Free Itch.io Games #8

Hello, Friends! Welcome once again to “What Can We Find on Itch.io!” Where we dig deep into the free games catalog on Itch.io to find, hopefully, some hidden gems around them. Let’s get down to business! (To defeat <dun dun> the Huns….)

1. Kaiju Dating Simulator

Source: Screen Capture from Game

Kaiju Dating Simulator is a dating simulation game(duh) created by Chaheezor. You play as a normal human having a stroll in the park, when you encounter a monstrous creature—Godxena. Godxena is a large lizard like the more familiar Godzilla.  You can end up with 3 different endings depending on the choices you make.

This game is very short, taking me only 5 minutes to complete, but it was humorous all the same. The art is not amazing, and I did encounter a couple of issues through the game (one click skipping a few lines of dialogue, and at one point Godxena became see through). However, the game is free and was entertaining. You can try the game for yourself by downloading from Itch.io *here*.

2. Shrub Bubs

Source: Itch.io

Shrub Bubs is a simulator game where you take care of plants created by carpetbones. I’ll be perfectly honest, I didn’t get anywhere in this game. Which upset me because the trailer looked super cute. I have no idea what I am supposed to do. No matter what, my plant just sighs and seems unhappy. So I gave up(bad me), but I didn’t know what else to do.

The pixel graphics are cute, and so is the plant. You have controls for temperature, water and the sunlight. Perhaps you can fare better than I did. If you want to give it a try, you can download it for free from Itch.io *here*.

3. Something to Hide

Source: Screen Capture from Game

Something to Hide is a short action game created in a combined effort from FuryAndMadness, AcidSpaceshipp, Alex Evdokimov, and Sveta Sokolova. In Something to Hide, you play as a young lady who is left to hide her Uncle’s monsters before someone comes to take them away! I actually found this game to be pretty cute. I like the animations of the girl and the monsters, and the colors.

The issues I had with the game were the lack of hiding spaces (you seem to just hide them in the same 3 spots), and it was too easy. A challenge such as, “This monster likes darkness, hide it somewhere dark!” or something like that would have been appreciated. Still it was a cute little game to play, and it was free. You can try it for yourself for free by downloading from Itch.io *here*.

4. QUUR

Source: Screen Capture from Game

QUUR is an action adventure game created by a team of students at Supinfogame RUBIKA in France during the 2015-2016 school year. In this game, you exist in a world that is sustained by a magical liquid known as the color. You play as a strange being with the ability to manipulate the liquid. The game can be played with keyboard or a controller, but the game felt a lot better being played with a controller(to me anyway).

The most wonderful thing about this game is that it is BEAUTIFUL. The visual graphics and the vibrant colors really make this game stunning to behold. The music and the sound effects are also beautiful. The controls felt a bit slow to me, but the game also ran a bit slow for me, so I can’t say whether it was due to the control scheme or because of my computer. In any case, this game is a beautiful visual experience, and I highly recommend a play through. You can download the game for free from Itch.io *here*.

As always, be sure to leave your words of encouragement or helpful criticism so that the creators can continue to improve their skills and creations.

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

See the Gaming in Pajamas Compendium *HERE*

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Email: bellannmae@gmail.com

Rose of Winter for PC

“It was rather beautiful:

The way he put her insecurities to sleep.

The way he dove into her eyes

And starved all the fears

And tasted all the dreams she kept coiled beneath her bones.”

--Chris Poindexter

Source: Steam

Rose of Winter is a charming visual novel style game, developed and published by Pillow Fight. You get to play as Rosemary, an aspiring knight who left her home farm to follow her dream. The game begins in a tavern, and Rosemary is trying to find some work. Lucky for Rosemary, there are four princes who need a knight(or rather a mercenary), to assist them across the mountain. What adventures, and possible romance, await?

The art style is very charming, and I’m a big fan of each of the characters’ designs. The colors also have a soft quality to them, giving this visual novel a very fairy tale appearance—to me anyway. Rosemary isn’t your typical small, helpless otome girl. She’s got a little meat on her bones, she’s tough as nails and she isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. This is a girl I can relate to! The princes are each also unique—different races, stories, and personalities. I've seen in some forums where people complained, or wondered about Rosemary being a bigger girl. I look at it this way, if Rosemary were an RPG character, she would be the Tank. She needs to be a bigger lady to handle that giant Cloud-esque sword, right? Plus, she's adorable. 

Each of the Princes has a happy and a sad ending. I have played through and gotten the happy endings for all of the princes, and replayed to get the sad ending for the dragon prince. Each of the princes has their perks, but the dragon prince, Tirune, would have to be my favorite prince. Tirune, Crow, Kuya, Falkner would be the order of my princes. Falkner would have been higher on the list if he hadn’t acted like such an insufferable jerk most of his arc.

Tirune

Source: Screen Captures from Game

The music also was also wonderful, and fitting for the game. The title screen music is dramatic and sets the tone for the game. Once you start, the music changed to something more upbeat and bouncy—fitting the introduction of Rosemary.  For sentimental moments, there is charming harp like music that plays, setting the scene just right. Pillow Fight really did a marvelous job with the music selections.

Kuya

Source: Screen Capture from Game

  

The stories are all a good mix of romance(of course), drama, and comedy. No two stories are alike. Each ending was unique, and I didn’t mind replaying them to get the endings (or even again just for fun!). There is an achievement for playing through the Crow arc 5 times, and I enjoyed each one. While Tirune was my favorite prince, I am a sucker for dragons after all, I enjoyed Crow's story the best, and Kuya's story made me laugh the most. 

Crow

Source: Screen Capture from Game

Overall, this game was so enjoyable. I would go as far as to say that it is one of my favorite otome games I have ever played. The only downside for me is that it is so short. I have about 4.5 hours worth of gameplay in, with all the endings and achievements. If there was a sequel or spiritual successor to this game, I would buy it so fast! Anyhow, you can try the game for yourself, it’s available on steam *here*. 

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

See the Gaming in Pajamas Compendium *HERE!*

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Email: bellannmae@gmail.com

Browser Games #1

Sometimes you don’t have the time, or desire, to play through a whole lengthy game. Perhaps you are on your college campus and can’t download games onto the school’s computers. Something simple to take your mind off of the dull hum drum of the day. Maybe you’re just looking for a way to kill some time. Whatever your reasons, games that allow you to play in browser, and more importantly, for free, can be great gems to stumble across on the internet. To help you in your quest, I’ve complied some such games for you.

Source: Sort the Court--Gamejolt

The first game I want to tell you about is called Sort the Court, made by Graeme Borland. This game can be found on Itch.io or Gamejolt, and is free on both sites, as well as having the ability to be played in browser. You are a king, trying to expand your kingdom. The premise is simple—your subjects will come to you and ask for favors, and you simply answer yes or no. There is an entire list of quirky characters with little side quests, and hopefully there will be more coming. The music is relaxing and I really enjoy it. I played this game for nearly an hour… long after the main game had “ended.” Sort the Court also recently got an update(as on 12/15/16), so there is more fun to be had! Find Sort the Court on Itch.io *here* and on Gamejolt *here*.

Source: Rock Paper Shotgun

Next is a text adventure called The Temple of No, written by William Pugh and illustrated by Dominik Johann. It’s hard to describe The Temple of No, actually. You get a small epilogue, you choose a character (a man, a woman, or a frog) and away you go. I found it uproariously funny, I mean that I found myself actually laughing out loud. It’s well written and constructed in a clever way. It’s simple, and the ending is kind of predictable and… well, cheap. But I had fun along the adventure, and that’s what matters! You can find The Temple of No on Itch.io *here*.

Source: ncase.me

The next game I want to look at is a little more meaning full. It’s called Coming Out Simulator 2014 by Nicky Case. In this game, you are Nicky circa 2010. You’re in a secret relationship with your boyfriend Jack. Jack wants you to tell your parents about your relationship so it isn’t a secret anymore. However… Nicky’s parents are more than a little homophobic. How will he tell them? What can he do? You can make the choices, and see how it goes. This game was a little emotional for me, but enjoyable. It’s a topic that I feel needs to be talked about more. Therefore, I am passing this game on to you. Find it on Itch.io *here* or you can play on Newgrounds *here*.

Source: Quora--Gender Coding

The last in browser game I am going to share today is called It’s Just a Chromosome. This game is based on a piece written by Jerry Belich and it was recreated into a game by Sarah Sexton. The game in text-based and created in Twine. The game itself is simple enough. You’re a fetus, getting ready to be born. There is only one last bit of business to decide on: Shall you be a male or a female? This game makes a point of saying you should be male, because your life would be easier. Being a male would allow you to avoid some… unpleasantness involved with being female. I appreciated the message this game wants to impart, therefore I pass this game on to you. You can find this game on Itch.io *here*.

Thanks for stopping in, and I hope you’ll be able to spare the time to check out these quick games and to leave some encouragement for the developers and creators who worked so hard on them.

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

See other games I have reviewed or plan to review *here*

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Deponia: Part One for the PC

“People say I’m extravagant because I want to be surrounded by beauty. But tell me, who wants to be surrounded by garbage?” -Imelda Marcos

If there is one person who is sick of garbage, it’s Rufus. Rufus lives on a planet called Deponia and Deponia is covered in garbage, junk, and useless trash. He’s been trying for years to escape Deponia and reach a place above them known as Elysium, where he imagines life would be immensely better for him. However, Rufus is… not the sharpest chunk of scrap metal in the junk heap. He’s failed many times before, but THIS time it must work!

Source: Steam(link below)

Welcome to Deponia, the point and click adventure-puzzle game developed by Daedalic Entertainment. We start by helping Rufus put together his latest scheme to get off Deponia and start living life as he deserves! He has no job, he still lives with his ex-girlfriend, and he has no friends. It’s no wonder Rufus wants so badly to leave. It’s worth mentioning though that Rufus is arrogant, self-centered, sexist, and rather obnoxious…. So most of his problems are a direct result of himself.

Once we get Rufus's er, rocket(?) together, we take off and end up on an Organon Cruiser where we see Goal, the beautiful Elysian. She looks like she is in trouble! In an effort to help, we end up sending her pummeling down to Deponia, and Rufus ends up not far behind her. Once we locate her, we find out her brain implant is damaged and she isn't waking up. Now Rufus must find a way to help her, because maybe if he helps Goal, she can take him back to Elysium! But it won't be easy....

I remember reading a lot of reviews that called this game out as sexist garbage, and I don’t necessarily agree. Rufus as a character is sexist, sure. Toni, his ex-girlfriend, is depicted (from Rufus’s point of view) to be a harsh, nagging, mean woman in a stereotypical fashion. However, you can also clearly see that Rufus himself is the cause of his own plight. In my eyes, Toni is a saint for not killing Rufus in his sleep. A parade should be held in her honor. Apparently, a lot of people saw issue later in the sequel games, so we’ll see if my opinion changes. For right now I’m going to say that being sexist fits in Rufus’s character. The game can have some dark humor, but it’s more of a “Oh man, did he really do that?” and not outright rage as I see expressed in some places.

One of the things that I really enjoy about Deponia is the hand drawn environments. The entire game looks hand drawn and the style is appealing--almost a comic book style. The colors are fitting and rich, making this game enchanting to look at. The character movement cycles can seem a little choppy sometimes, like some frames are missing. 

Just beautiful! Source: Indie Gaming Magazine (link below)

The soundtrack is fitting, but nothing special. At the beginning of each chapter you are treated to a little song which helps sum up events in a humorous way. Speaking of humor, I found this game extremely funny in a boyish, immature way. The kind of humor not everyone finds funny. For example, there is a scene towards the end of the first game where Rufus gives someone a wedgie, and then you hang him from the nearby flag pole and reel him up so he is hanging from his underwear near the top. THAT kind of humor.

Now for the real bread and butter of the game… let’s talk puzzles. I love puzzle games. Puzzle platformers and point and click puzzlers are some of my favorites. I was glad to hear that Deponia would offer challenge, but I didn’t expect the puzzles to be as difficult as they were. I tried to not use a guide. If I had stuck with that I wouldn’t have made it very far. About 1.5 hours into my gameplay I found myself stuck and had to resort to using a guide because I didn’t think to give a parrot laughing gas. Yeah, really. The hints you can receive from some items by right clicking on them are vague, and there is no in game way to get help to solve anything. So, have fun clicking on everything, and trying to combine everything item by item in your inventory because some of the combinations are really stretching in. It seems strange that Rufus can come off as such an idiot, and be able to put together some of these complex schemes as he does. 

Even through the frustrating puzzles, I enjoyed the game. The story isn’t revolutionary. Rufus is motivated by the lust he feels for Goal because she is from Elysium and represents his ideal life. The characters are interesting, but aren't given all that much depth. All of the characters kind of feel superficial to me, except Rufus. Maybe that's the way it was meant to be, though. Poki could have intended us to only experience Deponia the same way Rufus does. I really liked Goal, the small amount of time she was conscious during this game. I mean, hey... The first time she woke up, she uppercut punched Rufus and that was enough to make me love her. 

POW! Right in the kisser! Source: GamezPlay (link below)

Overall, I enjoyed the first part of Deponia. I look forward to playing part 2, but I’m going to play some others in between. If the puzzles continue with such difficulty, it may take me some time to blunder through them. Deponia: The Complete Journey can be found on Steam, for $39.99. If you’re a fan of complex puzzlers, this might be the game for you. You can find the link below! Let me know what you think of this game, if you’ve played it!

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

Purchase Deponia on Steam here: Deponia: The Complete Journey

See the list of games I plan to play here: Game List

Follow me on Twitter here: BellAnnMae Twitter

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Or email me at: bellannmae@gmail.com

Sources:

Steam

Indie Game Magazine

GamezPlay