Toys for Bob
Yearly Archives: 2018
PixARK Preview
Written by Remko Molenaar (Proxzor)
From the makers of Dark and Light, we now see another adaptation of the popular ARK: Survival Evolved, called PixARK. PixARK is, like the name suggests, a very simple looking version of the normal Ark as we know it, one that takes more after the style of a game like Minecraft but in a better looking package. In this dangerous world filled with dinosaurs, you are able to play online with others or locally by yourself. You can build a base from the ground up, and you can tame Dinosaurs to come live with you. While the game is still in Early Access we were given the chance to check it out!
You can choose to play either Online on one of the many available official servers, where you can choose to play on either a peaceful server or on a server where player combat is available. There is also a Local mode where you just play by yourself on your own save file. This is a very familiar concept from survival games like Ark, Rust, and even Minecraft. Just like in the previous mentioned games, the servers also have a counter telling you how many days it’s been up since its last clean start. Unfortunately this is a concept I have never really enjoyed. Playing online must be interesting and rewarding, but when a game has to have a clean server start or map reset to stay interesting, the risk gets too great. I always prefer a local map, where I can play at my own pace and not have to be scared that the home I just built might be gone the next day or week because of a regular “clean start” routine meant to keep the game interesting for everyone.
Before you are thrown to the wolves, or in this case the dinos and other dangerous monsters roaming the map, you are able to pimp out your character and play around with different hair styles and clothing. While the customization for your character is still very simple, allowing a few simple color changes, it still allows your character to be unique. When you are done making your persona you can choose between multiple different spawning zones, scattered around the whole map. These spawn zones can also be chosen when you are unfortunate enough to die, so make sure you know your way around the map once you start building your base.
PixARK is very similar to the original Ark. Right from the start, you get this Minecraft-esque gameplay where you will have to find resources before you can set up your base and proceed further into the game. While it promotes sandbox type of elements of survival, the buildup is very straigh forward. When it comes to these games progress in itself it is a bit linear at first, but you can still let your creativity go loose. What does make the game a lot more exciting on top of the many elements you already get to play with are the different types of quests scattered throughout the map. Each quest has its own difficulty and objective, and doing them can reward you with many goodies once you complete them. It gives you that extra incentive of logging in every day, making sure your animals have enough food and water, that your base is doing okay, and to see if there are any interesting quests available.
Doing quests and get your base up and running isn’t the only progression you’ll have to go through. Your character also has to level up. With experience you get Engrams, and those can be used to unlock crafting objects and items. This progression is very important if you want to progress in the game, because you do not want to be fighting with sticks and stones your whole PixARK life. The more you play, the more experience you gain by gathering and doing all sorts of things in the world; thus the more you will progress with your character. You can aim to creating a more secure base and stronger equipment for your adventures in the world, just like in a RPG.
If by now you might think, “hey this sounds oddly familiar,” well that’s because it is. Not only is it incredibly similar to the original Ark, obviously in a different graphical style, but it is also very similar to many other survival games that are so popular these days. While the graphics definitely help in getting people with older computers to enjoy the same fun, it does make yourself wonder what this game actually adds for someone that has already played Ark, or maybe even Minecraft. I won’t deny that this game is a lot of fun to play, and it meshes well together with the combination of Minecraft and Ark, but while this game is still in Early Access, I do have my doubt with the team behind this game. The game is being made by Snail Games USA, and while they might not be familiar to some, the game Dark and Light should ring a bell. Dark and Light was also launched into early access less than a year ago, and while that game has had a ton of potential, it seems a little strange that they began working on a new game like PixARK while their previous one hasn’t officially released yet. It makes you wonder what the future of this game might look like, and if they will follow the same approach.
Conclusion
PixARK is a game with a great ton of potential. The mix between Minecraft and ARK is actually a combination that proves to be really fun. This can be seen in the community as well. A lot of streams have popped up in the last few weeks, with people trying out this game and having a blast. The game is very well made for what it is, and despite it being early access, I definitely think it is worth the pickup if you are very much into the survival genre, and like the Minecraft style. For an early access game, it definitely is well polished and already provides you with a ton of content, but seeing track record of Snail Games USA I do have my doubts of what the future might be for this game. While there is definitely room from improvement, PixARK in its current state is still worth the try.
Shoppe Keep 2 Launches on Steam
Players can now dive into the world of fantasy shopkeeping as Shoppe Keep 2 – Customerania launches on Steam. It’s much harder than it seems to keep warriors, rogues and wizards happy, setting sound prices, ordering the right weapons and armor, exploring lands and battling creatures, while also managing wealth, playing dress up and paying taxes – that’s a lot to do! Shoppe Keep 2 is available in digital stores worldwide at a price of 12.99, and a small discount is available to all, with owners of the original Shoppe Keep and/or Craft Keep VR receiving a special discount voucher once they log into Steam. There’s also a Digital Deluxe Edition for 17.92, and contains:
- Shoppe Keep 2 Game
- Shoppe Keep 2 Digital PDF Art Book – Come along for the journey as the artists at Strangefire take you from the conceptual stages to final art assets.
- Shoppe Keep 2 Digital OST – Take the weird and wonderful world of Customerania with you, as you listen to Shoppe Keep 2’s official soundtrack.
Shoppe Keep 2 is an Early Access title, and so is the Digital Deluxe Edition. As the game progresses and updates throughout Early Access, new tracks will be added to the soundtrack, and new chapters added to the art book at no additional cost to Digital Deluxe Edition owners. Shoppe Keep 2 is a single player and multiplayer enhanced merchant simulator, inspired by those NPCs we know and pay little attention to in our favorite RPGs.
- Run your very own adventurer’s Shoppe, selling potions, weapons and armor. Grow your fantasy enterprise from a single room to a two-floor mega Shoppe
- Explore the open village, forest, and distant lands to procure rare resources
- Equip yourself with bows, swords, and staffs and battle deadly creatures, barbarian invaders, and thieves
- Play the entire game alone or in 2-4 player online co-op
- An adaptable economy that changes with the online community. For example if you sell too many health potions, the market will become saturated!
- Employ helper bots to automate your Shoppe
- Craft with various ingredients to procure new products
- Take on forest dwellers and pick up some sweet loot
- Sell epic dragon armor, or equip it–all items in the game have their own stats and can be equipped by the player, who may find them invaluable in combat
New Gameplay Trailer Reveals Console Release of 8-Bit Armies
September 21st is the big day, where RTS title 8-Bit Armies moves onto PS4 and Xbox One. A physical PC version will also launch on this date. 8-Bit Armies is an action-strategy title made by the Command & Conquer-era veterans from Petroglyph, so they definitely know strategy. Published by SOEDESCO, it is a tribute to the classic RTS games and suitable for both newcomers and veterans alike. With a simplified control scheme for console and a brightly-colored battlefield, players will find an easy time getting into and understanding the title. Players can easily collect resources, build up and defend their bases, amass armies of easy to command military units and research devastating superweapons.
The game is further enhanced with an all-original soundtrack from Command & Conquer music composer Frank Klepacki, which is reminiscent of some of his greatest hits from previous Westwood Studios RTS games.
Features:
- Play with easy to understand military units and structures
- Obliterate your enemies in a variety of colorful, destructible maps
- Complete 40 single-player missions and 12 co-op missions
- Compete in online multiplayer with up to five other players or AIs
- Enjoy easy controls that are perfectly adapted to consoles
Last Epoch
Last Epoch is a fantasy action RPG featuring a grand time-travelling story coupled with extensive end-game content to enjoy after the fact. Begin your journey from humble beginnings and rise to legendary status by rewriting the past to save the world from a terrifying potential future. Available for Windows.
Features:
Tick Tock: Journey through 4 unique time periods and observe the various changes to a familiar scene.
Movin’ On Up: Take on a basic profession like rogue or warrior and upgrade them into master classes Bladedancer or Paladin.
Where the Fun Begins: Don’t let your hero go to waste! Explore the vast amount of activities to visit after the narrative has come to close such as competing in the seasonal PVP, challenging the boss attack mode, trading and collecting a wealth of items, and completing tough achievements.
Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia – Kings Will Rise
The British Isles are fractured into pieces, and through blood, war and fire, kings will rise up. But who will rule over all? It’s coming in Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia. It takes place during a defining moment of the British Isles’ history, following Alfred the Great’s victory over the Viking invaders at the Battle of Edington in 878 AD. Playing as the Vikings, Gaelic clans, Welsh tribes or Anglo-Saxons, players will embark on Great British campaigns of empire-building and conquest across the most detailed Total War map to date.
“Our design philosophy for this, the very first Total War Saga game, has been one of re-invention and focus, looking at classic Total War mechanics and consolidating them to deliver more meaningful choices for the player.” said Game Director Jack Lusted. “We want everything to tie together in a natural and absorbing way that faithfully represents this fascinating flashpoint in history.”
Red Dead Redemption 2: Official Trailer #3
America, 1899 – The Wild West era is coming to an end. The last of the outlaw gangs are being hunted down. Surrender or be killed. Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are on the way. Will he stand by his ideals?
Eleventh Hour Games
Eleventh Hour Games
SOULCALIBUR VI – Taki Character Reveal
Wielding Rekki-Maru and Mekki-Maru, Taki returns to the Stage of History, in the upcoming Soulcalibur VI! Get a peek at the Legendary Ninja in this teaser.
Golem Gates Receives New Post-Launch Update
After a successful launch, Laser Guided Games’ CCG/RTS fusion, Golem Gates is set to receive a post-launch update which should smooth out and improve existing gameplay functions. The difficulty curve was smoothed out for the single-player campaign and balanced several Glyphs to accommodate player strategies. A new Versus Game will tie Glyph to drawing in-game pickups instead of the traditional deck timer should also be fun. A new Survival Mode version of the “Vision” map will bring with it a challenging new enemy mechanic. In addition, two new Versus maps arrived and with it three new Trials. Visuals have also been enhanced, including additional cosmetic variants to various Glyphs and improved mini-map icons.
“We’re thrilled with the initial reaction to Golem Gates and are very pleased to see the community that’s building around the game,” said Matt Oelfke, Founder and Lead Developer at Laser Guided Games. “As a self-publishing studio, we thrive on feedback from our fans and we’re really excited about delivering a fresh approach to the strategy genre. This new update provides the perfect opportunity for newcomers to discover what Golem Gates is all about.”
