Floppy Knights (PC) - Beta Preview

Ok, I have two notes from the Wholesome Direct and the games shown. Pupperazzi‘s release stated as “woof bark bark” is my everything, and the system requirements for Floppy Knights stating: “Floppy Knights does not require floppy disks to be played,” is indie perfection itself. Yes, I understand I am easily pleased, and that’s what I get for being a simple human.

Floppy Knights is one of two new games from Rose City Games (the other is Garden Story), those behind The World Next Door, and over the weekend, I got a chance to play a bit of the beta. It is a card-based tactical RPG in a turn-based style, with a very pleasing cartoon style and all the amenities thereof. I think it is fair to say that while I’m very excited for Floppy Knights, the aesthetic alone pulls me in from the word go. However, I did find a few things that I alone might find less than enjoyable than others in the beta.

I’m all for a turn-based tactics RPG now and then. I like to play them when I’m watching TV or doing something simple to divide my attention (helpful with Dyslexia). That said, I do often find them to be infuriating from time to time. Specifically i dislike the artificially stagnant pacing or prolonged explanations for what is quite simple as far as mechanics are often concerned. Sadly, this is something I noticed very early on with Floppy Knights, as the tutorial spends an inordinate amount of time explaining how to move characters or attack enemies.

Rose City puts a heavy focus on the story, which I can understand well enough as the focus on the plot is one of their strengths. Which, ultimately, means within about twenty minutes, you’ve maybe played the game (proper) for only a few short-lived minutes. I’m pretty sure I’ve rattled the spacebar on the laptop half a million times getting through that beginning: The set-up, the tutorial, and a handful of early stages in the first level. All of which I feel could have been much more succinct than it is. I think that is exemplified by my stupidity and repeated death in the third level.

Every level is pre-empted by some sort of contextual plot development, progressively adding characters and depth to the combat with more characters and enemies. That’s all fine until you have those aforementioned moments of ineptitude. Then you have to either repeatedly click your mouse or rattle your spacebar to death getting through it again, with any additional tutorials included. Though later I did find holding it would just skip the dialogue. If I put all of this aside to focus entirely on the gameplay instead, I actually enjoy it.

There is not much to be said on that front, as the turn-based combat (as always) is as developed as racing games have been since the late 80s. Which is to say there isn’t much beyond what you have played in other games. That said, I am a great proponent of games feeling good to play, wishing if this medium of entertainment is used at all, it has a reason to be used. Floppy Knights not only looks pleasing, but it uses deckbuilding mechanics and the drawing of only a handful of cards each turn as an effort to enhance the turn-based combat.

It was only the other day that I did a preview of another turn-based game, We Are The Caretakers, and would argue there is a lack in skill during combat. While Floppy Knights isn’t asking a great deal of you, it does of course require a bit of tactical thinking. It strikes a couple of chords for the usual song with some grasslands, fire world, and a desert (or beach world), all bringing their own enemies and challenges. In the fire world, for example, you can knock enemies back into lava. Other worlds like the grasslands have water to walk on. It turns out vegetation animated to life by floppy disks are Jesus.

In conclusion, though I might not be the target for something with such a focus on story, and reams and reams of dialogue going on listlessly, I do end up enjoying quite a bit of my time with Floppy Knights. With an aesthetic that is more than worth being compared with Double Fine’s Costume Quest, it is simply inviting your inner child out from under years of growing up and repressed imagination. Though stupidity might inhibit some progress, I do enjoy the slight challenge in the combat, forcing you to think before a move. Well, think before or swear profusely afterward.

A PC beta key of Floppy Knights was provided by Rose City Games for the purposes of this preview.