Steam Sale
Well another Steam sale is here. I always feel a bit mixed about them. I don't need anything added to my backlogs, but there are a lot of great small devs who are putting out some cool products that I want to support. And of course there are games that I've eyed for years that only cost a few bucks, so I may as well get them too.
Anyway, here's my haul from this year:
The Quest - $4.99
(Archers are the worst. Get a ranged weapon ASAP)
What a generic name for a game. It's a grid-based RPG that originally came out on PDAs(!) like the Palm 20 years ago. It was ported to iOS and then to Windows. The game is a lot of fun, especially when considered as a time capsule from the era. It looks good and plays well. The combat can be brutal at times (if you stumble on the bandit hideout early on there's no hope. Just turn around if you do) but there are ways to avoid it. The story is as generic as the title, but sometimes that's nice. There's even a card game in it! If you appreciate very old style RPGs, check this one out. Video Review
Secret Agent Wizard Boy - $7.99
(Look at those colors!)
I really loved the PS2 Harry Potter games. They were whimsical, the colors were vibrant, the combat and puzzles were fresh for the time. Unfortunately TERFs don't deserve support, regardless of nostalgia around their works, so I won't support that IP anymore. Thankfully, there's a new game for me. SAWB plays just like those old games. There are fun spells to learn, a nice castle to explore, puzzles and quests, it's everything I want. The game is in early access now, but it's not hard to find 10 hours of fun here if you look for it. I'm excited for the final release! Dev log
Fear the Spotlight - $9.99
(That dang light)
It's no secret that I love horror games, and this has been on my radar for a while. The game is very straightforward and feels like it's related, even distantly, to the Clock Tower series. Two kids break into a school and a seance goes wrong. Escape, but don't get caught in the spotlight. There are some light stealth mechanics and puzzles, and the game isn't that long, but it excels in presentation. I won't spoil the ending (some of the Steam reviews do, so be careful), but it left me satisfied in a way a lot of horror games don't. If you enjoy sneaking around, modern retro-style graphics, good voice acting, and engaging with the story through scattered notes, this could be a game for you. PlayStation Trailer
The Lost Oregon City Gold - $1.74
(Photorealism because it's a photo)
This is an FMV adventure game that came out in 2022. It's cute and the creators clearly had fun because it comes through in the videos. I don't have anything else to say that isn't covered by this post in The Virtual Moose. It's less than $2. What do you have to lose?
I'm sure I'll pick up more. Someone will mention a game that costs less than $2 I forgot about and it'll pop it in my cart. I look forward to a solid few months of gaming!