There were too many games and too little time to play them all when I visited Kyoto-based indie game conference Bitsummit. Here’s a small collection of great PlayStation 4, PSVR, and PS Vita games I played at the show:
I had a little more to say about PSVR’s horror game Stifled, so check out that preview separately. Man, I think I may have slipped into like a really boring version of myself because I simply can not think of a way to close this. Um, indie games are super cool I guess?
Bitsummit 2017
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VA-11 Hall-A (Vita)
Sukeban Games will bring its 2016 PC hit to PS Vita in 2017, telling a tale of cyberpunk bartending that just might surprise you. You've heard me say this about a few other games too, but a loud show floor isn't the best place to play one like VA-11 HALL-A. In its case, this is due to the narrative progression. Players mix drinks, which influences discussions with patrons and ultimately, the story itself. I feel like it could've pulled me in more without the distraction-filled setting. Not the game's fault, though, of course.
I kinda feel like the flow might might be better on a PC with its mouse and keyboard controls, but on the other hand, the Vita version's portability makes it an enticing way to play VA-11 HALL-A.
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Iconoclasts (PS4, Vita)
As stereotypical as it might be for a 2D action/platformer to show up at an indie game festival, hey, I have to say this one has loads of promise. It's tight, it's gorgeous, it's a blast. From the little bit I was able to take in at Bitsummit, it also looks like there's a highly intriguing world and story going on here.
I hate to bring up another cliché comparison, but it really did feel like Iconoclasts could end up deserving the company of Castlevania, and I don't just mean that because of the genre. Watch for developer Joakim Sandberg's promising project on the Vita and PlayStation 4 in the (hopefully near) future.
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Riverbond (PS4)
Shout out to four-player couch co-op.
Riverbond adds a fresh option for players like me, who have the most fun gaming in a group. Simple as that. While playing Riverbond at Bitsummit, I felt comfortable immediately, I understood what was going on, and had fun smashing bad guys with my team.
I mentioned that it looked like 3D Dot Game Heroes, whose aesthetics mix 8-bit inspiration with modern graphical capabilities. That's definitely by design, as developer Cococucumber is made of gamers with nostalgia for bygone eras, but also a healthy respect for Minecraft. The style works and more importantly, so does the gameplay.
Cococucumber hopes to self-publish Riverbond within 2017 for PC and consoles. If not, according to one member of the dev team, early next year.
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Headbutt Factory (PSVR)
You hands are completely open in Headbutt Factory, as you...do exactly what you expect. Navigation is on rails, and players are given balls to headbutt into other objects. It was good fun to lean back and time my huge lunges or small nods, then watch my balls sail toward their targets. Similar to Paper Garden, this was a relaxing type of fun.
It's already available on the Japanese PSN, and Tokyo-based developer Gemdrops hopes to see it worldwide in the near future.
Gemdrops also admitted it had a few instances of unintentional physical comedy go on while testing Headbutt Factory, so if you do play this in your own room, be careful not to get too intense, K?
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Salt and Sanctuary (Vita version new, PS4 older)
This one recently became available on the PlayStation Network, which in a consumerism-driven industry means it's not a hot item to write about anymore, but hey, Salt and Sanctuary has arrived on Vita. And it's good!
