Being Canadian; I like seeing games made by devs and publishers in my country. I especially like seeing when those games are good. Drinkbox Studios has been around since the days of the PS3 and has brought out nothing but hits. They also haven’t stuck to one genre. That’s why I wanna give shout outs to this great indie studio by talking about 3 of their games.
Guacamele is the game that started it all for me. It’s a metroidlevania, it’s heavily influenced by Mexican culture, and it’s a brawler all in one. Did I mention it’s funny as well? Guacemele has it all. You even get to turn into a chicken! The story is you are a washed up Luchadore living with your wife. Suddenly a handsome skeleton and his evil cohorts show up to trash the village. their reason? Dude wants your girl. Well he gets her, you die, and you wind up in the land of the dead. In other words you gotta go through hell, and multiple dungeons, to save her.
Nobody Saves the World, or NSW, Is a rogue like dungeon explorer. I think that’s what games like death spank and diablo are called. Anyways that’s the kinda game play to expect but there’s a twist: Your character can transform into different classes and creatures. That’s right you can be a knight, a necromancer, heck you can be an egg if you want to, but you certainly won’t be a nobody! (ok you actually are called nobody but you get what I’m saying) The key to surviving the randomly generated dungeons is to find the right combination of transformations, equipping the right skills, and praying you made the right choices; Not that NSW is a particularly hard game. The story is you are a random naked person who finds a magic wand that can transform you. Apparently The coolest wizard in town is missing and since you don’t have anything better to do; might as well figure out where he is. Who knows… Might even get your memories back in the process.
Severed Is a unique game. It’s essentially a dungeon crawler but it doesn’t feel like one. The combat system also involves you chopping off the limbs of your opponents and equipping them. There is also puzzles to solve as well. Overall a very interactive experience. It better be though because it’s on the Switch and the PS Vita. The story is lighter than what your average RPG of this type will offer as well. You have a sword that’s alive and you are looking for your family. Surely nothing larger in scale will happen along the way, right? RIGHT? Well only one way to find out.
I honestly Can’t get enough of Drinkbox Studios and can’t wait for their next game. Guacamele is still one of my favourite metroidvania games and did I mention it has co-op? Honestly pick up any of these games and I’m sure you’ll have a good time.
