Congratulations everyone, we made it through January. Now we’re entering the season of love, chocolate and having marginally fewer days than any other month. That means that we’ll get through this one like it’s a speedrun, and that’s always a small victory these days.
A new month also means new games, and we’ve got three very cool ones to talk about this week. One of them looks so good you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a AAA title. But of course, looks aren’t everything, and that’s why we’re running all along what it means to be pretty this week.
Whether you’re looking to take revenge on people as a werewolf, do some hardcore jumping or fight alongside your friends to protect something important, we’ve got you covered. It’s an incredibly strong start to February so let’s dive in.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood
In Cyanide Studio’s latest, you play as Cahal, a powerful Garou (werewolf) who’s been exiled because you can’t control your temper. You have to switch between three forms available to you in order to wreak havoc on the fools trying to harm Mother Earth. It’s an exercise in control and understanding. It’s like how you’re incredibly annoyed with everyone not keeping their distance, but you don’t turn into a wolf and eat them. At least, that’s what we assume it’s like, we’re definitely not werewolves.
You’ll need to master every ability at your disposal to be able to get through the quests ahead of you, and the only real way to save things is to rely on your strength and trust in your cause. It sounds like a lot of fun, and the graphics of the game are genuinely jaw-dropping. Assuming that this one has a bite to match its bark, then Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood is going to be one of those indie games we’ll still be discussing later in the year.
‘Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood’ arrives February 4 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Blue Fire
Initially revealed in one of those delightful Nintendo Indie Direct showcases, Blue Fire has been described as looking a bit like a 3D Hollow Knight, and it’s hard to disagree with that. If you’ve never heard of Hollow Knight, then that’s not going to be of much use to you, but please go and either play it or Google it because it’s a damn near perfect game.
In Blue Fire, you have to jump, fight and collect your way through the dying world of Penumbra on your quest to find out what’s going on. The platforming looks absurdly tough, and it seems as though there’ll be myriad abilities at your disposal to help you succeed in the gauntlets ahead of you. It’s not just the platforming that looks tough though; even the basic battles look like they’re ready to tear you apart. It’s definitely a good-looking game too, but who knows if the whole package will come together in a satisfying way.
‘Blue Fire’ arrives February 4 on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Rogue Star Rescue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ounpnB1Oo
This one’s been in Early Access for nearly a year, but it’s finally about to come out properly. Rogue Star Rescue is a bullet hell game that’s been mashed together with a tower defence game. Plus, you’ve got roguelike elements and co-op, too. Basically, there’s a lot going on here, but all of it amounts to a game that’s very much focused on being as fast as possible.
The thing that really draws us to Rogue Star Rescue is the charming art style. It conveys everything it needs to without being too overwhelming or fancy. There’s also something excellent about online co-op in roguelikes, because dying can be stressful – but dying with friends is usually hilarious. It’s also a really interesting mix of genres, and not the kind of thing you can find just anywhere, so give it a look.
‘Rogue Star Rescue’ leaves Early Access on February 4 for PC, Mac and Linux.