It just wouldn’t be PAX West without a visit to the Microsoft Campus for their ID@Xbox Pre-PAX Open House. With more than 50 games being shown to fans ahead of PAX West, it’s always the best place for a sneak peek. From RPGs to platformers, fans were guaranteed to discover an upcoming title that fits their gaming taste. Let’s take a look at nine titles that caught my eye during the ID@Xbox Pre-PAX Open House.
Supermarket Shriek
Billy Goat Entertainment Ltd
Supermarket Shriek is a unique (shopping) kart racer where an unlikely duo (a man and a goat) find themselves in a trolley, navigating through various obstacle courses and challenges situated inside a range of shops, boutiques, and supermarkets. Because, why not? Furthermore, the game movement is controlled by our hero’s voice, or more specifically, their wild incomprehensible screaming. Propel our protagonists using a gamepad in single player or play our unique co-op mode with dual microphones for an experience like no other!
Initial Thoughts: Oh man, was this a ride! Players navigate through the game by having either the goat or man shriek to move the shopping cart left, right, or forward. In co-op mode, it’s all about cooperation since each player is responsible for either turning left or right as well as pushing the cart forward.
Exception
Traxmaster Software LLC
When a fascist computer virus takes over an old woman’s computer, a sole software program must battle against all odds to topple the regime. Watch in amazement as levels twist and turn during your adventure across the computer system. Upgrade your player to unleash devastating special attacks and fight your way to the top of the leaderboards.
Inital Thoughts: “Exception” is perfect for anyone that is short on time but still wants to game. The puzzles are fun to solve with an overall level design that is interesting. It is great to just pick up the controller and start solving a few levels. It’s equally as impressive to learn that this title is built by a single developer in his spare time!
Superweights is a multiplayer top-down boxing game currently in development by Pompaduo. Inspired by classic fighting games and boxing pop culture, Superweights aims to capture the spirit of the sport and knock it out of the ring. Grab a friend, embrace the ridiculousness, and punch your way to a KO!
Initial Thoughts: “Superweights” is a super fun boxing game! The controls are simple with an art style that drew me right in. There was even a whacky 2v2 mode where four players crowded the ring, slugging it out at the same time. This might be a great party game for friends to have them swap the controllers around to box each other.
Mark of the Ninja: Remastered
Klei Entertainment
The critically acclaimed stealth platformer is back and slicker than ever. Mark of the Ninja: Remastered will feature full 4K visuals for both gameplay and cutscenes along with enhanced audio and new particle effects. It will also include the Mark of the Ninja Special Edition expansion content and be released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam.
Initial Thoughts: If you were into stealth killing people in Assassin’s Creed or Hitman, then Mark of the Ninja is definitely for you! It’s all up to you in how you’d like to play it. If you’re a stealthy type of an assassin then you can sneak around killing guards. But if you’re the run and kill type, you can totally do that as well.
TUNIC
Finji
TUNIC is an isometric action adventure about a tiny fox in a big world. Embark on an adventuresome quest set in that place just beyond the farthest you’ve ever been! Explore ancient ruins, fight monsters and uncover mysterious secrets. The world is big and scary — so be brave, little one!
TUNIC is presented by Finji and is scheduled to come out in 2019 on the Xbox One and as well as on Steam. You can follow TUNIC by adding yourself to the mailing list on their website here.
And here is our gameplay video from E3 2018…
Nippon Marathon
Onion Soup Interactive
San! Ni! Ichi! Hajime!!! Stretch your muscles and embark upon the ultimate marathon of Nippon in a crazy, physics-driven, four-player party racer where anything can happen!
Initial Thoughts: I honestly didn’t know what to expect here. This ragdoll racing game is utterly ridiculous in the best way possible. Race against your friends in a game that will have you laughing from beginning to end. From characters wearing the weirdest of outfits to even weirder obstacles, this is a definite recommendation from me if you’re into group party games.
Rival Megagun
Spacewave Software
Transform into your Mega Gunship boss form to blast your rival head-on in this unique shooting game with a competitive twist. Rival Megagun is a competitive split-screen vertical shmup (or shoot ’em up, shooting game, STG) where you transform into a gigantic boss ship – your “Mega Gunship” – to invade your opponent’s screen. Build up your chain and unleash devastating attacks.
Initial Thoughts: “Puzzle Fighter” with top-down gunships! “Rival Megagun” is a crazy bullet hell game to battle your friends in! Chain combos to invade your opponent’s screen in this utterly addictive game that has bullets flying everywhere.
Starbound is an extraterrestrial sandbox adventure game! You’ve fled your home, only to find yourself lost in space with a damaged ship. Your only option is to beam down to the planet below and gather the resources you need to repair your ship and set off to explore the vast, infinite universe…
Wargroove is a turn-based strategy game for up to 4 players, in which each player takes control of an army and its commander unit to wage war on their enemies! Wargroove is extremely easy to pick up, with accessibility at the forefront of its design, and very difficult to master, with deep gameplay mechanics that complement strategic play!
Initial Thoughts: From “Starbound”, we moved right over to Wargroove, a turn-based strategy game that had my name written all over it! Playing like a typical turn based RPG, players select units to attack enemy units on the play field as both the player and enemies take their turns.