Another year of PAX Australia done.
There are many who went to community meets to network, checked out the panels discussing various topics, cosplayers pulled out their costumes to their heart's content, Mass Effect fans who wanted to meet the voice of Commander Shepard (Mark Meer), many of those who went to attend to the two weddings at the Cult of the Lamb area and also lots of pin hunting/trading (you know who you are!)
But of course, many of us went to this annual event in its eleventh year in Australia for the games. Video games, board games, card games, you name it. And what’s great about PAX since its inception is new and rising games made by passionate independent developers who want to bring new ideas to the world that can bring a fresh perspective of game design to return to a bygone era of gaming that many of us miss.
Here’s a few of the games that I saw at PAX Aus 2024 that I feel are worth checking out.
Max Mustard
From Toast Interactive, a VR game developer based in Brisbane comes this quirky 3rd person platformer that resembles the likes of Astro Bot: Rescue Mission on the PSVR before Sony’s newest mascot leaped from the headset and onto the big TV. Max Mustard fills that void with its charming visuals, smooth controls and a plunger gun! It's so fun that even kids can play it!
(Max Mustard is now available on Meta Quest, PS VR2 and Steam)
Anticitizen Red
Who yearns for the days of Max Payne 1&2 with its frenetic 3rd person shooting action? Well I do, and while there’s El Paso, Elsewhere out and about but for those who want a more dystopian, cyberpunk Aussie flavour to it. This is certainly the game for you.
With the early 2000-era graphics, the simple yet challenging gameplay combined with Aussie humour and this really all comes together in harmony and honestly, if your game over screen has the phrase “carked it”, I’m totally in!
(Anticitizen Red can be wishlisted on Steam)
Rose & Locket
Always good to say hello to our neighbours over at New Zealand as the group CODE NZ likes to bring a few promising developers over to showcase their talents and one of them is Whistling Wizard with this nifty 2D action-platformer/shooter hybrid about a retired gunslinger on a quest to save her daughter’s spirit who is trapped in a locket that she carries.
Combined with creative use of its visual style (which can be confusing at times), amazing sound design and voice acting along with smooth gameplay, it’s one that I definitely recommend looking out for.
(Rose & Locket can be wishlisted on Steam with a demo available for you to try out)
Hexaquest
Are you a fan of dungeon crawling RPGs? Well this ain’t Legends of Grimlock but something quite unique as you play as a die. In this game, not only do you conquer your enemies with strategic and puzzling attacks but also build your die with deck-building like elements as you customise each face of the die with each abilities you use against your foes as well as solve puzzles to progress.
It takes a bit of getting used to at first but once you get the hang of it, it becomes quite fun. It was also one of the few demos at PAX that was running on the Steam Deck and it felt great to play on!
(Hexaquest can be wishlisted on Steam with a demo available for you to try out. A Kickstarter campaign for this game will be up soon)
Isopod: A Webbed Tale (Sbug Games)
Who remembers Webbed? The game where you play as a pixelated spider on a quest to save their boyfriend? Well, this spin off goes from the 2D physics-based puzzle metroidvania for a more 3D platformer where you play as an isopod to unite your fellow bugs to fight against the nefarious fire ants!
Combine the explorative platforming of games like Banjo-Kazooie with the crazy rolling of games like the Katamari series and you got yourself this game in a microscopic world with wonder (as long as you’re not afraid of bugs). Also Buddy the Spider, the protagonist from Webbed also makes a return (but don’t worry, the game will come with an arachnophobia mode)
(Isopod can be wishlisted on Steam)
Ascending Inferno
If you have a penchant for a difficult platformer with physics involved, then this may be the game for you as you’re a soccer player who loses their life and is descended to the underworld where they have to kick their way out with a soccer ball which is possessed with her brother’s soul.
With stunning 2D pixel graphics in a 2.5D world, this precision platformer was impressive when I first saw it back in 2023 and still is with its updated demo at PAX this year. Still difficult as ever but worthy of a look for those who are up to kick for the goal.
(Ascending Inferno is now available to buy on Steam)
Note from editor: Video coming soon
Away from Home
Coming from an American indie developer, this neat and quirky pixel rhythm RPG by Squishy. While the developer mentioned that they’re still experimenting with ideas on how to make the rhythm based combat unique, I felt from what I’ve played was a great way to hit the corresponding buttons at the right time that can also build up a meter to do a special attack.
Add together a quirky narrative and incredibly detailed pixel art and animation, this really wowed me when I got the chance to play it. Also the music was quite kicking as well!
(Away from Home can be wishlisted on Steam with a demo available (under a different page titled “Home”) but there’s also a Kickstarter up and running until the near end of November)
Omochapon
Kinda cheating on this one since it’s been out for a while now on the Switch but seeing Shawn the Miller’s solo made game at the event was quite intriguing as it’s a 3D puzzle platformer where you play as a multitude of different gashapon toys in an empty shopping center.
Simple but effective within its approach as you have to explore the place to find the other toys to access different areas, like one toy that can help turn on the escalator so you can progress even further. While the game is definitely targeted towards a younger audience, I feel for those who want an easy-going and creative game, this is worth a look!
(Omochapon is available on Nintendo Switch, no word for any future ports from what I was told)
Memory’s Reach
If you’re itching for some first person, logic-based puzzle adventures in the vein of The Witness, The Talos Principle and Myst then this is one to check out. Combining elements of Metroid Prime as you can scan elements of the planet you’re on to unlock lore and other abilities for you to overcome obstacles as you explore the alien world that you’ve landed on.
While it may be geared for a specific audience who want to exercise their brain with tricky puzzles, I feel this has a lot of neat potential considering the scale and polish the game had when I played the demo. It may have a long way to go but it certainly showed a world of promise.
(Memory’s Reach can be wishlisted on Steam with a demo available)
Frogreign
(No trailer available at the time of this writing, so here’s the developer YT channel link)
A 2D metroidvania where you play as a frog prince named Rill in this gorgeous pixelated adventure that has one unique feature. You can use his tongue to swing anywhere at any time you want. Yes, no need for any certain points to aim at, just swing away at your heart’s content to explore and venture through the Kingdom of Callidrya.
Combined with the detailed pixel art and many areas to explore. This ambitious game from Arkanpixel (a small studio based in Brisbane) is very promising, that I hope it can propel many players into checking out in a very busy world of indie-made Metroidvanias.
(Frogreign can be wishlisted on Steam)
And that’s all I wish to highlight from this year’s PAX Australia. There were plenty more that I would like to showcase but there would be too much to cover, so I’ll leave you with a list of honorable mentions that are worth a look:
Sinthetic
Primordial Legends: Hollow Hero
The Drifter
Denari
Dark Umbra
Footy Bash
Blaktasia: Invasion of the Murk
Game Over: A Rhythm RPG
Blood Reaver
Fishbowl (which the Mob Zombies have covered!)
Brides of Bloodbane
Ecliptic
Soul Devourer
My Arms are Now Longer
Beyond These Stars
The Sacred Acorn
The Rewinder 2
Memory’s Reach
I hope you're keen to check a few of these games out whenever they come out as much as I am!
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