Operation Backlog Completion 2026

Happy Hell: A Faustian 3D Platformer

 Video games  2 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Feb 202015
 

Some people think 3D platformers are dead. I tend to disagree, especially since I’ve found five, actually six, make that seven upcoming 3D platformers to discuss.

But even if they are dead, that won’t stop them. Part Faustian deal, part nostalgic throwback, here is the 3D platformer from beyond the grave, Happy Hell!

Happy-Hell

When Spooky Poo attempts to make a deal with the Devil, he doesn’t have to sell his soul. Instead, he must make it through the nine levels of Hell–Happy Hell, that is, the Devil’s take on 3D platformers like Banjo-Kazooie and Super Mario 64.

There’s a catch, right? There’s always a catch.

Yes, if Spooky Poo wants to increase his chances of surviving, he must find Soul Suckers scattered through the levels and trade a piece of his soul in exchange for a special ability. You won’t need all the powers to get through–and in fact, it’s possible to beat the game without giving up any part of Spooky Poo’s soul if you’re up for a challenge.

Like many of the other 3D platformers I’ve discussed, Happy Hell is planned for the PC, Mac, and Linux. It has additional Kickstarter stretch goals for Wii U and PS4 versions.

With my love of the genre, I was delighted to try out Happy Hell’s prototype demo, a very early build that shows off some of the game’s basic mechanics and concepts. The controls are still a little rough, although part of that is because I was playing with a keyboard and it’s designed for a controller–this was especially apparent when I attempted to control the camera.

That said, it has solid platforming mechanics at its core and some unique ideas. I had a good time playing it, even as I died repeatedly. As for my deaths, I was relieved to see my progress carried over even after death, so if I fell into lava immediately after finding a Soul Sucker, I respawned with the ability I’d received. I’m not sure if this is a feature of the game (it’s set in Hell, after all, and the Devil is probably more interested in getting Spooky Poo’s soul than in killing him for good) or unique to the demo.

I look forward to seeing what a polished level of Happy Hell will be like. For now, here’s my playthrough of the prototype build for you to enjoy.

If you like what you see, don’t forget to check out the Kickstarter and also vote it up on Steam Greenlight. The main game promises 9 levels (each with at least 6 goals) and nonlinear gameplay that lets you use different tactics to reach your goal.

What do you think, 3D platformer fans? Are you looking forward to Spooky Poo’s misadventures in Happy Hell?

The Dekker Records: Noir Mystery + Fantasy RPG

 Video games  5 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Jan 172015
 

I’m no stranger to Kickstarter-backed games. Whether it’s successful projects like A Hat in Time, Cosmic Star Heroine, and Soul Saga, or failed endeavors I still have my eye on like H. P. Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, quite a few have caught my attention enough for me to support theme.

And now I’ve found another one–The Dekker Records: Thunder Stone Blues.

The Dekker Records, by All-Father Studios, is an unusual mash-up. While on one hand, it’s a traditional role-playing game in the style of classic JRPGs (though one that pokes fun at the genre, similar to Zeboyd Games’s parodies), it’s also a noir mystery.

In the world of The Dekker Records, adventurers and heroes form traditional JRPG parties and go on quests. Thunder Stones, as well as classic healing magic, are used to resurrect fallen adventurers–until now. The Thunder Stones have stopped working, and even healing can’t be relied upon.

You play Dekker, a private investigator called onto the scene to find out what’s wrong with the Thunder Stones.

Gameplay merges the two genres just like the story does. You’ll explore the world, talk to NPCs, and fight turn-based battles, but you’ll also search for clues to solve the mystery. Dekker can expend “Inspection Points” to check out areas of interest, find evidence, and learn more about what happened. Her Inspection Points are replenished through use of Satisfaction moves in battle.

Satisfaction can be used once a character takes enough damage, along the lines of Final Fantasy’s Limit Breaks. Each character has his or her own Satisfaction attacks.

Now, descriptions and even gameplay videos can only show you so much, which is why I’m delighted All-Father Studios went a step further and provided a demo for The Dekker Records. The demo will give you well over an hour’s worth of gameplay to see if this mystery noir RPG is something you’d be interested in. It sure convinced me!
The Dekker Records has until February 19 to meets its $11,000 funding goal, much of which will go toward art and music assets. Check out the Kickstarter and share your thoughts in the comments below!

Support H. P. Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward!

 Video games  No Responses »  Tagged with: ,
Oct 202014
 

From video games like Scratches to my own writing, I am a huge fan of H. P. Lovecraft. His writing, together with Silent Hill, are the two things that got me into horror. When it comes to Lovecraft’s stories, their age sometimes shows (and sometimes his own views show more than anyone would like), but other times they are unrivaled at creepiness and cosmic horror.

Today I’m going to talk about H. P. Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Not the story itself, although it’s one of my favorites. I mean the video game.

From Senscape, the maker of Scratches, Asylum, and Serena comes the first-ever official video game adaptation of one of Lovecraft’s stories. That’s right, it’s not just a game with Lovecraftian themes or elements of the Cthulhu mythos, it’s an actual adaptation of The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.

Can we just take a moment to reflect on how awesome that is? The developers of great horror adventure games are turning an excellent horror story into an adventure game! They’re also some of the biggest Lovecraft fans around, and I have confidence in them to get it done right. When I first heard about this game, I was ecstatic. I can’t wait until I get a chance to play this game.

But I may never get that chance if its Kickstarter doesn’t succeed. With only 12 days left in the campaign, it hasn’t even hit the halfway point yet. Far from the dream of a series of Lovecraft adventure games if it exceeds its goal, we might be forced to settle for a more limited project (like one without the Lovecraft documentary) or even have to wait until the future, when Senscape is more established.

If you’re a fan of adventure games and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, check out the campaign and see how fantastic this could be. If you’ve never read the original story, Lovecraft’s works are pretty easy to find. For that matter, you can even find them for free.

Now, join me and support H. P. Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward! Let’s make this game a reality.

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