QCF: Axiom Verge

hether you love it or hate it, the renaissance of independently developed indie games is still very much kicked into high gear, and new titles like Shovel Knight and Hotline Miami are keep everyone on notice.

And with indie games still heavy hitting the scene of console gaming, the inevitable swell of side-scrolling love letters coming out of the mix, but none more frequent then the fan-favorite sub-genre that’s fondly recognized by the portmanteau that every gaming enthusiast has come to know: Metroidvania.

While the argument for if whether or not the sizable wave of these games is doing more harm than good to the genre is still up for debate, one particular title has uniquely approached the formula in a different direction. A direction that magnificently caters to both the culture of the titular design, and the fundamental dynamics that drive its appeal; Tom Happ’s Axiom Verge, a title that beautifully integrates what it homages into an experience that you’ll keep thinking about it, even after it’s over.

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QCF: Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

o matter what your standpoint on the matter is, it’s a fact that’s commonly accepted by a majority of modern society; violence is a part of life. Now when it comes to how people come to terms with this is an entirely different story, but I always found the concept of depictions that revel in graphically glorifying it as a point of illustration to be interesting; especially when it worked.

The argument on whether or not the gory aggression worked for Hotline Miami 2 though is a bit muddled, because when it works—it works.

And when it doesn’t, the title rings a bit hollow with a reverberation of pretension.

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PPR 94

f there ever was a constant that we’ve seen within the world of video games is that it’s forever caught in a rat race of progression; constantly trying to outdo whatever was done before it.

And in some cases; redoing something we’ve seen all over again with a new coat of polish—actually, it’s safe to say that we’ve seen this, in a LOT of cases…

Join us here at PPR as we discuss the torrent of titles that have gotten a high definition facelift in the recent years, sometime re-releasing multiple times. Is it too much? Is this yet another sign of games facing a creative bankruptcy? Maybe, or maybe not, you won’t really know what we think until you listen to the episode, dummy.

In addition, we converse about a crap-load of games, Destiny, FFXIV: A Realm Reborn, Axiom Verge, Hotline Miami 2, Bloodborne, and more; and then there’s a bunch of childhood reminiscing over how terrible we all were as kids—what are you waiting for? Start listening!

Mail us at our new email Mailbag@presspauseradio.com, leave a voicemail at 469-PPR-TALK, and be sure to stop by at our Forums if you haven’t already registered and post your thoughts about the show. Finally, make sure to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes and YouTube, follow us on Twitch page and Twitter, and finally take part in our Facebook and Steam group!

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Bullet Heaven HD, Episode 129 - Cyberpunk 3776

he Euroshmup is often a subject of great debate in more traditionalist circles. Oftentimes, mechanics like lifebars and shields are put in place to hide their unrefined gameplay. But some Euroshmups are pretty great,as evidenced by Duranik's Sturmwind, which we looked at in episode 118 of Bullet Heaven HD... but how does the ultra-nihilistic Cyberpunk 3776 fare?

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PPR at GDC 15

urviving another year of the world’s largest gathering of game developers and alumni, PPR takes to the studio, and this time they brought some friends.

In this special edition of Press Pause Radio, we’re joined by EGM’s Reviews/Previews Editor Ray Carsillo, and and EGM's Managing Editor, Andrew Fitch, and we talk about all the damn GDC.

Topics discussed include Valve Vive, Narcosis, PlayStation Morpheus, Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes, Oculus Rift, Time Machine, Close Your, Fart Jokes, Throw Trucks with Your Mind, Gamergate, Indie Mega Booth, and more. So kick up a seat, and give it a listen why don’t you!

Also, whenever you get the chance, go visit EGMNOW and catch all of the sweet news and reviews that Ray, Andrew, and the rest of the EGM gang have done. 

Mail us at our new email Mailbag@presspauseradio.com, leave a voicemail at 469-PPR-TALK, and be sure to stop by at our Forums if you haven’t already registered and post your thoughts about the show. Finally, make sure to rate and subscribe to us on iTunes and YouTube, follow us on Twitch page and Twitter, and finally take part in our Facebook and Steam group!

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GDC 15: Listing off the best of The 4th annual MIX

or four years running now, IGN has collaborated with people at Media Indie Exchange to host The MIX; a community mixer filled with people and indie developers who raise drinks and booze in hand in to celebrate the same communal kind of charm that you’d expect out of GDC.

I had the privilege to be invited to this fine event yet again, and as I strolled past the offerings booze and appetizers, I strolled the aisles in search of any game that caught my eye; especially something that I wouldn’t be able to see at GDC.

Here were all of my personal highlights from the event, and it’s safe to say that I left feeling a degree of anticipation for new games that I haven’t quite felt before.

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GDC 15: Breaking down the IGF pavillion highlights

hat faithful time has arrived once more, the grand opening of the GDC expo floor, and like a moth to a flame, I immediately gravitated to the IGF Pavilion to experience the games that were picked as finalists for this year’s award show.

I have to admit, I was charmingly surprised as well, not since I had first played Gone Home at this very exhibit years ago, had I came away from the entire thing feeling so moved but what I was able to play.

Enough of the suspense, here are some of my favorites from the event that are sure to be on everyone’s radar when they release later down the line!

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GDC 15: Dissecting Narrative Design with Jurie Horneman

f there’s one thing that you can count on GDC delivering year after year, it’s the consistent distribution of new ideas and creative approaches shared from variety of talented game developers and visionaries in attendance.

Programmers and upstarts from around the world strive to share their ideas among their peers in hopes of improving the climate for video games, even when it comes to established philosophies and subjects in the field of design.

Jurie Horneman is one of these people, as he takes the stage at GDC 15 to challenge the climate of narrative direction in gaming, and how developers can be more conscientious with gameplay mechanics resonate with the plot and world of the experience in a way that can overcome the all too common issue of ludonarrative dissonance that currently plague modern gaming.

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