It is almost fitting that while I’ve been writing here at Phenixx Gaming, I’ve written a lot about the Epic Games store: From racism, how they aren’t here to save us like a deity; or the countless games they have given away. It is fitting for two reasons: first, it is that time of the week again, and second, it is my 150th article here. It is strange to look back on all these months to think, “Wasn’t that just last week?” The fact dementia is already kicking in aside, this week’s selection of Epic Games store freebies are similar to the Moonlighter and This War of Mine combination.

Today we’ll start with Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, a game that saw the swearing pig from the Beyond Good and Evil 2 trailer at E3 2018 and exclaimed, “I want to be that!” That isn’t a bad thing, of course, but I always stop and think when a game gives me strange difficulty options, those are bad. “Do you want to play on Normal, Hard, or Very hard?” asks the game. I don’t know about you, but in these moments I always think any game that does this is forcibly urging control, knowing full well I want a happy little medium, which makes me select hard.

As usual with these double bills, my time was short and I can only speak from my short-lived experience and research. With that, if you are a fan of turn-based RPGs and their ilk such as X-com or Advanced Wars, then you’ll love the combat. However, the over-world exploration is what surprised me upon booting it up. In the story, your party are some scavengers out in the wasteland of the post-nuclear/climate change explosion that wiped out several billion people and meshed those left with humanoid animals. As you are scrounging for scrap there is a much greater emphasis on exploration

While I don’t love turn-based combat, there are places for it and here it works. However, there is a slight feeling of dread as you fight for a few minutes to be killed, having to retry several times and figure out where you are going wrong. It sort of feels like you are the protagonist of a Miguel de Cervantes novel, on a mission to civilize everyone’s brains onto the wasteland. Though I’m sure it is a fun puzzle when you are not on a strict deadline.

It is a nice strange backdrop for a black and sweary Howard The Duck and gritty Porky the Pig. The story seems to be biblically influenced, that is to say, the last vestige of humanity (mutant or not) is on “The Ark,” and at least in the early stages you are in search “Eden.” It is strange, but I like strange.

The second game available is Hyper Light Drifter, a Kickstarted, indie, 2D, action-RPG, hearkening back to the early Zelda games on the SNES. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that as soon as “Zelda inspired,” and “Kickstarter,” are referenced, that it went through the goal like I go through a wedding buffet. The goal set by the lead developer, Alex Preston, was $27,000 and reached $600,000. Which just goes to show, if you say you are influenced by something very popular you’ll get several hundred thousand dollars no questions asked.

“Why are you being so harsh?” To be very honest, Hyper Lighter Drifter and I don’t get along too well. It isn’t bad, but also isn’t as interesting as the hype would make you believe. If something gets six-hundred thousand dollars it shouldn’t be out of character to expect gold plated lions being ridden by top-less models of all the genders on the spectrum. Though to be dropped into a world, coughing blood, the unknowing evil being expelled from your lungs, and having no idea where to go isn’t a good place to start. It makes what should be a linear experience open-ended.

I understand that while you are allowed to run straight towards the final boss fight in Zelda-esque games, it wouldn’t go amiss to be told, “Yes, you can go that way, but go this way or die.” This isn’t to say, I died there so this game is bad. I’m merely saying it was easy enough, but lacked a sense of direction to pull me closer and then physically pull me towards it. Though it was interesting to research the game and find out Preston used his own congenital heart issues to influence the story illness of “the drifter.” I thought they were just suffering from the bubonic plague; says the man who has suffered major heart issues himself.

I like the aesthetic of the unknown evil spilling from one’s self, however, once this was established and we moved on into the game itself, nothing was grabbing my attention. The combat doesn’t have much impact, nor does the semblance of a story fit into my enjoyment. At one point I stopped and asked myself, “Am I just playing to see if I will like it, thus don’t have to say anything bad?” To cut a lengthy conversation with myself short, yes.

Both Hyper Light Drifter and Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden are available for free over on the Epic Games store. Both are available until the morning (10:59 AM ET) of August 22nd, though Mutant Year Zero is locked behind parental controls. Looking forward to next week, the next game immediately following hydrophobic liquor decanter and turn-based Animal Farm is Fez. Fez is a game I’ve previously played for a few minutes and got bored of. Tune in next week when I string out my boredom of 2D puzzle games, if I could do it with Alan Wake I can do it then.

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