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2.23.2017

Cover Up for Killers in Serial Cleaner Coming to PS4 Summer 2017

     I stumbled across this trailer this morning and really am excited for it.  Serial Cleaner is what happens when killers need their tracks covered by a specialist.

     "Serial Cleaner is a story-driven, fast-paced stealth/action game, characterized by a 1970s theme and aesthetics. You are a professional cleaner. Your job is to clean up murder scenes by disposing bodies, covering up blood stains and hiding murder weapons and other incriminating evidence."
     The stylized take on art and setting it in the 1970's is brilliant.  It definitely looks like a tremendous little game with hilarity.

     Serial Cleaner will be launching on PS4 in summer 2017.
          (But can be currently found in Early Access on Steam for $9.99)

2.21.2017

Fungus-Focused Platformer Mushroom 11 Infests Mobile Devices March 9th

Over a year after developer Untame's ingenious "anti-platformer" Mushroom 11 hit Steam, the game's spores will be landing on Android devices.


Mushroom 11 takes the platforming genre to entirely new levels with a genuinely unique innovation in the way it handles level traversal.  The game requires the player to destroy parts of the strange amorphous being they control to encourage it to grow and spread in other directions.  The closest thing to this game I've ever played was The Ooze for the Sega Genesis, which was very similar in concept, but Mushroom 11 certainly looks to be a huge improvement over that.

Squirm through tiny tubes, shear parts off yourself, and dissolve enemies to solve puzzles and make your way through a post apocalyptic world in Mushroom 11 on March 9th.

2.15.2017

Boor: A Tremendous Indie Sci Fi Puzzle-Platformer

     I've been impressed lately with publisher Badland Games, from their kids game Ginger: Beyond the Crystal to the hilarious and very under-rated action-RPG Zenith, and their most recent title Boor is no exception.


     Boor is the story of a girl in the future that awoken from a sleep chamber by a computer malfunction to find that the planet Eden settlement has been taken over by a rogue Artificial Intelligence.  The machine Boor was created to aide the colonists on Eden, but as with all great sci fi AIs, it turns on those it should've helped.  Boor's reign has left very few survivors, and it's up to this unique little girl to put an end to the corrupt machine's tyranny.
     The girl has a very special ability that allows her to create disposable clones.  They can pass certain walls and access areas that you may not be able to yourself.  They are vital to solving the puzzles throughout the game.  Because it doesn't matter if they die or they run out of their limited life time, you can use them to do a little exploring and scope out parts of what is to come.

     The puzzles themselves begin quite nicely, none too difficult, and gradually progresses to much more complex and tough ones, which does lead to some trial and error moments to see what is working and what isn't later in the game.  That being said, I only found the last couple puzzle-rooms to be of particular frustration, because even after figuring out what to do, the jumping mechanic is a timed one.  A tap on the button gives a short hop, and holding the button results in longer, floating jumps that can be moved around directionally with the thumb stick- which in itself isn't an issue, it's having to make numerous jumps across multiple moving platforms while also attempting to avoid getting hit by the rockets being shot at you.
     If the rockets we're just a touch slower, it'd be much less of an annoyance of having to continually die and replay the puzzle.  It's really not too awful, just something that stuck out as being just a little too difficult for the more casual feel of the rest of the game.  (Heck, there's even a small arcade about 70% through the game that offers 3 distinctly retro mini-games.)

     Boor's visual aesthetic is outstanding with the black, white, and grays comprising the main palette with some things accentuated with splashes of red are phenomenal.  It highlights what's important, and gives it a bit extra pop on the screen.  The design work is minimalistic, but it works very well for the futuristic setting.  Rounding out the experience as a whole is the original soundtrack by Paltian.  The music was good enough that I found myself pausing the game a few times just to listen to it.

     Developer Dazlog Studio has created an amazing 2D puzzle platforming experience loaded with a a downright sublime story to tie it all together.  Boor is one of those indie game gems that I'd recommend to pretty much everyone, it plays well, it looks even better, and it has captivating story that will sit in mind for some time afterwards.

Boor can be found on Steam for $4.99  It'll be 20%  ($3.99) until Feb. 21st

*Review copy of Boor was provided

2.08.2017

Marvel Future FIght: Update 2.9 Teaser Images

     After the last update, I was a bit underwhelmed.  I wasn't too impressed with the characters, less impressed with the new uniforms, and so on.  Especially because it followed such an awesome Asgard update.  The small teaser we are getting is two images showing a "New Areas"



     Right off the bat, I'm a bit off put by the fact that it appears to be the same area, from two different vantage points.  It's a small irritation, but it's also true.  Anyways, Netmarble won't say what these will be for- perhaps new dimensional rifts, an Epic Quest analog, new levels, etc- but they will be definitely available with the update.
     The pictures look very reminiscent of the inside of Ronan the Accuser's ship, The Dark Aster, from Guardians of the Galaxy.  It wouldn't surprise me at all with all the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hype going around.  Granted the film won't be out until May 5th, there's still something possibly there.

In addition there will also now be an Alliance Store with Alliance Tokens.  No word yet on what the store will feature or how the Tokens will work.  Plus they're finally adding a customizable Alliance Emblem.  It isn't much, but it is a nice small treat.

     I'll continually update this blog with whatever info I find, as well as a longer post on costumes and ideas for the game and so on.

     For related posts [ Marvel Future Fight ]

     Marvel Future Fight Official [ Mobirum ]

Dark Souls 3: Descend into the Depths of The Ringed City DLC: NEW Gameplay Footage Trailer & Thoughts

     The last portion of the Dark Souls era is coming to a close, and the end of the Age of Fire is upon us.  This new gameplay trailer gives us a ton of little clues about what we can expect from The Ringed City DLC.

!!!TRAILER MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!


     I'm strangely intrigued by the notion of the fading flames.  With all the Londor story making huge leaps forward, and the fires receding we get nice bits like the last witness of Izalith, the Old Demon King, dying, and then the last of the Demons of the Choas Flame, it makes me wonder if the new game From Software is working on will be a series in the Age of Water- being spiritual successors to this series.

     There's a bunch of things hidden in the trailer, but I won't go over them all- just note that there's probably a good reason they hide the health bars and stuff- maybe enemies using poison or curse or something.  I'm also really hoping they've been hiding whole areas of the game from the video.  Bandai-Namco doesn't want From Soft's series to go out with something small, they'll want a lucrative DLC like Bloodborne's Old Hunters, which was, to me, a bit too small and short, but on the other hand completely perfect at the same time.  Seriously, in Old Hunters, you travel backwards in time through the zones from the time period you begin the main game in- something they never actually say, but you have to realize on your own.  Absolutely brilliant.

     With The Ringed City, I'm thinking with all the rings forming an amalgamation of time and space, that you are descending through this "City of Pygmies" to help Gael find the original Dark Soul- and maybe we'll find the Furtive Pygmy along the way.

     In addition they've announced there will be more multiplayer maps coming, so we won't be stuck in just the bland Hollow Arena.  I wouldn't mind an arena that was more vertical and labyrinthine.  Perhaps even a kind of procedurally generated arena even to keep things interesting.
     Although, still no word on whether they'll finally bring back Cracked Blue Eye Orbs to help out all the Darkmoon Blades.  It would add a whole new layer to the multiplayer base.  They should also bring back the Covenant reward auras as a neat little badge of honor (that would also need to be able to be turned on or off if you didn't always want the visual effect on).

     Still hoping for Velka as well, hell, she could even be the Furtive Pygmy...

     Dark Souls 3: The Ringed City will be available March 28th.