rage’ (as depicted in a metre below your health bar). This metre increases from both dealing and taking damage. Once you activate this ‘Rage Mode’ you cause much more damage and are totally immune to all damage for the short time it lasts.

Defeated enemies sometimes drop healthstones that restore a portion of your health, resources for upgrading your equipment or hacksilver that can be used in stores. These can also be found within breakable pottery that's scattered around the world (except the resources, those are typically found in chests). Defeating enemies also grants experience (XP) but only once you’ve completed a combat encounter.

Experience (or XP) is spent on upgrading your skills, however you can also use it to upgrade the various runes you will find in the world that can be applied to your weapons and armour. In Atreus’s case not only can it be spent on making him a much more efficient fighter but also allow him some magical affinity.

Your ‘Goals’ (read objective) screen is separated into five parts; Journey, favours, labours, treasure maps and artefacts. Journey is the main storyline, favours are side quests, labour's are optional tasks such as ‘kill X creatures’, treasure maps I feel are self explanatory and artefacts are items found in the world. All of the goals and codex screens are written by Atreus which I think is a clever idea as Kratos doesn't seem to be the type to write things down. A great example of this is when you defeat an enemy type a few times more information in the form of hints will appear in that enemies bestiary entry.

If I had to level one complaint against this game it would be that it’s slightly guilty of over using and recycling enemy types. A great example of this are the trolls, through this game you’ll face a number of trolls (about six if memory serves) however they all have the same move set, and look the same apart from maybe being bigger or a different colour.

I did wonder if this game deserved all the hype it was given back when it first released and now having played it I get it. It’s a lot of fun with an interesting plot and charming characters. If you’ve not played this game don’t worry about not having played the previous titles, it really does stand up on its own so I heartily recommend it.

----

If you’d like to support me I have a Ko-fi, the reviews will continue to be posted donation or not.

[onewhoturns]

A-Z Challenge GAME 3

I'm a couple hours out from finishing Afterparty, and currently Bad End Theater is winning the B poll, which is a very short game, so I'm gonna go ahead and open voting for the C game.

Continuing the trend of having even more options... and my vast collection of detective/noir games...

Descriptions of the options (ft trailers and tags) below the cut!

1. Cayne (2017)

"In this grim return to the STASIS universe, expectant protagonist, Hadley, wakes up in a facility. Where is she? Why is she there? And, why do they want her baby? Help panicked and anxious Hadley find her feet and brave stomach-churning situations to break free, by solving puzzles in this FREE point-and-click, isometric horror adventure game with a modern edge." Steam tags: adventure, horror, point & click, indie, isometric, sci-fi, gore, violent

2. Chicken Police - Paint it RED! (2020)

"A wild tale of love, death, chickens, and redemption! Chicken Police is a buddy-cop noir adventure with a carefully crafted world, a gritty story, and absurd humor. The game mixes classic adventure games with visual novel-style storytelling, presented in a beak-droppingly unique art style." Steam tags: visual novel, story rich, detective, noir, adventure, point & click, crime, conversation

3. CHUCHEL (2018)

"CHUCHEL is a comedy adventure game from the creators of Machinarium, Botanicula and Samorost. Join the hairy hero Chuchel and his rival Kekel as they will be facing numerous puzzles and challenges in their quest to retrieve the precious cherry!" Steam tags: casual, comedy, point & click, cute, cartoony, linear, indie

4. Contradiction: Spot The Liar/Contradiction - the all-video murder mystery adventure (2015)

"Contradiction is a brand new take on the concept of an interactive movie and brings the genre to a whole new level of playability. The game is all about interviewing the characters you meet, questioning them about all the evidence you’ve collected and things you’ve seen, then spotting contradictions in their answers. Pair two contradictions together and watch them try to worm out of it!" Steam tags: detective, crime, investigation, fmv, indie, interactive fiction, mystery, point & click, exploration, rpg

5. Creaks (2020)

"The ground starts shaking, light bulbs are breaking - and something rather unusual is happening right behind the walls of your very room. Equipped with nothing but wit and courage, you slowly descend into a world inhabited by avian folk and seemingly deadly furniture monsters." Steam tags: puzzle, hand-drawn, atmospheric, surreal, puzzle platformer, relaxing, mystery

6. Coffee Talk (2020) (I have 6/24 achievements after 2hrs of play, hltb estimates an average 9hrs completionist)

"Coffee Talk is a coffee brewing and heart-to-heart talking simulator about listening to fantasy-inspired modern peoples’ problems, and helping them by serving up a warm drink or two." Steam tags: conversation, visual novel, atmospheric, relaxing, story rich, interactive fiction, lgbtq+, casual

[the-monkey-ruler]

Paladins (2018)

Date: May 8, 2018 Platform: Mac / PC / Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / Nintendo Switch Developer: Evil Mojo Games / Hi-Rez Studios Publisher: Hi-Rez Studios Genre: First-Person Shooter / MOBA Theme: Fantasy Type: Appropriation

Summary:

Paladins: Champions of the Realm (known in-game as Paladins) is a free-to-play multiplayer-focused high-fantasy first-person/third-person shooter developed by Hi-Rez Studios (later by Evil Mojo) and released digitally by Hi-Rez Studios for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Mac on May 8, 2018. It was later released for the Nintendo Switch on June 12, 2018.

A "hero shooter" in the same vein as Blizzard's Overwatch, Paladins combines elements from class-based teamplay shooters (such as Team Fortress 2) with hero-based MOBAs (such as SMITE). The game includes a deck-building system, allowing players to customize the abilities and playstyle of each Champion, and later added complete cross-platform multiplayer and progression support.

The game takes place in a fantasy realm years after a group of magical warriors (known as the Paladins) brought about an era of peace after a cataclysmic event. After the discovery of newfound limitless magic through crystals, two major factions are at war: a powerful order of magic users known as the Magistrate (led by ex-Paladin Karne, who seeks to quell potential chaos by banning all crystal magic from the common population) and the common Resistance (led by ex-Paladin Valera, who believes that crystal magic can be used freely for progress).

The Steam version of the game was originally released as an early access title September 15, 2016, while the XB1 and PS4 versions received an open beta on May 3, 2017. Along with seasonal updates, the game later received two spin-offs: the mobile top-down "hero shooter" Paladins Strike and the survival-shooter Realm Royale.

Source: https://www.giantbomb.com/paladins/3030-51613/

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnUZl3zZnyU

[legitimatesatanspawn]

Okay, I'm... confused? Because I noticed some things I've played are updating / have updated recently and some are really unexpected. For the record: increasing order of surprise.

Secrets of Grindea: 1.01a (2024) - Purchased 2015. No I don't remember the first time I tried the demo but I'm really excited to see it got released I think I first saw it around the same time as CrossCode's older demos. The updates for Grindea were slow but steady, but yeeees. SNES style Action-Adventure with bullet curtain (lite) bosses and lots of extra sidequests and hidden things.

Stardew Valley: 1.6.1 (2024) - Purchased 2016. I thought it was done updating in 2021 but huh. ... I don't remember the last time I really played this. Probably 2018? To be fair I don't often play Harvest Moon style farming sims but hey cool news.

Epic Battle Fantasy 4: v3 update (v2 in 2021 was Beta opt-in mode so I completely missed it) - Released 2014. I remember 3 more clearly than 4 but this is going to be sweet. I want to say "oldschool flash game series" but it was closer to mid/late Flash? But with 3 (which is FREE by the way) they went from pure battle runs to a more general JRPG setup with an overworld and sidequests and everything.

SWR JST DX Selective Memory Erase Effect: New engine... and new name "Selective Jump: Once Again With Feeling". 2015 to 2024. ... I legit don't remember this one. Apparently it's a platformer.

100% Orange Juice: Apparently still updating? About 10 years running (English, came out 2009 in Japan so 15 years) and good lord that's a lot of character pack DLC. If you've never played it, think a digital board game like shoujo anime Mario Party (minus minigames but with card-based combat).

And the ultimate surprise of what I've seen:

Toribash: It was put on Steam (free) in 2014, but I remember playing it via IndieDB before then (it came out 2006 but I know I didn't play it back then). 18 years, holy shit. Toribash is an incremental 3D fighter - basically you slowly changed your ragdoll rock-em-sock-em puppet to fight frame by frame and then you and your opponent got to see how crazy the damage was.

[experimentkc]

Lilo, Jumba, Captain Gantu, and Angel are racing to Disney Speedstorm!

Lilo & Stitch is going to burn rubber onto Gameloft's Disney Speedstorm soon!

This past week, beginning from July 17, 2023, the game's official social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube have been sharing concept art for the new Lilo & Stitch track environment that will be added in the game's third season (and the last season for its early access period).

But Gameloft also took the opportunity to tease the four other Lilo & Stitch racers who will be joining Stitch in the new season by hiding the syllables of those racers' names in the concept art. (Zoom in on the images above!) These were followed by a full reveal of their character and kart renders the very next day.

With Lilo Pelekai, Jumba Jookiba, Captain Gantu, and Experiment 624/Angel ready to tear up some Hawaiian roads, plus two more mystery racers from other Disney franchises joining them, this looks to be Disney Speedstorm's biggest season yet before its full free-to-play release on September 28!

Plus, considering that Speedstorm features voice acting, with many of the various Disney and Pixar characters' original voice actors reprising their roles, this will be the first time in years that Lilo & Stitch and Disney fans will get to hear the beloved little Hawaiian girl Lilo talk again and possibly hear Kevin Michael Richardson, who last voiced Gantu in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010), bringing his deep and authoritative voice back to the massive whale-like alien that put him on the map. Moreso, Angel's original voice Tara Strong could finally be voicing Stitch's pink alien siren girlfriend for the first time since Leroy & Stitch seventeen years ago (unless Gameloft decides to go with her Stitch! anime voice Kate Higgins or another actor). Jumba, meanwhile, will be getting a different voice from his original Western appearance, as David Ogden Stiers died back in March 2018. There is a chance that his anime and Stitch & Ai voice Jess Winfield could be voicing the evil genius again though since the latter's English release; if that's the case, then this will be the first time Winfield voiced Jumba in a Western-produced work.

Season 3 of Disney Speedstorm will be released next month during August, following the conclusion of the Toy Story-focused Season 2: To Infinity and Beyond. As of this writing, the game is currently available in paid early access for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PCs (via Steam, the Microsoft Store, and the Epic Games Store).

For those who missed Stitch's reveal on Stitch Day (June 26) 2023, here's his render.