Riffs On GoldenEye 007, Star Fox And Kingdom Hearts, And Different New Indie Games Value Checking Out

Agent 64: Spies Never Die

Developer/writer: Replicant D6
Platform: Steam (Windows)
Price: $21.64, with an 11 p.c low cost till August 25

Oddly, a bunch of recent video games which might be closely impressed by ’90s/2000s classics arrived unexpectedly. Agent 64: Spies Never Die is a recreation that very clearly takes its cue from GoldenEye 007. The blocky visuals look fairly much like these from the Nintendo 64 recreation. Even the best way the weapons sway appears to be like acquainted. I really like you can take down an enemy with a karate chop as effectively. There’s split-screen multiplayer and a web-based possibility, so you’ll be able to bounce in with associates and swap on settings equivalent to sluggish bullets and a Big Head mode. Fun!

Solo developer Replicant D6 has been engaged on Agent 64: Spies Never Die for over 5 years. It appears to be like like a correct tribute to Rare’s all-timer, in addition to the likes of Perfect Dark and different first-person shooters from that period. 

Wild Blue Skies

Developer: Chuhai Labs
Publisher: Balor Games
Platforms: Steam (Windows; Steam Deck Verified; demo out there), PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC. Coming to Switch this fall.
Price: $15

Here’s one other sort-of blast from the previous within the type of Wild Blue Skies, an on-rails shooter that appears fairly much like a sure sequence Nintendo revived lately. This ode to Star Fox has a rad anime-style look and digital teammates so that you can work with, defend and maybe be entertained by because of some banter. I can not think about any might probably be as sarcastic as Falco, although.

There are branching paths that ought to make every playthrough totally different together with secrets and techniques to find. If you need a modern-day style of Star Fox and haven’t got a Switch 2, Wild Blue Skies may fill that hole for you. And sure, it does appear like you are able to do a barrel roll.

Duskfade

Developer: Weird Beluga
Publisher: Fireshine Games
Platforms: Steam (Windows; Steam Deck Verified), PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC, Nintendo Switch 2
Price: $30. The Steam model has a 20 p.c low cost till August 27

I have never had a lot time to play something this week, no less than exterior of some rounds with the rad new Overwatch character. Duskfade is subsequent on my to-play record, although. This is one other retro-inspired recreation that hearkens again to the 3D platformers of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

As Zirian, you may set out on a quest to save lots of your trapped sister and repair time after an everlasting night time takes maintain of the land. You’ll battle enemies utilizing a remodeling clockwork sword that I’m certain is by no means impressed by Sora’s Keyblade.

I dig the look of the colourful, clockpunk world Weird Beluga has constructed right here. The studio wears its influences on its sleeve as effectively. It’s evident from the trailer that the builders are drawing from the likes of Kingdom Hearts, Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank. Seeing the mechanical cuckoo companion for the primary time made me smile too. This looks like very a lot my sort of jam. I can not wait till I’ve time (paradoxically sufficient) to play it.

Agefield High: Rock the School

Developer/writer: Refugium Games
Platform: Steam (Windows; playable on Steam Deck). Coming to consoles later
Price: Usually $30, with a ten p.c low cost till August 19

Here’s one final recreation that has its roots in a much-loved recreation from a few a long time in the past. I’d been trying ahead to Agefield High: Rock the School, a religious successor to Bully. It’s a couple of younger fella who tries to profit from his final days of highschool after shifting to a brand new city. It’s set within the early 2000s, with a pop-punk soundtrack and era-appropriate references. For higher or worse, it appeared like catnip to me.

But an IGN preview that dropped final month soured me on the concept of enjoying this recreation, because it was described as “unpolished, uninspired and flat.” Reviews on Steam and elsewhere this week have been fairly dire as effectively. That’s a bummer. I can not pretty choose Agefield High with out enjoying it myself, however time is brief and the video games are plentiful, so the adverse sentiment round this one makes it simple to skip.

Finding Polka

Developer: Lidlocks
Publisher: Parco Games
Platform: Steam (Windows)
Price: Usually $10, with a 20 p.c low cost till August 25

Finding Polka appears to be like so gosh darn cute. It’s a hidden object recreation wherein you seek for a pup, who reminds fundamental character Friendy of her childhood canine. She goes on a journey together with her present four-legged greatest pal, sausage canine Jazz, to trace down the lookalike after briefly recognizing it.

Solo developer Shinnosuke Kumazawa — who made the sport as a tribute to his personal late canine — created the placing world of Finding Polka with ballpoint pen illustrations. There are mini-games and secrets and techniques, and associates to make whereas in your quest. I do not know when I’ll have an opportunity to play Finding Polka, however I simply purchased it in the course of penning this paragraph.

I additionally love the juxtaposition between this recreation’s visuals and the studio’s title, Lidlocks. That’s the moniker utilized in A Clockwork Orange for the gadget that retains Alex’s eyes open whereas he is pressured to observe propaganda. Lidlocks says it needs to create video games you can’t look away from, so the title matches!