EverydayShooter

Where: Steam
Cost: $10
Demo: None
Play Time: 10+ hours depending on the person.
Platform: PC

The Indie game of the week this week is EverydayShooter

EverydayShooter (ES) is a really neat little smup that I found on steam the other day. ES is a fairly simple game at first glance, until you reach the second level and realize that the combo system completely changes with every level, and while they clue you into the secret on the first, the rest of the levels are yours to decipher. But, it’s more than a simple change in combo mechanics… in fact it almost feels like each different level is a completely different game. The mechanics change, the art and music change, the rules change, the only thing that’s constant is your dot and your ability to shoot.

The game’s levels are mostly survival challenges, as you proceed to the next level once the alloted time is up. I think it would have been nice to have some bosses thrown in the mix, but I’ve not beaten the game yet, so maybe I’ve just yet to see any.

I’m having a lot of fun with this game, and I’m not even very good at these games (smups) if you have access to Steam I would highly recommend picking this gem up.

Hey look it’s the game of the week! I know, I know… it’s more like game of the month at this point, but I have a busy life, get off my back!

Noitu Love 2: Devolution

Where: http://www.konjak.org/
Cost: $20
Demo: Demo Download Here
Play Time: 4-8 hours depending on the person.
Platform: PC

The Indie game of the week this week is Noitu Love 2: Devolution.

Noitu Love 2 (NL2) is a cool little project created almost entirely by Joakim Sandberg, who also worked on Aquaria, a game I’ve been meaning to pick up for some time. Joakim did all the art, game design and music for the game, and his attention to detail and gaming chops are very evident in this installment.

The primary game mode uses the wasd keys to control your character, and the mouse to attack. As you’re moving around you use the mouse to click on enemies which instantly sends your character to them to attack. this keeps the action quick and the attacks precise.

The game features seven vastly different maps ranging from ancient japan to a robotics factory. Each level is detailed and unique and exceptionally replayable. The game also features a grading system, further encouraging the desire to replay levels to get all A’s.

The game is fun, fast passed, and littered with great boss characters. The original music for every level is great and catchy. One of the best 2d pixel art games I’ve played in a long time.

I don’t really have any real critisms other than that the third character you can unlock is fairly lame, and unfun to play. I hear some people have trouble getting it to play, but I’ve not had any problems.

I highly recommend giving the demo a spin, and purchasing the full version. It’s a great little $20 game.

I think that I am going to start blogging once a week spotlighting some random, cool Indie Game that I’ve found. There are a lot of bad ass little games being developed by brilliant people, and the whole Indie movement has become pretty amazing with the advent of Steam, 360Live, WiiWare and PSN.

If you happen to see some cool Indie game, drop me a line and I’ll look at it, and probably write about here. Yay for small innovative games. They make me happy.

Synaesthete

Where: Download Full game Here
Cost: Free.
Play Time: Few hours.
Platform: PC

The Indie game of the week this week is Synaesthete.

At it’s core Synaesthete is a combination of rhythm button mashing and dungeon crawling with a dash of zen. The basic game play model is that you maneuver your avatar through a surreal, almost tron-esque landscape with your left hand, while pattern matching with your right hand. You need to keep the beat and pattern match along to the trance/electronica beat in order to shoot lasers at the stampede of hostile abstract creatures.

Visually, the game is awe-inspiring. Playing through this game on a big screen with the sound up was a quick way to lose myself in a sensory experience that lasted for an hour or longer. The music is great, I left a few of the songs from the levels looping for a while because they were just that catchy.

The story of the game doesn’t change much, the environment and songs become far less forgiving, and there are some very fun boss battles.

Where does the game fall a little short?

• I would say first off in the difficulty of the first two difficulty levels could use a little tweaking. The unlockable 72bpm mode is much harder and the shift in difficulty was a little annoying. It’s not impossible by any means, but I’m a fan of linear difficulty progression.
• I also think that the more complex rhythm matching at times seems overly complex and annoying. Granted, you do not need to hit every note, and in fact are encouraged not to hit every note. However, at times it feels a little unresponsive and frustrating.
• The landscapes and environment, while initially amazing and beautiful can become redundant and simple and will lose some of their visual punch, but I felt that only distracted from the experience slightly.

Do any of the minor faults in this student project detract from it’s overall class, quality or demand to be played? Not in the least. Give it a run if you can, it’s well worth your time.