VGamingIndies: Vol 4

We don’t need to tell you that there are a lot of video games being released every week and a lot of games simply go under the radar. Indie games in particular are often developed by small teams, usually without a billion dollar corporation behind them and they don’t have a chance to shine. 

VGamingIndies gives us a chance to talk about some of those smaller titles that we’ve played recently. We’re not scoring these games like we would if it was a ‘full review’. An arbitrary number isn’t always the best approach, especially with Indie games. Instead, we’re just laying out what we liked, what we thought didn’t work so well and leaving the choice up to you.

For Volume 4 in our series, we look at the arcade shooter Skycadia and Paper Mario-like RPG Video Game Fables. Click the buttons to jump to the game or carry on reading.

Skycadia

Key Info
Platform	Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox
Developer	Studio Nisse
Publisher	Studio Nisse
Positives	+ Fun, compact dogfighter + Janky, but charming visuals  + Varied enemy types
Negatives	– Not much to do after main missions – AI doesn’t pose any challenge
Price	£17.99
Played by	Joe Whitfield

With Nintendo busy with other franchises, it’s been a tough time for Star Fox fans. The last full game we had to entertain ourselves with was back on the Wii U, and despite Platinum Games’ best efforts it wasn’t all that enjoyable (mainly because of the control setup). As the years have rolled by, there have been dogfighting games to step up to the plate; The Falconeer was a shining light, as was the incredibly good Panzer Dragoon remake. 

In a genre that I feel deserves a bigger resurgence, we have Skycadia, a 3D retro- inspired shooter from Studio Nisse, which also happens to be the first game from the solo developer. The game has you assuming control over a white feathered eagle whose mission is to shoot down as many pirate scumbags as you can find to reclaim stolen booty.

Skycadia is broken up into short and snappy missions, which takes as much time to set up as the opening line of this paragraph and it gets me from loading the game to blasting pirates in next to no time. The ‘just point me in the direction of things I have to shoot’ set-up is brilliant and perfect for those people looking for a no-frills arcade shooter.

Jumping into the action Skycadia offers waves of mindless enemies that range from single occupancy fighter jets that zip round the map, to large and imposing units that seem to be bullet sponges. The AI is a little dumb and can be taken out easily, but the main draw here are the controls. Aerial shooters can be hit and miss, but when it comes to controlling the tiny plane Skycadia gets everything right; turns are tight enough to evade enemies and the guns are balanced enough that shooting enemies doesn’t feel frustrating.

I’ll be honest here, when I first saw the trailer the visuals didn’t really sell it to me. The game takes inspiration from late N64/early Dreamcast-era titles, so everything is jaggy and rough around the edges, but once the controller was in my hands, the game felt alive. The colours are bright and pop out of the screen, and as explosions start to go off there’s a certain charm that took me back to playing arcade machines at the local bowling alley. I couldn’t help but be enamoured with the overall presentation. 

Despite the healthy amount of levels to tackle, the game is over a little too quickly. That’s more to do with me having no patience, but Skycadia is best enjoyed in a casual way and the pick up and go nature of the Switch perfectly compliments the game. Once the levels are clear you can certainly head back to replay them to try and top your score – something that hasn’t gotten old yet. The AI isn’t the smartest and in the busier levels can cause issues, but the control setup is an absolute dream – you’re able outmanoeuvre pretty much anyone in the sky. Skycadia certainly scratches that Star Fox-shaped hole and is a nice game to keep coming back to.

Video Game Fables

Key Info
Platform	PC
Developer	Momiji Studios
Publisher	Momiji Studios
Positives	+ Playful characters + Effective twist on standard turn-based battling + Tongue-in-cheek storyline
Negatives	– Visual styling is rather hodge-podge – Play style is on the slow side – Gets a little samey
Price	£15.49
Played by	Drew Sherratt

In a landscape exploding with action and stealth titles over the past few years, I like that there’s still space for the humble turn-based RPG in 2022. The latest such title to land in the VGN offices is Video Game Fables, by solo developer Matt Sharp of Momiji Studios.

Video Game Fables is a playful little RPG that toys with the idea of characters in games existing even whilst the console is turned off and no players are paying attention. Set inside the world of an RPG that hasn’t seen a player in donkey’s years, you’re introduced to a quirky cast of characters who set off on an adventure while poking fun at some videogame tropes along the way. 

The set up to the story isn’t especially clear from the get-go, but the game leans into the idea more and more as you progress. You’re introduced to your party members pretty quickly, and there’s some comedic styling as the three playfully jibes with one another and the NPCs you run into along the way. I was a particular fan of NPC-turned-party member, Nate, who is a bit of a fan boy for the more well-known cast members in the world, and who can rattle off odd facts about seemingly everybody you meet. The script is fun, if not a little hammy, but there are some funny moments amidst the slapstick.

The game’s visuals aim for a retro feel, with the characters given a 2.5D Paper Mario-inspired look with a pixel art style for some added throwback energy. I think this could have been a homerun look if it had been used consistently, but sadly, the styling is a bit all over the place. There’s a hodge-podge mix of true 2D, 2.5D and 3D elements, along with pixel art and real world textures that makes for an inconsistent and pretty unattractive experience. 

The battle mechanics are much more consistent though, and there’s some interesting tweaks to the general turn-based formula that mix things up a little. Like Final Fantasy X, you can see the order in which each combatant will take their turn, but in Video Game Fables can choose to delay when your actions take place to get the maximum benefits out of your stat boosts. There are some fun boss fights that play with the formula too, and despite some overly keen HP totals, these fights stand out as the best in the game. 

Video Game Fables is a lighthearted romp through an old-school RPG world that doesn’t take itself too seriously. There’s some quirky characters and a tongue-in-cheek plot underpinning some simple, but solid, battle mechanics. Retro RPG purists and fans of fourth wall breaking comedy will enjoy this one if they’re able to look past the scattershot visual design and sluggish pace.