Fresh Off Steam: 5 new releases that flew under the radar

 

Having a choice is a wonderful thing, but today’s gamers face the opposite problem of having too many choices. Not only are big developers consistently milking triple-A titles, but smaller developers also flood the market through Steam Greenlight and Itch. With the advent of game resellers and constant sales on digital platforms, people sometimes buy and hoard games that never see the light of day.


Fresh Off Steam is a bi-weekly assortment of recent releases on Steam, made in an effort to alleviate some of the problems busy gamers face by pointing to them in a good general direction. Please note that many of these games are selected after I had some limited play time with them or based on promising and unique first impressions. So when you make your purchasing decisions, take these recommendations with a grain of salt. With that caveat out of the way, here are some (possible) diamonds in the rough that you probably missed from the past couple weeks.

 


 

High Noon Revolver
Developer: Mike Studios
Genre: Action
Released: January 26, 2017
Price: $14.99

 

High Noon Revolver is a 2D action shooter that lets you jump and blast your way through the stage while collecting gold and upgrades. There are a number of playable characters to unlock and a variety of weapons and abilities to choose from. At its core, it’s a bullet hell game keeping the retro feel alive. For the most part, High Noon Revolver is an action-packed rollercoaster ride that will entice you to get one more game in before bed.

 


 

 Nefarious
Developer: StarBlade
Genre: Action
Released: January 23, 2017
Price: $14.99

 

Nefarious is a 2D action platformer in which you get to be the villain kidnapping princesses. The gameplay itself doesn’t seem all that different from other pixel platformers, but the reverse boss battle is what got my attention. If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered why most bad guys in movies and video games are a bunch of dim-witted egomaniacs. Now you can change the course of history and take over the world in Nefarious.

 


 

 PAKO - Car Chase Simulator
Developer: Tree Men Games
Genre: Racing
Released: January 10, 2017
Price: $7.99

 

PAKO is an arcade driving game with one simple goal; survive as long as you can in a police chase. Originally released on mobile devices, it doesn’t take long to wrap your head around the mechanics. There are power-ups and different ammunitions that drastically change the way the car behaves. For example, you can shoot missiles from both ends of your car while becoming as large as a building. With multiple levels and a variety of cars to choose from, I find PAKO to be a sweet little game that can consume a good portion of your lunch break, alone or with your co-workers, thanks to local multiplayer. Additionally, the art style is oddly picturesque, combining VHS nostalgia and GTA 2.

 


 

 Power Hover
Developer: Oddrok
Genre: Racing
Released: January 10, 2017
Price: $7.99

 

Power Hover is a racing game about, well, riding hoverboards. The goal is to collect as much energy as possible as you blaze past different surroundings. What appealed to me the most about the game was its minimalist visuals. From the gameplay trailer, I was happy to see diverse stages spanning across deserts, oceans, cityscapes, and ancient ruins, all with varying camera angles. Apparently, there are little narrative cutscenes that further the story. Granted, deep and engaging story isn’t what you look for in these types of games, but it’s nice to know that some semblance of cohesive narrative exists. As for the gameplay, most people seem to agree that the game is hard but fair. Overall, Power Hover looks to be a pleasing title that has content that is just as satisfying.

 


 

 Drunk or Dead
Developer: 4 I Lab
Genre: Action
Released: January 10, 2017
Price: $5.99

 

Drunk or Dead is a VR shooter with an interesting premise; there’s a virus turning sober people into zombies, and the only way to survive is to get smashed while shooting zombies. Among the countless gimmicky VR games that swarm Steam’s new release category these days, I like this one for its novelty and honesty. For what it’s trying to accomplish, Drunk or Dead makes for a fun virtual drinking game when you’ve got a couple buddies over. Even if you can’t hold your booze in real life, you can see what it feels like to be totally wasted while occasionally peeking at cleavage.

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