The flip side of realizing a game you didn’t expect to be great is playing a game you were looking forward to that didn’t quite achieve its goal. Engine slice – from the two-person team at Regular Studio and publisher Top Hat Studios – has been on my “play as soon as possible” list for some time. Unfortunately this didn’t really work for me.
As P, your goal is to destroy all the machines on an oversized construction site using a cool chainsaw-type weapon. There are some cool ideas here, like the third-person camera that represents one’s own character, a drone that accompanies P. The The edge of the mirror-parkour style and Shadow of the ColossusThe boss designs inspired by these games looked great in the trailers and I love the low-poly aesthetic. Moving along walls using the chainsaw is also nifty.
However, the controls are off-putting. They’re too imprecise to be properly compatible with the game’s platforming requirements. P suffered many (surprisingly grizzly) deaths at my hands, so I was at least grateful that respawns were quick. Speaking of P, the game often objectifies him in ways that feel disgusting. And then there are long stretches of running around with not much to look at other than another, ominous part of the upcoming world that P must fight through.
If I didn’t discourage you from trying Engine sliceyou can grab it right now on Steam, GOG, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox for PC. It usually costs $20, but there’s a 10% introductory discount until May 19. You can also check it out via Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Wax heads is another of the many music-focused games we have to tell you about this week. It’s a record store simulation where you’ll chat with customers and recommend things to check out. She is said to embrace the community spirit of music and the way it can connect us. I love it.
All songs and albums featured in Wax heads were created for gaming. They cover pop, punk, metal, rap, folk and other genres.
Wax headswhich belongs to studio Patattie Games and publisher Curve Games, is now available on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox for PC and Nintendo Switch. The price will usually be $15, but there is a 15% discount until May 19.
Dead like Disco is a rhythm fighting game that is making a lot of noise: more than 1.2 million people have played the demo and the first reviews on Steam are very positive. It’s available now in Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store (usually $25, 20% off until May 19).
For now, you can experience the first arc of what will eventually become a larger narrative campaign. The soundtrack features over 30 songs, including licensed tracks, covers and original music. You can also play to the beat of your own music that you add to the game.
In addition to fleshing out the campaign, developer Brain Jar Games plans to add more bosses, moves, and a co-op mode. More accessibility features, songs, and collectibles are in the works, as well as support for additional languages. If you’re not quite ready to spend the money Dead like Discoyou can test it out (hey, it’s a musical term!) with a Steam demo.
Sticker/Bullet is another addition to the rapidly growing incremental roguelite deckbuilder genre. If you have played games like Balatro, CloverPit And Raccoinyou know the principle: you will have to earn a certain number of points each round to continue your race. You will use various tools to break the rules and increase the numbers as quickly as possible.
The focus here is on shooting balls at dice. You receive points when you hit dice, and more when balls bounce between them. You can use stickers to increase the dice. Sticker effects can combine to send your score into orbit. For example, according to the Steam page, “Drops attract flies. Spiders make webs. Cobwebs catch flies. More points for you!” There’s also something about frogs being able to hijack spaceships. I’m sure there are many other strange combinations among the 100+ stickers on offer.
Sticker/Bullet, from solo developer Bilge and publisher Future Friends Games, is now available on Steam. It will usually be $8, although there is a generous 30% discount until May 18.
I had already purchased several of the games listed above before spotting Rova, but I had to open my wallet again. This is a space rover photography game from FreeRangeDevs. It has a nice cel-shaded art direction that reminds me a bit of the excellent Rollerdrome (although this game is probably a little more casual).
It looks super charming and I love that the rover is shaped like a dog – Rover as a rover. Every object you capture will become part of a research database that serves as a record of everything happening on the planet.
The Early Access version of the game currently includes the first fully explorable planet. At least one additional planet is planned, as well as dynamic weather systems and the ability to let crew members board the rover.
Rova is available on Steam. It will usually cost $8, but it’s 20% off until May 22.