Welcome to the 109th episode of Lais' Stargaze. Today, we're diving into some exciting new indie game demos that have recently caught my eye. This year boasts a lot of great game releases, especially with New Year's Day aligning with the Summer Game Fest. As an independent game enthusiast, I'm highlighting some titles that kept me up all night.
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Game Demos
Now, let's jump into the game demos!
Hell Clock
First up is Hell Clock, a black belt meal of a game. With over 500 films and 95% overwhelmingly positive reviews, this game surprised me. Initially, the animation style didn't appeal to me much, but after playing the demo for nearly 4 hours, I was hooked.
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Diablo-like Gameplay: The game features a Diablo-esque style with power-based skills reminiscent of old-school gaming.
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Skill System: You begin with two skills and unlock more as you progress, including a charge and a spirit-like ability with flying blades.
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Upgrades & Accessories: Monsters drop gold and experience. Upgrading skills is possible, but limited. Merchants sell equipment, and the relic system significantly impacts skill performance.
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Build Variety: Combining relics with skills allows for diverse builds, like a "beast hunter" playstyle.
The demo allows for various playstyles, making it worth checking out. The game's official release is on July 22nd, and progress will carry over, further encouraging players to invest time in the demo.
Undermine 2
Next is Undermine 2, the sequel to the highly-rated Undermine. While the second installment has received less positive reviews (around 80%), the first game boasts a 91% approval rating. I've spent 35 hours playing the sequel so far.
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Roguelike Exploration: Explore an underground mine filled with traps and secrets.
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Resource Management: Keys and bombs are crucial for opening doors and accessing resources within the mines.
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Combat and Environment: The combat is fun, and environmental interactions are well-considered. For example, fire can interact with glue on the ground.
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Progression: Collect resources to improve your character's stats back at your home base, enabling you to delve deeper into the mines.
While some find the sequel more challenging, the core gameplay loop remains engaging. The demo hints at new features, such as creature construction, but the depth of these features isn't fully realized in the demo.
Dead is Disco
If you're looking for a fun and stimulating action game without requiring a ton of skill, consider Dead is Disco. It boasts a 98% positive review score.
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Music Action Game: Despite lacking Chinese language support, the gameplay is intuitive and engaging.
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Simple Combat: The combat system is straightforward, involving single arrows, general attacks, and counterattacks.
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Rhythm-Based: Counterattacks are most effective when timed perfectly to the music, offering bonus rewards.
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Original Soundtrack: Features 11 original songs, designed to be cool and rhythmical.
While the high rating might be a little exaggerated, the game's satisfying sense of impact is undeniable.
Rata 10
Rata 10 is another music rhythm game. However, based on the current version, it's not recommended for testing. The gameplay mechanism appears simplistic and lacks depth.
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Basic Controls: Utilizes three keys (X, Y, B) for attacking, defending, and maneuvering.
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Unclear Gameplay: The strategic element is unclear, and the overall experience feels uninspired.
Ninja Warfare Nozuki-ban
Finally, we have Ninja Warfare Nozuki-ban, a new platform game developed by the exclusive team game kitchen. It has garnered over 400 reviews with a 90% win rate.
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Platforming Focus: Emphasizes jumping, movement, and parkour-like elements.
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Fast-Paced Gameplay: Encourages players to move quickly through levels, avoiding conflict unless necessary.
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Limited Combat Rewards: Monsters offer no experience or money upon defeat.
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Character Switching: The game introduces character switching, allowing for new ways to explore the map.
The headboard battle might be a little serious, but maybe the demo version is weaker. Overall, while Ninja Warfare Nozuki-ban shows promise, I may not buy the official version.
Final Thoughts
I recommend Hell Clock, especially since your progress will be retained upon the official release in July. If you find any interesting demos on New Year's Day, please share them in the comments below. That's all for today's video. Thank you for watching until the end. Bye bye!