Enter the Gungeon
PAX Prime 2015 had a lot of interesting games out on the show floor for attendees to get their hands on, and many of them were shooters. But few had the speed and sheer insanity of Enter the Gungeon. Here is a game that is built around the joy of shooting different weapons in the hopes of obtaining more of them to shoot. That may not sound all that incredible, but once your hands touch the controller (or mouse and keyboard, if that’s more your thing), there is a sense of joy that washes over you as you roll, shoot, dodge, and otherwise own your adversaries in a stylish hail of bullets, beams, orbs, and explosions.
Heavily inspired by The Binding of Isaac, Enter the Gungeon is a rogue-like dungeon crawler that sends players in pursuit of the ultimate weapon: a gun that can kill the past. There are multiple playable characters with their own stories and boss fights. A few of them are unlockable through play, with one being super difficult to make available but the developers just couldn’t resist putting that character into the game. Hundreds of different guns and abilities make up the action as players take on the Cult of the Gundead (they are walking bullets that shoot at you, really deep stuff) and work their way through the labyrinth.
The sheer amount of action on screen, and the constant joy of power and being ever so close to a brutal demise made Enter the Gungeon one of the most pleasant indie experiences at PAX Prime 2015. If you would like to find out more about this amazing little gem make sure to check out the game’s official site.
Mushroom 11
Indie games in general are known for coloring outside of the lines in order to create truly unique gameplay experiences. At PAX Prime 2015, this was put on full display by the hundreds of games available to try out on the show floor. But there was one that managed to pull the attention of people with its visually serene, yet pleasantly challenging gameplay. That game was Mushroom 11.
Mushroom 11 is a puzzle platformer that places players in control of this odd, green organism. In order to control this blob of sorts, players must erase pieces of it to alter its shape. Erasing pieces on one side will cause those pieces to grow back on the other, allowing for interesting shapes and movement as players navigate a world that has been utterly destroyed by some unknown event. Avoiding obstacles, moving through tunnels, and traversing the beautifully decayed architecture provides a unique challenge that I haven’t seen anywhere else. The best part is that even though many of the challenges will leave you scratching your head for a second or two, you can’t help but fall into a calm rhythm.
Sitting down and playing Mushroom 11 at PAX Prime was a sublime experience that one should definitely not pass up on. You can check out more of the game by visiting the official site.
Tumblestone
Tumblestone is one of those games that looks perfect for a quick five minute session while you have a break or are making your way somewhere on public transportation, but it’s not. This little gem is quite the trickster. It draws you in with its simple gameplay and bright colors. You may watch a round and see it only lasts about 30 seconds and feel the sense of, “Why not? I have a few seconds to spare.” That is when Tumblestone gets you and refuses to let go.
Tumblestone is a simple puzzle game that tasks players with matching groups of three blocks in order to remove them from the playing field. One mistake brings all the blocks back to the board for the player to tackle once more. The intensity that will end up hooking you is when you realize that three other players (local, online and/or AI controlled) are trying to accomplish the same goal and it is now a race to the finish. Panic and mayhem ensue as players quickly try to figure out the pattern for whatever stage they’re on in order to claim that coveted gold crown.
Its simple appearance makes it easy to pick up, but its pleasant puzzle solving, and intense competition make Tumblestone damn near impossible to put down. It’s a good thing that it’s coming to virtually every platform under the sun, because everyone is going to want in on the action. You can find out more about the game that will take over your devices by heading over to the official site.
Okhlos
Ever wanted to be a philosopher to share your infinite wisdom? Or perhaps you were more into wearing the white robes depicted in ancient art, speaking to the masses as they hang on to your every word. What if you could accomplish that dream? Become an ancient Greek philosopher and share in the sufferings of your fellow man… then tell them to smash literally everything in sight. That is Okhlos, and it is marvelous.
The masses are tired of being downtrodden and poor, and you can help them release that frustration by sharing the philosophy of destruction with your mob of friends. Collect people from all walks of life and bring their cattle along for the ride as you take down buildings, fight mythical creatures, and bring down your oppressors. The simple controls make gameplay a breeze, and the strategy of managing your crowd is rewarding when you watch giants succumb to your farmers and oxen.
There’s just something about watching peasants tear down buildings at PAX Prime 2015 that was extraordinarily satisfying. You can find out more about this glorious mob mentality by checking out the game’s official site.
Dreadnought
Class-based shooters are nothing new to the gaming scene, but it’s been quite some time since one has come around with the potential to shake up the genre. That is exactly what the Dreadnought is looking to do. Dreadnought turns the genre on its head by removing the gun from players’ hands and putting them in control of their own space ship.
Flying spaceships is fun in its own way, but the deep customization and strategy offered by the gameplay is unparalleled. Each ship comes with its very own strengths and weaknesses and ways to approach battle. This creates a realistic battle rather than everyone running and gunning. It presents a real sense of class with the titular dreadnoughts being unable to move, but have amazing drawing fire and decimating entire squads, or the the Corvette warping around the screen taking pot shots at its much larger adversaries.
It was a large and impressive experience that showed off a lot of thought that was put into the player’s experience over everything else. You can see just why this game impressed at PAX Prime by checking out the official site.
Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked
Don’t Starve never fails to impress with its unique take on survival in its very dark world. The best thing about it is that it keeps growing. This time, Wilson and friends are heading to the ocean in Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked with new threats and locales for players to overcome. After some hands-on time with this stunning expansion, it was clear to see that Klei Entertainment and Capy have struck gold once more.
Of course, there were many other games that were impressive at PAX Prime 2015. If you happen to have a favorite that didn’t make this list, feel free to share in the comments below.
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