With Day 2 of PAX East coverage down, it is time for me to reflect on the great titles that I was able to get my hands on before I head off onto day 3. While Dark Souls inspired RPGs seem to be a growing trend, the talk of the convention is still Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.
Dwerve – Half Human Games
Taking inspiration from Orcs Must Die while sprinkling that pixel art goodness, Dwerve puts a neat spin on the tower-defense and dungeon crawl genres. Instead of laying towers and traps down in specific areas to decimate your enemies before they reach the end of the path, enemies will come at you and you must defend yourself.
While the only weapon you are equipped with is a boomerang, your main offense is also your best defense. Towers can be freely put down in a multitude of spaces and you can easily recall them, giving you back the resources you spent to build it. There are a ton of towers each with their own role and upgrades that you unlock the further you get into the game.
Dwerve is a Kickstarter success story with a strong community behind it. Some content placed into the game derives directly from input from the community. Dwerve is set to release soon on Steam and Nintendo Switch on May 31st, 2022.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising – Natsumi Atari / 505 Games
From the creators of Suikoden comes a brand-new action RPG that serves as a precursor to Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Laying the framework for the events that will unfold during the Hundred Heroes campaign, Rising establishes the building blocks for this franchise while also remaining different in gameplay style.
With my time with Rising, I was introduced to the foundation of the game which consists of running, jumping, attacking, and collecting resources to help rebuild the town I came across. Beautiful artwork breathes life into this nostalgic RPG along with a soundtrack that brings me back to the glory days of fantasy RPGs. To be frank, I would not expect any less from the team behind one of the most beloved and underrated franchises of all time.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising hits soon on May 10th, 2022.
Spiderheck – Neverjam / Tiny Build
Embracing pure chaotic energy, Spiderheck is a party game that pits up to four players against each other in 2D arenas. Each player is a neon spider that can swing around and climb all over the battlefield while also arming (legging?) themselves with the latest spider-eradication tools. From shotguns, to rocket launchers, and lightsabers, Spiderheck has a huge range of weapons that can be easy to use but difficult to master.
I really do not know what else to say about this game besides reiterating the fact that it is pure chaotic energy that has huge potential to be a party game hit! Spiderheck is coming soon with no date set in stone.
The Last Oricru – GoldKnights / Prime Matter
Actions have consequences in the science-fiction fantasy adventure, The Last Oricru. While the game takes inspiration from Dark Souls, the true meat consists of storytelling and giving the player agency over their destiny.
There are several factions all fighting against each other, and you get to align yourself with whichever one you want. The Last Oricru is a story-driven experience that adjusts to your actions. You can help one faction gain power by attacking an enemy base or you can help defend the base. Your choices do not just change the enemies you fight but also adjusts the environment around you depending on your goals.
The Last Oricru also features permanent co-op play with split-screen and online play. The second player acts as a hologram that shares equipment from the host player while giving you freedom to put stat points wherever you may. It might seem a tad bit limited in that sense, but it gives you some choices.
The Last Oricru is set to launch sometime in 2022 on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
No Place for Bravery – GlitchFTY / Ysbryd Games
An ambitious warrior, Thorn, is on a mission to find his kidnapped daughter in a bloody and unforgiving world inhabited by monsters and mystery. No Place for Bravery is an isometric action RPG that tells the story that centers on the absence of a father figure, adding nuance to a familiar concept.
You’ll slice and dice your way through the dark and dreary fantasy landscape that is adorned with a deep, nomadic soundtrack that adds a sense of depth and dread. There are plenty of items to use, enemies to kill, and a finishing move mechanic that plasters the environment with pixelated blood.
No Place for Bravery is a brooding game that offers multiple difficulty levels allowing players to experience the story at their own pace or punish themselves in brutal fashion.
No Place for Bravery is hitting PC and Switch sometime in 2022.
Make sure to keep your eyes on Seasoned Gaming for additional previews and reviews as these games begin to release.
