Stately Play

The Witness puzzles its way onto the App Store

September 21, 2017 David Neumann 6

iOS Universal, PC/Mac • It’s been a long time since we’ve had a pure puzzle game worth talking about land on the App Store. The Witness, Jonathan Blow‘s puzzle opus, almost fits. It’s definitely a puzzle game, but it’s also big, beautiful, and mysterious. It feels like there’s much more to do than just solving the maze-like puzzles, but when you get down to it, there really isn’t. It’s kind of weird, but I keep loading it up and exploring the world so there must be something there.

Cardboard Critique: Nemo’s War (Second Edition)

September 20, 2017 David Neumann 19

Tabletop • I’ve never played a solo game quite like Nemo’s War from Victory Point Games. I went into it prepared for the usual solo/cooperative game tropes–turns divided by a “bad” phase, more fires to put out than you have hoses, a general sense of being completely screwed–but found none of those. Instead, Nemo’s War felt more like one of those open-world video games like the Elder Scrolls series. Do whatever the hell you want, when you want, and have fun doing it. There’s never that moment, as in other cooperatives, where you “beat the game”. It’s strange, yet mesmerizing.

Short Cuts: Trackless

September 19, 2017 Alex Connolly 2

PC/Mac/Linux • INTRODUCE Capped off 12 East Games’ Trackless some days ago. Still thinking about 12 East Games‘ Trackless today. Surely a very good sign. CONTINUE

Fantastic point-and-click adventure, Thimbleweed Park, arrives on iOS

September 19, 2017 David Neumann 0

iOS Universal, PC/Mac/Linux • You’re probably sick and tired of me talking about Thimbleweed Park around these parts, but I know a lot of our readers are mobile gamers first and foremost, so I also know many of you have probably ignored my earlier praises of the game. You’re probably also aware that the previous sentence is an abomination of word structure and nearly, but not quite, a run-on sentence. That sentence wasn’t much better. Shorter, but not better. What I’m trying to say is, mobile gamers can now experience the joy I’ve had playing Thimbleweed Park because it’s currently on the App Store.

Spiderweb set to explore Avernum one last time

September 18, 2017 David Neumann 0

iPad, PC/Mac • There was a time–well before anyone had coined the phrase App-ocalypse–that Spiderweb Software had their fill with Apple and vowed to never produce another RPG for our tablets. Remember that? Spiderweb guru Jeff Vogel was lamenting the fact that iOS 8.3 broke their engine, and they were taking their ball and going home. They eventually relented, with the reveal that Jeff’s initial rage was caused by some underlying medical issues and things happening outside the wonderful world of coding. That circus revolved around the release of Avernum 2 and, thanks to Pocket Gamer, we learned that we can expect the final chapter in the saga, Avernum 3, next year.

Steam Screen Shot

Review: Minos Strategos

September 18, 2017 Zac Belado 3

iOS, Android, PC/Mac/Linux • Art is cheap, at least when it comes to mobile games. You know this is true because even the most crap-filled freemium abomination is filled to the bevel with the most precisely crafted artwork. Pretty pixels are the aluminum siding of mobile gaming. Consequently, a good game is often not even particularly about the visuals but about the way the developer creates a tension between the tactical options available to the player and the desired game outcome. That and timers. We must always have timers. The reason this is important is that one of the latest titles to make its way to mobile, Minos Strategos by Brett Lowey of Militia fame, is not a particularly ground-breaking game in terms of visuals and also has some surprisingly poor UI choices. Combined, these make Minos Strategos troublesome at first but are, ultimately, a slight blemish on what is a very good abstract strategy game.

Here we come, hat in hand

September 15, 2017 David Neumann 79

We’re nearing the one year anniversary of launching Stately Play and while we haven’t reached the heights of our old living quarters, it’s been a lot of fun being able to write again about topics that I love. Of course, I could write all I want but without you guys reading it, I would just be another mad man bellowing into the wind. Therefore, I have to thank each and every one of you, whether you stop by every day, once a week, or only when you spy a story you might like via our Facebook or Twitter feed. None of this would exist without you reading, contributing in the forums, playing in tournaments, and all the other stuff you do that doesn’t deal directly with what appears on the front page.

Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times shows off some gameplay

September 15, 2017 David Neumann 0

iOS • While we’re all busy playing Through the Ages today, we need to remember 2017 isn’t done beating us down with awesome games. Case in point: Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times which is coming to mobile in October. We’re all familiar with the first Warhammer Quest, what with its top down perspective and orc crushing combat. Warhammer Quest 2 promises much of the same, it appears, albeit with a more isometric take and way more detail when it comes to the environments and characters. We spoke with Perchang about what we can expect a few weeks ago, but today they released a new trailer that highlights the gameplay and it’s worth watching.

Cardboard Critique: Navegador

September 15, 2017 David Neumann 0

Tabletop • I assume that board game publishers commission board game cover art to be evocative of the game’s theme while also creating some excitement for what lies inside that cardboard box. All publishers except PD Verlag, that is. Instead of promising a thrilling adventure, their box covers depict old white guys looking like they need to use the toilet. They broke new ground with Concordia, not only by having the cover focus on a woman instead of a man, but simply by depicting someone smiling and not looking like they’re waiting for the reaper to mercifully end it all. Today we’re looking back at one of Mac Gerdts’ better designs, Navegador, complete with a box cover depicting a sullen Henry the Navigator staring a map. Prepare thyselves for adventure!

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