Urban Myths, magical schools, and a pocket sized SRPG

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another weekly disapatch. I feel like a bit of a broken record, but this week I actually didn’t get much played. I can say that it was for good reason, because I am excited to announce that I have landed a production job back in game development! So now I am currently juggling the end of my current job, attending house inspections via Signal thanks to two of our dear friends, and readers of this newsletter, and dealing with the casual racism that comes with the territory when looking for housing as a foreigner here in Japan.

But hey, things are looking good. I think we found a place, and now we will begin the process of packing up our house and moving to Kyoto. Exciting times ahead!

Anyways, let’s look at what you should be playing this weekend while I have a long conversation with myself as I try to bring myself to throw away old tech that is taking up space before boxing up my life.

And what came out this week?

Urban Myth Dissolution Center

Developer: Hakababunko
Steam rating: Very Positive
Store page

If you like occult mysteries and chunky pixel art, I definitely think that Urban Myth Dissolution Center is worth a look this week. Created by a small team in Japan, this blend of visual novel meets adventure game puts you in the role of Azami Fukurai, a researcher at The Urban Myth Dissolution Center. Your job is to solve cases surrounding a variety of curse relics, inter-dimensional anomalies, and haunted rental properties. There will be plenty of characters to speak to, and you will be scouring social media posts to find your next targets.

The art is really outstanding. This kinda reminds me of a WORLD OF HORROR, but scoped out into a narrative rather than the tough-as-nails RPG that was unfolding there. It is also Steam Deck verified, so maybe I will play this whenever I have a spare moment or two.

Mind Over Magic

Developer: Sparkypants
Steam rating: Very Positive
Store page

Colony sim enthusiasts will have a chance to build out a magic school this week, with the release of Mind Over Magic. You will need to build all the finest facilities for your students, keep your Mages inspired, and train them for combat in the dangeround Underschool that holds the key to liftting a terrible curse.

There looks to be quite a bit of meat on the bone here, as you will also be raising magical beasts alongside your students. If you dream of running your own Hogwarts someday, this one should very much be in your queue this weekend.

Door Kickers 2: Task Force North

Developer: KillHouse Games
Steam rating: Overwhelmingly Positive
Store page

If you are a fan of dudes with beards and guns, but also impeccable planning and tactics, Door Kickers 2: Task Force North is finally here for you! The long awaited sequel to the hit tactical real-time-with-pause SWAT game brings with it a new coat of paint, and a whole suite of new features that will make sure this one has legs.

Some of those new and improved featurees include multiple squads to deploy. Instead of just a single SWAT team, missions will have you deploy as the U.S Army Rangers, or the CIA for instance, each with their own playstyle. There’s a random misison generator once you kick down the doors of the 90 or so main misisons available. Steam Workshop support and a robust level editor will no doubt birth some pretty horrifying scenarios. 4 player online co-op is here too, which actually sounds like a pretty good time.

I feel like you kinda already know if this is your jam. I remember the original Door Kickers being a brutal, but ultimately rewarding tactical treat. It looks like they have ramped it up for 11 for this sequel. I am less into the “oorah” games these days, but I still might pick this one up on the Steam Deck when I get a chance.

Astral Throne

Developer: Zero Sun Games
Steam rating: Very Positive
Store page

Sticking with the tactics theme, Astral Throne looks to be a throwback SRPG that is cribbing from the older Fire Emblem games. Yet not content to just bring the Fire Emblem formula to the PC, Astral Throne adds some Roguelike elements that makes it feel like a “pocket-sized SRPG campaign every run” as you make your way across the randomized overworld map.

It’s not all random encounters through. There are handcrafted pockets of story as you uncover the mystery of the curse that has spread througout the land. You will be recruting party members and making the perfect squad to vanquish your foes as you try to make your way through it.

I love the aethetic here - not quite pixel-art, not as muddy as the PSX resurgence that we are seeing a lot of, but somewhere in the middle of those two things. The writing looks pretty interesting… I mean, someone shitting their pants in your trailer has to raise a few eyebrows.

Steam reviews are looking good. I’m throwing my Game of the Week post it note on this one.

A Game About Digging A Hole

Developer: Cyberwave
Steam rating: Very Positive
Store page

It’s a game about digging a hole in your backyard in order to get resources to sell, to dig a bigger hole, to get more resources, to sell, and eventually maybe discover a secret.

That’s it. You dig a hole. Apparently it’s kinda theraputic, and apparently it’s a pretty good time. The price is right, so if you are looking for a potentialy meditative experience to forget what is happening in the world, this could be what you are looking for.

That’s a wrap

Due to the aforementioned packing up to move across the country, I don’t have anything cool to share this week. But hey, you should go watch Pixel for Breakfast contributor Blue’s stream. It’s a good time as he plays whatever obsession is on his mind.

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See you all next week!