Week One of RPS Post-Graham: A Whimsical Update
As we embark on the first week of RPS Post-Graham, the atmosphere in the office resembles the echoing halls of Durin, albeit with a hint of chaos reminiscent of a Balrog tea party. Horace, our resident sullen Viking serpent, coils around the foot of the Treehouse, while the Maw, our ever-demanding news hub, seems to be in a particularly peevish mood, rejecting any updates we attempt to feed it. To add to the surreal ambiance, our wifi network has taken on a rather ominous personality, frequently changing its name to “Execute Order 66.”
In light of this whimsical turmoil, it feels like the perfect moment to break the glass on our emergency morale-boosting collection of video game intros. A bit of nostalgia is in order: let’s kick things off with Red Alert to inject some energy, followed by Okami to illuminate our spirits, and a rousing finish with Colony Wars for that unforgettable WRAAAOW sound.
Now, let’s delve into this week’s most intriguing new PC games:
- Texnoplazm: A gun-fu brawl-o-shooter set in an urban landscape infused with sorcerous technology and vengeful synthetic escorts. Players can steal weapons and unleash their inner martial artist by kicking foes into walls.
- Tall Trails: A laidback exploratron featuring a cheerful yet angst-ridden golem equipped with a rocket-powered boot, inviting players to explore at their own pace.
- Static Dread: Set against the backdrop of a cosmic apocalypse, this game places you in charge of a lighthouse, where you must determine which ships are safe to welcome into the harbor.
- Era One: A real-time space strategy simulation crafted for fans of Homeworld, allowing players to piece together their own ships for interstellar adventures.
- Mafia: The Old Country: Travel back to pre-WWI Sicily for thrilling antique car chases and shoot-outs, immersing yourself in a world of vintage crime.
- The Royal Writ: A visually striking and malevolent card game roguelite that draws inspiration from titles like Inscryption, Monster Train, and Balatro. The demo has proven to be quite enjoyable.
- Wildwood Down: A point-and-click comedy mystery featuring a protagonist with Down Syndrome, inspired by and voiced by one of the developers’ childhood friends, adding a personal touch to the narrative.
- Artis Impact: A pixel-art top-down RPG that strikes a balance between a cobbled-together aesthetic and a polished feel, reminiscent of Sword & Sworcery.
- The Lilliput Workshop: An automation game that captures the charm of an old Brio toy train set, inviting players to engage in creative construction.
- And let’s not forget about the intriguingly named Strange Jigsaws.
- Cleanfall: This game features a brave mining robot navigating a world teeming with hungry insects, complete with airships made from giant plant spores and Gatling gun turrets for added excitement.
As for the RPS staff’s activities this week, I unfortunately missed the morning all-hands meeting, leaving me to improvise my way through the week. James is busy crafting new buzzwords for graphics cards, each more elaborate than the last, with his latest creation being “polymorphotovoltaic processing.” Ollie has embarked on an ambitious project—a guide to Life itself. Meanwhile, Jeremy seems to have lost himself in a literary haze, oscillating between Goldilocks and Proust, with each flashback marked by the temperature of a specific bowl of porridge. Lastly, Mark is locked in an epic battle against his neighbors, the Ice Giants, who have once again encroached upon his side of the hedge.
