But wait, there’s more. Seven new Vek and three new Psions along with 10 new boss battles are also available. There are also 39 new weapons and equipment, two new tracks courtesy of composer Ben Prunty, and support for seven new languages including Korean, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, and more.

Sans balance changes, those who want to play without all of the new content can do thanks to the optional content toggles. Veterans can try out Unfair Mode which doubles Grid power gains but provides a much more challenging experience. Check out the notes below for details on other changes.

Major Additions

• 5 New squads & 15 new squad achievements!
• 7 new Vek, 3 new Psions, & 10 new boss battles!
• 12 new missions & 3 new bonus mission goals!
• 4 New pilots & 10 new random pilot abilities!
• 39 New weapons & equipment!
• 2 new music tracks from composer Ben Prunty!
• Even more challenging difficulty mode, Unfair Mode!
• 7 New Languages! (Arabic, Thai, Swedish, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, and Latin American Spanish)

Other Changes

• Optional Content Toggles – All of the new content (enemies, pilot skills, etc) other than balance changes are possible to turn off if you would like the base-game content experience.
• Weapon reactor usage reduced – We wanted to encourage players to immediately try out equipment they find, so we reduced the reactor power to equip most gear.
• Store Changes – Since you can now instantly equip most weapons without needing an additional reactor core, the reputation cost to purchase weapons has increased by 1 and the store options are limited in the first 2 islands.
• New weapon mechanic: KO effects – Certain weapons will trigger an additional effect if the primary target is killed by the attack.
• New tile mechanic: Cracking – Certain weapons will cause the ground to crack. If the tile is damaged again, it will shatter, destroying the tile and anything standing on it!
• New status effect: Boost – This will increase the next attack’s damage by 1. Highly effective for AoE attacks!
• Unlocking Squads with Coins Change – The cost of unlocking squads with coins has been reduced to account for the extra squads.

Notably, however, the game hasn’t released for either Xbox or PlayStation in the four years since its original launch- so is that something that could change soon? While it’s certainly possible, it seems like it’s not exactly a priority for its developers.

Speaking recently with Push Square, when asked about the possibility of Into the Breach coming to PS5 or PS4, programmer Matthew Davis said that it was certainly “within the realm of possibility”, though added the caveat that Subset Games would like to go back to developing something new and original soon, rather than having to work on another port.

“It’s within the realm of possibility,” Davis said. “We’ve got nothing against PS4/PS5. But I’d like to get back to original development in the immediate future.”

Davis went on to explain that as just a small 3-person team, Subset Games has to prioritize its work accordingly, which means developing ports and then maintaining them following launch is far easier said than done.

“We’re a very small studio with only 3 full-time developers,” he said. “Every port takes up time not only in its initial development, but also in post-release support and maintenance.” While the team would love to have the game available everywhere, it’s also eager to work on new content and other projects. “It’s a difficult balancing act.”

Recently, Subset Games announced Into the Breach: Advanced Edition. Due out next month, it’ll add new mechs, pilots, weapons, and much more in what’s looking like an impressive expanded re-release. Read more on that through here.

In our review of Into the Breach back when it first launched for PC, we awarded it a score of 9/10, saying, “Strong art and music combine with excellent mechanics and an emphasis on strategy and players choice to create one of the best strategy games in years.” Read our full review through here.

Into the Breach is currently available on PC, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, iOS, and Android.

Along with new five mech squads and 40 new weapons, there are more enemies and bosses to tackle. More missions and objectives, new Pilots and new Pilot Skills are also coming. Those looking for a tougher challenge can look forward to a higher-difficulty option. Seven additional languages are also supported with the update.

In addition, Into the Breach is also coming to Android and iOS devices on the same day courtesy of Netflix. A Netflix subscription is required but there are no ads or micro-transactions. The mobile version also sports a new UI optimized for tablets and phones.

Into the Breach is currently available for PC, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia. Check out our review here for more details on the base game.

The first batch of games in those three categories has now been revealed (courtesy of SteamDB), and there are some interesting names in each list. The list of Unsupported games is a pretty short one with just 5 games, though it does have one notable name- Persona 4 Golden. The game’s own page says that Valve is still working on adding support though, so hopefully this won’t be permanent. 

24 games so far have the Playable tag. The list includes the likes of The Witcher 3, Slay the Spire, Inscryption, Subnautica, Valheim, Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, NieR: Automata, Bravely Default 2, and more. That means that right now, these games are playable on the Steam Deck, but might still run into a few issues here and there. 

Finally, there’s the first batch of Steam Deck Verified games, which lists 38 titles right now and is already looking impressive. Games that have already been fully optimized for the upcoming handheld device include the likes of Portal 2, Celeste, Hollow Knight, Dishonored, Cuphead 2, Psychonauts 2, Dark Souls 2, Dark Souls 3, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Death’s Door, Death Stranding, Mad Max, Scarlet Nexus, Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Hot Wheels Unleashed, the upcoming Total War: Warhammer 3, and many others. 

You can check out the full list of the Steam Deck’s Verified, Playable, and Unsupported games so far below.

The Steam Deck is scheduled to launch in February.

Several weeks ago, Humble Bundle joined the fight against the COVID-19 coronavirus with the Humble Conquer COVID-19 Bundle. Complete with titles like Hollow Knight, Wizard of Legend, The Witness, Undertale and so on, proceeds for the same would go to charities like Doctors Without Borders, Direct Relief and so on. Recently, Humble Bundle announced that over $6.5 million had been raised thanks to the bundle.

Over 208,000 bundles were sold in total, which should paint a strong picture for the average amount donated. Receiving about $1.5 million in donates, Doctors Without Borders talked about the impact of the program which “Will enable our teams to launch emergency programs to help stem the spread of COVID-19 in the hardest-hit communities, care for infected patients, and respond to the pandemic’s consequences on local health systems.”

Direct Relief also thanked those donating, stating that, “This support translates into immediate, practical help – personal protective equipment for doctors and nurses, medications, and supplies for people with severe cases of COVID-19, and resources for those affected who are most at-risk throughout the country. This is such a wonderful example of everyone pulling together and doing whatever we can to protect those who are most vulnerable.”

It’s a good imitative all around, especially considering how severe COVID-19’s impact has been. Along with contributing to the cancellation of E3 2020, the pandemic also resulted in Gamescom 2020’s on-site event being cancelled (though it will still have a digital event). Several high profile releases like The Last of Us Part 2, Wasteland 3 and so on also suffered delays as a result of development teams shifting to work from home.

Super Mario Party

The infamous ruiner of friendships debuts for the Nintendo Switch. Super Mario Party takes the more traditional approach to the series’ formula, introducing new mini-games, some with motion controls, and a new mode called Partner Party where teams of two can work together. There’s even a mode called Toad’s Rec Room where multiple Switches can be combined for gameplay across multiple screens. Super Mario Party captures the amazing feeling of losing to never-ending nonsense, which may or may not be your definition of a good time.

Say what you will about Electronic Arts, but EA/Origin Access continue to be a solid deal. To further sweeten the pot for Origin Access Premier subscribers, EA has been adding more recent big-time releases to its Vault. This week, we get Haemimont Games’ Tropico 6 and The Bearded Ladies’ Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden.

Tropico 6 sees El Presidente returning to prominence ane managing a slew of islands across different eras. Election speeches are back, the Caribbean music is as swanky as ever, and the freedom to rule your way is fairly strong. Check out GamingBolt’s review here.

Meanwhile, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden presents real-time isometric exploration, but turn-based tactical battles. Commanding a squad of three, it’s possible to ambush your enemies or sneak by them undetected. Along with a free challenge mode, the title also has a free demo available on Steam.

If neither of those suits your taste, then there are four other titles which are also available to Origin Access Basic subscribers. These are Into The Breach, FTL: Faster Than Light, Shift Quantum, and Detention. Check out the Origin Access updates page for more information.

Owlboy

D-Pad Studio’s Owlboy first released in 2016 following years and years of development. Its charming art-style and believable characterization meshed well with the quasi-Metroidvania platforming it had to offer. Playing as Otis and flying through the skies to battle pirates and learn the truth about the world may not have been revolutionary but it’s utterly amazing adventure all the same.

BELOW

 Below was in development for five years, which is a long time to wait for any game. Late in 2018, we finally got to play the game, and what a ride it was. While there’s an argument to be made that it’s difficulty can actually be a bit unfair at times, especially combined with the undeniable repetitiveness, most of the times, the game manages to find the right balance. Struggling through gruelling encounters and navigating around the many deathtraps it throws at you is as satisfying as you would expect.

]]> https://gamingbolt.com/15-most-difficult-games-of-2018/feed 0 379561 https://gamingbolt.com/2018s-indie-greats-looking-back-on-the-year-so-far https://gamingbolt.com/2018s-indie-greats-looking-back-on-the-year-so-far#respond Mon, 24 Sep 2018 08:32:59 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=357015 Through the years and the various market swings and trends, indie games have managed to hold some sway over audiences. It’s interesting how many eras that could be pointed to as a significant uptick for this segment of the industry. Kickstarter projects receive millions in dollars for funding, big publishers like Sony and Microsoft provide absurd amounts of stage time at E3 and a relatively good publisher like Paradox Interactive, Devolver Digital or Focus Home Interactive reports good sales numbers. Needless to say, indie gaming is long past the date of “here to stay”. Amidst the many years of exceptional indie development efforts, though, of upticks like the original big three of Fez, Super Meat Boy and Braid, or the explosion of properties like Minecraft, 2018 has certainly become one of the best years for indie games.

To me, the term “indie” developer is equal parts counter-culture and unfettered creative vision. However, they are not on a different level from triple-A studios – really, the only things that separate them are bigger budgets and more marketing. Just like indie games are not by virtue worse than triple-A titles because of the lack of money, so too are they not superior because of their unique ideas (which come down to proper execution at the end of the day). I’m not a fan of the “triple-A” or “indie” moniker when it comes down to great games. Because great games, at the end of the day, are great games. And 2018, for all its typical franchises, has seen a lot of great games.

"Developed by Matt Thorson and friends aka Matt Makes Games that brought us the wildly entertaining multiplayer-centric Towerfall: Ascension, Celeste turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the year."

Let’s start with January. It was a cold, dark month, punctuated by the impending release of Monster Hunter World. For me, the month was important for two reasons – Cellar Door Games’ Full Metal Furies and Konjak’s Iconoclasts. The former, obviously, is due to the developer’s amazing Rogue Legacy. Full Metal Furies has been in development for a long time and while its beat ’em up mechanics were decent, the overall gameplay and structure felt a bit wanting. It came and went but thankfully, the same didn’t apply to Iconoclasts. This years-in-development action platformer from Joakim Sandberg culminated in a colourful adventure with a deep story, lovable characters and excellent boss fights. It’s coming to Nintendo Switch as well, making it the perfect title to have on the go.

However, between these titles and Unknown Worlds’ Subnautica finally leaving Steam Early Access amid much fanfare (rightly so given how excellently the development was handled), there was Celeste. Developed by Matt Thorson and friends aka Matt Makes Games that brought us the wildly entertaining multiplayer-centric Towerfall: Ascension, Celeste turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the year. It overtook a number of other indie titles by coming to the Nintendo Switch at launch but otherwise, it was a great game in every aspect regardless of the platform.

Mechanically, the platforming and variety in level design was compelling, fresh and organically challenging at every turn. The music and visuals were suitably retro but embodied a surrealistic flavour that felt unmistakably contemporary. I would give the most credit to composer Lena Raine for the sheer perfection that her soundtrack serves in setting the mood but everyone who worked on the game, from the artists and programmers to Thorson as designer and director, deserves the highest praise.

Even as Monster Hunter World was setting records and stealing many players’ hearts, Celeste was already my personal Game of the Year.

"Even though there wasn’t a ton of competition, the best new indie game of February was undoubtedly Into The Breach."

Surprisingly, February felt uneventful in comparison. Aegis Defenders from GUTS Department had a certain appeal to its gameplay with the mix of tower defense and 2D platforming but ultimately remained a niche title. February was mostly the month that numerous titles like SteamWorld Dig, Owlboy, Night in the Woods, Layers of Fear: Legacy, Outlast and much more released on the Nintendo Switch. The Nindies program was starting to pick up momentum.

Meanwhile, EA’s Fe was probably the biggest new indie release of the month simply based on the EA Originals label. Was it really exceptional? Did it push any boundaries, especially after January’s cavalcade of great releases? Not really but it was a solid title from the studio behind Stick It To The Man and the upcoming Ghost Giant. Moss was the other big title, simply due to the pedigree of its developer Polyarc (whose team had worked on titles like Guild Wars 2, Halo: Reach, Red Dead Redemption and Dragon Age).

Whether it was the instantly recognizable protagonist Quill or simply being one of the best VR titles ever made, Moss ably established its presence. There was also Where The Water Tastes Like Wine that sadly was proclaimed as a commercial disaster by the developer. Nevertheless, its gorgeous art-direction and strong cast, intermixed with interactive stories, was a welcome offering. An offering that will hopefully receive more appreciation down the line.

Even though there wasn’t a ton of competition, the best new indie game of February was undoubtedly Into The Breach. FTL: Faster Than Light developer Subset Games took a semi-rogue-like approach into the turn-based strategy genre, evoking an aesthetic similar to Advance Wars with intriguing gameplay and squad possibilities. The procedurally generated nature of maps, scaling difficulty and challenge completion required for new units ensured multiple playthroughs. But it was the deceptively simple yet complex gameplay that cemented it as one of the year’s best. There was just something so sweet about knocking an enemy unit into another while their attack kills a third. The ripple effect that this would have on surrounding buildings and other enemies was also worth watching out for at all times.

"Though ultimately falling back on the “one big twist” style of story-telling and having no single-player option, A Way Out’s characterization and strong mechanics allowed it to sell exceptionally well."

The scene started picking up again with all kinds of releases in March. Evoland developer Shiro Games returned with a completely different offering in Northgard. The strategy title focused on settlement building and exploration, as players managed resources and set out to conquer the immense campaign. Despite the strong critical acclaim, Northgard didn’t get too much appreciation but saw a number of updates to extend its life.

Other standout releases that didn’t get too much attention include Ghost of A Tale, a stealth fantasy game focused on a mouse named Tilo as he explores the history of a strange, anthropomorphic inhabitated kingdom; Q.U.B.E. 2, a puzzler in first person that involves the manipulation of cubes while one navigates an immense maze to survive; and of course, Hazelight Games’ A Way Out. Published under the EA Originals label and hyped up thanks to the antics of creator Josef Fares, A Way Out imbibed the couch co-op experience with a compelling story and gameplay situations. Though ultimately falling back on the “one big twist” style of story-telling and having no single-player option, A Way Out’s characterization and strong mechanics allowed it to sell exceptionally well. It crossed 1 million units sold in just two weeks.

April started earnestly enough with Minit. The game focuses on a mystery but much like Half-Minute Hero, a limited time period is provided to accomplish solve it. In between these sixty-second lives, players gather items that are shared across different lifetimes and advance forward (ideally). Though Minit handled its concept well, it was ultimately overshadowed by Harebrained Schemes’ BattleTech and 11 bit Studios’ Frostpunk, not to mention Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice finally coming to Xbox One.

In terms of heavyweights, that’s a pretty solid list. BattleTech became quite successful and Harebrained was acquired by Paradox Interactive. The developer announced future updates and more content (the recently revealed Flashpoint is the first paid expansion). Frostpunk, meanwhile, has been releasing free updates and quality of life changes besides prepping a new scenario for release later this year. Whether it was a tactical turn-based strategy with mech-building and customization or city-management with survival elements and an aspect of humanity, PC players weren’t wanting for unique experiences in April.

"Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, despite having a budget that could dwarf other indie titles, presented an old-school approach to computer role-playing games in the vein of Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale."

Of course, there was also Pizza Titan Ultra, an action platformer which featured giant mechs rampaging through cities to deliver pizzas. Why? Because of course, the mech owners ran a pizzeria! It’s crazy and bizarre but combines the over-top style of Crazy Taxi with the destructible landscape of Blast Corps. It’s nuts and yet extremely endearing.

In May, the flow of indies picked up. Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, despite having a budget that could dwarf other indie titles, presented an old-school approach to computer role-playing games in the vein of Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale. The addition of piracy, ship combat and exploration made it a fun romp even if, like the first game, the writing could be less than quaint. Titles like Omensight and Wizard of Legend also rose to prominence. The former was developed by Spearhead Games of Stories: The Path of Destinies fame. It saw players reliving the same day in Urralia, attempting to solve a murder to reverse the land’s destruction. Time manipulation, hack and slash combat and the ability to influence key characters all created a unique experience (plus the art-style was pretty good looking).

Wizard of Legend took a more straightforward rogue-like approach. Players explored a fixed number of dungeons with procedurally generated elements but the real hook was developing and combining magical spells together. Combat was fast, and the number of spells and items helped provide enough variety for a few repeat playthroughs.

Then there was Moonlighter, a much-anticipated pixel-art dungeon crawler that combined the combat of Zelda with the item shop management of Recettear. While its shopkeeping elements didn’t feel as dynamic, Moonlighter still had an enjoyable loop of combat, upgrading, dungeon looting and selling that was insanely addictive. Did we also mention the art looks simply gorgeous? It’s since been updated with over a hundred new rooms, various quality of life improvements and more interesting twists to the item store.

"July belonged to two major releases – The Banner Saga 3, the climactic conclusion to Stoic’s excellent trilogy, and No Man’s Sky NEXT."

Other titles that stood out in May include City of Brass, a first person rogue-like themed on Arabian Nights where players must venture into a dangerous city for the promise of treasure; FAR: Lone Sails, a linear adventure game where players embark on a sea-faring adventure of mystery, braving hazards and attempting to keep their ship going; and Yoku’s Island Express, a charming side-scrolling platformer that incorporates pinball into its core gameplay. Seriously though, if nothing else, try out Yoku’s Island Express. It’s a ball (I know, I’m sorry).

June and July were relatively quiet, though E3 2018 saw a number of titles either announced or outright released. Unravel Two debuted at EA Play 2018 and while it wasn’t as intriguing as Sea of Solitude (which is out in 2019), the sheer charm of the first game was unique. Plus, there was co-op this time. EA further surprised us by releasing the game as soon as it was announced because…well, why not? Nintendo followed suit. It released the Switch port of Team Cherry’s acclaimed Hollow Knight during its Direct presentation. Hollow Knight has since gone on to fame and fortune, selling over 1 million copies since first launching for PC last year.

Dontnod’s Vampyr was the other big indie release for June. While it seemingly flew under the radar, only slightly buoyed by reviews that praised the story but criticized for its combat, it managed to sell 450,000 units in a manner of weeks. July’s releases were pretty straightforward – This is the Police 2 released and alienated a few fans, though its shift towards a more XCOM-style tactical game wasn’t terrible. Chasm finally released after years in development and while it wasn’t bad, it did average slightly higher than “okay”. At least its 2D art maintained its appeal after so many years.

Honestly, though, July belonged to two major releases – The Banner Saga 3, the climactic conclusion to Stoic’s excellent trilogy, and No Man’s Sky NEXT. The latter technically wasn’t a new game but a large update, overhauling a number of features, adding new ones like co-op multiplayer (and PvP for the more violent-minded folk), and significantly improving the visuals. It did mark the game’s debut for Xbox One but perhaps the most significant development was Hello Games co-founder Sean Murray finally speaking out and admitting to the numerous problems at launch. The commitment to keep improving the game, especially with weekly events, continues.

"Perhaps what impresses me most about this year thus far is how many indie titles seemingly came out of left field and proved to be compelling experiences."

We hence come to August which saw the incredible Dead Cells finally leave Steam Early Access and become a fairly big hit with critics. I’ve waxed eloquent about how brilliant the game is, nailing its core gameplay loop thanks to a striking yet organic aesthetic. And really, it’s tons of fun to kill stuff in that game. No joke.

Guacamelee! 2 wasn’t a revolutionary leap over the sequel but it’s still an excellent follow-up, celebrating Mexican culture and folklore while embodying the very best of Metroidvania gameplay. Death’s Gambit, a 2D Souls-like, also released after numerous years in development. While I personally had a few qualms with it, the combat is fun and challenging to engage with as are the boss battles. Overcooked! 2 brought a whole new meaning to hating your friends with its cooking-based missions (and that odd design choice of only the hosting player receiving progress should be fixed by now). Even Donut County, a game where you control a whole that’s swallowing things up and increasing in size, looks bizarrely fun.

Perhaps what impresses me most about this year thus far is how many indie titles seemingly came out of left field and proved to be compelling experiences. For as much hype as there was for Iconoclasts, Celeste simply came out of nowhere and became known as one of the very best games ever made. Likewise, with August coming to an end (as of this time of writing), Sabotage Studio’s The Messenger has released and proven itself to be an excellent homage to the old-school Ninja Gaiden.

Even without the direct comparison, it’s still proven to be a fantastic 2D action platformer. For The King, IronOak Games’ tabletop roguelike RPG, was also pretty good and despite leaving Early Access with very little fanfare, it’s been well-received by both critics and regular fans. The same goes for Event Horizon’s Tower of Time, a more story-centric RPG dungeon crawler with some compelling combat and decent story-telling.

"Not everyone may find success but each title has earned its place in the hearts and minds of its fans, no matter their number."

Though the Fall and Holiday seasons are known for their triple-A releases, there are a few awesome indie games to look forward to. InExile’s The Bard’s Tale 4: Barrows Deep will arrive on September 18th, introducing a new generation to the dungeon crawling, RPG excitement that permeated old-school titles. Secret of Mana-style action RPG CrossCode will also finally release, exiting Steam Early Access on September 20th, and I couldn’t be more excited about finally playing the game through from start to finish. A number of titles like This War of Mine, Hyper Light Drifter, Everspace, Beat Cop, Moonlighter and much more will also be making their way to the Nintendo Switch, which has proven to be a premier destination for indie titles. Just ask anyone still addicted to Dead Cells on the go.

Frozen Synapse 2 is also probably still coming this year. It’s really hard to say at this point.

The industry has seen its ups and downs throughout the years. Whether it’s last year’s hefty push for loot boxes and reinforcing essential gameplay elements with loot boxes, or the constant nagging about the Battle Royale genre this year, there will always be some kind of pervasive cynicism. That doesn’t mean that some great games – even those seemingly “ruined” by microtransactions – aren’t available to indulge in but that’s beside the point. Through all the twists we’ve seen the industry take, the indie development scene continues to push forward. It may not always be easy or lead to returns as exemplified by Zeboyd Games (Cosmic Star Heroine) or Infinite Fall (Night in the Woods). Some developers like Hello Games may be forever marred by their past failures. Others may be defined more by their explosive personalities than their actual work like Josef Fares.

At the end of the day, the market has proven receptive to indie games and fresh experiences in general. Not everyone may find success but each title has earned its place in the hearts and minds of its fans, no matter their number.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.