I thought I might do some posts extending the exposure of some of the titles developed, and an easy start to this would be to present the ones I reviewed, whilst gathering whatever information I could on them..
So, here's the very first one I reviewed in my batch:
Brazen Berry Bonanza
by Ethan Hoeppner
Information and Download (Windows)
https://ethanhoeppner.github.io/gamedesign/brazen-berry-bonanza.html
Playable on Web:
https://ethanhoeppner.github.io/gameFiles/BrazenBerryBonanza/
BBB is a puzzle game with roguelite tendencies, it centers around land expansion and berry growth, both affecting where the player can go, and how important an area is to protect from the encroaching enemies. You harvest the berries for points, and the seeds for resources to use to continue growth, or to destroy the enemy infiltration and their berries. if the enemy ripens 5 of their berries you lose. So there is a competing balance between protection of you crops and sabotage of the enemy harvest.
It provides for interesting placement decisions and emergent offensive/defensive play.
Completeness: 3
Well put together game, can leave player in no possible move situation, relies on enemy progress to end game
Aesthetics: 2
Solid colour blocks, with pixel fruit, and the all important @ make it minimally satisfying and easy to see terrain assets and incoming dangers, needs a hint of more personality.
Fun: 2
I enjoyed the exploration of interactions between mechanisms, limited grow/seed resources makes for an interesting and emergent puzzle.
Innovation: 3
Environmental growth (organically builds map) & seeding, to harvest resources to gain points and push back/hinder the enemies.
Scope: 2
Bite sized terrain acquisition/defense puzzle, there is a seed to an interesting mobile title here if developed further
Roguelike-ness: 2
@ symbol, procedural terrain generated by grow/seed mechanics, seed ripening competition, real time expansion, more mechanics puzzle terrain/resource acquisition/defense game.
Searching for more info on the title, as luck would have it, I managed to find a Youtuber known as Deadly Habit who had covered the game, so I'll urge folks interested in the game to take a look at the video below and the channel.
If all goes well in the future, I'll document the titles I reviewed and will hopefully have some time to do some more 7DRL titles from this years batch.
