Review: Ageless – Not Quite The Next Celeste, But Worth A Look All The Same
Though it still certainly occupies a niche, it’s been fascinating to see how 2018’s seminal Celeste has begun to influence the design of platformers in the time since its release. That unique blend of approachable but punishing gameplay and a surprisingly emotional story was something that had never really been done before, and it’s no surprise that other developers have taken notes and ideas to use in games of their own.
Enter Ageless, a new puzzle platformer that looks like it borrows a little too heavily on first look. And while, yes, it is clear that Celeste had a major influence on the design of Ageless, dismissing it as merely a clone would be missing out on a mostly enjoyable and distinct puzzle platformer that rightfully earns its own identity.
The story follows Kiara, a 20-something woman who’s struggling to find purpose in her life. In her desperate search for validation, Kiara opts to travel to a mysterious shrine that bequeaths “Gifts” to any who come its way, and she’s given the power to accelerate or roll back the flow of time. With this newfound ability, Kiara then sets out on a journey across a strange magical land looking for her purpose, all the while doing what she can to help out people she encounters.
It’s certainly a cut above the kind of surface-level narrative that one typically encounters in a platformer, but Ageless seldom manages to stick the landing when it comes to hitting the right emotional beats. Or, to put it another way, there’s a lack of nuance to the way in which the story is told, almost like it’s checking off boxes rather than letting the narrative develop naturally.
For example, a scene in the first few hours of the game sees Kiara introduced to a little girl who suffers a debilitating respiratory sickness, one which Kiara’s powers can’t simply magic away. The scene is clearly trying to tug at the heartstrings and stir a sense of sorrow in the player, but it ends up just falling flat and feeling like a weirdly heavy break in the action. All that said, it’s still difficult to fault a platformer like this for daring to go beyond the typical ‘save the princess’ story. It may fall short of its aspirations, but Ageless does enough with its story to still be worthy of light praise.
As for the gameplay, Ageless takes the shape of a puzzle-platformer – with a heavy emphasis on the puzzle side. Each world consists of a few dozen single-room puzzles which require a combination of Kiara’s ageing powers, dexterous acrobatics, and analytical thinking to achieve success. Firing her bow at various flora and fauna will cause the target to age or de-age, which in turn causes it to have a different effect on its environment. For example, a rhino enemy encountered early in the game can charge through walls in its ‘Prime’ age, but if Kiara advances it into the ‘Old’ age, it gains weight and can break through weaker floors.
Each world introduces a series of stage gimmicks (such as that rhino) which are mixed in increasingly more complex ways as you push further into the world. In this respect, Ageless is delightful to engage with, as it continuously finds new ways to get you to look at concepts in a different light. It can sometimes be frustrating when a level stumps you, but the relative simplicity of your options almost always leads to an ‘Aha!’ moment as you work through various trial and error methods.
Unfortunately, the repetition required to solve many of these puzzles highlights a deeper issue with Ageless: the platforming mechanics. Kiara has a sort of unresponsive heaviness to her – especially when controlling her mid-air – that can lead to many frustrating deaths. You thankfully respawn at the beginning of the room almost immediately after death, but this also resets the puzzle each time, which can lead to tedious segments where you’re continuously having to go through the motions of setting up a puzzle just for another crack at a difficult platforming section near the end. In many cases, this robs the level itself of its fun, and successfully completing it leaves you not with a feeling of triumph, but a sense of relief that it’s finally over.
Ageless is at its best in the levels that demand decent platforming prowess but are forgiving of mistakes made while trying to get things just right. Conversely, it’s at its worst when it demands too much of the player and cruelly punishes your mistakes by repeatedly forcing you through the tedium of resetting the puzzle. The issue is that the difficulty can oscillate considerably from one level to the next, which gives the whole game a sort of inconsistency that dampens its best moments and highlights its worst ones. It’s a real shame, too, as the majority of the experience flows nicely and features some excellent level and puzzle design.
You’ll probably manage to squeeze about ten hours out of the campaign in all, as there are five main worlds to progress through. Completionists will probably be able to add another five to that total, as there are a series of optional challenge rooms along the way that feature particularly difficult hazards to overcome. These each house relics that act as extra collectables which only the best of the best can manage to obtain. The rub here is that grabbing the relic isn’t enough; you have to make it all the way back to the nearest checkpoint before you bank it and add it to the total. As a reward, each of these relics will unlock a little more of a series of intricate voxel dioramas in the main menu which are each themed after a different world.
From a presentation perspective, Ageless manages to satisfy, even if it doesn’t do much to impress. The simplistic 16-bit art style is charming in how it manages to feel just a little bit different than its genre peers, and each world has its own colour palette to keep a clear distinction in place. Even so, there aren’t any standout moments along the way that are particularly memorable or noteworthy; it’s the sort of art style that’s just sort of ‘there’. The soundtrack is similarly subdued, opting for a sombre, piano-laden style that fits well with the tone set by the narrative. Many levels won’t even feature music at all, simply giving you some golden silence to work out your tactics for overcoming that room’s challenges. Ageless doesn’t leave much of an impression through its perspective, then, but neither does it manage to disappoint either.
Conclusion
Ageless is the sort of game that could best be described as a great concept that almost nails the execution. The sombre narrative, cerebral gameplay, and distinct presentation are all great in their own regard, but each is plagued with enough inconsistencies and caveats to hold back the overall experience from true greatness. We’d give this one a cautious recommendation, as the distinct brand of puzzle-platforming gameplay ultimately proves to be a worthwhile experience, but this is also certainly not the ‘next Celeste’. Still, if you’ve been looking for a decent new indie for your Switch that you can clear in a reasonably short timeframe, it’s tough to go wrong here.
Speed 3: Grand Prix Brings Explosive Arcade Racing To Switch
Upcoming arcade racer Speed 3: Grand Prix will be zooming onto Nintendo Switch later this year, it’s been announced.
Set to be released both on the Switch eShop and at retail, Speed 3: Grand Prix has players jumping into Formula One-style cars for some explosive racing. We really mean ‘explosive’, too; you’ll notice from the trailer above that cars explode on contact, offering a more arcade-like experience than, say, the official F1 2020 game available on other platforms.
We don’t have a specific release date just yet, but we do know that the game is being developed and published by Lion Castle and will receive physical editions in all territories. We’ll leave you with this official description:
Speed 3: Grand Prix challenges players to get on the circuit and become the best driver of all time! Pick your favorite car and make your way towards the first spot in all seasons. Conquer the tracks and take down the competition, as you race through American wastelands, tear up asphalt on the German circuit and drift through the neon-filled streets of Tokyo.
Speed 3: Grand Prix delivers an irresistible mix of high-speed track racing with explosive arcade action for Nintendo Switch! It will feature both singleplayer and split-screen multiplayer.
Originally released on PC back in 2014, Crimzon Clover World Explosion is a vertically-scrolling shmup which features an eye-meltingly large of bullets.
Here’s some PR:
Your first step in Crimzon Clover: World Ignition is as simple as choosing how you want to play, and which powerful ship will be yours to command. Choose your difficulty from ARCADE (true to the original arcade game) or NOVICE (better if these are your first step in the world of hardcode SHMUP) then choose your mode from Boost, Original, Unlimited, and Time Attack.
Original is THE main mode, where you blast your way through stage in search of the last boss. Boost Mode will adjust the difficulty based on how proficient you are at devastating your enemies. Unlimited turns each stage into an intense battlefield of bullets that only the most hardcore players will be able to survive. Time Attack pits you against the clock as you race to make the best score possible in about 3 minutes.
Take the role of a skilled pilot in the fight to destroy massive waves of enemies while dodging their unending rain of bullets. Each of the three ships has their own style of standard firing and a unique appearance. The firing style is translated beautifully as you amp your way into Break Mode and Double Break Mode! As you blast through your foes in each stage you can collect stars that will raise your score. Each enemy destroyed helps fill your Break Meter, which allows you to wipe the screen with powerful bombs or, if you have the patience, blast off into Break Mode to add a huge boost to your firepower and let you rip through enemies with ease. That’s not the extent of your strength though, as having a full Break Meter while in Break Mode will allow you to enter the ultimately destructive Double Break Mode. Watch your enemies crumble in fear as you turn the tide and fill the screen with your own hellacious rain of firepower!
Having a tough time to clear the game using no continue? No worries. Hit up the Training screen to set up your own scenario using your choice of mode, ship, stage, and freely customize other variables to practice the fight for survival. Training doesn’t seem like a bad idea after you see what the enemies are capable of. Can you pilot your craft through the bullet massacre the enemies have prepared for you? Find out as you play Crimzon Clover: World Ignition!
Unlock A Special Paper Mario Theme In Tetris 99’s Next Maximus Cup
Nintendo has announced a new themed event for its addictive battle royale game Tetris 99. As you might have guessed, it’s for the latest Switch release, Paper Mario: The Origami King.
Starting on 31st July, you’ll be able to compete in a special Maximus Cup. Take a look below:
You have until 3rd August to collect at least 100 points. Once you’ve done this, you’ll unlock a one-of-a-kind in-game theme featuring art, music, and Tetrimino designs inspired by Paper Mario: The Origami King.
Will you be participating in this upcoming Maximus Cup? Have you tried out the new Paper Mario game yet? Tell us below.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 07-29-2020, 12:05 AM - Forum: Lounge
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Fortnite: Collecting Stone At Rapid's Rest Guide
Fortnite Chapter 2: Season 3 has a new set of challenges coming later this week. One challenge tasks you with collecting stone at Rapid's Rest. Rapid's Rest isn't a named location on the map so it may be difficult to find. This guide will show you how to find it and complete the challenge quickly.
This is a leaked challenge so it's not available in-game yet. Check back on Thursday to try it for yourself in Fortnite.
Where Is Rapid's Rest?
Rapid's Rest is located near Lazy Lake in the G6 tile of the Fortnite map. The best way to find it is to land in Lazy Lake and then mosey on down the river until you find it. It's a landmark with boats, a shack, and various rocks lining the sides of the river. Check the map below for an exact location:
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If we think back to our expectations at the end of 2019, there was plenty to look forward to for gamers across the spectrum. Both Microsoft and Sony had new hardware coming, and despite Nintendo’s slate looking relatively blank (aside from Animal Crossing), there were sure to be some big announcements coming, likely from the inevitable E3 2020 Nintendo Direct.
Except that it wasn’t inevitable. Even before the global pandemic led to E3 2020’s cancellation, it arguably felt like a make-or-break year for the expo. It was set to be rebranded as a “fan, media and influencer festival”, which may have excited some gamers, but left us feeling uneasy over the direction it was heading.
it’s been a challenge to keep track of every stream and broadcast, with announcements spread out across several digital stages
We’ve discussed before how E3 was–and still is–an exciting time of year and how its gradual transformation from an industry-focused event into one of many fan shows arguably diluted its appeal for the vast majority of people who don’t physically attend the show. With organisers who lacked experience putting on fan-focused events, the past few years left many attendees unsatisfied, and plans for “queuetainment” didn’t sound promising this year. Still, it had the potential to be one of the biggest E3 in years (Sony’s no-show notwithstanding).
In its place, numerous online substitutes and events from a host of media outlets and publishers have filled the summer schedule and kept us busy in lockdown. Volume-wise, we probably had around the same amount of gaming news (with Nintendo being the exception), but it’s certainly been a challenge to keep track of every stream and broadcast, with announcements spread out across several digital stages.
That’s not to say we haven’t enjoyed the events that have sprung up in E3’s stead, especially considering the challenging circumstances they’ve been organised around. Several indie events have done a great job of highlighting smaller teams, and Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest has provided a curated platform to highlight new games. Of all the major reveals, Sony’s PS5 reveal presentation seemed to go down the best with fans – ironically the most straightforward, old-school approach of the lot. Billed as ‘The Future of Gaming’, it served up an hour of gameplay trailers, talking heads and teased hardware shots before finishing up with the full PS5 console reveal. Microsoft’s recent Xbox Games Showcase was accompanied by a host of demos made available following the presentation, and gave us a glimpse of what an online version of E3 could be like in the future.
Nintendo’s ‘little-and-often’ approach has been novel, though it hasn’t pleased everyone
However, despite all the alternatives, we have to admit we’ve missed the focus that the lens of E3 brings every year to disparate gaming announcements. The fog of partnerships and semi-affiliated events we’ve seen in 2020 has been a tad overwhelming even for seasoned gamers, let alone casual fans. It’s all been a bit scattershot.
Nintendo’s ‘little-and-often’ approach has been novel, though it hasn’t pleased everyone. The announcement and relatively swift release of Paper Mario: The Origami King went down well, for example; the Bakugan Champions of Vestroia reveal and Nintendo Direct Mini Partner Showcase less so. Nintendo obviously has games up its sleeve for the back half of 2020, but for gamers desperate for an E3-style full-fat Nintendo Direct, these mini-presentations aren’t quite scratching the itch. It’s not a big deal in a bigger broadcast if several announcements don’t do anything for you, but if you’re not into Cadence of Hyrule or Shin Megami Tensei, it’s tough to get excited when they’re the lone stars under the spotlight.
As part of an hour-long Direct, Bakugan Champions of Vestroia’s reveal wouldn’t have frustrated non-fans the way it did.
Admittedly, despite clear messaging, it’s clear that some people simply don’t read – you can’t expect first-party announcements in a Mini Direct clearly labelled ‘Partner Showcase’. However, this disregard for the details is driven by a hunger for substantial news–a big old juicy burger of a blow-out–which this summer’s drip feed of announcements hasn’t satisfied. Whether the adaptive approach taken this summer has been better for publishers isn’t clear, although Ubisoft noted that its Ubisoft Forward presentation “achieved record-high peak concurrent viewership during this event, surpassing our previous E3 conferences“, according to chief financial officer Frédérick Duguet.
In fact, several presentations have ended with the tease of another: the first Pokémon stream teased the second (which ultimately didn’t go down well with fans), Nintendo said there will be future Partner Showcases, and Ubisoft announced another event was on the way. Presumably, this tactic is engineered to keep buzz levels high, but as a viewer you’re left hanging; you’re left with the distinct impression that you’re not getting the full Monty.
But what do you think? Have you missed the blow-out buffet of E3 this year or have you found the more frequent alternative appetisers just as satisfying? Pining for a packed presentation, or placated by a platter of proxies? Let us know by voting in the polls below and share your thoughts in the comments:
Ultra Foodmess Brings Chaotic Multiplayer Shenanigans To Switch Next Month
Launching on Nintendo Switch early next month is Ultra Foodmess, a competitive party game for up to four players.
The title probably gives it away somewhat, but the game has players taking on the roles of a variety of food characters, battling each other in what appears to be a pretty chaotic looking set of game modes. You can see some of the action in the trailer above, complete with lots of pushing, dodging, shooting, swinging, and more.
Here’s a feature list:
Game Features: – LOCAL MULTIPLAYER. 2 to 4 Players on local multiplayer.
– 11 different fast-paced GAME MODES. Choose from a great variety of crazy modes, each of them with their own mechanics.
– A lot of FOOD CHARACTERS. Choose the food that you like the most to defeat the others and prove who is the best!
– It’s very EASY TO PLAY! Anyone can pick up the controller and start having fun!
– Battle against the AI. Prepare yourself and battle against the food bots.
– UNLOCKABLES!. Finish the challenges to earn achievements and unlock new awesome characters!
It’s launching on 6th August and will be priced at just $3.99. Its eShop listing warns that you might just “ruin your friendships” by playing the game – which is exactly what multiplayer titles like this are supposed to do, right?
Feel free to share your thoughts on this one in the comments below.
ROM Hackers Find And Restore Unused Enemy In Super Mario 64
Despite being almost 25 years old, it looks like Super Mario 64 still has some secrets up its sleeve. After a Nintendo leak spilled the Mario 64 source code, fans have found some surprising things hidden in the game--first Luigi, and now a previously unseen enemy.
The new enemy is called "motos" in the game files, similarly to the bullies, who are referred to as "otos" in the source code. With the same big bulbous body as bullies or bob-ombs, the motos is distinguished from both of them by virtue of having hands, or rather claws. It also has a small, robot-like head with glowing eyes, instead of large eyes in the center of its body.
Behavior-wise, the motos has more in common with chuckyas, the boxing-gloved purple enemies with the ability to pick Mario up and throw him. Unlike the chuckyas, however, the motos seems to go out of his way to throw Mario off the edge of the platform.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 07-28-2020, 10:42 AM - Forum: Python
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3 Passive Income Ideas on Upwork or Fiverr
The following three ideas can lead to passive income using Upwork or Fiverr:
Hire experts in their niches on Upwork or Fiverr to create online courses and sell them on Udemy
Hire experts in their niches on Upwork or Fiverr to create ebooks and sell them on Amazon
Hire freelance developers on Upwork or Fiverr to create software products or websites and sell them via the web
You see that you should not only enter these growing freelancing marketplaces as a freelance developer, but also as a client. Essentially, you want to become an arbitrageur of skill and work. This way, you can benefit from the increasing efficiencies of scale offered by these platforms.
