PAX East is nearly over, and I’m wiped. I wanted to make sure I get the full PAX experience, so I waited on really long lines and played indie games. I’ve been running around like a games journalist without a head, trying to get my grubby little hands on as many games as possible. And finally, I’ve crunched the numbers, looked at the data and compiled a list of my favorite indie games at PAX East.
Dauntless
Have I mentioned I love Dauntless already? I got to play it at PAX South and it completely blew my mind. And when I saw the North American Monster Hunter was coming to PAX East this year, I just couldn’t miss the chance to fight shrikes and dinosaurs. On Friday, I was the first person to get to fight the Drask, an angry lizard with electrical attacks. It would throw its body at you, knocking you down while depleting half your life bar. Dauntless still doesn’t have a release date, but the sooner Phoenix Labs can release the game, the better.
Striker’s Edge
Among the super-hyped, VC funded indie games at PAX East, there are also a ton of little games made by a few people just trying to create something good. Striker’s Edge is a diamond in the rough, a simple top-down, pixelated game of dodgeball with spears, shields and axes. Ricardo Flores, a developer on the game, was just one of four guys who wanted to create something fun and competitive. You move your viking, knight or other fantasy trope with the right analog stick, aim with the left stick and shoot with the right trigger. You can charge up your ability, dodge attacks and beat enemies in 1v1, 2v2 or a few other game modes.
Striker’s Edge will be playable on Steam and PlayStation 4 in May.
Snake Pass
I’m a sucker for 3D platformers, especially ones that want to try something new. Snake Pass by Sumo Digital is a different type of platformer – it doesn’t even feel right dumping it in the same category as Super Mario 64 . You play as a snake (duh) and slither your body by moving the left joystick and pressing the right trigger. The faster you move your joystick, the faster your snake slithers. Pressing A turns your snake’s head upwards, allowing you to climb walls and get over terrain. Slither your snake around a bamboo shoot and grab on tight with the right trigger. Feathering your button presses allows you to move around without falling down, it’s a fascinating mechanic.
Snake Pass comes to all consoles and Steam March 28.
Minibotz
Whenever I go to a PAX, I always spend a few hours walking around the floor, trying to find something unique that catches my eye. No matter how many times I’d walk by Minibotz by Angry Skull Studios’ booth, my head would turn. I’d watch these tiny robots battle it out, shooting lifesavers and bullets to blow up cockroaches and angry gummy bears.
Minibotz has been out on Steam since January and you should really give it a shot?
