We must Bebuild || Bastion (PC)

I love the art style

Bastion is an action role-playing experience created by Supergiant Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Media. You play as a young man right after a calamity that shattered the world into pieces. He seeks the Bastion, which seems to be a safe haven in this game where you can rebuild and hopefully find other survivors.

There is a narrator that follows your every move and basically give you a commentary over your actions. It’s interesting, and it gives me the feeling of being told a story that you’re leading. The world feels big, if disconnected, and it’s beautifully crafted. The hand painted quality and aesthetic make me think of older games like Legend of Mana which had a similar quality.

The Islands are floating!

In terms of gameplay, you’re tasked with collecting cores in order to expand the bastion, and perhaps finding others who have survived the calamity. So far, I’ve found one other survivor (minus the narrator) and found 5 cores. You have a multitude of weapons and skills to use, which is nice since it allows you to find what works for you, and also helps keep the battle from getting stale. The battle does get repetitive, and also really difficult. When you get swarmed, you really get swarmed. Knowing which weapons will help you the most against particular enemies helps a lot.

After you find the other survivor, he brings with him an ancient pipe. If you use it, you get some information about our MC (main character) and how he came to end up as he is. I wasn’t anble to complete the whole “pipe dream” as of writing this, but I know he lost his mother and all of the money he was sending home to her, so he returned to “The Wall” (I keep thinking Game of Thrones when I hear that, perhaps they are similar?) and was there when the calamity occurred.

I'm the map, I'm the map

The story is interesting, and despite the repetitive battle, I think the game is overall well made. The music is beautiful and charming, which goes along with the world perfectly. This game may appeal more to completionist types who seek to collect all items, complete the challenges and don’t mind the grind. For me, while the game is beautiful, and the score is enjoyable, it’s not worth sinking hours upon hours into (and it may be my lack of skill in these sorts of games that contributes to this).

However, even if you’re like me, I think the 2-3 hours you can comfortably sink into the game worth it, if you buy it on sale. You can read more about it, or buy it on Steam *here*. Let me know what you think of it down below!

Thank you, as always. Until next time!

Bellannmae

You're Not Rotten, Just Forgotten || Forgotton Anne (PC)

“Athazagoraphobia: the fear of being forgotten or ignored and fear of forgetting.”

Beautiful environments

Forgotton Anne is a 2D indie-adventure game that is heavily story-driven. Created by ThroughLine Games and published by the Square Enix Collective, Forgotton Anne follows the tale of Anne, the Enforcer of the forgotton world. When the game started, I was reminded of a movie I watched called OblivionIsland: Haruka and the Magic Mirror. In the movie, Haruka loses a mirror that was a precious possession to her and finds her way to a world of lost and forgotten things. Forgotton Anne is very different from the movie, but the world made me think of that movie.

Anne is the Enforcer of the world, which means it’s her job to keep the forgotlings from getting out of hand and dealing with the rebels (forgotlings that want to stop the construction of the Ether Bridge). Anne seems to have a bit of a ruthless reputation to the forgotlings, which I suppose is well warranted since Anne could distill them without thinking twice about it.

The color schemes are beautiful as well

The story is well told, nicely paced, and deeply emotional. The characters all have their own motives and personalities, and I enjoyed meeting all of the different forgotlings in the world. There are many decisions to make, mostly related to whether you’ll distill certain forgotlings, or try to reason your way out of it. Given my own personality, I tried my best to talk my way out of everything.

The game is overwhelmingly beautiful, with a style similar to a Miyazaki film. Anne herself reminded me a little bit of Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle. The animations are pretty smooth, and I loved the variety of movements, and the thoughtfulness put into how she moves—like stepping on every step when taking the stairs or having a specific turning animation while crawling.

There were a few things that ruffled mt feathers, but some of it is really nitpicking. For example, in the plant, when Anne descended a set of stairs, I noticed that the stairs appeared in front of her feet, instead of behind. A small issue, but I still noticed. Once when I was trying to drop down from a ledge, instead of falling, Anne changed to her animation pose when she hits the floor and fell down in that pose. I also was moved around the screen once as if I was on a moving platform, but I wasn’t.  The other issue I had was with the platforming. Sometimes I would be holding the run or wings buttons, but when I tried to jump it wouldn’t work—and sometimes it didn’t register my jumping at all and I would just fall.

This game gave me plenty of reasons to be sad.

Despite these little issues, I still found the game amazing. The music was beautiful, the sound design was thoughtful and created an immersive atmosphere. I often felt like I was strolling though a Miyazaki film. The environments are so detailed and well put together. I appreciate the time and effort that was put into it. I *highly* recommend you pick the game up for yourself and give it a play through. You can pick it up on Steam *here* for $19.99. The game took about 7.5 hours for me to complete, and it was a joy the entire time, so I feel it’s worth it.

Be sure to let me know down below what you thought about it! Did you stay with the forgotlings, or return to the Ether?

Thank you, as always. Until next time!

Bellannmae

Time is Ticking || Tick Tock Isle (PC)

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." --Andy Warhol

Source: Steam Page

Tick Tock Isle is a time travelling puzzle adventure game created by Squiddershins. You play as Strike, a young horologist who is somehow transported back in time while trying to repair an abandoned clock tower. Now, as Strike searches for the way back home, he’ll help a family become a happy unit once again.

Tick Tock Isle has a lot to offer in the way of a short puzzler game. The graphics are cute, the colors are bright and the details are well done. You’ll be able to utilize the clock to travel between 2009 and 2010 to complete tasks to make members of the family content. You’ll have to find items between the two time periods to help the family members. For example, Melody is creating music and you’ll need to collect instruments to bring her.

How did this lawnmower get here?

Tick Tock Isle also has some mini games from the youngest boys that give you some of the most important items. The mini games aren’t long, and are a stark change from the pace of the rest of the game. In the mini games, you are armed with a sword and have to make it through a short platforming level. When you get to the end, the two boys reward you with a “treasure”.

Swish!

I mentioned the graphics and colors, but the animations are smooth too. The music is beautifully orchestrated, and it very relaxing—befitting of the island that you’re on. My favorite music the from the part I mentioned before, with Melody. As you give Melody more instruments, she’ll begin to add them in with her beginning piano tune, creating a layered and more complex musical piece.

The game ran about 2 hours worth of gameplay for me, which I very much enjoyed. It could take up some time to find items that were a little more elusive, so play times may vary. This game is available on steam for 99 cents.  I highly recommend picking this game up, it’s worth more than it’s minuscule price. You can but it on steam *here*

 Thank you again for stopping in to see Gaming in Pajamas, I appreciate it. Be sure to try the game for yourself, and let me now what you thought in the comments below. Until next time, take care and happy gaming!

BellAnnMae

Picking Up Steam #2

Hello everybody! It's time once again to look to the horizon to see what games may be awaiting us! ( That means we're gonna look at some up and coming games to look forward to! ) Without further time wasting, let's talk games. 

 

1. Surviving Mars

 

Source: Kotaku 

 

We’ve all wondered what it would be like to live on a different planet. I actually daydreamed about it since I was just a child, except I always wanted to move to Uranus or Neptune (because the colors are pretty). Mars seems somewhat more realistic though, even if it is still more like science fiction.  That’s what Survive Mars is about. You will have to build the first colony on Mars, and manage your supplies so that you can survive. You’ll cultivate your own food, mine minerals, and explore the red planet to uncover mysteries.

 

Surviving Mars isn’t much of a revolutionary idea for a game. It has the main mechanics of most survival games, only set on Mars (which is good enough for me since I LOVE space).  When building, you’ll have to remember to keep functionality of the colony in mind, because this is life or death. Poor design could mean it’s the end for you. Each colonist has an individual with problems and strengths that can affect the behavior and needs of the other colonists around them. 

 

There is also a randomized research tree, and you can attain new scientific breakthroughs by exploring the uncharted terrain of the Mars surface. The game also has a “futuristic-retro” aesthetic, which harkens back to the 1960’s, a time of exploration and space wonder. 

 

I’m a huge fan of survival games, so this game is calling my name. I have thought a lot about what it would be like to try to colonize Mars, and this could be my chance! This game isn’t set to release until sometime in 2018, but for me, it is worth the wait. View the trailer below, and visit the Steam page *here* to see screen shots or read additional info.

2. Tiny Echo

In Tiny Echo you play as Emi and you deliver messages to the various spirits across the land. This game caught my eye when I saw the trailer on an indie gaming YouTube channel, and Emi is so gosh darn cute! I love games that have a hand-drawn style to them as well.
 

Besides the adorable and endearing art aesthetic, the music sound soothing and beautiful, which is another huge plus for me. A soundtrack can help to make or break a game, and this game’s music sounds like something I would just listen to on my own on any given day.
 

There are puzzles to solve, and you’ll have to learn the unique traits and quirks of each character to deliver your message properly. The game boasts a wordless narrative, which can be off-putting to some, but I’ve found in some games (such as the indie game Reditum which I reviewed *here* ) make beautiful pieces and amazing journeys on their own, without the words. In these games the music plays an even more important role, so Tiny Echo is doing fine.
 

Overall the game sounds like a very relaxing and awe-inspiring title. This game releases soon (August 31, 2017) so I’ll be looking forward to getting my hands on it soon enough.   Watch the trailer below, or visit the Steam page *here* for more information on the game itself.

3. Ashen
 

 
Ashen is an action RPG about a wanderer in search of a place to call home in a world where nothing lasts. Find those you trust and enlist them to help you build home and survive. Be careful, though… Can you really trust them?
 

There isn’t much released about this game right now in terms of content, or mechanics, or expected features. All I really know about the game is that the trailer looks awesome, and it sounds like another survival type of game, which is right up my alley. Although, this game looks to be more challenging. There are clearly battle mechanics, judging from the trailer, and at one point a rather large boss that game me Dark Souls flashbacks.
 

This game could be a great challenge, but we won’t know until sometime in 2018, when they plan to release. Either way, I can’t wait for it. View the trailer below, or visit the Steam page to add it to your wishlist *here*.

 
4. Growbot

 Source: The Mental Attic

Growbot is a point and click adventure about a robot names Nara saving her home. The graphics are unique, adorable and so detailed. The background and scenery look amazing. Story wise, Nara is a student growbot on her first day of captaincy training on a space station. Before she can finish the day, an unknown force infects the station, causing large crystals to quickly grow. She goes in search of the captain, and along the way she’ll meet a cast of quirky and colorful creatures.
 

Nara will also have to repair strange machinery, and discover the force behind the crystal growth in order to save the station. The game also involves puzzles, which I enjoy, but the developers state that they aim to make the game accessible to all—those with a lot of game experience and those with little or none.
 

Over all, this game sort of makes me think of Machinarium, another puzzle game with a robot that I enjoyed, so I have high hopes for this adorable looking point and click puzzler. See a trailer below, and check out the steam page *here* for more information!

Thank you once again for stopping in. I hope you found a game or two to add to your steam wishlist. Are there any other games that you're looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below! Until next time, take car and happy gaming!

Bell

Impress the Gods! || Jotun (PC)

“It is better to stand and fight. If you run, you’ll only die tired.” –Unknown, a Viking saying

Title

Source: Screen Capture in Game

Jotun is a hand-drawn action-exploration masterpiece set in Norse mythology, created by Thunder Lotus Games. I’m going to try not to geek out too badly because I waited so long to get to play this game. A couple weeks ago my good friend Gigi over in Gigi’s Neck of the Woods DMed me to tell me that Jotun was free for a limited time, and I never ran to my laptop so fast to download a game in my life. So, a big thanks to Gigi, and you can click on the link above to visit her Youtube channel.

So that’s the story, let’s talk about the game. You play as Thora, a Viking warrior who dies at sea and ends up in the Norse equivalent of purgatory, called Ginnungagap. Now Thora must impress the Gods to be able to ascend to Valhalla, lest she suffer in Ginnungagap for eternity. You impress the Gods by collecting the runes and defeating the Jotun. Jotun, by the way, is a word of Scandinavian mythology meaning ‘a member of the race of giants, enemies of the Gods’.

What a view~

Source: Screen Capture in Game

The art of Jotun is beautiful in every regard. Thora herself, the environments, and even the Jotun are beautifully drawn in a way that makes me feel that the artists really put their heart into it. This blog will be pretty picture heavy, so take a look at any of the screenshots to see what I mean.

As far as gameplay… man, this game gave me a challenge. It was a Dark Souls roll-for-your-life feel combined with a dash of Shadow of the Colossus when you’re looking down upon your tiny body next to a Jotun. I’ve never been particularly skilled at those types of games, so it was a lot of practice and error to learn patterns and timing. I wish there was a wider combat moves variety, since you either have a one-two combo hit or a power shot.

One of my favorite side worlds, building constellations! With lightening!

Source: Screen Capture in Game

The music and sound effects are fitting and beautiful. The soundtrack, in particular, is mesmerizing, and masterfully crafted. Jotun probably has my favorite soundtrack of any game since Legend of Mana or the Final Fantasy games. I even looked up the OST on Youtube to listen to while I typed all of this out. The OST can be found *here* by the way.

The world of Jotun varies widely, and while you traverse through the different areas to collect runes, you’ll learn a bit about the Norse Gods and mythos. You’ll be able to gain powers of the gods as well, to help you defeat the Jotun in battle. Now, remember when I said that Jotun is a name for the race of giants, enemies of the gods? Well, giants they are. Their size can become overwhelming and really makes you feel your insignificance.

Someone send help, please.

Source: Screen Capture in Game

   

Overall, this game is beautiful in so many ways that I don’t feel I can do this game justice on my own. While the game is no longer free, I would say that it’s still worth the 14.99 price tag. If you don’t have that kind of cabbage laying around, keep it in mind for the next steam sale. You can visit the Steam page *here*. This game deserves to be played. Are you up to the challenge of proving yourself to the gods?

Thank you, as always, for spending some of your time with me today. Good luck against the Jotun, and happy gaming.

Bell

Picking up Steam: Up and Coming Steam Games

Hi ho, friends! Today we’re gonna talk about some games that are either upcoming, or in early access—which means they’re playable, but not entirely fleshed out and complete. I hope you can find an interesting game for yourself! All of the games today are going to be available on Steam, and you’ll find links to each store page in its respective section. Let’s get to it—I can hardly contain my excitement! 

 

1. Ni no Kuni II Revenant Kingdom

Alright, so I played the first Ni no Kuni on the PS4, and I fell in love. I’m a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki, so when I heard the art for that game was in Ghibli style, I immediately pounced on it and I was not disappointed. But that’s neither here, nor there. This is a new game, so let us see what new things they can bring to the table.

Instead of Oliver, we have our young king Evan who was overthrown in a coup and plans to found a new kingdom in which to unite the world and protect its inhabitants from the dark forces that threaten them. Like the first game, this game is being developed by LEVEL-5, which has really made some outstanding games, so I have high hopes. The second games character designs are from Yoshiyuki Momose from Studio Ghibli, so the style carries over (yay!) and the score is once again composed by Joe Hisaishi.

It appears that although Oliver isn’t the main character of this installment, it appears that Evan and his cohorts exist in the same magical world that Oliver visited. In the trailer I’ll share below, one of the enemies says, “… the King of Ding Dong Dell!” Ding Dong Dell was a town you visited in the first game with Oliver. If we get the chance to learn more about their world, then I am even more on board! 

The game isn’t planned to release until January of 2018, so we have some time to wait. You can see more screen shots, a second trailer and more on the Steam page, located *here* I’ll leave this trailer here for your viewing pleasure as well.

 

2. Rim World
 

Rim World is a sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. The game is inspired by Dwarf Fortress, Firefly, and Dune. You begin with 3 survivors of a shipwreck on a distant world, and you have to colonize and survive.
 

This game gives me a lot of different vibes. Like the Sims, you have to manage the colonists’ moods, needs, wounds and illnesses. Like many survival games, you’ll craft structures, weapons, clothing, etc. from a variety of different materials. You can tame pets, form relationships, fight pirates, other tribes, wild animals, and more.
 

There are a lot of gameplay mechanics here that I really enjoy. You start with 3 settlers, but obviously that isn’t going to do. You need to capture new colonists in combat and turning them to your side, buy them from slave traders, of take in refugees. Your colonists are also not professionals here. They could be pretty useless, but you’ll have to make do with what you have.
 

You can choose what area to crash in, be it the cold tundra, dry desert plains, a temperate forest, or a hot jungle. Each area has entirely different animals, temperatures, diseases, and challenges to overcome. Injuries are tracked and affect a character’s capabilities. For example, if a character sustains an eye injury, they wouldn’t be good at surgery, probably. There are many more unique mechanics that will make this game both challenging, and keep it interesting.
 

There seems to be a wide array of possibilities which really increases the replay value here. You can play the game so many different ways. Be triumphant, or end in tragedy. The game is in early access, and you can purchase the early access pass for 29.99, which seems a little pricey, but I’m tempted. I love these sorts of games. I’ll be looking forward to a full and complete version of this game. Find more information, screenshots, or get a pass yourself on Steam *here*.
 

3. The Escapists 2

I think every gamer on Youtube has been playing The Escapists 2 on their channels lately, but I want to talk about it anyway because this game looks like SO much fun. The game is simple, you’re in prison and you want to get out. So, you’ll have to craft, plan and follow the prison rules while you engineer your escape!
  

I never played the first Escapists game, so I don’t have the experience to compare it to its predecessor, however, the game looks quite fun. I’ve watched gameplay from the youtubers I mentioned before, and it made me want to play all the more. The new installment is also multiplayer, so you can have your friends help you to escape, which sounds cool as well.
 

There are a few different prisons to choose from, including Fort Tundra, a moving train prison, and even, yes, space prison. If you pre-order, you also get the Glorious Regime prison. Pre-ordering is only 19.99, which I’m tempted to do… if I had more money. This game looks like a ton of fun, with so many different prisons to play, things to craft, and ways to escape.
 

You can view a trailer below, but you can also visit the steam page *here* for more screenshots, information, or to pre-order the game. The full game releases on August 22^nd 2017, so you still have some time to get the extra prison!

 

4. The Forest

 
The Forest is an open-world survival horror game in which you’re the sole survivor of a jet liner crash. Stranded alone in the forest, you’ll have to survive against hordes of cannibalistic mutants. Build shelter, explore the forest, but be careful… you never know what’s lurking.
 

You may know that I am not the best person at horror games. I jump and scare EASILY. So as much I know this game is a horror game, and I know I’m going to end up being a scared baby, I still want to play this game. I like the story, and the idea of trying to build from nothing and survive in such a horror filled land. Seeing the cannibals in the trailer made me think of the Abbys from Wayward Pines.
 

The environments look beautiful, except for the terrifying cannibal monsters, I mean. Some key features in the early access include the main mechanic of building and foraging during the days, and defending your base at night. I’m not much for fighting, so I hope there will be ways to perhaps disengage from battle or avoid it.
 

There are more features that the developers plan to add into the game, however. More animals and fauna variety, more trapping and hunting objects, expanded AI capabilities, more crafting options, and much more. The developers also want to try to implement some kind of co-op element to the game, which would also be enjoyable, I think.
 

The game is currently in early access, but is the least expensive of the 4 games I’ve shared here at 14.99. I really want to get this game and give it a go. Watch the trailer down below, and visit the Steam page to see other features, screenshots, or to get yourself the early access pass *here*.

 Thank you, as always, for stopping in to say hello. I appreciate it! I hope some of these games piqued your interest! Let me know if you plan to get them for yourself in the comments below, and happy gaming!

Bell