Trust me, they're that good.
This past week held a big event for gamers- the Steam Summer Sale. And boy did Steam deliver. Huge titles like Skyrim, Bioshock, Tomb Raider, and Hitman were all around five bucks. FIVE BUCKS! While these big titles were extremely exciting to see with a huge price cut, there were a slew of amazing indie games that were cut down to mere dollars in price. This is where I discovered five incredible titles that anyone on Steam needs to pick up and try out!
1. DLC Quest
DLC Quest is, as I'm sure you've guessed, a game about DLC (Downloadable Content). This game runs under the guise of a typical platformer, but in reality is an awesome comedic commentary about the video game industry. You buy DLC packs by collecting coins in the game (don't worry- there is no real money involved). Starting out, you are only able to move to the right. You have to buy DLC packs to get parts of games that we are so used to coming standard, such as being able to move left, to jump, and to have music in the game. DLC has gotten a little out of control in terms of how much money consumers have to spend, so it's great to see a game that can poke fun at that.
2. Gone Home
Let me just start out by saying that this game is incredible. You play as a girl coming home from college, who ends up discovering that her whole family is gone. You are alone in the house, and have to search for clues as to what happened while you were away studying abroad. This game is brilliant in how exploration of this house teaches you so much about the family. Every tiny item that you pick up pieces the story together more and more. It is a great snapshot into the life of this family, and realistically captures the human experience. Once you start, you're hooked, the game is completely enthralling. The game also has a horror vibe to it in the tension you feel walking through the dark, gigantic house and learning about all the house's secrets. This one is a must have.
3. Guacamelee! Gold Edition
Guacamelee! is such a fun and unique game! It is a mix of brilliant platforming and fighting with beautiful art style and visuals. The game is modeled around the day of the dead, and you play as a luchadore. The game design is stunning with the colors used and the animation style. The platforming aspects are genuinely difficult as well, which makes a great challenge! What is also unique in the platforming is that you switch from the land of the dead to the real world. The fighting combo system is great as well. Guacamelee! is a beautiful gaming world to step into, and a treasure to play.
4. Octodad: Dadliest Catch
Octodad is pure fun. You play an octopus that has fallen in love with a human and raised a family, and have to keep them, and everyone else, from noticing your disguise. If you try to question the logic of this game, just don't. There is none. The true reason that this game is one that everyone must try once, is in it's mechanics. It's not easy to go from being an eight-armed octopus to being a man with two arms and two legs, and the game never let's you forget that. You have to control each limb separately, and even the most simple of tasks become impossible. IMPOSSIBLE!!!! Anyway, I think you get the point. Although this game is hard, it's a laugh riot. It's so much fun to even just watch your friends try and play it for the first time. And laugh at them! Yay Octodad!
5. VVVVVV
VVVVVV is a perfect demonstration of how gameplay is infinitely more important than having advanced graphics. This is a hardcore platformer, and I mean it when I say hardcore. Out of the 1 hour and 50 minutes I have played this game, I have died 725 times. But I've loved every single minute of it. This platformer is great in that it's a throwback to old school platformers, but with a new mechanic. This game has replaced the jump button with one that switches your gravity. Although this game is pretty damn hard, it's extremely rewarding. Playing as the captain, you have to recover the other five crew members from your ship. So you explore the vast map to find them. When you get close to finding them, the platforming gets more and more difficult, creating a great challenge. After the many deaths that you will face, finally reaching the crew member feels like you have won a gold medal. This game perfectly combines exploration and platforming, and I am completely addicted.
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