DIYgamer

IGF Submission Picks: ‘Gray’ and ‘Melolune’

With 306 submissions, weeding through the list of IGF contestants is quite the challenge. In the next few weeks, I have decided that I (and perhaps the other two members of our DIYgamer team) will highlight certain games from the lengthy list of submissions. This in no way means that I support one game over another, but rather wish to provide some insight into what I have played through.

I say this because the IGF competition is no joke. I feel that every contestant is as deserving as the last. With so much blood, sweat, and tears devoted to the making of each title, it is hard to choose one over another. Luckily, I am not an IGF judge but a journalist instead. Here are a couple of games that caught my attention as I sifted through the list, which you can view for yourself right here.

The World is ‘Gray‘

The world of indie games is fortunate when dealing with intuitive titles. While the big-dogs such as EA force developers to concentrate on content and presentation, indie developers freely exhibit creativity in vast and not-so-vast games. Gray, a strange browser-based IP from Intuition Games, LLC, captivates audiences like no other. To put it simply, it is unlike any other title. What is imperative about Gray is its message. Intuition Games proves that there need not be an elaborate story or assortment of gameplay mechanics. Conceptually, the story is uncomplicated: while everyone is participating in a riot, your goal is to smooth things over and bring peace.

Most games aim for fun, whereas Gray serves to drive the message home. If you feel unfamiliar with what “message” I’m speaking of, you should certainly check out the game here, it’s free. I encourage you to keep playing even when the game seems unrelenting and infinite. An ending exists, and I found great gratification upon the completion of this quest (should take you about 15-20 minutes to complete). Quite a submission for IGF, easily a contender high up on that list. My only complaint would be that there isn’t too much replay value.

Melodic RPG ‘Melolune’

Melolune, on the other hand, deals with the more conventional and familiar. I was turned on to Melolune by Captain Forever creator Farbs.  This self-described “musical dungeon RPG” for the PC is the work of Miss Laura Shigihara, who most recently lent her skills to the Plants vs. Zombies soundtrack. Shigihara has dedicated much of her time ironing out the details and it shows in beautiful 2D presentation. Since the demo is available to anyone wishing to try it out, if you’ve got a love for RPGs and two hours to spare then give this a shot.

Shigihara utilizes a turn-based battle system much like you would see in the older Final Fantasy games. But what stands out from the game is its beautifully melodic soundtrack as well as its strikingly detailed 2D graphics. Shigihara demonstrates her soul in this game by combining a fascinating story, traditional RPG gameplay, and masterful artistry in the pursuit of a memorable experience.

As a young man, Achaius, you must protect the Leebles, cute tiny friendly creatures who serve no harm to others, and their forest since they have supplied you with food and shelter for the last few years of your life. Your origin is shrouded in mystery, but developments in the demo will clue you in on your real destiny. I won’t spoil anything for those that wish to play, so instead I encourage you to visit this link and acquire the demo for yourself. Miss Shigihara would be grateful to hear your feedback, so be sure to let her know what you think!

Well, there you have it folks, that’s a wrap for today’s IGF Submission Picks. With a list of 306, I assure you there’s much more to behold, but until then, please support your indie devs and give these and other games a shot! Drop me a line if you think you’ve got something I should be playing at empty.spaces21@gmail.com.