‘Bastion, ‘World of Goo,’ fun alternatives
The definition of “indie game” can vary, but there are a few constants. Indie games are cheap unique, and they’re a labor of love.
When looking for new sources of gaming fun on a budget, or even just something different from mainstream games, this list features a platformer — a game in which the character jumps over obstacles and on platforms — a role-playing game and a puzzle game.
1.Super Meat Boy
The reactions most people have to the term “hardcore platformer” range from disinterest to disbelief that there is such a thing. “Super Meat Boy,” however, is a hardcore platformer that’s too tight and fun to be ignored.
“Super Meat Boy” features excellently tuned gameplay, as players leap and wall-jump their way over buzz saws and slide across crumbling floors using the game’s satisfying, responsive controls.
You’ll die many times, but in a stroke of brilliance, the game is built around this. Upon death, players immediately start again at the beginning of the short level, and once they beat the level, they’re treated to all of their past lives running in tandem, all meeting their grisly end except for that final successful one.
“Super Meat Boy” is addictive and rewarding and makes for a treat for anyone up for a technical challenge.
2.Bastion
“Bastion” opens with the dulcet tones of a rugged narrator, saying, “Proper stories supposed to start at the beginning. Ain’t so simple with this one.” This sets the tone for an atmospheric RPG experience that’s like few others.
Experience is the important word here, as the polished presentation elevates the frankly mediocre gameplay. The art style is beautiful, the narration is well-written, and the soundtrack is so great that it might be the best part of the game.
The gameplay is reminiscent of the Diablo series, and it’s engaging enough, but it’s not a selling point in the same way that the imaginative world or moody score is.
While aficionados of involved gameplay might want to stick to other games, if they’re looking for a game to take to a fascinating new world, “Bastion” is the game for it.
3.World of Goo
“World of Goo” is a quirky, physics-based puzzle game. While it seems simple in a lot of ways, the game begins by challenging the player to build a basic bridge out of connected goo balls. At first glance, the minimalistic, cartoony aesthetic seems unambitious.
The intricacies of the game come through quickly, though. As the game progresses, the player descends into a Tim Burton style of industrial madhouse of levels connected by an absurd and strange story.
It starts with uncomplicated structures, but the player will be building Rube Goldberg goo machines in no time, solving increasingly ingenious puzzles. Physics-based games are generally gratifying to play, and “World of Goo” is no different. There’s some kind of innate pleasure in building structures and watching them move that the game delivers on in spades.
For players looking for a puzzle game with some uniqueness, “World of Goo” should satisfy that itch.