Indie Video Game Highlight: Fran Bow

Point and click adventures were the shit back in the infantile days of gaming. When computer processing power was a limitation such gameplay became one of the only few ways that game of quality and play-ability could be manufactured. While it offers less liberal game-play I do enjoy a good puzzle game done in this manner ( Point and click's allow you to be more immersed in a story-telling experience ). Add that with a horror element, you got me throwing money at the screen. Ladies and gents, let me present to you Fran Bow.

Gameplay demo and commentary form the ever entertaining Jesse Cox

Below is the game description via the KillMonday team ( The Dev Team for the game)

"Fran Bow is a Horror Point and click game that tells the story of Fran, a young girl struggling with a mental disorder and an unfair destiny. It is a trip to the deepest and darkest side of human psychology, delivered through blood and tears.

After being witness of the gruesome (and mysterious) loss of her parents, found dismembered at their home Fran runs away into the woods, together with her only friend: Mr. Midnight, a black cat that Fran had previously received as a present from her parents. In the forest, Fran loses senses and when she recovers, she is at Oswald Asylum, an oppressive mental institution for children, with no trace of Mr. Midnight.
After having a dream about her beloved cat she decides to escape the institution to find him and go back to aunt Grace. Aunt Grace is her only living relative who she is very fond of.

Nothing comes easy for Fran. There is also a strange creature, Remor, who wants to prevent Fran Bow from going home at any cost. But she is determined to find her cat, return to aunt Grace and together find out who is responsible for her parents murders."

Watching the game, you would notice the very innovative feature of imaginary realms and reality. By taking some kind of pill, Fran Bow is able to see the hellish realms in the hospital. This adds a new dimension of puzzle solving  and horror to the game ( meaning there are two layers to see in every room ). The medication aspect of the game does create a higher level of difficulty and intrigue to the puzzles and does instill a sense of paranoia ( at least in me) that the twisted imagination realm might soon displace Fran's reality. There is not much to say about the gameplay cause come on, what else are you going to say about a point-and-click game other than you point and click around the screen for clues. I will say it is immensely addicting and fun though.

There never seems to be an IGH where I do not croon about the art sense of the game. Let's face it, visuals to some degree, make or break a game. I'm happy to say that the world in Fran Bow is both murky and depressing. The hand-drawn characters and settings really drive the point in that you are playing a bizarre and twisted game. If i were to compare this game visually and story-wise, I would say that Fran Bow greatly reminds me  of Alice: Madness Returns ( One of my favorite games visually, sonic-ally and story-wise ). In both games, both characters are committed into mental asylums and both characters have to to deal with monstrosities and aberrations not off this world.

The game is still in an unfinished state but it looks really polished from what I can observe. Fran Bow is ambitiously trying to reach multiple platforms ( Linux, Mac, Android, IOS and Windows). If you like what you see why not give them a hand at funding here and vote for their game on the GreenLight. For more information, screenshots and bios on the creator please click here.

This is Alex Plum delivering you the latest installment of your Indie Game Highlight. Have a great day everyone and do not forget to look both ways before crossing the road we call life.

Indie Video Game Highlight: Trash TV

When Mario games first hit the video game market in the last few decades, everyone went batshit crazy about 2D platforming. In hindsight it is not hard to see why, with tight controls, challenging game-play and catchy chiptunes, it makes total sense for the formula to be replicated time and time again. Just look at the plethora of 2D slide-scrolling video games that have impinge our world : Megaman, Contra, Castlevania, and the more recent Super Meat Boy . Right now there is a new kid in town vying for the crown of top dog and its name is Trash TV.

Funnily enough the game started out as a clone of another 2D side-scroller the indie hit Super Crate Box. While it was no the creator's intention to make a exact copy of the game or even release it, the game was conceived when Lawrie was attending university. He tried simply to mess around with the gameplay aspects of Super Crate Box by adding to it and remixing its components to see whether another game emerged that he could call his own creation. What came out of this curious experiment, was a quasi-original game that is somewhat intriguing story-wise and gameplay-wise.

You play as a television set which you view from a 2D perspective. The game seems to mislead the player with the wielding of a gun ( instead of shooting enemies you mainly shoot explosives ) as you soon discover that the game is puzzle game ( kinda like a mix of Portal ad Super Meat Boy ). Don't be fooled though, it isn't a slow game of checkers; it’s a fast paced game as your fingers have to be as rapid as as your reflexes. Admittedly, the game fluctuates its pace with the introduction of some puzzles that require some degree of deep thought. With the combination of speed and wit, expect a whole lot of deaths and rage quitting ( perfect for those rage gamers out there).

The game is also sleek and stylish, with the design and art getting a huge thumbs up from me. The game is dark and moody, just the way I like my games to be ( It seems to have become a recurring thing with me). There is just something about the manic-depressive vibe that just jives with me. The art also serves to enhance the illusion and mystery of the game's narrative. It serves to leave a sense of intrigue and wonder as you question why a lone TV set is venturing through this prosaic world.

So what s the story about? Well, even I am not clear on that front. In fact, lets just get the creator ( Lawrie Russel ) to adumbrate the story details of his brainchild. 

“I want to say it’s top secret, but really I can’t say because I know it’ll change several times over before it’s finished. It’s all based around the mono myth, though. The hero starts an ordinary life, thrown into another world, has a bunch of challenges to over come (all the puzzles), finds an artifact that can be used to save himself/the world, one last big trial and then transcendence back to the start. Most computer games have Act 1 as a skippable cut scene at the beginning of the game. Act 2 comprises all the game bits. Act 3 doesn't really happen because no one can even remember the beginning or it’s left open for a sequel. The real challenge is trying to get Act 1 and 3 to not be a short cut scene.” (via indiestatik)

Gotta love the philosophy that features in games sometimes. It makes you question your existence and then leaves you with that ephemeral warm fuzzy feeling in your chest that you know will be gone by the morning.

Well that has been your latest installment of IGH. Once again, a huge thank you to Mr Jesse Cox (OMFGCata) for allowing us permission to utilize his brilliant video material. Please show him as well as us loads of love. Until then, here's Alex Plum reminding you to have a nice day and to use your P's and Q's. Trust me, it makes the world a merrier place.

Indie Video Game Highlight: Neverending Nightmares

                                The most frightening trailer ever 

Matt Gilgenbach might not be a familiar name to most gamers out there, myself included, but when I was browsing through the inter webs I was automatically drawn to this game. The trailer above was the first I had seen of the game and I was automatically left in a catatonic state wondering what the hell I had just witnessed. Everything about this game is morbid, bleak and and numbing; seems fitting seeing as the game was based on Matt's Gilgenbach's own struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.

The game starts as the player awakens from a nightmare, only to discover that he has been transported into another hellish dream. The plot reminds me of Inception but with a lot more horrifying themes and gore. Seeing that the game is set in a dream world, I would like to think that players would be kept on edge as the unexpected could always occur at any given moment. As of yet there are no concrete details about the gameplay but as seen in the trailer the game is played in 2D fashion which we all know and love. Also, the game appears to be an open world style game where exploration will be a key component of the experience (kind of a recurring trend in indie horror games). Allegedly,  the players action during the game will effect the ending of the game thus adding replay ability value.

As you all may know by know, I am a huge proponent of good art in video games. This game has a unique art style which scares the crap out of me. Just images of the game causes me to hear dissonant sounds akin to the cacophony of horror soundtracks. It goes without saying that this game will have mature themes and will not be suitable for the faint hearted. More details should be out soon, as Infinitap Games are really keen on open development (sharing updates with it's fans). Visit the game page here to keep up to date on the progress of the game if you are interested.

This is Alex Plum and this has been your Indie Game Highlight.

Indie Video Game Highlight: Dark Antarctic

Do you like your horror games to be set in the most bleak place on planet Earth? If by bleak you mean the Antarctic then this is a game for you.



                                                         The Launch Trailer


The game starts you off in a place called Leningradskaya station presumably somewhere in the Antarctic. This is where shit get crazy, Nazi werewolves who are also keen occultists (yes, you read correctly) have made a demonic pact with the Devil/Lucifer to resurrect the Third Reich. It is then left up to you (isn't it always) to fight against the threat of these abominations and save the world from the fascist horror. The game is pretty straightforward in terms of combat in  which you'll mainly use your bare hands and then proceed to gruesomely ripping monsters in half. You will be given a knife later in the game to spice things up.

The game is dark, heavy and done in an art style that seems to asphyxiate the player. The game is very reminiscent of the indie hit Lone Survivor in the fact that they both seem to be very 8-bit retro-ish. Dark Antarctic is available right now for Windows through the game's website for $6.66 (US Dollars). The lucky 666th customer to purchase the game will receive the Lucifer Edition of the game, which comes with a special chainsaw animation to take zombies apart with. 

Happy slaying guys. This has been Alex Plum with your Indie Game Highlight.

Indie Video Game Highlight: A Hat In Time

Do you remember the good old days of video gaming? The time when every boy was inseparable from his Playstation 1 or NES.  Platformers like Crash Bandicoot, Rayman, Pandemonium and Banjo Kazooie reigned supreme in those days. Whether you love the nostalgia factor or the challenging gameplay, these games were massively addictive. If you long for the sweet taste of the golden age of platforming, why not give A Hat In Time a go.

Kickstarter Launch Trailer

A Hat in Time is described as a Nintendo 64-esque platformer. In the game, you play as a petite girl donning a top hat aptly named Hat Girl. Hat Girl has a large array of actions she can perform in addition to the traditional jump and run mechanics, these includes wall jumping, sliding, ground pounding, double jumping and pogo abilities.

The story is divided into 5 story arcs, which is pretty similar to the Mario titles, with the first chapter taking place on an island infested with Mafia of Cooks (crazy story, I know) with following chapter utilizing the gloomy forest setting. The other 3 arcs are not set in stone as of yet, as the backers of the project get to decide what happens next in the aforementioned acts.

                                           

                                                 Gameplay courtesy of Jesse Cox of OMFGcata fame

The best bit of news for me personally, is the multiplayer feature. You get to play the game with a friend, which is freaking sweet. The game will be featured both on PC and Mac. Gears for Breakfast (the developing team of the game) have stated their intent to publish the game on Steam, so if you have a Steam account, feel free to vote for them on Greenlight here.

Alternatively, check out their kickstarter here , where they explain the game in better detail.

Also please check out Jesse Cox for more interesting and wonderful game commentary. He has been very nice to us at The Ops Centre by allowing us permission to use his videos. Please go and show him some love.

Till then, this has been your Indie Video Game Feature.