By Kevin Torres, Contributing Writer
Indie games are the last bastion of hope regarding innovation or video game appreciation. Indie companies have given us games like “Hades,” “Hotline Miami,” and “Disco Elysium.” However, some companies decided to create something different, all driven by passion. These three indie games follow tradition and make a great experience that focuses on enjoyment, not profit.
The indie breakout game of the month, and maybe even of the year, is “Pizza Tower.” This game was developed and published by Tour De Pizza, and it’s a 2D platform inspired by the Wario Land series.
Pizza Tower players will play as Peppino Spaghetti, a very animated Italian man that moves at sonic speeds that wants revenge from Pizza Face for destroying his restaurant.
Peppino’s expressions are exaggerated, reminiscent of the show “Ren and Stimpy”, and references them with each animation being comical. At the top right of the screen is a television with Peppino showcasing outrageous reactions to everything the player does in the game.
The levels are short as the player moves as fast as Sonic does, knocking down Peppino’s enemies while they rush through them to reach the end. When the pillar is destroyed, the player must return to the entrance, and a timer counts down.
Pizza Tower is moving at mach speed with an “overwhelmingly positive” review on Steam, costing $19.99.
When it comes to fighting games, half-circles, quarter-half circles, micro-dashes, and many other techniques prevents people from approaching them. But the game “Your Only Move Is Hustle,” formerly known as “YOMI Hustle,” fixes the entry-level problem that fighting games have by turning it into a tool-assisted and turn-based fighting game.
Published and developed by Ivy Sly, “Your Only Move Is Hustle” is an excellent game for those who love fighting games but have difficulty learning it.
Learning these tools is much easier than usual, as the player is given details on each action’s frame data, letting them know when they are good or bad to guide the player to their next move. Both players will take their turn simultaneously, then watch it play out, leading to many surprises and satisfying ends.
Each character has a unique playstyle and represents staple fighting game archetypes, such as cowboy (shoto), ninja (rushdown), robot (grapple), and wizard (zoner). While these are the only characters in the base game, the community has created extra characters, and from what it seems like, there is more to come.
“Your Only Move Is Hustle” is currently hustling with an “overwhelmingly positive” review on Steam. It costs $4.99, and has additional workshop support.
Next up is “Sons of the Forest.” It was published by Newnight and developed by Endnight Games Ltd. This game is a sequel to “The Forest,” a horror survival game that was released in 2013 where people play as a survivor of a plane crash that is searching for their child.
This installment has the player playing as a member of a search and rescue team who is searching for a billionaire family who went missing on the island only to be struck down by a helicopter, and now they must fend for themselves (or with their friends) in this island filled with cannibals and other creatures.
The visually striking game has the player scavenging for supplies, building the base, and finding out the horrific mysteries of the island with the other players. A new key feature is the game’s companion system from the start, allowing the player to have a companion who can give orders to build structures or gather items.
The game still maintains its significant AI interaction from the first game. The cannibals can stalk from afar, approach like they are examining the player, and raid the player’s base. They also revamped and reworked buildings, allowing the player to have a more immersive, though sometimes tedious, way of building their homes.
Keep in mind that the game is still in Early Access, so it is not completed. Because of this, it could feel bare at some times.
However, the developer has a good record of accomplishment, so expect the game to be completed. Right now, “Sons of the Forest” is crafting its way to success with a “very positive” review on Steam, costing $29.99.
Whether you want to run at Mach speed to exact revenge against your pasta enemies, play a fighting game like it was a chess match or fight for survival in an island full of cannibals and other dark mysteries, these games are sure to give you a unique and fun experience.
