#writethatstuff

“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.

“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!

“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.

“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.

“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.

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.

“ 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. 

“ 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.