In the last few months, I have played (or replayed) a few video games that are new, or new to me.
GRIS is a light platformer puzzle game about processing grief, with beautiful watercolor graphics and an ethereal score. The game is not very long, allowing the player to easily replay to find small details they may have missed.
Sea of Stars is a throwback to JRPGs from the 90s and early 2000s. The gameplay and graphics are heavily reminiscent of Chrono Trigger, while some elements borrow from the likes of Super Mario RPG. The story, to me, felt tonally similar to Golden Sun. The music, which also made me think of Golden Sun in certain places, features Yasunori Mitsuda as a guest composer, who did the score for Chrono Trigger. Despite these influences, the game never felt derivative or unoriginal.
The Messenger, from the same developers, is likewise an homage to some of the harder action platformers from the NES era, primarily Ninja Gaiden.
One of my favorite video games is Final Fantasy Tactics, a tactical, turn-based RPG. Players build a small army of highly customizable characters, from which they deploy small squads to fight in battles. The gameplay is incredibly deep, and the vast story never becomes confusing or unnecessarily complex. While many games have comparable story-telling abilities, I have never been able to find another tactical RPG whose gameplay felt as satisfying FFT. I have played FFT Advance and Tactics Ogre. While obviously similar, neither felt quite as fulfilling.
I also enjoy many roguelikes.
Trash of the Titans is a tactical roguelike currently in Early Access on Steam. Seven critters, based on fantasy archetypes, battle against an army of rats for control of a city’s garbage. The muted color palette and lofi chiptune music help the game stand out. While the tactical elements are nowhere near as deep as those found in FFT, their combination with the randomization of a roguelike make the game consistently fresh each time I play. Players choose four out of seven characters to create their team. Updates are sporadic but still ongoing. While there are glitches and unfinished details, I can’t recommend it enough.
