If you’ve been on the fence about the Yooka-Laylee sequel, Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, now’s your chance. Team17 and Playtonic Games have released a free demo of the game on the digital stores for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC (Steam), and Xbox One.
The demo includes the first five levels of the full game, as well as the titular lair and a Pageie Challenge. There’s no time limit on the demo. Any progress you make will carry over to the full game should you decide to purchase it.
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair features 40 levels of 2D platforming, along with a 3D interactive overworld map. Players can find game-modifying tonics that alter the gameplay through new graphic filters, difficulty modifiers, or just different character skins.
The story takes place after the events of the original 2017 game, Yooka-Laylee. The chameleon and bat journey to Queen Pheobee’s kingdom to free the captured Beettalion, while gearing up to take on Capital B’s ultimate challenge, the Impossible Lair.
The original game was designed as a throwback 3D platformer and spiritual successor to the Banjo-Kazooie series. It was met with mixed reviews. The 2019 sequel changed direction, creating a 2D platformer in the vein of the Donkey Kong Country series, and was much better received.
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC (Steam), and Xbox One. It’s rated E for Everyone.
Pokémon Home is a new cloud service app designed to help pokémon trainers store, trade, and transfer their collection of pokémon across multiple generations of games. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have announced Pokémon Home is coming next month to iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as the Nintendo Switch, and provided details on the pricing and functionality.
Pokémon Home will be free to download for basic functionality, but you’ll need to enroll in the Premium Plan subscription if you’re hoping to transfer older generation pokémon from the 3DS era, as well as store and trade a larger amount of pokémon.
The Premium Plan is priced as follows (not including tax):
1 month – $2.99
3 months – $4.99
12 months – $15.99
The free version allows the transfer of pokémon between the current Switch generation: Let’s Go, Eevee, Let’s Go, Pikachu, Sword, and Shield. However, once a pokemon from Let’s Go, Eevee or Let’s Go, Pikachu is transferred to Sword and Shield, it cannot be returned to its original game, due to Sword and Shield’s expanded features.
Pokémon GO will not be supported at launch but “there are plans to support Pokémon GO in the future.”
The basic plan only supports up to 30 pokémon in storage, and limits the number of pokémon you can include in Wonder Box trades and the Global Trade System.
With the Premium Plan, users can trade pokémon from Nintendo’s previous cloud service app, Pokémon Bank, which supported the Nintendo 3DS era of Pokémon games (and earlier using Poké Transporter). As a helpful bonus, both older apps will be free for one month after Pokémon Home’s release, letting you get everything organized into Bank, then into Home, though you’ll still need to pay for at least one month of Home for the Premium Plan. This should be obvious but: transferring from Bank to Home is a one-way street.
The Premium version also supports up to 6,000 pokémon in storage, up to 10 pokémon in Wonder Boxes, and 3 pokémon in the GTS. Premium users can also host trade rooms for more direct online trading.
To support all these pokémon, Home will officially add the National Dex to the latest generation (including Mega Evolutions). Pokémon Home also features Mystery Gifts, Home Points (which can be transferred to Battle Points), the Judge function (for Premium users), and various stats and pokémon news.
Note that there are important differences between the Switch and mobile versions of Home. Namely, the Switch version is used to move pokémon between the Switch games themselves, while the mobile version can perform trades and receive mystery gifts. Both versions can transfer from Pokémon Bank.
Pokémon Home is launching in February for mobile and Switch.
Headup Games and ClockStone Software have announced Bridge Constructor is coming to Nintendo Switch this Friday, Jan. 31, for $14.99. Bridge Constructor Ultimate Edition will include two DLC add-ons and touchscreen support.
Bridge Constructor is a physics-based puzzle game that does exactly what it says on the box – create bridges for cars and trucks to safely make it from one side of the screen to the other. Bridge Constructor uses real-world physics like weight and tension and objects like concrete pillars and steel cables, all while staying under budget in each level.
The touchscreen controls allow you to drag and build objects for your bridges directly on the Switch in handheld mode.
The base game features 40 levels ranging from very easy to very hard, spread over five different areas, as well as a free build mode. The Slopemania DLC adds another 24 levels with a challenging sloping theme, while the Trains DLC adds three new islands and 18 new levels as you build large bridges to support the heavy trains.
Bridge Constructor’s most recent release, Bridge Constructor Portal, released in 2017 on mobile and PC, and 2018 for consoles. It combined the bridge-building mechanics with the setting of Valve’s beloved Portal series, as you built test chambers and avoided deadly hazards for Aperture Science.
Bridge Constructor Ultimate Edition is currently available for pre-order on the Nintendo eShop with a 20% discount ($11.99). It’s rated E for Everyone.
PAX South is often the first major gaming convention of the year, awkwardly injected right after the busy holiday season. This year was even more awkward, with the much bigger PAX East 2020 pushed up into late February, resulting in many bigger publishers skipping Texas in favor of Boston.
PAX South is known for a high ratio of indie and tabletop games. Between PAX Rising (tiny indie companies), PAX Together (highlighting LGBTQ creators), and the new Latinx Lounge (highlighting Latinx creators and panels), we checked out many excellent indie games to look for in 2020.
Dungeon Defenders: Awakened
Developer: Chromatic Games Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One Release: Q1 2020
I was a big fan of co-op tower defense action-RPG Dungeon Defenders a decade ago. I’m pleased to report that Dungeon Defenders: Awakened is a satisfying modern sequel. Waves of enemies march down lanes toward my crystal core while I build and repair towers, and defend with weapons and abilities. New changes include freely swapping between the four heroes to access their wide variety of towers, traps, and auras, as well as finding multiple types of weapons for each character. Four player co-op multiplayer also returns, including local, online, and up to four player splitscreen.
Everspace 2
Developer: Rockfish Games Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Release: 2021 (Early Access September 2020)
Everspace 2 is a hyperspeed leap forward for the space sim series, replacing the roguelike structure of the first game with a bigger open-world (open-universe?) RPG. Rockfish Games knows how to make a spaceship sim look and play great. Within seconds of starting the PAX demo I was swinging around asteroids, pew pewing my lasers, and dog-fighting with marauders. After a successful Kickstarter campaign last year, Rockfish is settling in for a lengthy but transparent development cycle, with Early Access hitting later this Fall.
Foregone
Developer: Big Blue Bubble Platforms: “PC and Consoles” Release: Early Access Feb. 27 (Epic Games Store)
Foregone’s delicious combination of metroidvania with action-RPG made it one of my personal favorite games of PAX South 2020. The 2D combat was fast and fluid as I instantly switched between melee and ranged attacks. Enemies explode into health globes and energy I can use to fuel multiple abilities, like shields and slide-attacks. Foregone sets itself apart from many similar-looking games in the 2D action genre by adding Diablo-style randomized loot. In my brief PAX demo I found rare bows and swords that gave multiple stat bonuses. The demo ended right after teasing a big boss fight. I desperately need to play more of this game.
From Rust
Developer: Razbury Games Platforms: PC (Steam) Release: TBA
Digital card games are all the rage, but From Rust is trying to do something different. It’s a cooperative dungeon-crawling card game with a punky Mad Max-like theme. There’s a lot of depth under the deck, including crafting, leveling, boss battles, party management, and a full campaign story with fun comic characters. From Rust is currently in limited Alpha Testing, and you can hop onto the Razbury Games Discord server to request a Steam key.
Garden Story
Developer: Picogram Platforms: PC, Mac Release: Spring 2020
A mixture of Stardew Valley’s wholesome farm town with Zelda-like dungeon-delving is a recipe for indie success. Garden Story stars Concord, an adorable plum with the will to help their community of Autumn Town. The art, music, and dialogue gave me all the warm feelings from Stardew Valley. My demo only scratched the surface of this lovely throwback to 16-bit RPGs, and I could definitely see myself falling in love with Garden Story later this year.
Ghost Runner
Developer: One More Level Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Release: 2020
Ghost Runner is a cyberpunk first-person slasher. Taking place entirely within a futuristic mega-tower, I play as a cybernetically enhanced ghost runner, running, swinging, and slashing my way through the dystopian tower. The ghost runner is fast but very mortal; a single shot from a guard ends my life. Thankfully the game includes generous checkpoints and instant reloading, making each combat situation a hyper fast-paced puzzle of enjoyable trial and error as I slide, dodge, wall-run, and slow time to swiftly dispatch my enemies.
Greak: Memories of Azur
Developer: Navegante Platforms: TBA Release: Early 2020
Tucked away in the PAX South Latinx Lounge was a gorgeous 2D action-platformer starring three siblings who are trying to escape their homeland after an invasion. In the demo for Greak: Memories of Azur, the smallest brother, Greak, a nimble swordfighter, finds his spell-slinging sister Adara. I could seamlessly swap between both siblings to step on pressure plates, activate levers, and use their different skills to defeat enemies. I’ve longed for a modern spiritual sequel to The Lost Vikings series, and Greak looks ready to deliver.
Iron Danger
Developer: Action Squad Studios Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux Release: 2020
There’s no shame in quick-saving before a major combat encounter in an RPG (okay, maybe a little shame). In Iron Danger there’s no need. Early on the main character acquires a time-traveling device, allowing her and a partner to travel several crucial seconds back in time. Time-travel manifests in-game as video editing that I can quickly scrub through, watching the action play out – and reverse, in slow-motion. By playing with time I can dodge attacks, set up traps, and bait enemies. It’s an intriguing mechanic on top of a cool fantasy world of spells and mechs, built from Finnish folklore.
Konsui Fighter
Developer: Circean Studios Platforms: Mobile (Android, iOS) Release: 2020 (Early Access currently available on Android)
A fighting game on your phone? My skepticism was quickly replaced by admiration when I got my hands on Konsui Fighter. “Konsui” translates to coma, and the mind of Professor Tsuburaya has become a battlefield between different aspects of his personality, including sorrow, rage, and pleasure. Controls are easily handled with on-screen buttons and finger-swipes, keeping each character’s move-list simple but robust. The hand-drawn artwork, beautiful animations, and original soundtrack create an impressive game in a tiny package. Konsui Fighter is currently available in Early Access on Android, and launching later this year on iOS.
Kunai
Developer: Turtleblaze Platforms: PC (Steam), Switch Release: Early 2020
A kunai is a diamond-shaped throwing knife often found in RPGs. Kunai is also a 2D metroidvania starring a cloak-wearing robot with a tablet for a face. Early in Tabby’s adventures in the robot-controlled wasteland, I acquire a pair of kunai attached to ropes. By using the left and right bumpers I can fire the kunai at smart-targeted angles to my left and right. I had a blast grappling onto walls and swinging from ceilings to slash at enemies, all to the delightful facial animations of Tabby. With tight controls and a retro aesthetic, Kunai could prove to be this year’s Shovel Knight.
Kung Fu Kickball
Developer: WhaleFood Games Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One Release: Early 2020
Kung Fu Kickball looks like an old-school fighting game or beat ’em up, with one very important distinction: it’s a sporting match! One on one or 2v2 teams face off on a large 2D battlefield with a ball in the middle. I only need three buttons for victory: jump, punch, and dash. The action is immediately frantic and hilarious as players are encouraged to knock each other around while trying to slam the ball into their opponents’ bell. Different stages change up the action by putting up walls, ramps, platforms, and environmental hazards like a sandstorm, and players can choose between three different classes.
The Last Friend
Developer: Stonebot Games Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One Release: 2020
Let’s set aside the fact that The Last Friend is an excellent mashup of side-scrolling tower defense and beat ’em up and focus on what really matters: the doggos. In the post-apocalyptic wastes, one man sets out with his beloved chihuahua to rescue dogs in their RV. That’s a great premise for a TV show, but for now we’ll settle for a charming tower defense game. Place turrets and walls between the rampaging enemies and your van of good bois. But even the best-placed defenses won’t get it done alone, and I need to run down the lanes to take tackle molotov-throwing marauders myself. You already had me with rescuing and defending dogs, but it helps that The Last Friend is a great game, too.
Neko Ghost, Jump!
Developer: Burgos Games Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Release: TBA
Rotating between 2D and 3D platforming levels isn’t an entirely new concept; older games like Super Paper Mario used it to great effect. Yet it’s rare enough to still feel novel and interesting, as with Neko Ghost, Jump. Even the earliest level designs in my demo required constant flipping between both views to access new blocks and passages. To defeat enemies, the titular cat summons its ghost form, which is armed with a sword. However, Neko still leaves behind a body that must be protected, creating a challenging and puzzle-y landscape to work through.
Partisans 1941
Developer: Alter Games Platforms: PC Release: TBA
Daedalic Entertainment is publishing this fine-looking stealth-tactics game from Moscow-based developer Alter Games. It tells a fictionalized story based on the historical events of the Soviets versus the Nazis in World War 2. Partisans 1941 isn’t a shooter but a tactics game, where stealth, patience, awareness, and synergy between your squad will ensure survival. In the demo I crept up to a Nazi encampment with my trio of soldiers, carefully putting two of them in cover while a third quietly knifed a guard and dragged the body into a basement. When a thrown knife didn’t quite make the kill on my next target, I ran back to my comrades, who opened up in a hail of gunfire. Partisans definitely hits all the right notes for a satisfying tactical experience.
Streets of Rage 4
Developer: Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One Release: 2020
Streets of Rage is often considered one of the best classic co-op beat ’em ups from the early 90s, and certainly one of my childhood favorites. I didn’t expect much from Streets of Rage 4 but within seconds of playing, I was thrown right back into the past in all the right ways. Axel, Blaze, and Adam return (along with new character Cherry) to the cartoony mean streets to dispense violent justice with flaming punches, guitar slams, and a variety of weapon power-ups. With a killer soundtrack, beautiful animations, and immediately satisfying gameplay, Streets of Rage 4 is the perfect example of a long-awaited sequel done right.
Wildermyth
Developer: Worldwalker Games Platforms: PC Release: 2020 (Available now via Steam Early Access)
Of all the games on this list, Wildermyth may be the hardest to define, and I mean that as a compliment. A randomly generated group of heroes rises up to defend their fantasy world, with grid-based, XCOM-like tactical combat and a striking papercraft art style. Story-beats play out in comic panels, where players make choices that affect their heroes’ stats, abilities, and loot. My ranger was drawn into an ominous flame, where I chose to let him be absorbed. Instead of perishing, he gained a special new fiery attack. Wildermyth is designed to be multi-generational, managing my squad through hero deaths and retirements as I build my legacy – or call on them in future playthroughs. All of these systems working together made Wildermyth one of the more intriguing indie games at the expo hall.
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