by Jayden Leggett, Editor
As promised, I bring you Round 3 of my indie games spotlight from Melbourne’s recent (and highly successful) PAX Aus 2014 games expo.
Majestic Nights
A richly detailed story-driven thriller set amongst a grungy yet neon soaked city backdrop. The level I experienced involved guiding my character through gang territory, sneaking past thugs and performing stealth kills whilst searching for various clues. Sure, the stealth kills didn’t always go smoothly, but thankfully my newly acquired pistol was great at dropping my foes with great haste. Utilising an isometric viewpoint, gorgeous cel-shaded graphics and an incredibly immersive and catchy soundtrack, this episodic game is definitely one to keep an eye on.
http://www.majesticnights.com/
Metrocide
Try to imagine a cross between the very first Syndicate and Grand Theft Auto games and you should get a pretty decent idea of how Metrocide looks and plays: a top-down stealth game in which the player takes out contracts to kill their targets to earn cash, all the while trying to avoid witnesses at all costs. Set in a dark and rainy cyberpunk city with a captivating pixelated aesthetic, I had an excellent time with Metrocide, shooting my targets from the safety of an alleyway and disposing of their bodies down the sewer. The fun came to an abrupt end when a carelessly sloppy kill resulted in the authorities being notified and my character being gunned down by a Police drone. I could easily see hours upon hours lost on this fun title.
http://www.metrocide.com/
SpookMash
Beat ’em up meets MOBA in this haunted action RPG. Two teams of 2D paper cut-out style ghosts battle on a theatre stage amongst 2D backdrops and scenery whilst moving across a 3D plane. Different weapons and armour combinations provide different offensive and defensive skills. I must admit, being somewhat of a noob at MOBAs and being severely lacking in the strategy, I got my ass handed to me several times, but that didn’t stop me having a whole heap of fun in the process. Those who know how to formulate tactics and have experience with MOBAs should do themselves a favour and check this game out ASAP.
http://www.spookmash.com/
Influent
I must admit, of all of the games that I played during this year’s PAX Aus, this game was by far the one that I am most eager to get my hands on again, for two very good reasons. Firstly, I have never experienced anything quite like it before. Secondly, this game can teach you one of twelve languages! Playing out in either a third-person or first-person perspective, the player moves around a typical home environment filled with common items. Clicking on each item reveals the spelling and pronunciation of that word in your chosen language (mine was Spanish), and once you have collected enough words, you can challenge yourself through time trial quizzes. The beauty of it all is that it really works, as your brain starts to make associations with the word and the item that you clicked on. “Cama, what does that mean? Hang on, I clicked on a bed before… Ah ha, correct!” Words can not do enough to describe how effective Influent is at teaching a new language to a simpleton such as myself. Check it out. Now!
http://playinfluent.com/
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