Ducky Obrien Show 039 - Indie Games Galore (Sunlight Scream, Pretty Girls Escape Plus, Final Stardust Cosmic Nexus)

Video Game News, Reviews, and Guides (and sometimes random things)

Sunlight Scream

Sunlight Scream is a visual novel set in a small town university. The story and visuals seem heavily inspired by anime. There is one major problem however. The original language was not English and let's just say the text feels like it was made using Google translate sometimes.

The inconsistent translation makes reading the novel very awkward at times. The occasional spelling error and sloppy grammar would have been OK but the word choices definitely take you out of the story. They use words the average English speaking person would not have in their daily lexicon. Those words may have fit in the narrative exposition of Sunlight Scream but not so much in the dialogue between people. No sane person would speak like that.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2608440/Sunlight_Scream/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/13/sunlight-scream-gameplay-preview-ok-visual-novel-with-translation-errors/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/6wG_550tQjU

Pretty Girls Escape PLUS

Pretty Girls Escape PLUS is another fantastic puzzle game from the friendly folks at Zoo Corporation featuring some well endowed anime girls.

The puzzle design in this game is actually fantastic. I usually blaze through most of their games in about two hours or so unless it has a challenge mode. The later puzzles in Escape PLUS require more thinking and strategy. I was actually stuck on a few levels and had to come back to them later to get past them.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2670340/Pretty_Girls_Escape_PLUS/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/14/pretty-girls-escape-plus-gameplay-preview-i-am-bad-at-this-game-but-it-has-booba/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/t7lm31mWWMg

Final Stardust: Cosmic Nexus

Final Stardust: Cosmic Nexus is a simple card game that features monsters with elemental properties much like Pokemon. I'm playing the preview build so not a lot of features are in the game yet but I can write about what I've played so far and how it feels.

For starters the game is very simple. The playing field only has three character slots and the main cards you have are your basic monster cards, evolution cards, and some spell cards. The monsters have a health and attack rating. The way to win is to defeat all of the opponent's monsters and attack the player directly until their health is brought down to zero. This is very similar to other card games such as Yugioh, Magic the Gathering, and Hearthstone.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1896570/Final_Stardust_Cosmic_Nexus/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/15/final-stardust-cosmic-nexus-gameplay-preview-simplified-pokemon-like-card-game/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/7Y_a5-Z4T4c

Thanks for listening!

Ducky Obrien Show 038 - Indie Games Galore (Space Station Tycoon, Cosmo Cheats at Poker, Costa Verde Transport Department, The Invincible)

Video Game News, Reviews, and Guides (and sometimes random things)

Space Station Tycoon

Space Station Tycoon is a management sim about building up your own space station. I do have to mention that the normal game mode feels very slow. The rate at which you earn money and research points as well as the rate at which ships visit your station is painfully slow. It’s slow to the point where you won’t be able to actually build up your space station at a decent pace and you end up having to wait a long time before being able to do anything at all.

This is a shame because if you play the game in creative mode, you get to see the full potential the game has. Honestly speaking here, I think the game is infinitely more enjoyable playing in creative mode. You can spend all your time designing your ideal space station or experiment with different layouts. Everything is unlocked in creative mode (other than jump gates) and you have infinite money so your imagination is the limit here. You can even unlock most of the achievements in creative mode.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1324270/Space_Station_Tycoon/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/08/space-station-tycoon-gameplay-preview-slow-management-sim/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/mS9OpXMvrgU

Cosmo Cheats at Poker

Cosmo Cheats at Poker is a poker game with some cheating mechanics thrown in. It’s an OK game but I didn’t encounter anything that made it stand out among the sea of other poker games out there. It reminded me of playing Poker Night at the Inventory way back in the day and honestly speaking that experience felt smoother than the one provided by Cosmo.

It’s not that this game has any specific issue or problem that makes it lackluster, it’s just that the game doesn’t really add anything on top of playing poker to make the game stand out in any way. There’s just too many options when it comes to playing poker, including playing poker in other games like Red Dead Redemption 2.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2479950/Cosmo_Cheats_at_Poker/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/09/cosmo-cheats-at-poker-gameplay-preview-ok-poker-game-with-cheating-mechanics/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/IOMH6PHXJKo

Costa Verde Transport Department

Costa Verde Transport Department is a game where you design a network of roads that can handle the stress of traffic. I will cut to the chase with this game as well. It's mediocre at best and there's really no reason to play this game over a similar game such as Mini Motorways.

The main flaw of Costa Verde is that the road designing mechanic does not work well at all. For most other games focusing on or containing elements where you build a network of roads, it is essential for the game that building the roads feels intuitive and natural. It's the core element of the game and if the core doesn't feel good, nothing else will.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2403100/Costa_Verde_Transport_Department/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/11/costa-verde-transport-department-gameplay-preview-mediocre-road-design-game/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/8Jp8PG3Ozws

The Invincible

Let's get one thing out of the way real quick. The Invincible is a walking sim. It's basically an interactive movie of sorts. You walk through a mostly linear path with minimal interaction and experience the narrative. I completely understand that this won't appeal to everyone but if you love a good, slow sci-fi narrative you may want to give The Invincible a chance.

I will admit that I am pretty biased as I love science fiction, especially the slow kind that focuses more on the science element rather than grandiose battles and flashy action sequences. Invincible fits right in the first category. It is a gloriously slow and meticulous story that feels like it could actually happen in the not so distant future.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/731040/The_Invincible/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/12/the-invincible-gameplay-preview-amazing-slow-sci-fi-walking-sim/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/ICRBIsM42Z4

Thanks for listening!

Ducky Obrien Show 037 - Random Thoughts - How to improve discoverability on YouTube

Video Game News, Reviews, and Guides (and sometimes random things)

Some random thoughts I had on how to improve discoverability on YouTube.

Steam has these limited discoverability boosts for developers where you can increase impressions by 500k around 5 times. You can use these anytime.

Why not have a similar feature for YouTube but obviously these boosted impressions/views won't count towards your total view count, count as monetized views, or impact the algorithm in any way.

It would just be a way to show more people you exist.

►YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-oIykI9TS4 ►Blog: https://duckyobrien.com/

Thanks for listening!

Ducky Obrien Show 036 - Indie Games Galore (Robocop Rogue City, Pneumata, The Last Faith, Polimines 2)

Video Game News, Reviews, and Guides (and sometimes random things)

RoboCop: Rogue City

Gaming and movies seem to be sharing the same problem lately. Your choices as a consumer seems to range from AAA titles, with massive, multi-million budgets and a team made up of hundreds of talented creators, to way smaller indie studios where the quality may not always be guaranteed and the scope of the project and production values are definitely more limited.

There does seem to be a sense of fatigue from all the AAA games and movies feeling the same, while the indie scene has just so many titles to wade through that it feels daunting to find one that speaks to you. In this pool of tired consumers, there seems to be one sentiment rising to the surface. People are asking where have all the B tier entertainment gone?

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1681430/RoboCop_Rogue_City/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/04/robocop-rogue-city-demo-gameplay-preview-id-buy-that-for-a-dollar/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/uJP4lHsw6o0

Pneumata

I will cut to the chase. I played the demo for Pneumata and it needs work. Pneuamta is a horror game and instead of feeling scary it just feels very tedious. This is mostly due to the combat and a strange mechanic where the screen goes super dark and you just can’t see anything. It’s not fun.

The reason why the combat feels tedious is that there are so many zombies and the weapons have a very low durability. Combine the tedious combat with a small inventory space and you a recipe for boredom. The gun is practically useless since you never have enough bullets and the damage is worse than the melee weapons. The melee weapons feel pretty OK but they break so quickly. This leaves you with the knife and the knife is quite possibly one of the worst weapons I have ever used in a game.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1183850/Pneumata/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/05/pneumata-demo-gameplay-peview-plastic-dinner-knife-stats/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/MezpD4Dp_pE

The Last Faith

The Last Faith is a 2D Metroidvania Soulslike and it feels pretty decent. I saw one reviewer use the term Soulsvania and I'm actually digging it, I may use it in the future. As a side note, what a time we live in where there are so many established video game genres and design archetypes that we have specific terms for them. Video games have come a long way.

Going back on topic, The Last Faith has a medieval, grimdark atmosphere. This extended to one aspect of the game that I did not expect to see, voice acting! There wasn't a lot of interactions with NPCs but the few that I did encounter had voice acted lines of dialogue. There is some light narrative framing the game but most of the play time is spent exploring and fighting monsters.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1274600/The_Last_Faith/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/06/the-last-faith-demo-gameplay-preview-metroidvania-souls/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/yi07Uo1qTzM

Polimines 2

Imagine combining Picross with Minesweeper and you have Polimines 2. It has the familiar logic of games like Picross with some Minesweeper mechanics thrown in to mix up the game play. While I did enjoy playing the game, I must admit I struggle with these types of games.

The only issue I personally had was due to being unfamiliar with how the logic works for games like this. I'm really comfortable with Sudoku and can solve up to hard puzzles with no issue but man Polimines 2 is a different kind of beast.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2328730/Polimines_2/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/07/polimines-2-gameplay-preview-big-brain-minesweeper/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/tEJ7y4LCyHk

Thanks for listening!

Ducky Obrien Show 035 - Random Thoughts - What Makes an Indie Game Indie

Video Game News, Reviews, and Guides (and sometimes random things)

Some random thoughts I had on what makes an indie game indie in this day and age. In my opinion, the spirit of an indie game is one that takes risks and feels fresh and this usually happens in an environment where the developers are free to do what they want. This can happen even with backing by big publishers and investors involved.

►YouTube version: https://youtu.be/yKwkEOuEdfI ►Blog: https://duckyobrien.com/

Thanks for listening!

Ducky Obrien Show 034 - Indie Games Galore (Rungore, Labyrinthatory, Growth, Tribe Primitive Builder)

Video Game News, Reviews, and Guides (and sometimes random things)

Rungore

Rungore is a fast paced card combat game with the trappings of a roguelite. You fight one enemy at a time. Before each battle, you usually select three items from a random assortment of cards and armor. After selecting your items, the characters fight automatically in real time but you can use cards to make the battle much easier.

The cards you get can range from effects such as giving your character bonus armor, dealing extra damage, and applying the marked status effect. The marked status effect is used for bonuses on other cards such as dealing extra damage to marked enemies or receiving extra armor.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2113040/RUNGORE/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/11/29/rungore-gameplay-preview-fast-paced-card-combat/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/jrJIxXLt5EA

Labyrinthatory

Labyrinthatory is a 2D puzzle game. There’s a very light narrative about an eccentric relative that passed away. During the funeral you receive a call from said relative asking you to discover the truth to what “man’s greatest need” is. You go to said area, meet a robot assistant, and the game starts and then from there it kind of devolves into a series of disjointed puzzles.

While the puzzles themselves are OK and standard fare, there’s really no underlying mechanic or theme uniting them all together. Even the narrative backdrop is pretty much forgotten. Before I go on to explain, I am mentioning this from the spirit of offering possible feedback rather than taking a dump on the game. I enjoyed the game so I have no desire to put it down, rather I saw some shortcomings that could be improved upon for the developer’s next game.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2132770/Labyrinthatory/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/11/30/labyrinthatory-gameplay-preview-indie-puzzle-compilation/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/tvSeKh_N76w

Growth

Growth is a very relaxing board game. The premise is very simple, you send out animals from their habitat tiles to explore the board with the hopes of discovering new habitats. When you deconstruct the game play loop, it’s sort of like a less lethal mine sweeper with a range on how far you can explore.

The end goal is to uncover enough of the board, which then adds a new board to explore. The immediate goal is to uncover new habitats since discovering new habitats increases the number of animals you have. The animals are sent forth to explore and each animal has a different range and ability.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2300300/Growth/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/01/growth-gameplay-preview-relaxing-board-game/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/tYqbua0JCcI

Tribe: Primitive Builder

Tribe: Primitive Builder may look like a standard survival crafting game but it introduces an interesting mechanic that threatens to break the illusion that is the survival crafting genre. What mechanic is that you ask? Unlike survival crafting games, you don’t have to grind all the way to the platinum axe to find out the answer.

The game incorporates a management sim aspect and the results are very interesting to look at. The game lets you build huts with specific functions, i.e. a fishing hut, and then assign workers from the tribe to said hut. They will carry out their duties as long as they have two things, food and tools. This has a greater impact on the game than one would think, it’s just unfortunate that the survival crafting mechanics of Tribe are too shallow to let the game really shine.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1059900/Tribe_Primitive_Builder/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/12/01/tribe-primitive-builder-gameplay-preview-survival-crafting-with-some-management-sim/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/Tjq1__fhiKI

Thanks for listening!

Ducky Obrien Show 033 - Random Thoughts - The Ethical Dilemma of Content

Video Game News, Reviews, and Guides (and sometimes random things)

Some random thoughts I had on the ethical dilemma of content. It's something I'm always thinking about and feel conflicted about whenever I make content.

►YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uNa0Mu1fF8 ►Blog: https://duckyobrien.com/

Thanks for listening!

Ducky Obrien Show 032 - Indie Games Galore (Battle Shapers, Thyria Step into Dreams, Solium Infernum, Cyber Paradise)

Video Game News, Reviews, and Guides (and sometimes random things)

Battle Shapers

I’ve seen plenty of roguelikes over the years and the genre is fairly popular for the most part. They are mostly two dimensional in terms of movement and/or graphics. You see many games sharing mechanics found in games like Spelunky, Binding of Issac, Dead Cells, Hades, and so forth. However, you don’t really see as many first person shooter roguelites for some reason.

Battle Shapers is one of the few first person roguelites I have played. I know Returnal is one but I didn’t have an opportunity to check that game out yet. I’ll just cut to the chase, overall I enjoyed my time with Battle Shapers. The game feels like Mega Man but in first person.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1421290/Battle_Shapers/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/10/19/battle-shapers-gameplay-preview-first-person-mega-man-roguelite/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/b_zjZ3C-HrU

Thyria: Step Into Dreams

Thyria: Step Into Dreams is a demo for an interesting take on the dungeon crawler genre made popular by games such as Darkest Dungeon. While the combat feels pretty similar to Darkest Dungeon, Thyria focuses more on exploration than the combat.

The game is made by a two person dev team and while they did a fantastic job for the most part, there are definitely some flaws in almost every aspect of the game. Thryia has that home made indie game feel.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2457040/Thyria_Step_Into_Dreams/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/10/20/thyria-step-into-dreams-gameplay-preview-homemade-darkest-dungeon/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/8jikxlN2c9Q

Solium Infernum Demo

Solium Infernum is a simplified turn based strategy game, similar to games such as Civilization. The overlord of hell has gone missing and now all its factions are vying for the throne. You play one such faction and everyone takes turns plotting their devious methods.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1893810/Solium_Infernum/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/10/21/solium-infernum-demo-gameplay-preview-tactics-from-hell/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/muHbIlcwD3k

Cyber Paradise Demo

Cyber Paradise is an interesting take on the action roguelite genre. You only have one weapon throughout the game, but you can build and modify your character by picking up cards. The cards are spread throughout the level and also dropped after defeating enemies. The card system is interesting because not only do cards add new abilities, they can also modify the cards next to them.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2431790/Cyber_Paradise/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/11/21/cyber-paradise-demo-gameplay-preview-what-the-dog-doing/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/xnFpOhy2Wog

Thanks for listening!

Ducky Obrien Show 031 - Indie Games Galore (Disagea 7, Tatari The Arrival, Ooblets, Sweet Dreams Alex)

Video Game News, Reviews, and Guides (and sometimes random things)

In this episode, I cover four indie (and non indie) games:

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless has all the hallmarks of a Disgaea game. You can lift teammates (and enemies) up, creating a hilarious but highly mobile tower and proceed to throw people willy nilly all over the place. Prinnies still explode when thrown, as they should. You still have item worlds and other familiar mechanics carrying over and topping it all off is the gorgeous artwork, excellent voice acting, and catchy music. The dubs are always fantastic for NIS games in my opinion, they hit the perfect balance of being somewhat close to the original Japanese and just enough corniness to make it charming.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2250600/Disgaea_7_Vows_of_the_Virtueless/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/10/11/disgaea-7-vows-of-the-virtueless-gameplay-preview-ewwdo-dood/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/CAWwDLoaIZg

Tatari: The Arrival

Tatari: The Arrival is a demo for a horror game and it’s pretty darn rough. It doesn’t even feel like the game has reached an alpha phase and we’re just getting a look into a concept. Let’s just say there is a metric ton of jank in the demo.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2496460/Tatari_The_Arrival/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/10/11/tatari-the-arrival-gameplay-preview-janky-demo-with-potential/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/z-SptFdznBU

Ooblets

Ooblets is immediately reminiscent of a modern take on Viva Piñata, a wholesome mix of village sim, some light farming, and a casual sampling of Pokemon. If you’re not familiar with Viva Piñata, you grow Pokemon from the soil. Plants are people too OK. Take that PETA.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/593150/Ooblets/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/10/11/ooblets-gameplay-preview-im-not-like-the-other-viva-pinatas/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/wl01uovtNc4

Sweet Dreams Alex

Sweet Dreams Alex is like a tower defense game but without the towers. There is a singular monster taking the shortest path towards a sleeping child. It’s your job to create a maze to make sure the dream ends before the monster makes it to the kid. Later levels have multiple monsters, faster monsters, and benevolent ice cream creatures (who doesn’t like ice cream?!) so the game provides more of a challenge than you’d think.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1561090/Sweet_Dreams_Alex/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/10/12/sweet-dreams-alex-gameplay-preview-tower-defense-puzzles-without-the-towers/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/HbYe298eGTs

Thanks for listening!

Ducky Obrien Show 030 - Indie Games Galore (Hauma, BIT.TRIP RERUNNER, The First Descendant, Conquistadorio)

Video Game News, Reviews, and Guides (and sometimes random things)

In this episode, I cover four indie (and non indie) games:

Hauma - A Detective Noir Story

Hauma – A Detective Noir story is an interactive visual novel. The game features a gripping narrative backed by solid voice acted lines of dialogue. The story does start off slow but once it gets going, it managed to pull me in and keep me invested in how the ending would pay off despite some moments that did manage to break the immersion.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1443470/Hauma__A_Detective_Noir_Story/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/09/27/hauma-a-detective-noir-story-gameplay-preview-interactive-visual-novel/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/CrmWDjaD9aY

BIT.TRIP RERUNNER

BIT.TRIP RERUNNER revisits the classic BIT.TRIP RUNNER series and comes complete with extra levels, additional material that gives a peak behind the scenes, and a level maker to make, share, and play user created levels. If you are a fan of the BIT.TRIP series, RERUNNER definitely looks to be the ultimate version out as of now.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2222540/BITTRIP_RERUNNER/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/09/27/bit-trip-rerunner-gameplay-preview-the-ultimate-version/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/WcWWzQDpbeM

The First Descendant

The First Descendant is a looter shooter from Nexon. You shoot things, get guns to shoot bigger things to get even better guns to shoot even bigger enemies. You get the picture. Destiny 2, Warframe, and Borderlands are some games from the same vein.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2074920/The_First_Descendant/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/09/29/the-first-descendent-beta-gameplay-preview-bland-and-blase-but-not-terrible/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/QlSkykubImY

Conquistadorio

Conquistadorio is a rather macabre point and click adventure game. The general atmosphere and feel of the game is pretty unique as a result. For some reason I can’t quite put my finger on, the game conjures up the same feeling as Limbo even though the two games are quite different in mechanics.

►Steam Store Page : https://store.steampowered.com/app/2472550/Conquistadorio/ ►Article: https://duckyobrien.com/2023/10/03/conquistadorio-gameplay-preview-if-limbo-was-a-point-click-adventure/ ►Video: https://youtu.be/E0ZfDVNFHzM

Thanks for listening!