It’s not lost on me that, with the Internet being the permanent home of game leaks and rumors, shows like Summer Games Fest, the State of Play, and the Xbox Showcase, don’t pack as much punch as they used too (if they ever really did). Still, even if nothing under the sun is exactly new in the world of games, it’s fun to kick back for a few days with various gaming shows. Even if the world already knows that a new Call of Duty: Black Ops game is coming out; and sure, I’m looking forward to The Outer Worlds 2 as much as the next person; but it’s the new, unknown games from smaller companies that help make celebrations like Summer Games Fest and its ilk shine. But big or small, a passion for video games is what melds the community and make these shows worth watching. These are just some of my favorite highlights from a weekend that was all about games.
Clockwork Revolution is still happening!
First announced a few years ago, and still with an “in due time” release date, it was delightful to see an extended reveal of inXile’s Clockwork Revolution. This RPG with a veritable steampunk aesthetic and loads of wry humor remains high on my “want” list. It also drove home the thought that I should really give another of inXile’s games a try while I’m waiting. The Bard’s Tale IV, for example, is one I’ve eyed for a long time…
The Guilty Gear folks are making a Marvel fighting game? Yes, please!
Well, well, well…hello Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls! This fighting game with an anime bent brings together Sony, Marvel, and Arc System Works, creator of the Guilty Gear and BlazBlu series, and the results look pretty dang great! It looks a little retro but feels totally modern, and I could use a good, brand-new 2D fighting game in my library. The recently re-releases of revamped 2D Capcom fighting games have been nice to see; but as much as I’m okay with the saying “everything old is new again,” sometimes you just want something that’s actually new, y’know?
Felt That: Boxing — Biggest surprise; least likely to play
While I go into these gaming showcases with some hopes (Fable was mentioned, at least), these days, I want more than anything to see developers do anything different. Felt That: Boxing, a boxing game (obviously) starring foul-mouthed puppets from co-developers Sans Strings Studio and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, was that game of the weekend for me. I doubt I’ll ever play it, but in a sea filled with soulslikes, rougelikes, metrovanias, live service shenanigans, throwbacks, and remakes/remasters, Felt That: Boxing appeared like a breath of fresh air…with a mean uppercut.
Relooted is a game I never knew I wanted
From South African studio Nyamkop, Relooted at me hooked from the start. It’s a heist game that sees players reclaiming African artifacts from Western collections. The subject matter hits home personally in my own career, but more to the game, it just looks like a good time. With a mix of planning, puzzling, and action, it appears that how each heist is handled is up to the player, and the journey to each goal will vary. Relooted is high on my watchlist.
The Trolley Solution’s simple approach stood out
Pushing the boundaries of the question, “what is a video game?”, the simple yet very intriguing The Trolley Solution presents a different kind of puzzle…um…experience? Developed by byDanDans, the description of the game on its Steam page reads: “The Trolley Solution is a compilation of point-and-click minigames based on the famous thought experiment originally proposed by Philippa Foot.” I don’t know who Foot was or anything about these experiments, but the game alone has me wanting to find out!
More content for Little Kitty, Big City!
Would I turn down the chance to explore more of the world of Little Kitty, Big City? Certainly not! The reveal that its getting an expansion brought a big smile to my face. The game is intensely charming, and if Double Dagger Studio has figured out how to make it even more so, well…we’ll see if I’m ready for that when the new content, which showcases more quirky for Kitty to befriend, drops at some point soon (hopefully).
If you watched any of the recent gaming showcases, what are some of your favorite highlights?
Lede image from igdb.com presskit for Clockwork Revolution (© inXile Entertainment).
VIRTUAL BASTION 