We met up with publisher Curve Games at PAX West 2022 and got a tour of their varied lineup of titles. If you thought the PAX West 2022 coverage was over due to Tokyo Game Show, you’d be dead wrong.
Our Curve Games appointment was technically our second appointment at PAX West; the first appointment was meeting with Naughty Dog for their Moth and Wolf Whiskey mixer in celebration of the release of the Last of Us Remastered. However, the Curve Games appointment was the first appointment to showcase any video game gameplay, which barely beats watching Troy Baker singing.
So what did Curve Games show us during the meeting? Let’s dive into it and see if Curve Games has hedged their bets. The five game’s shown to us by Curve Games were: From Space, Patch Quest, For the King II, Blooming Business, and Among Ripples: Shallow Waters. Up first is From Space.
From Space (Triangle Studios)
Before we met with Curve Games, the team working on the game described From Space as:
“An immensely fun solo and co-op action-shooter for up to four players. Take on the challenge of liberating the earth from an alien infestation with your friends, using over-the-top weaponry in a post-apocalyptic world with awesomely stylized graphics.”
After watching the trailer and seeing some gameplay, it is easy to see kids and adults enjoying From Space as a co-op experience. Rather than taking the horror approach for an alien invasion, Triangle Studios has gone more the cutesy route.
Yes, there are horror elements, but with the player’s character and aliens looking like cute chibi characters, it is hard to be horrified. Yes, you will still get the bullet-hell-style gameplay that you are hoping for. Enemies’ death animations appear more comedic than Gorey making them more family-friendly.
Patch Quest (Lychee Game Labs)
Up next is Patch Quest, “the only roguelike-Metroidvania fusion where you can mount and ride every monster in the game.” Patch Quest is a game designed by a single developer who has created procedurally generated pathways with a variety of different monsters, terrains, and environments. Patch Quest is described as:
“In a labyrinth surrounded by vicious monsters, Explorers must rely on their Lasso to survive! Capture and tame ANY monster to leap, glide, surf, tunnel and websling through a treacherous, patchwork maze. This roguelike/metroidvania seems cute, but it’s a deceptively difficult bullet-hell challenge!”
Looking at the game’s artwork, it is clear how much time, effort and love Lychee Game Labs has put into this project. In fact, if you want to see the development process, you can check out Patch Quest YouTube channel. Taking a more hands-on approach to catching each monster while avoiding attacks makes each capture feel more important.
For the King (IronOak Games)
The third game shown to us was For the King II. For the King II looks to give players more of what they loved from the first game. The sequel looks to expand on the original’s popular blend of strategy, RPG combat, and roguelike elements to create an epic new experience.
New to the series is two-row combat that allows players to strategize regarding their unit’s location. If you have ever played a turn-based RPG, you will understand the basic mechanics. Prepare to take down the evil queen either solo or with up to four players.
The game looks to provide players with a grand adventure where loot or death can be around any corner. Combat in the preview was rather limited but we could see how character placement can determine the tide of battle. One wrong placement or movement could be your last.
Blooming Business (Homo Ludens)
Up next was what was arguably one of our favorites from PAX West 2022 and our favorite from this meeting is Blooming Business. The developers described Blooming Business as:
“A tycoon game inspired by the rise of Las Vegas in the 1950s. Design, build and run your own retro casino in a bustling world where the sky’s the limit and work alongside cute animals who are anything but cuddly.”
Each choice the player makes will either grow their ties with the mob or help the government take down organized crime. Players get to design their own casino and tailor it to their customers’ needs. Learn about what each gambler likes and dislikes to make the perfect experience.
Providing slots to the Gold Diggers creates a steady source of income. Tourists love the visual aesthetic of the casino. Now baseball fans love the arcade and fun games but make a lot of trash. Finally, players can recognize VIPs but keeping them happy is the hard part.
How will you keep your gambling addicts happy?
Among Ripples: Shallow Waters (Eat Create Sleep)
Last but certainly not least is Among Ripples: Shallow Waters. Among Ripples is a life-sim inspired by ecology and those who spend time and effort to solve environmental problems. The player will work with a fictional team of scientists to build, repair, and maintain the delicate ecosystem of the different lakes. One wrong decision can destroy the area’s whole eco structure.
This game is truly designed for nature lovers who want to learn about the environment, how things can change when certain factors are altered, and even predict trends on what might happen to our very own ecosystem.
Players will be able to monitor how their changes impact the environment. They can watch how different animals and organic life interacts and changes after decisions are made. How will you rehabilitate each environment to help it thrive?
Which of these five games stands out the most? Which ones are you excited about? Let us know in the comments.
