Demo Dive #2 - May

The coldest May in history continues! It sure impacts my energy levels. My desire to sleep like a bear in winter is pretty darn high. But cannot rest, for there are so many great games coming. May in particular is so stacked with new releases that I might even squeeze a daily post for a week or two, just to catch up to all the cool games I'd like to talk about. Also would love to announce a search for a writing contributor! If you're interested in having a little platform to share your Indie Games love via reviews, previews, or other texts, contact me at hello@hubertspala.pl - passionate enthusiasts are most welcome! And now, back to our regular scheduled programming with another weekly DEMO DIVE.

EASY DELIVERY CO.

What a strange little experience. The game, in its core, is very simple. You are a new employee of a delivery company. You get a truck. And you need to keep earning way too little money by running delivery errands - simple as it gets. Pick a parcel. Drive to its destination. Drop it off. That's it, that's the whole game. So the question is, what makes it so special, what makes it stand out from the crowd?

First, it would be the immersiveness of it. The wintry mountains are covered in snow, and fogs and snowstorms are frequent. The cold greyness of it all chills the souls. It's a very gentle sort of freezing dread, because the game isn't aiming to be a horror game. Bah, the developers promise it's a chill (hah!) and cosy experience, and well... It is! The rides are meditative, the music seeps from the radio, and you can even unlock more stations by finding the scattered radio towers and turning them off. Your diet consists of cans of energy drinks, and you'll keep spending the majority of your pitiful income on keeping the truck topped off on fuel. But as you drive, this world gripped in harsh winter feels very alive. Birds scatter from heaps of snow. Deer can startle you, standing still in the middle of the road, only to scamper away in fear of your oncoming vehicle. Items you carry on the back of your track jump, slide, and rattle with every turn and jump over a hill, always feeling like they are on the brink of falling off, keeping your wilder instincts in check. There's an aura of mystery here, a promise of secrets held by this strange landscape and the inhabitants who send you on the frequent routes.

Yeah, I am excited now for the full release of this game. It has great potential to be a meditative, soothing experience focused on physics-oriented driving... That can get interrupted by the emergent stories pushed by your curiosity and exploration. Great, unique title that radiates gentle strangeness.

CAST n CHILL

Not gonna lie, at first I almost dismissed the demo. It felt way too rudimentary. Pretty as heck, yeah, with gorgeous pixel-art vistas to relax in, but the fishing was just... so simple. That is, until it wasn't! The game opens up lovingly the moment you upgrade your lures, your fishing rod, and suddenly, as you cast your line, it sinks under the water surface together with our camera... And we can see the fish swimmin' there, waiting to take the bait and start a struggle with our technique to reel them in. Now, don't get me wrong, this isn't like a 100% serious, down-to-earth fishing simulation. But it is much more in-depth than the first few minutes in the demo would suggest.

And then, there's the soft, calming aspect of the title. The game, as previously stated, is gorgeous. I know, I know, some of you might sigh heavily at Yet Another Pixel Art project. It's not like we don't have a humongous overabundance of such titles in the Indie sphere, but heck, I must recognize how well it is done here. There's a day-night cycle that slowly but surely changes the vibe of the scenery. Each vista is beautifully animated, with birds, animals, clouds, sun, and moon moving in their own way to keep it alive, brimming with light and life. The CHILL part of the title is delivered here in spades. An evening spent with the demo was one of the most soothing experiences I had in the past few weeks, to be sure.

Demo is a little narrow in scope, as expected, but it does a good job showing off the game's potential when it comes to content. The map shows many new fishing spots, and if each is going to be crafted with the meticulous beauty of the one we are shown, well... That is going to be a treat. Many, many types of fish can be included, each with its temperament and behaviour. Rusty Shop, in which we purchase our upgrades, can also sport more directed goals for the prized fish to go on the shop wall, making us the local fishing legend we might aspire to be! It was a great experience for anyone who is looking for a more tranquil time.

WHITE KNUCKLE

Now that's a bit of a whiplash after playing such relaxing games as the two above. Because WHITE KNUCKLE is not relaxing. It's tense and stressful, it will hurt you, and it will be glad in doing so. Not so long ago, I mentioned a very visible rise in the climbing genre in gaming. We've got quite a few of them coming at a steady pace, it feels like nigh every month a new Climber visits us from the indie scene. This sub-genre of 'platforming' is far from being saturated, but there are enough titles in that space now for each to try to find its unique hook.

In WHITE KNUCKLE it is the stress. Other climbing games, so far, have opted for a more relaxed approach. Pretty vistas, outdoorsy vibe, no punishments for failure. CAIRN is the first in line that felt a bit more gritty, aiming for a more realistic approach and sense of tension... but even in CAIRN, you're quite expected to enjoy the romp. To take in the brilliant nature surrounding you. As Shatner once said, that game wants you to "embrace the mountain". Here, however, you're not tossed into some pretty landscape. No greenery under your feet. No birds singing in the distance. Grim greys, sharp edges, and bloodied reds welcome you into an industrial and claustrophobic setting. Trapped at the bottom of some terrible complex, you aim to climb out of its clutches. And failure is very much an option. I was in mild shock when my stumble managed to toss me into the crushing embrace of a silo hatch closing over my fragile body, crushing me to paste.

And so, this is a climbing game with teeth. It won't be gentle with you, and as your climb progresses, the challenges become both harder and harsher in punishing your failures. You're not expected to triumph easily, or on your first go. Trying over and over will be your daily bread with this title, until, through focus, blood, and sweat, you achieve your 'freedom'. The full game promises multiple modes, various biomes (all grim and industrial, though!), and a selection of items to customize your approaches. Those looking for a challenge will find it here.