GDC 2019: A Look at Versus Evil’s Colorful Roster

by Vincent Lai | May 16, 2019 7:00 am

Known for landmark hits such as The Banner Saga trilogy and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, Versus Evil has independently published a diverse roster of games over the past few years. ConFreaks & Geeks recently chatted with the developers behind five of Versus Evil’s 2019 titles. These titles span the gamut from visceral action to meditative experiences, and they are all captivating, exciting, and unique. We thoroughly enjoyed taking a look at every game in motion, and we certainly believe that the roster includes something for everybody. Here are some of our impressions of each title.

PikPok has prolifically released games over the past decade, and Into the Dead 2 is a visceral high speed shooter in development for the Nintendo Switch. With its realistic post apocalyptic setting, zombie hordes, and stark presentation, the visual presentation may seem familiar upon first glance. However, the breakneck pace and straightforward mechanics result in a frantic experience that is a blast to play. We picked a themed set of stages and a weapon loadout from an extensive selection of guns. We experienced the action from a first-person perspective as our character automatically dashed forward, and the objective is to reach the end of the stage by dodging and shooting zombies. These zombies often appear in close-knit formations, and it can be a challenge veering left and right to dodge zombies while picking up beneficial ammo crates. The game felt like a natural fit for the Joy-Cons, and the game’s pick up and play nature seems like a perfect fit for the Switch in handheld mode. Into the Dead 2 is currently available for Android and iOS, and it is slated for release on the Nintendo Switch in 2019.

Hitchhiker is a contemplative adventure from the independent studio Mad About Pandas. It features thought-provoking dialogue, surreal circumstances, and a mysterious narrative. Hitchhiker places the player into the first-person perspective of a car passenger. We looked outside at the vast landscape, and we also interacted with notable trinkets inside the car. A prominent character is the driver, who asks probing questions that lead to the player being able to pick from multiple answers. While its environments can seem natural at first, the narrative leads to surreal moments. Given the fractured surreal narrative, it is up to the player to figure out the mysteries underlying each of the five trips. Hitchkiker is slated for release on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch in winter 2019.

Yaga is an action role-playing title from Breadcrumbs Interactive that features lovingly animated visuals, Slavic folklore motifs, and plenty of room for player agency. Players control Ivan, a one-armed blacksmith who juggles his duty to the Tzar with his responsibilities to his village. Right when we started playing, we noticed that the environments resemble an oil painting with fascinating foliage and vibrant assets. The way Slavic lore organically informs the characters’ nature and varied items is also interesting. One of the game’s hallmark features is picking between distinct emotive responses to others’ questions, which affects dialogue and also Ivan’s reputation. Ivan’s character also informs the mechanics as he can craft items using a forge and equip gear onto his missing arm. We also caught a glimpse of some of the varied decisions. During our trial run, we encountered a tree that actually asked us for some resources. We had the opportunity to hand some materials over, turn it down, or even attack it. Yaga is slated for release on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2019.

See also

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Geeky News[2]Video Game Features/Preview[3]

Overlooked Single Player Indie Games on Switch[4]

Faeria is a unique strategy game by Abrakam SA that hybridizes card deck management, turn-based mechanics, and hex-based field control. Faeria’s striking vibrant style permeates the entire user interface, card design, and game board. The designs encompass a wide range of fantasy creatures, beautiful forest locales, and elementals. We especially enjoyed seeing the hex-based grid as well as empowering nodes on the game board. Moving around the board creates layers of strategy as it influences the players’ ability to gain resources and perform actions. With extensive solo and multiplayer modes, the game is full of long-term replayability with plenty of updates to come. Chronicles of Gagana is also a brand new expansion that adds new locales, lore, and cards to the mix. Faeria and the Chronicles of Gagana downloadable content are currently available on PC, Mac, and Linux with console versions in the works.

Among the lineup is the whimsical Cardpocalypse, which is an exciting single-player role-playing take on card gaming. We sat down and spoke with Gambrinous, who also previously released Guild of Dungeoneering. Cardpocalypse embodies both a childhood fascination with toys as well as a sense of whimsicality inspired by the ‘90s. While many card games revolve around multiplayer dynamics, Cardpocalypse provides a unique single player experience that empowers players by allowing them to bend the rules and boost cards to their liking. Players experience the adventures of Jess and her friends as they play the famous in-universe game Mega Mutant Power Pets. However, things soon go awry when the game’s creatures come alive and encroach upon the characters’ school, which requires Jess and her friends to save the day with wit and imagination. The game’s visual style is also reminiscent of comic books and cartoons, and the card designs are also include outlandish fun creatures as well. Cardpocalypse is slated for release on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

We loved checking out Versus Evil’s forthcoming game lineup, and we wholeheartedly believe it provides something for everyone to enjoy. 

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