We’re already halfway through September, which means we’re just one step closer towards the end of the year. Although 2020 hasn’t been the best so far, we’ve got to admit that the slew of indie offerings has been making up for it.
This week brings a whole new roundup of games to dive into, including a highly anticipated sequel and a biographical game. Also on the list is a brand-new genre hybrid that’ll have you slaying mystical lore creatures while rocking out to heavy metal. Let’s jump right in.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute
At first glance, BPM: Bullets Per Minute looks an awful lot like a throwback first-person shooter. The action is chaotic, the colours are orange and everything moves at an alarmingly fast pace that would even make an F1 driver’s head spin. Basically, if you want breakneck pacing soundtracked by heavy metal, then you’re in the right place here.
You play the role of a Valkyrie, a warrior trying to protect Asgard from the forces of the underworld. To do that, you get to use a wide array of weapons and abilities to unleash a constant barrage of pain and suffering at whatever it is that’s stupid enough to cross your path. There are bosses to fight, secrets to discover and even new characters to unlock throughout the game.
- READ MORE: ‘BPM: Bullets Per Minute’ review: an inventive rhythm FPS hybrid that’s also a hellish roguelike
While all that sounds cool, what actually makes BPM really special is the fact that on top of all of that, it’s also a rhythm game. That’s right, every shot, reload, dodge and kill has to be done to the beat. That means you’re going to need more than just a big shotgun to get the job done – you’re also going to need some dancing shoes.
BPM: Bullets Per Minute is out now for PC. A console version of the game is scheduled for 2021.
Spelunky 2
Roguelikes and roguelites are everywhere these days, and we can’t go five minutes without. And there’s a good reason for that: they replicate a lot of what makes arcade games great, but without the need to constantly pump more money into a big heartless machine.
Truthfully, the entire genre really owes a lot to the original Spelunky. While it wasn’t the first roguelike around, it was definitely one of the most accessible. The cute visual style juxtaposed against the absurdly hard difficulty created something truly fascinating. It helps that the gameplay was damn near perfect too because otherwise, it’d just be pretty and hard, and that’s fine for diamonds, but no good for games.
Spelunky 2 takes everything the first game did so well and makes it even better. It’s a sequel that a lot of people have been waiting for over a decade, and it’s kind of hard to believe that it finally comes out this week.
Spelunky 2 is out now for the PlayStation 4. The game will launch on September 29 for PC.
Welcome To Elk
The world of indie gaming is great for a lot of reasons. Whether you’re in it for the hidden gems, the obscure art styles, or just the heavy-hitting subject matter, there’s always something for everyone. For those looking for something a little out of the ordinary, Welcome To Elk could be right up your alley.
Described as a “biographical adventure”, the game is set on the island of Elk, where you take control of a young carpenter named Frigg who embarks on an apprenticeship in the small town. At first, you might be a little worried that the game goes too slow, but thankfully, the characters that make up the island guarantee that’s not going to be the case.
What makes this game even more fascinating is that each character you meet is actually based on real people, albeit with an element of fiction. Overall, it’s an intriguing idea, and it could well be the reason Welcome To Elk will be remembered in years to come.
Welcome To Elk will be released on September 17 for the Xbox One and PC.