February Kickstarter Picks - Article
by Jared Katz , posted on 06 February 2015 / 3,509 Views
Developer: Imagos Softworks
Total Amount/Goal: $89,000/$160,000
Days Left: 15
Lowest Amount for Game: $15
Release Date: Spring 2016
Next Stretch Goal: “All Star” Musical Guests ($180K)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One ($210K), WiiU ($220K)
Sometimes combining two very different things together can result in unexpected and wonderful results, like chocolate and peanut butter. The good folks at Imagos Softworks are taking that idea to the extreme with Star Mazzer. These possibly crazy men and women have decided to combine the classic click & point adventure genre with the hectic SHUMPS (a.k.a shoot 'em ups) genre. Before you ask, no you won't be trying to dodge dozens of bullets while simultaneously trying to figure what you’re supposed to use that banana on. As the story moves forward, you will seamlessly switch between the two gameplay types.
The most interesting thing about Star Mazzer is its Open-Minded Gameplay (OMG) narrative. Your actions and choices will greatly affect each playthrough, and not only will events differ but their order will also change. One example given revolves around a powerful space lord. If you meet her late in the game, after she has finished making peace between two conflicting clans, you can win her over to help you out. But if you meet her earlier on, while she still hasn’t resolved the issue between those two clans, she will be antagonistic towards you. Not only that, but for the rest of the game she will send warships to bring down her wrath upon you. If the OMG system is implemented as the developers hope, then it will give Star Mazzer amazing replayabilty potential.
Developer: Dead Mage
Total Amount/Goal: $66,000/$65,000
Days Left: 13
Lowest Amount for Game: $15
Release Date: Fall 2015
Next Stretch Goal: PS4 Port ($80K)
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, PS4 ($80K) and Vita ($90K)
If nothing else, Kickstarter has given us more 2D pixel art games then we know what to do with. This particular title - Children of Morta - is a roguelike, story-driven game that features hack ‘n slash gameplay and an isometric camera view. The game follows the Bergson family - the guardians of Mount Morta - which is tasked with finding seeds of life inside the mountain in order to cleanse the corruption of the land.
You play as a member of this family, and have six characters to choose from: John, the father, who uses a sword and shield; Mark, the eldest son, who prefers to use his hands instead of a weapon; Linda, the eldest daughter, who pierces monsters with her bow; Kevin, the youngest son, who uses his quick feet and daggers to slay foes; Lucy, the youngest daughter, who is a user of the arts; and finally Joey, the son of Uncle Ben and wielder of a great hammer. The dungeons will be different each time, so while one might be a cake walk for one character, it could be devastating for another. Children of Morta will also feature classic RPG elements like leveling up, equipment, skills, and more.
Developer: Ben Porter
Total Amount/Goal: $31,000/$35,000 (AUD)
Days Left: 6
Lowest Amount for Game: $10 (AUD) = $8 USD
Release Date: Spring 2016
Next Stretch Goal: None Yet
Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
People seem to love crafting games these days, whether it's Minecraft or Terria. A common problem most people run into is the lack of an end-game; some sort of incentive to keep playing. Ben Porter is trying to fix that problem with his procedurally-created adventure game, Moonman. Yes, there’s crafting, digging, cutting, and all that stuff you’ve come to expect from the likes of Minecraft, but what has me excited is the game's focus on combat and the goal of collecting moon fragments in order to create Moonman’s Star Machine. To do so you will need to travel all across the planet, exploring various terrains and regions including woods, wastelands, and volcanos.
While Moonman’s world is randomly created, you can still expect to tombs, dungeons, hidden areas, and more. Each game’s length will be dependent on how large a planet you opt to generate - the larger the world, the more moon fragments there are to collect. The creation of new armor and weapons will also be a key element of the game.
Developer: Ynnis Interactive
Total Amount/Goal: $18,000/$30,000
Days Left: 13
Lowest Amount for Game: $15
Release Date: Fall 2015
Next Stretch Goal: 10 More Rooms
Platforms: Windows, Mac, IOS ($60K) and Android ($60K)
While the point & click genre has seen a rebirth in recent years, its mystery sub-genre has still not quite risen from the grave. Ynnis Interactive is hoping to bring about its revival with a ghost-driven mystery point & click game called Goetia. The game follows Abigail, a deceased young lady who awakens as a ghost 40 years after her death. Her goal is to uncover what has happened since her death that caused her family’s downfall.
As a ghost you're free to move anywhere (walls and ceilings don't pose much of a difficulty for spiritual beings, afterall) and can solve puzzles by interacting with objects like a poltergeist. However, while interacting with objects you will not be able to phase through walls. Goetia will encourage exploration and non-linear gameplay, and there will also be puzzles that have multiple solutions, many of which use powers you can find throughout your playthrough.
Developer: Weappy Studio
Total Amount/Goal: $15,000/$25,000
Days Left: 19
Lowest Amount for Game: $12
Release Date: December 2015
Next Stretch Goal: Mac and Linux Ports + New Challenge Mode ($30K)
Platforms: Windows, Mac ($30K), Linux ($30K), Vita ($55K) and Wii U ($55K)
After years spent being a clean cop, Police Chief Jack Boyed (voiced by Duke Nukem's Jon St. John), with only 6 months left on the force, has decided to turn over a new leaf. His goal is to make $500,000 in his final 180 days in the job, and he will use whatever unethical and illegal means are necessary to achieve his goal. This is The Police is the first game from new indie developer Weappy Studio. You get to choose how far Jack will go in order to make cash, from accepting bribes to making deals with the mafia. Still, even while going dirty you have to command your police force, so you choose where to send police, who to send out, and what orders to ignore.
The decisions you make have various effects, both positive and negative depending on your perspective. There will be various “factions” to deal with, including the corrupt mayor, reporters, gangs, and even your own cops. You won’t always get what you want, but making compromises in order to gain new “friends” is an important part of the game. Still, don’t feel too bad if you end up failing to make any bank, because the alternative could just as easily be jail time or death.
