I am currently playing two indie games and enjoying them both. However, both also have major sticking points that I’m not sure I can get past. Let’s start with Stray (BlueTwelve Studios), which is the indie darling of the year. Some people even joke that it’s GOTY, which is pish. That’s Elden Ring. It was Elden Ring before the game came out and it’s Elden Ring now that the game has come out. It’s Elden Ring until the end of time and do not at me. It’s Elden Ring all day long. It’s not Horizon Forbidden West. It won’t be Ragnorak. It’s Elden Ring.
I was anticipating Stray for ages. I was slightly disappointed when I realized that there weren’t skins for the cat (I wanted to be a black cat, naturally), but of course there is a mod on PC in which you can change the color. I decided to leave the cat as orange, however, as that’s what the devs intended. I didn’t play it when it first came out because…I’m not sure why. I wanted to play it so badly, but I was scared it wouldn’t be what I wanted. I dove in a few nights ago, and I was charmed by it. I was slightly stressed with the beginning, but then I really got into walking around and exploring everything. I could knock things down and scratch at enticing surfaces. I could lap water from a puddle, and I could curl up into a ball and take a nap. I could jump up on surfaces I normally would not be allowed on, but not all of them. We’ll get to that in a moment.
I loved wandering around and putting my nose in everything. In the beginning, it was just getting from point A to point B as circuitously as possible (that’s not the official way to do it, but that’s how I wanted to play it). Then, there were actual objectives. And collectibles. And weird things chasing you, surrounding you, and killing you. I knew what I had to do to avoid them, but I could not jump where I needed to jump. I died to them several times, and I was ready to quit. It turns out that I just needed to tilt the camera up a bit and make the leap. Honestly, I don’t see how this adds anything to the game, but whatever.
Then, I reached the area where I needed to explore the rooftops and gather several of an item. And this is where I’ve grinded to a hard stop. Why? Because–look. I had to find someone and then get something from them. I had to find three others of this thing (that were other people’s). I thought, how hard could it be? Very hard. I fond the second one rather easily, then wasted an hour looking for the other two.
I have said more than once that I have spatial issues, so this game is challenging because of it. Also, it’s not always clear why you can jump on one ledge, but not another. I found the third item with the help of Ian telling me where he found it (he can’t remember where the other one is), and I’m irritated because I had been in that room before, but it was covered by something else. So, I had been there, but hadn’t seen it.
I still cannot find the other one. There is a symbol marking the room, but I can’t see it. I’ve been through the area several times, and I’m just about done with it. Ian told me to look it up, which I should do, yes, but I want to be able to find it on my own.
It’s really sapping my love for the game, though. I’m frustrated that I can’t advance to the next area until I find this last item. There is also a side item that you can collect (eight of them) for an NPC, which I am enjoying very much. I also like that you can do side quests for other NPCs.
In general, I am really enjoying this game, but my lack of ability to gauge where I can and can’t go, and where I need to go is lessening that enjoyment. I will look up where the last of these items is, even though it’s going to make me feel like a loser.
The second game I’ve been playing is Tinykin by Splashteam. Yes, it’s another indie game, this one on Game Pass. You’re a something something and hurtled to another world. There are tiny creatures that you need to collect, called Tinykin, and they can do things for you like move something or explode it. It’s a charming and fun game, and I’m enjoying going around collecting things and solving the puzzles. Yet. Here’s the problem with this game. I need a map. For example, my Tinykin picked up a play button. I have no idea where it goes. So I’m walking around with a Tinykin carrying this play button, and I have no idea where it goes. In another, I needed to take a picture with the Tinykin–a Polaroid. I saw the ants who requested it, but then they disappeared once I actually got the picture. So, another Tinykin running around with a Polaroid, and I have no idea where to take it.
I don’t like this part of it because I have been hither and yon, and I have no idea where these two things go. Also, you have to keep collecting the Tinykin, which means going over things more than once. It’s starting to feel a little repetitive, and I have to note that my enjoyment of it is plummeting. I know this is partly my own problem because of my spatial issues, but I am frustrated that I can’t place these two items.
Other than that, though, it’s a fun and cute game. I’m having a good time with it, and I probably will continue to play it. We’ll see for how long, though.