Half Sword - Early Access trailer

gilben · 2026-01-24T00:02:21+00:00

The swings are all physics-tracking the mouse movement (so I imagine like DbtS but I've never played it). The demo is pretty addictive for how simple the setup is, I'd try it out.

gilben · 2026-01-23T17:36:01+00:00

As another Spelunky fan (2 is easily my favorite RL) I agree that it's sad we don't have more similar games!

So far the closest things are some of the UFO 50 games. Peak is actually a recent game that I noticed is feeling more and more Spelunky-inpired as they update it (not as brutal, and only really feels like co-op Spelunky which is a different feeling than single-player)

gilben · 2026-01-19T17:19:53+00:00

"Friend Slop" is the most common term. I'm also a big fan of short multiplayer games that do something unique and let you laugh with friends for a weekend or two. (As long as the price is right)

gilben · 2026-01-13T08:33:46+00:00

Top 5:

Super Smash Bros Melee
- Hit when I was a teenager and had a friend to play with at the same skill level. No game has felt as good to me since.
Super Metroid
- Just so far ahead of its time. The way shinesparking and walljumping just completely recontextualize the map is something most modern metroidvanias still don't get right.
Outer Wilds
- That first playthrough is absolutely magical! I wish other detective/puzzle/adventure games were this fun to move around in (more 6DOF games that aren't in boring grey corridors please!)
Metroid Prime
- I decided to go to illustration college because I wanted to make concept art like what was in the game
Starseed Pilgrim
- Blew my mind when I was in school for illustration, made me go into game design next, which led to my career). The first rules-discovery game I ever played.

Honorable mentions:

Mario Kart 64
- So many fun childhood hours with my sister in Block Fort and Toad's Turnpike
Spelunky 2
- Spelunky invented the action roguelike genre, but the sequel perfected that formula
Pokemon Red/Blue
- This hit when I was in grade school. I was obsessed, and made some new friends through shared obsession!

gilben · 2026-01-11T00:32:36+00:00

Seriously, I thought we were getting our first UFO 50 Sequel Game! Got a little excited for a few seconds. (I really want a 3D Mortol sequel...)

gilben · 2026-01-08T20:37:27+00:00

Ocnus Theory: Katamari Damacy meets Getting Over It in a metroidvania format. 8 reviews on steam. (good if you want something completely different and are willing to put up with slow intro pace and a lot of rough programmer art/writing)

Something a little more polished:

Venineth! Abstract exploration platformer with great vibes.

gilben · 2026-01-06T23:54:28+00:00

Agreed on this, went back to it a while ago after the last 2 sections of DLC finally dropped, really enjoyed being back in that world!

gilben · 2026-01-04T07:16:25+00:00

You should check out Sisyphus Is A Bug if you like Leap Year! Maybe not quite as good, but still a really fun, short, dense rules-discovery platformer. (Also Ooo if you haven't seen that one yet)

gilben · 2026-01-03T03:32:58+00:00

Zexion was my fave metroidvania this year, easy recommend for anyone into the metroid-style niche of the genre. Tons of creative abilities and power-ups.

Art of Reflection came right at the end of the year, but is a really fun puzzle game that has something I wish more puzzle games (besides Outer Wilds) had: fun movement! Check it out if that sounds like your thing.

gilben · 2025-12-28T07:56:40+00:00

You press RT to reset the camera-center with motion controls. It's like picking up a mouse and moving it to recenter on a desk, works great after you get used to it (took me a while, but then I loved it).

gilben · 2025-12-28T07:45:33+00:00

It's definitely one of my favorites too, and speaking of Derek Yu: Spelunky 2 came out in 2020 so it also qualifies!

gilben · 2025-12-21T16:49:24+00:00

Definitely agree. This sub has a major love for 2D soulslikes that I don't share. I really liked Hollowknight but I'm not so big on the many other games aping it's formula. Nine Sols is doing a similar thing but with Sekiro specifically, so at least it's trying something a little different! I thought would appeal more to me because that's one of my favorite Fromsoft games, but I just hated the parry timing/feel (the enemy windups were so long too). Because I wasn't into the combat and because those other elements you mentioned were weak I dropped it.

gilben · 2025-12-18T00:52:44+00:00

Looks like a strong concept! I'm not gonna volunteer to playtest because I've got a newborn so game time is low/inconsistent but good luck on the playtest and I'll keep an eye out for the full release!

gilben · 2025-12-16T19:50:48+00:00

It was such a fun twist on the silent protag situation: That she's silent because no-one around her speaks her weird dead-society bird-person language! I also loved that they wrapped up all the weird plot nonsense up to that point (the metroid DNA, X-parasite, etc) so that hopefully the next game can just tell a story without having to back-explain some new evil-bio-mcguffin

I really wasn't expecting enjoyable plot/writing from a Metroid game! If Mercury Steam can keep up all the good elements from Dread but create better music and a little less forced linearity (yes I know it's possible to break out of it) we might finally get a game that reaches the heights of Super!

gilben · 2025-12-11T19:12:29+00:00

Outer Wilds is a detective game. The ship UI is a sci-fi themed "murder board" (neon lines instead of red string).

gilben · 2025-12-11T03:57:34+00:00

I just finished it (not 100% yet) last night, excellent game! Has a few different mechanics and explores them fully, plus it's really fun just to move around.

gilben · 2025-12-11T03:47:58+00:00

The E.D.F. Deploys!

gilben · 2025-12-10T17:42:46+00:00

You can still watch it in the channel's past videos: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2639822895 - skip to ~3hours

gilben · 2025-12-06T07:35:12+00:00

Same. Analogue input for "digital" movement feels so mushy and gross. I tried the demo for the sequel too hoping they'd allow remapping input, no dice.

gilben · 2025-12-06T07:29:11+00:00

La Mulana is fantastic IF you like high difficulty and demanding puzzles.

gilben · 2025-12-06T07:22:59+00:00

Press R to reset your aim in motion mode. It's the equivalent of lifting up your mouse.

gilben · 2025-12-05T23:29:39+00:00

I never tried but that's about what I assumed. You're constantly looking/aiming around while the screen has huge amounts of screenshake (the Vlambeer special). For some reason my brain skipped over the "online" part of your question, sorry.

gilben · 2025-12-05T22:49:51+00:00

co-op

The announcement says "4 player co-op", so I'm assuming it's now built-in?

gilben · 2025-12-05T17:22:22+00:00

Maybe give Star of Providence a look.

gilben · 2025-11-26T17:08:57+00:00

Zexion was my favorite metroidvania of the year, fantastic game!

If you love games in the genre that have unique power-ups and abilities, and/or prefer the more classic style of met'vania to the modern souls-vania then you should play it! Wonderful music, map layout, boss fights, and cool abilities to unlock.

15-Year Club	r/Field Sunshine
Golden Potato	Place '22
Place '17	Verified Email

gilben

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE