Big conventions are great places to check out the newest developments of some of those much-anticipated games fans have been waiting for. However, some of my most delightful moments during an event are when I discover a new indie I hadn’t played before. It seems like my watch list is never big enough, and I hope yours grows a little bigger after reading about these indie titles.
MotionRec
I went in fairly blind to Playism-published Motionrec. My first real hint that it was going to be something special was running into a fellow media member just finishing their session with it. They kept details short, but the sparkle in their eyes had me ready to go. I had that same sparkle thirty minutes later when I walked away.
MotionRec begins as a run-of-the-mill puzzle-platformer with a cute little robot protagonist. Quickly, I was introduced to the game’s intriguing core mechanic: Recording motion. I literally pushed a button to save my current actions for a few seconds. This could include running in a straight line, getting lifted by a moving platform, or falling from a tall height. I could later push another button to repeat those actions automatically. So, if a large, unjumpable gap stopped my progress, I could record myself walking forward in an earlier part of the stage and replay that to float right over the obstacle. It’s brilliant in its simplicity and excellent in its execution.
Battle Train
What’s a good gaming event without an existential discussion about what it means to be an indie game? I found myself embroiled in just such a chat while meeting with the developer behind Battle Train, a meeting that was set up by Bandai Namco. The team behind the locomotive-led destruction derby began their game with the full intention of publishing it themselves, until they were approached with an offer they couldn’t refuse. An offer of support that would allow them to make their wild game even wilder.
And apparently, I haven’t even seen the heights of its absurdness yet. I used quirkily drawn cards to lay tracks against a virtual combatant for the pleasure of an in-game live studio audience. I powered up my steam-powered engine with the face of a cat, which, for some reason, guarantees more damage. But, that, it seems, is only the tip of the iceberg — its creator was equal parts emphatic and secretive on that point. The game is set to release on June 18, so I look forward to taking in the full experience soon.
The Last Caretaker
They made me do it. I wanted to be a nice robot whose only objective was to help everyone around me and aid the human race in continuing after fleeing their now-flooded planet. I wanted to be a helpful little lad. Sadly, developer Antti Ilvessuo has a particular sense of humor. The kind that tells unsuspecting games journalists to hit a button just to laugh with glee when that button prompts them to ragdoll a lifeless fellow robot down a flight of stairs.
Jokes aside, The Last Caretaker is a high-fidelity sight to behold with distinctly tactile gameplay. I heard it compared to both Wall-E and some of the industry’s best survival crafting games. From my hands-on time, I played as a newly awoken Caretaker — seemingly the only one left. My objective was to find my sailing vessel, power it, and get to work searching the high seas for ways to support humans orbiting in space. Though I didn’t learn much about the story, I’m guessing the post-apocalyptic sci-fi is not all sunshine and rainbows.
Tanuki: Pon’s Summer
Move aside, Tony Hawk, there’s a new delivery Tanuki in town ready to shred its way to glory. This was one of my PAX East demos that I just did not want to put down after my time was up. Especially since I was in the middle of a sumo wrestling match. That should give you some idea of the breadth of content in this joyous title.
The main conceit has you playing as a Tanuki taking on a summer job delivering packages. Delivering isn’t the protagonist’s actual goal, though. No, our hero is hoping to pump up its bicycling muscles and hone its sick tricks over the hotter months in order to make it big in the BMX world. As I hoped, shenanigans ensued.
We Harvest Shadows
When I gripped the controller from this unusual blend of genres, I had no idea what to expect. This was a true out-of-the-blue find on the show floor, which is always thrilling. We Harvest Shadows leans into one of my favorite emerging indie trends: Cozy Creepy.
I begin in what would feel like a comfy farming sim. It has all the earmarks: A little tidying, a tutorial on how to build a chicken coop, and some crop gathering. But something just isn’t quite right. Maybe it’s the oddly sinister visuals? Maybe it’s the eerie sounds? When darkness falls, I find myself out of bed. That was a mistake. My farm is isolated, and in the growing gloom, my solitary mind conjures unwelcome images. At least, I hope it’s all just in my mind.
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