Polish based publisher Drageus Games have been bringing us budget indie titles since 2017. They pride themselves on creating games they themselves would play and strive to collaborate with innovative developers and artists. They were brought to the Retro Faith offices attention recently and our review of Pixel Gladiator made us sit up and take note. There is definitely something bubbling under the surface over in Warsaw.
We are taking a look at three more games from the fledgling publisher. Two are due for release later in December 2019 and one is currently available. We requested to look at the Switch versions and have a variety of their latest titles to test. An adventure game for younger gamers, a quirky puzzler and an Asteroids inspired space blaster with real depth. Drageus publish titles for everyone and we are excited to bring you this feature.
The first Drageus Games title we are looking at is Event Horizon: Space Defence. This strategy action blaster was released 13th December 2019 and was published in-house by Drageus. You find yourself in a wartorn universe with a dozen factions battling it out for control. Your mission is to protect your giant space station using a fleet of spacecraft armed to the teeth. The game last forever with your enemies getting stronger as you progress.
Event Horizon is split into two phases. You first enter a building phase where you can buy new structures for your space station or hire mercenaries. You also develop your ships by equipping new weapons, armour and engines. This aspect is where the game really shines. The depth to creating your perfect craft is almost endless with countless possibilities. While there are some limitations those that enjoy tweaking stats and building bases will get a real kick out of this.
After you have built your base and upgraded your fleet you enter the battle stage. This when you need to use all your arcade skills as the game turns into Asteroids on steroids. You move your ship using realistic thruster physics and shoot at enemies that descend upon you. Any allies or mercenaries in your ranks will join the fight and your base has its own cannons. The action is fast and it can become intense as the game unfolds.
It is not just invasions that you have to contend with in the action phase. There are salvaging missions and one-on-one battles with tougher ships. There is a lot of variety to the gameplay and the controls are tight. Being a budget title you should not expect too much from the presentation but this game looks clean. The soundtrack is decent in places and there is a desolate space feeling to the environments. Well worth picking up.
Mushroom Quest is a delightful puzzle game from Flying Island Team and published by Drageus Games. It was originally released on Steam and Xbox but you will find it in the Switch store 23rd December 2019. You take control of a mushroom who has found himself stuck in a dungeon. You must guide him free from the maze of puzzles and conundrums. Each room increases the difficulty as you strain your brain with trial and error.
Mushroom Quest feels fresh and the difficulty curve is perfect. There are some taxing puzzles that will have you scratching your head but it feels like an uphill walk that slowly becomes steeper rather than ramping up. The game is definitely accessible to those who may not be familiar with block pushing and positioning puzzles. The slow nature of the game allows you to sit and ponder as you survey the room working out your next move.
There are some unique features in Mushroom Quest that help it stand out from the rest of the puzzle adventures out there. The use of crates to block your path but also as bridges adds variety that can sometimes be missing from puzzlers. It reminded us of Chip’s Challenge in places but slowed down to snail’s pace. This title is relaxing but helps to flex a little brain muscle without you having to overdo it.
Similar to Event Horizon the presentation is simple but good for a budget title. The developer has focused on the gameplay over style but there is a certain charm to Mushroom Quest that is pleasing on the eye. The music does its job but takes backstage to the trial and error mechanics with simple indications letting you know objects are moving or reacting. We were impressed with this titles pick and play nature and it makes a perfect purchase for those looking for a quick blast.
Our last title from Drageus Games is Funny Bunny: Adventures. This game has been released under the Drageus label by mPower Game Studio. The mobile game specialist has several titles under their belt already and this kids game is releasing on Switch 23rd December 2019. You play as Funny Bunny, a purple, cute rabbit who wants to grow carrots. You bounce around the colourful levels avoiding the witch and dog while collecting bonuses.
The objective of each round is plant the carrots then retrace your steps to dig them up after they have grown. Being a kids game the gameplay is basic but surprisingly fun to play as an adult. The stages require you collect the carrots as quick as you can to obtain the coveted three stars. If you manage this you will unlock the next of three worlds. Along the way you will encounter special mini games that you can also play individually once the game is completed.
The two mini games are fun and include a candy crush style puzzler and an action collect-a-thon. You will not be surprised that Funny Bunny was designed originally for mobile as the mini games have the touch screen feel but translate well to a controller. The gameplay is perfect for the kids with a variety of challenges and a steady learning curve to test hand eye coordination.
The presentation is fun, full of colour with bouncy kiddy music. The developer has carefully thought about the design of the character and the fr-enemies within the game. If you need a quick fix for the kids on a budget Funny Bunny: Adventures is recommended and is even fun to have a little go on as an adult. The polished presentation will impress you while keeping the kids quiet this Christmas!