Steam’s pre-festival event, or Next Fest, has concluded its run for this iteration. The week featured an unexpectedly high volume of glimpses into both new and established projects. Several demos, some of which remain available, were revisited, but the majority of the showcased games were entirely new!
Squirreled Away
Let’s begin with a title that’s already been released. Squirreled Away launched almost a year ago, so revisiting its demo wasn’t necessarily a priority. However, the demo is still accessible, and it was already on my hard drive, so I decided to supply it a try.
Squirreled Away isn’t likely to keep you up all night with groundbreaking design or a compelling narrative, but as a casual base-building simulator centered around squirrels, it’s surprisingly charming. The core concept alone hits all the right notes for the “cozy game” genre. That allows for a slightly rough visual presentation, even if it resembles a lower-budget Unity project.
After about thirty minutes of gameplay, I completed the first island and was just beginning to explore the base-building mechanics. That’s where my interest waned. However, considering Squirreled Away’s qualities, including its online co-op mode in the full version, I believe it has a dedicated fanbase. Here’s the type of game I’d enjoy playing with a partner or family member if we didn’t live in different locations. But unless I can convince my brother to join me, that opportunity may have passed.
Alruna: End of History
Alruna is back, retaining the same stylish aesthetic and rock/metal references I remember. It’s essentially more of the same, without missing a beat, and that’s a positive. This 8-bit Metroidvania features philosophical undertones and a widescreen aspect ratio. If you’re unsure if it’s for you, you can check out my review of Alruna and the Necro-Industrialists.
Dreams of Another
Shooters that aim to push genre boundaries are always welcome. While shooting your way through problems can be therapeutic, a title that can maintain a core mechanic while feeling distinct from the norm offers a refreshing addition to the industry. I finally dedicated half an hour to Dreams of Another, despite it being released back in October.
Unfortunately, the mixed reviews Dreams of Another has received appear justified. The demo doesn’t leave a lasting impression, and feels ironically as unsubstantial as the genre (third-person shooter) is often known for. The demo offers little to suggest the full game will be any different.
Cathedral: Crow’s Curse
Now, let’s talk atmosphere. Cathedral: Crow’s Curse initially evokes a light Robin Hood vibe, but within the crowded space of Metroidvania-Soulslike games. My initial hesitation quickly dissipated after my first stealth kill, and by the time I infiltrated the forest’s first temple, I was fully invested.
The combat’s reliance on timing, a mechanic I’ve become accustomed to thanks to Clair Obscur, is well-executed. Soon, my undead foes were falling quickly. I’m looking forward to exploring more of Cathedral: Crow’s Curse when it releases later this year. The fact that the demo ends on a dramatic cliffhanger is a good sign, and a frustrating one.
Lady Dracula
The number of homages to the Castlevania series is plentiful, but this title boldly attempts to forge its own identity. While the graphics lean heavily into an 8-bit aesthetic, complete with CRT filters and visual artifacts, the music is a heavier electronic style with dubstep influences (consider Daniel Deluxe and Ghostrunner soundtracks).
The musical departure, however, doesn’t entirely compensate for the game’s design shortcomings. The level design isn’t as tight as its genre counterparts. I’d describe the overall impression of Lady Dracula as an unexpectedly budget find. At this stage, I wouldn’t call that a positive, but since the game is still slated for release this year, it has time to address many of my concerns.
The fact that Lady D has both a whip and sword/knife from the start is a promising sign!
Vampire’s Veil
The only demo that crashed for me – and immediately after a rather slow intro. Vampire’s Veil shares the same problems as the title above, except it’s a bit less Castlevania and a bit more Metroidvania/Soulslike. I didn’t have much opportunity to explore either genre in the demo, however. The letters I managed to find hint at a more interesting story than I initially expected. Combined with some well-illustrated, but exquisitely pixelated and animated characters, I’ll likely ignore that crash and revisit Vampire’s Veil when it’s eventually released (on an as-yet-unknown date).
