When old school ASCII dungeon crawling meets new school it's Brut@l

Once upon a time, the number of polygons, pixel art, and how much RAM you were pushing on your video card didn't matter.  An older age when many games were either text based or used ASCII characters.  Stormcloud Games decided to put a modern twist on the old-school ASCII dungeon crawler games with Brut@l.  Let’s explore the depths.

"I'm rather kind of old school, thinking that when an artist does his work, it's no longer his... I just see what people make of it." - David Bowie

Brut@l’s take on the ASCII dungeon crawler manifests itself into what arguably could be called a rogue-like style game.  You explore dungeons as one of the four fantasy archetypes: Ranger, Amazon, Mage, or Warrior.  The Ranger and Amazon are the middle ground characters; quick and nimble these fighters strike a balance between long distance attacks and up close fighting.  The Mage uses magic to blast foes from afar, while the Warrior is built for up close in-your-space heavy hitting fights.  Pick the one closest to your style of fighting and wade into battle.  You don't have to go at it alone either, as Brut@l supports local two-player co-op gaming for that on the couch fun with family or friend.

"There's definitely an old school element to my music, but I also think it's modern." - Lenny Kravitz

The first thing that captured my attention about this game is its visual style.  They present a stripped down, black and white world highlighted with bands of color.  It strongly reminds me of a simplistic take on the fantasy world of Tron.  The visual nod really works to give the ASCII character built world a feeling of new embracing the old. Continuing that theme is the sound effects and music.  The sound effects are kept to the minimum (grunts, groans, footsteps, the striking of weapons, etc.), while the soundtrack ebbs and flows with orchestral music.  It’s like Stormcloud Games wanted to subtlety evoke a feeling, and give a nod to, the latest Tron movie both visually and audibly.

"Somebody tell the damn players to start playing like old school." - Karl Malone

It's not just the audio and video that takes cues from the old days, so does the gameplay.  You have one life at the start.  Die and it's game over.  You have to play smart early on using tried and true tricks: stick and move, smash open everything looking for food, and be wary of potions.  This last point is very important.  You will be able to find potions and craft your own from ingredients you find, but you won't know what the potion does until you drink it or throw it at an enemy.

You will be able to craft more than just potions too.  You will find tomes that allow you to craft weapons from the letters you find scattered across the dungeons.  Letters let you craft normal weapons.  Colored letters allow you to add enchantments like flames or frost for extra damage against foes.

Overall

Brut@l's old school charm is a nice touch, but its gameplay is what carries it.  Each game you start, you know you must survive through 26 randomly generated dungeon levels before going up against the Guardian of the Dungeon.  Skill will get you only so far.  That random generated dungeon element throws a fair amount of luck into the mix.  You could end up with a dungeon with a low amount of food, so you really have to pay attention to what's going on.  One of my early playthroughs, with a Warrior, seemed doomed because there wasn't a lot of food.  I was finding barely enough to keep the hunger and health going, but 3 levels in it all came to an end when an imp attacked and shortly there after an exploder took me out.  Meanwhile, in another game, I have a Mage carrying fat stacks of pizza, fish and even some chunks of ham.

Mmmm... dungeon pizza...

It’s not an easy game, but it is fun.  For me, it's a fair bit of nostalgia, especially when I open the map and look at a top down all ASCII view of the dungeon spread out before me.  Previously only available on the PlayStation 4, it was just recently released on Steam.  I like it a lot, even though my Warrior could use a lot more luck.  I give Brut@l a 4 out of 5.

For more information check out the official Brut@l website.

Below are two of my playthrough videos of Brut@l.  The first is my playthrough with the Warrior and Amazon.  The second is my playthrough with the Mage and messing about with the Dungeon Creator.

Give both sides of your brain a workout with Semisheres

How good are you at coordinating both sides of your brain?  Do you like solving two problems at once?  Are brainteasers your form of relaxation?  If these questions raise your curiosity and interest, then Semispheres from Vivid Helix might be for you.

"When I draw something, the brain and the hands work together." - Tadao Ando

Out of the gate, Semispheres gets right down to business.  Relaxing ambient music plays in the background as it presents you with the "WASD" on one side of the screen and the arrow keys on the other, and then it waits patiently.  Engage one of the "WASD" keys and a "ghosting" of the keys moves off the screen, while the game continues to wait.  Engage one of the arrow keys and the same "ghosting" move replicates on the other side before the next screen pops up.  So begins your journey into Semispheres.  The game never says a word, never shows you how to do anything.  It lets you discover each aspect on your own.

As a quick side note here, if you have an Xbox 360 controller, or equivalent, plugged into your computer then Semispheres will default to that instead.  I would highly recommend using a controller over the keyboard.  All you need to play is the twin sticks and triggers; it feels more natural that way.

This next screen will be the main hub.  You will see an orange and a blue sphere on either side of the screen and an active half blue, half orange circle.  Guide the spheres to the center of that circle and you are taken to a level that has an orange side and a blue side.  Each side may or may not be a mirror image, but the goal is the same.  Move the spheres to their active circles on their respective sides.

"I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells." - Dr. Seuss

As I said, Semispheres never gives you any instructions.  It lets you discover through trial and error how to solve each level.  It starts simple, but items will be added that help or hinder your progress.  Semispheres leaves it up to you to work out how each item works.  Some tools are noisemakers to distract "sentries.”  Others are portals that allow orange player spheres to distract blue sentries and vise versa.

As levels progress the puzzles players need to work out will seemingly become more complex, but that is not always the case.  There were a few times when I found myself overthinking a process, only to have the puzzle solved before I got through all the steps I’d worked out in my head.  Many of the puzzles you will be working on have you figuring out each side (semi) separately; there are a few you will have to work both spheres in concert to solve.  And in those few cases there it is often with a watcher chasing behind your spheres threatening to reset your puzzle.

Overall

Semispheres is a brainteaser game that wants to tickle your brain with a challenge, but let you relax into a pseudo-meditative or zen state.  The relaxing ambient music, courtesy of Sid Barnhoorn (composer for Antichamber, The Stanley Parable, and Out There), combined with the simple, dichromatic art style, help make Semispheres a joy to sit and work out your brain at your own pace.  Along the way, as a reward for finishing chapters, there is a story is told through comic strips about a boy and his robotic sphere.

Semispheres has 50 levels that play out over thirteen chapters.  It has won numerous awards at various shows and expos, and from what I’ve played (currently on a break from chapter twelve) they are well earned.  I hope to see a Semispheres II in the future.  I give Semispheres a 5 out of 5.

For more information see the official Semispheres website.

Out and About: Quick Review of “Laser 2016: In Memoriam” from the Pacific Science Center's Laser Dome

I recently received a pleasant surprise, an invitation to a selection of shows at the Pacific Science Center Laser Dome.  The special occasion was for the Pacific Science Center’s upgraded laser system to a Laser Fantasy Rainbow FX laser system with 23-watts of power compared to the 6-watt system they had before.

Realizing it has been some time since I had seen a show at the Laser Dome, it was a struggle to even remember which show I last attended.  Knowing what to expect from my past viewings, my response to this show was still a surprise.

Of the shows I was offered to see, I went to “Laser 2016: In Memoriam,” a show celebrating those singers and musicians we lost in 2016.  Here is the list of songs they included:

1. Prince - Let’s Go Crazy
Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016)

2. Gene Wilder – Pure Imagination
Jerome “Gene Wilder” Silberman (June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016)

3. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - I’m Still Here
Sharon Lafaye Jones (May 4, 1956 – November 18, 2016)

4. The Eagles - Take it Easy
Glenn Lewis Frey (November 6, 1948 – January 18, 2016)

5. Emerson, Lake, & Palmer - Lucky Man
Keith Noel Emerson (2 November 1944 – 11 March 2016)
Gregory Stuart "Greg" Lake (10 November 1947 – 7 December 2016)

6. Leon Russell - A Song For You
Leon Russell (April 2, 1942 – November 13, 2016)

7. A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It?
Phife Dawg (November 20, 1970 – March 22, 2016)

8. Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah
Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016)

9. Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
Pete Burns (5 August 1959 – 23 October 2016)

10. George Michael - Freedom ‘90
George Michael (25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016)

11. David Bowie - Space Oddity
David Bowie (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016)

Special Encore

12. Queen with David Bowie – Under Pressure

To say it was beautiful is an understatement.  Frankly, I have to say that was the first time I was moved to tears by a laser light show.  I tried holding it back, but by the end there really was no use.  It was a celebration of too many great artists to not.  Unfortunately, this show was a limited to just two shows, January 25, 2017 and February 3, 2017.

The Laser Dome has been running shows since 1976 and has had some classics through the years.  On February 11th they introduced their newest regular show, Laser Beyoncé, to go with their ongoing shows that run every weekend Thursday-Sunday: Lady Gaga, EDM, Daft Punk, Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd: The Wall, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Laser 90's, Laser Mixtape, and Michael Jackson.

In addition to the regular shows, they have added a few live shows.  Currently confirmed are Live DJ's in collaboration with radio station C89.5 on April 19 and August 23.  They will also be hosting ongoing concert shows in collaboration with Vera Project, but dates are not yet specified.

The Laser Dome is one of those places in Seattle you should not overlook.  Take an few hours to go explore and see a show, it’s worth it. You can watch for upcoming shows or sign up for show alerts at the Pacific Science Center website.

Below is a simple sample of the "Laser 2016: In Memoriam,” (The music is blocked for copyright reasons on the second half.)

UPDATE: New HyperX Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Options

Back in December, I recommended the HyperX Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard.  It was HyperX's first push into keyboards and they kept things simple by building a simple, quality keyboard with a tasteful amount of "bling." I am still happy and still using that same keyboard provided to me on my gaming/workhorse computer.

Now HyperX has expanded the Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard options.  Again they have kept things simple.  The Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is now available in three different Cherry MX mechanical keys options: the Cherry MX Red, Cherry MX Blue, and Cherry MX Brown.

What does this mean?  Well, it means that gamers can now get the key style that fits them best.  My Alloy keyboard has the original Cherry MX Blue.  This style of Cherry MX mechanical key switches is the loud "klacky" style that provides an audio and physical feedback that I like.  Other gamers, not so much, and now for them, they have the choice of the Cherry MX Red (quiet and smooth) or Cherry MX Brown (a balance between Blue and Red).  For those interested in the mechanical data details you can find more information here.

I am curious to see what HyperX rolls out next.  For all the information about HyperX's Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard and more check out their website.

Burn brightly as Candleman

What can you do in complete darkness with just ten seconds of light?  Does it sound like a challenge or a hopeless situation?  Publisher E-Home Entertainment and developer Spotlightor Interactive gives you the opportunity to take on this challenge in Candleman, a new 3D platformer exclusive for the Xbox One.  Let’s shine a little light on it.

"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." -  Eleanor Roosevelt

Candleman tells the charming story of a candle forgotten on a wrecked ship.  Sentient and aware, one day the candle sees a light from a lighthouse far away.  Curious or inspired, it sets off on an adventure to find that far off light.  A simple, but sweet story.

The game is a classic platform style of trying to get from point "A" to point "B" without dying.  Along the way, you'll navigate tricky paths and solve simple puzzles.  The twist to Candleman is that most levels are done in near total darkness.  As a candle, you have the ability to provide ten seconds total of light that you can fire in micro-bursts or all in one long blast.  While you can choose to hold down the light button and burn down your entire candle right away, I don't suggest that.  Wise players will miser it out as they go along.  An added incentive to not burn out and die in each level is that every time you do, you lose one second of burn time.  Careless use of light and navigation could result in players having only one second of burn time.

There is some light in the darkness; along your path, you will find other candles.  You can light these up to helpfully illuminate areas.  These other candles are not required to finish levels, but finding and lighting them all does unlock achievements.  Think of them as collectibles, but ones that actually help you through the game.  There is no real time limit to complete each level, but the candles you find will only burn for a certain amount of time.  You may find yourself backtracking through a level where it was nicely lit, only to find it shrouded in the dim darkness.

Around the midway point in each level is a special blue flamed candle that, when you light it, serves as a checkpoint.  In some cases, after you have died during a level, this candle can be a very welcome sight.  It allows you to start from that point, instead of all the way back at the start of the level.

"Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning." - William Arthur Ward

Darkness is not your only foe, though.  You have no control over the camera.  Certain parts of levels you will have to really study the path before you.  Your perspective may be skewed in such a way that looks can be very deceiving.  For example, in one level there are pages from books that appear to form a spiral path up.  Upon closer examination, though they are more stair-like and you could easily walk right off the edge of one page and under the next into the briny depths below.

While I did suggest that players might want to be misers with their burn time it’s not always the case.  To reach certain areas you may have to burn off some of your candle.  Burning makes Candleman lighter and able to jump higher.

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." -  Buddha

The beautiful art style falls somewhere between a hand-animated Disney movie and Pixar’s computer renderings giving it a fantasy storybook feeling.  My favorite levels are those with the vines and flowers.  Those flowers react to the quick light of the candle by briefly bursting open with light fireworks.  The beauty is deadly, though, as these same flowers have thorns.

Overall

Candleman is a game that will charm its way into your heart with its curiosity filled story and tickle your brain with its gameplay.  It is not a difficult game, but one you do have to put some time and thought into in order to progress.  On one hand, I would say it is a game to get into between other more epic length games.  Yet I found myself actually looking to take breaks from it.  There were a few levels I would get frustrated with my own mistakes or couldn't find that one last candle and would have to step away, clear my head with something else, and come back with fresh eyes to see what I was doing wrong or notice that one hidden area.

Just like a candle, Candleman offers a warm glow to touch the center of your gaming heart.  I give Candleman a 5 out of 5.

For more information see Spotlightor's official website.