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Destructoid’s Indie Gems – Edition 7: Isolation has never looked so beautiful The daily stresses of life are full of countless hardships, and it feels tougher and tougher each passing year to deal with the crushing inevitability that affects everyone. Yet this is life, and Garrett wants to get away from it all. He's had enough. The world doesn't need him back home. So he's packed his things and headed to the middle of nowhere in hopes of life inside a quiet sanctuary. But something's followed him there. Are chopping trees, watering crops, feeding the stray cat, and selling whatever goods you can scrounge up enough of a distraction to keep you from thinking about why you left in the first place? There's something in the woods, and you brought it here. A farming sim for the lost soul This is We Harvest Shadows , a first-person farming simulator with a dark twist. A true passion project from David Wehle, creator of The First Tree , invites you into a life of solitude. A cabin in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by acres of forest that house their own secrets, Garrett must come to terms with his own trauma if he ever wishes for a peaceful life. Moving away from the rest of the world simply won't cut it. Anxiety, depression, fear, love, and loss will follow you anywhere. There is something incredibly powerful in We Harvest Shadows that I haven't seen in a video game in an awfully long time. Its simplistic game design makes it an easy one to sink hours into, using the cozy sim formula of a simpler life, away from the mundanity and stresses of our day-to-day. I'm not a big farming sim fan, but I respect it enough to always give them a go. I understand their USP and why games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing became a staple in peoples' lives during lockdown. We Harvest Shadows fills a similar void as it provides a calming escape—a means to get away from reality—if only for a little while. But unlike the most popular farming sims (stemming all the way back to Harvest Moon ), We Harvest Shadows handles dark and very personal themes that make it incredibly profound as it feels as though you're playing through a person's history, their soul in show for the world to see. I feel more and more drawn to the simplicity of We Harvest Shadows and the sentimental, dark story that encompasses Garrett as I (and I imagine many others) can relate to what he's going through. The suffocating comfort of loneliness The setting is gorgeous and the gameplay has that satisfying loop that offers replayability with its exploration. You're welcome to do whatever you want or stick purely to completing Garrett's daily to-do list to move through the narrative as you unravel the mystery of Garrett's past. While there will be the option to play We Harvest Shadows as a pure farming sim, free from the terror that awakens every time the sun goes down, this title shines like tenebrescence because of its psychological horror elements. I've played countless horror games that repeat the same psychological horror ideas. Rare instances of masterfully-crafted horror with psychological themes are Silent Hill 2 , OMORI , Who's Lila? , SOMA , P.T. , Eternal Darkness , and Luto . But I have high hopes that We Harvest Shadows will join the list for capturing the struggles of a spiralling human psyche and the internal journey every human goes through at least once in their life. The darkness which surrounds Garrett is brilliantly portrayed through a Layers of Fear -style painting in his lonely home, showcasing his current psyche and telling us if it's safe to go outside. It's an interesting way of handling the sanity meter and immediately creates tension for you don't know what's waiting for you outside. But are you the curious type to go have a look? The mundanity of life has its horrors We Harvest Shadows brings the darkness we all try to hide ourselves from out into the beautiful open, forcing Garrett to confront it. Like James Sunderland traversing through his Fog World, the hauntings that plague Garrett are desperately trying to remind him of something he just won't reason with. The setting and clever use of horror create mystery and invite you to explore the surrounding land. You're actively changing Garrett's reclusive nature by looking at the horrors that keep trying to invade his home—his thoughts—his memories. I'm a huge fan of media that doesn't view or sell itself purely as a horror experience. Games that implement horror elements where the nightmare is brewing in the background, waiting for its moment to hit you, are significantly more impactful and realistic than any jumpscare. It's a slow-burning horror that takes its time to jump out at you, and even when it does, you just might miss its entire point. The loneliness of Garrett's setting is enough to create paranoia, for something could be lurking in the woods at any time. Are you truly ever alone, or do you just think you are? While the scenery is enough to lose yourself in, you can't let it distract you—for you never know when something might reach out and touch. We Harvest Shadows has a demo on Steam , but there's no release date at the time of writing. The post Destructoid’s Indie Gems – Edition 7: Isolation has never looked so beautiful appeared first on Destructoid .

Indie Archives – DestructoidAug 16

How to survive an Antlion attack in PEAK If you were feeling short of formidable foes in PEAK , think again. The Antlion can jeopardize your escape plans in a moment. The bug, which appears quite ferocious when you see it for the first time, is part of the new update. The creature can lure you into its nest, but thankfully for players, there are ways to survive its attacks. You'll have to strategize properly, and having a friend will help. However, you can still survive its attack and earn the Megaentomology Badge. How to get the Megaentomology Badge in PEAK? The official description of the Megaentomology Badge makes it fairly clear what you have to do: Survive an Antlion attack. The first task is to locate its nest in the Mesa biome . It's very easy to identify if you're careful, as the Antlion lives in a pit. To lure you in, there will be luggage in the middle. The moment you come close to its mouth, the Antlion will emerge and bite you. Just a few bites will make you faint. Here's where having a friend is crucial (and practically makes the task easier). Your friend can jump in and pull you out of the pit. If you faint, they can use a suitable item to bring you back. Your attempt will still count towards unlocking the Megaentomology Badge. Screenshot by Destructoid What if you're alone? In that case, you'll have to pay extra attention to the Antlion's nest. Once you locate the spot, don't go in. Make sure you have a full stamina bar and a rope in your inventory. Use the rope, and use extra pitons if they're available in the nest. This setup will make it easier for you to escape the pit when you're playing alone. But do not escape before the Antlion manages to land an attack. If you do that, your attempt won't qualify towards completing the badge. As long as you have received one bit, it will be enough for you to unlock the Megaentomology badge. Of course, the Antlion isn't the only pesky element in PEAK that has been added as part of the Mesa update. The biome also has small cactuses that can get stuck on your body. Once you remove all of them successfully, it will unlock the Needlepoint badge for you. The post How to survive an Antlion attack in PEAK appeared first on Destructoid .

Indie Archives – DestructoidAug 11

How to achieve flight in PEAK Achieve flight is one of several new objectives in PEAK , and it's linked with one of the latest items added in the Mesa update. To complete the objective, you'll have to use balloons, which can be found all around the island. However, the job isn't as easy as you might think. Simply finding and using a balloon won't help you complete the quest and unlock the badge. Let's find out exactly how to complete and earn the Achieve Flight badge in PEAK . Table of contents How to get the Aeronautics badge in PEAK? How to get balloons in PEAK? How to get the Aeronautics badge in PEAK? The basic task is to find and use a balloon and equip it from the inventory. The trick is to equip five balloons at the same time. You'll have to add them to your inventory first. Then, equip them (can be equipped separately) to complete the achievement. To wrap up, you'll need to find and equip five balloons on your trek to get the badge. Here's how you can find balloons on your journey. Screenshot by Destructoid How to get balloons in PEAK? Finding balloons in PEAK is relatively easy, but it will take you time to find all five for the badge. They're not found in the open. Instead, you'll have to scour through the luggage boxes. If you're lucky, you could find your first balloon at the crash site. They can be present as a solitary piece or in a bunch. However, don't expect to find all five of them together in one spot. If you keep looking in all the luggage you can, you should eventually be able to find the required number of balloons. Aside from completing the badge, balloons can save you from accidental fall damage when they're equipped. Having just a few balloons won't save you from all fall damage, but the more you have, the less damage you'll take from a tumble. Once equipped, they will pop up above your character's head. The post How to achieve flight in PEAK appeared first on Destructoid .

Indie Archives – DestructoidAug 11

Can you save Jackie in Static Dread: The Lighthouse? Jackie followed the rules of the sea, yet Static Dread still punished him. A lesson in the cosmic horror you need to deal with over the next 15 days, deciding what happens to Jackie is just one of the many moral dilemmas you'll have to face. Here's everything you need to know about saving Jackie in Static Dread . Table of contents Should you let Jackie into the lighthouse? Where to send Jackie in Static Dread: Mystic Point or Outsmouth? What happens to Jackie? Should you let Jackie into the lighthouse? Screenshot by Destructoid Jackie is the first NPC you meet that you can invite into the lighthouse. About to embark on his own endeavor with his crew, you learn of a new island that's appeared from nowhere. This island is deeply connected to the underwater horrors and is a place Jackie may visit again (depending on your actions). Son of the Village Elder (who has ties to the Old Keeper); Jackie provides a bit of exposition on what happened prior to your arrival. As you're told by Chief not to let anyone into the lighthouse as it's Blackfort property, the choice to let Jackie in or not is your first real moral dilemma. What's worse is that if you already played the demo like we did, you already know how one of his routes ends. It's tradition for Jackie to look out into the sea before setting sail, so you'd think leaving him outside would set his demise. The truth is, whether you let him in or send him away, Jackie's crew will die and he will get badly hurt . The cosmic entity punishes his curiosity regardless. If it's your first time playing, though, you will learn far more about Static Dread by letting Jackie in and speaking to him at the top of the lighthouse. Where to send Jackie in Static Dread: Mystic Point or Outsmouth? Screenshot by Destructoid Jackie returns at the end of night three, and this choice is a big 'un. Ambushed by the Village Elder, who broke into the lighthouse upon hearing Jackie's voice on the radio, you must decide whether to listen to his pleas or follow Misty's request. Do you send Jackie to Mystic Point, where he'll be reunited with Misty, or Outsmouth to be with his father? Now, Jackie doesn't seem to remember much, and he's confused when you ask if he'd like to be with the Village Elder or Misty. It's only upon making your selection that you get what he truly wants: to see Misty one more time. There's no right or wrong answer here, for neither has a good ending . One choice will save his life, but at a cost of his humanity. Because of this, we recommend choosing Mystic Point for Jackie and Misty's sake. What happens to Jackie? Screenshot by Destructoid Screenshot by Destructoid Sending Jackie to Mystic Point means he dies at the research station . Misty couldn't save him, for his injuries were too severe. He did, however, get to have his final moments with the woman he loves. Now, if you chose this first, you likely want to head back in to try and save him, but there's a catch. If Jackie goes to Outsmouth to be with his father, he will die and be resurrected. This sounds much better on paper until Jackie shows up at the lighthouse door, his body transformed by some kind of ritual. Although Jackie was alive once more, he'll never be the same again. Missing Misty and having his body and mind fighting against one another, he's forced by his father to give in to The Great Old One. His flesh slowly transforming into scales and gills, Jackie becomes part-man-part-fish . He didn't want this, but the cosmic force overwhelmed him, manipulating Jackie into a blind sense of worship. This means that you either send Jackie to die in Misty's arms or prevent his death, only to turn him into a fishman. Which fate would you rather see? The post Can you save Jackie in Static Dread: The Lighthouse? appeared first on Destructoid .

Indie Archives – DestructoidAug 11

PEAK Mesa update release countdown: Exact start time and date PEAK 's first major content expansion, Mesa, is almost upon us, and it could have plenty of exciting content for the fans. Developers Landfall and Aggro Crab have already revealed a mini trailer for the expansion, along with the release date. While the developers have been tight-lipped about what to expect, we got some interesting reveals in the trailer. Let's first find out when the update goes live. Table of contents PEAK Mesa update release countdown All changes coming in the PEAK Mesa update PEAK Mesa update release countdown We already had confirmation about the release date when the update trailer was disclosed to the audience. We all get to enjoy the first major content expansion for the popular co-op survival adventure on Aug. 11. Incidentally, we don't have any confirmed information about when the update will go live. That said, certain speculation can be made based on how we receive updates in PEAK . While all the updates so far have been minor, the Cannibalism update went live at 2 pm CT. The countdown below is set to that time for now, to at least give us a ballpark figure of when we get to play. [hurrytimer id="1102805"] 1pm PT 2pm CT 4pm ET 8pm UTC 9pm BST Once again, these times are based on when PEAK typically receives updates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXqfn1i6RYU All changes coming in the PEAK Mesa update Again, the developers haven't shared much on new content in the new update. Here are some key things we expect as part of the upcoming patch. Potential new natural disaster, like a Tornado. New biome, potentially a desert. New achievements (already visible on the database, but exact details haven't been disclosed) Plenty of bug fixes (as that has been a common trend so far). Surprise drops like Cannibalism (not sure, but it will be cool). Once we have confirmed details about the update, we will make sure to keep you up to date on the key changes. The post PEAK Mesa update release countdown: Exact start time and date appeared first on Destructoid .

Indie Archives – DestructoidAug 11

All Static Dread: The Lighthouse endings and how to get them 15 days at the lighthouse can feel like an eternity when you're away from family. You feel as though the whole world rests upon your shoulders, and in Static Dread , it literally does. A slow build with a catastrophic climax, there are so many ways this adventure can go. What reality can you trust, and who will you leave to succumb to the darkness, wasting away on the all-consuming ocean floor? In true cosmic fashion, it's not very clear just how many endings Static Dread has. As the entire game moves into a new branch every time you make an important choice. There's also no obvious default or canon ending, as your first playthrough will likely look different from mine. To add to the confusion, there's only really one achievement tied to all but two endings. "The End?" achievement is unlocked when you beat the game, regardless of your outcome. While there's a lot of variety, there are very strict paths you traverse down that lock you into smaller branches, and all of them bring you to the same place: the Necronomicon. Static Dread starts rather open-ended and gets increasingly narrower in its design because of the choices you've made throughout. Table of contents Static Dread: All endings guide No Way ending Darkness ending Nuclear codes ending Klaatu Barada Nikto ending Family ending Selfless ending Sacrifice ending Destruction ending Static Dread: All endings guide Screenshot by Destructoid We have exhausted all options on the fifteenth day, so we can confidently tell you that there's nothing else you can do but talk to The Darkness and choose what you're willing to sacrifice. While you can either attack The Great Old One or strengthen it, both lead to the same path, where you must release what the Old Keeper lost his mind protecting. You can only use the lighthouse beam three times against or for the benefit of the otherworldly entity. The dialogue repeats until you're locked out of using the radio, where (after talking to the Village Elder) you're forced to touch the Necronomicon. If you choose to empower The Great Old One, the cultists will take over Blackfort when Darkness is released from the lighthouse (so long as the city remains intact). No Way ending Screenshot by Destructoid The Unknown (Old Keeper) will speak to you on night one, commanding you to leave the lighthouse. Listen to its words and go into the bedroom, clicking on and confirming the " Give up " prompt on the bed. The Lightkeeper quits before anything truly begins. But what kind of home will he return to? A place of denial and loneliness isn't much different than the isolation of working in that very lighthouse. With no Keeper to fill his shoes, Blackfort succumbed to the very darkness you could have fought against. Darkness ending Screenshot by Destructoid We recommend loading into day two to get this ending, as it gets harder for the Darkness to consume you the stronger the Great Old One gets. Turn off all lights (including your flashlight) after starting the night shift and wait for the darkness to overwhelm you (red brain icon shows when you're about to lose consciousness). Then keep choosing dialogue options that favor the wife and daughter so the Lightkeeper falls asleep to the sound of their voices. Reality becomes a mere concept to the Lightkeeper as he descends into the abyss, unable to pull himself away from his past. Nuclear codes ending Screenshot by Destructoid This is the hardest ending to unlock, as you need to collect information as you play. The most important note you need for this ending is found on the tenth day. I sided with Blackfort and the soldiers throughout my playthrough to get this ending. The fax page for the nuclear codes is distorted, borderline unreadable. Colonel Edwards thinks the launch codes were destroyed, but the three-digit set is just about legible on the fax you were sent. Directly underneath and slightly overlapping the words "Top Secret" at the center of the page is 74 20 73 . You will receive the Aircraft Carrier Tempest frequency by playing, but you don't need to activate the nuclear warheads yet. Screenshot by Destructoid Receive the Commander's instructions by playing through the fifteenth day and siding with the soldiers throughout your playthrough so that they successfully make it to the old village. Set the frequency to 18.9 between attacking The Great Old One's eyes and setting course for nearby ships. Follow these dialogue prompts to destroy the deity: Apply Military Encryption Activate Voice Control 357 - Alpha - 57 Activate emergency control 800 - 15 - 32 Launch torpedoes Turn off the pump 357 - Omega - 32 Disable torpedo launchers Supply power to strategic weapon systems 800 - 15 - 57 Enter Launch Codes 74 - 20 - 73 Activate nuclear warheads Klaatu Barada Nikto ending Screenshot by Destructoid Either let in or scare away the Fisherman's dog on night seven to get the basement key. Find the two glowing pieces near the rotation device at the top of the lighthouse and under the wooden floorboard in the bedroom (needs the crowbar from the generator room). Place the glowing pieces on the basement door (which activates only at night). Reach the fifteenth night. On the final night, play until you speak to the Village Elder. Enter the basement to release the Darkness and make one last wish. The Keeper will automatically insert the Cthulhu-looking mark onto the door. Select "Touch the Necronomicon," "Let go of the darkness, banishing it from the lighthouse," and "Dispel the barrier protecting the lighthouse" to achieve this ending. The cultists win, transforming what remains of Blackfort into mutants who worship The Great Old One. A new world has begun. Note: this ending achievement will unlock the very first time you choose to touch the Necronomicon, whether you made a final wish or not. Family ending Screenshot by Destructoid Following the same route as the previous ending, touch the Necronomicon but select "I want to ask the darkness for one last wish." This is where the remaining endings in Static Dread await. In this instance, choose "I will sacrifice the Old Keeper " to " be with my family ." Much like the Darkness ending, the Keeper succumbs to this greater evil to be with his family, as he was unable to move on and come to terms with his own mortality. An alternative to getting this ending is to sacrifice the city to save your family . This results in the same cutscene as sacrificing the Old Keeper for your family, but at the cost of wiping out Blackfort. Selfless ending Screenshot by Destructoid Touch the Necronomicon to sacrifice yourself to save your family . You haven't put an end to the nightmare, but your family is alive. Having traded places, they must now learn to move on without you. Sacrifice ending Screenshot by Destructoid Touch the Necronomicon, but choose " sacrifice myself ." Choose either " I want this monster to disappear " or " Bring back the old world " to get this ending. The events repeat as the world reverts back to how it was, but this time, a new Keeper has to replace you. Both options result in the darkness becoming stronger than The Great Old One. Alternatively, you can sacrifice the Old Keeper and choose either dialogue option for your wish. The darkness will still win, but bringing everything back to the old world means you will wake up at the start of the game, realizing that the cosmic nightmare will always happen no matter what. Human prevention cannot do much against concepts far greater than our understanding. Destruction ending Screenshot by Destructoid The last ending we obtained was to sacrifice Blackfort so that The Great Old One could be destroyed . This leaves the Lightkeeper by himself, knowing that the Darkness still escaped, and took an entire city with it. No more cultists, mutants, and the acceptance that his family is gone, the Lightkeeper has to find a new meaning to life now that his duties are over. The post All Static Dread: The Lighthouse endings and how to get them appeared first on Destructoid .

Indie Archives – DestructoidAug 11

Indie hit PEAK announces first major expansion, and it’s coming sooner than you might think Indie co-op survival adventure PEAK has announced its first major expansion, and it's coming right after the weekend. Titled Mesa, the upcoming update will be the first major expansion in the game's history. The developers shared a small trailer ahead of the launch, which gave a few ideas about the general theme of the new content. What makes me happy is knowing the launch date, so that my buddies and I can prepare accordingly. PEAK's Mesa update should be the perfect excuse to pick up the game PEAK is arguably one of the most fun games I have played with friends, and minor updates have added to the entertainment value. Who could have foreseen the cannibalism update that has been added as actual content? So far, the content updates have been minor, as the focus has been on bug fixes. Come Aug. 11 , that will all change. The Mesa update's trailer might also have revealed what we can expect. There should be a new biome if the cactus is anything of significance. I am more interested in seeing how the new biome fits in with the existing ones on the island. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihdM6AtkgCA If you thought survival on the island was hard, it could become even more difficult. We could be getting tornadoes as part of the Mesa update. Of course, this is purely my speculation based on the trailer, but surviving a full-scale tornado might make all our lives pretty difficult. The developers haven't announced the exact release time, but the update goes live on Monday. Additionally, we can also look forward to an exclusive quest that PEAK will have with Discord. This limited-time quest will be live between Aug. 11 and Aug. 17 , and allow you to unlock your very own Bing Bong avatar. I have also noticed that there's a host of new achievements, which are likely going to be added to the game related to the upcoming update. For the time being, the only option is to wait patiently for Monday to arrive. The post Indie hit PEAK announces first major expansion, and it’s coming sooner than you might think appeared first on Destructoid .

Indie Archives – DestructoidAug 8

Guntouchables multiplayer guide – How to play with friends Indie title Guntouchables is grabbing plenty of headlines with its unique offer (keep the game for free if you play in the first 24 hours), and it's the perfect title to enjoy with your friends. Despite being in early access, the game offers both single and multiplayer content for players. There are different game modes available as well, offering a good variety to players. While you can matchmake with random players, there's a cool system to form a lobby with your friends. The underlying system is fairly simple, but this guide will help you avoid all confusion. How to play Guntouchables with friends? A lot of multiplayer titles force you to be friends with players to form lobbies. Guntouchables, on the other hand, uses simple code-based lobbies. Here's how you can play with your friends. Load the game up and open multiplayer. You'll find a host of public lobbies to join for your applicable region. Don't join any game. At the bottom right corner, you'll find the option to create a lobby. Your created lobby will have a code. Copy the code, and disable your lobby from being public. If your created lobby is public, any player on the same server can join. Once your created lobby is private, share the code with your friends. Screenshot by Destructoid Here's what your friends then have to do to play in the same lobby. Open and load the game. Go to multiplayer. On the top right side of your screen, you get the option to use a code to join a lobby. If they use the code you sent, they will be added to your lobby. Once all of you're part of the same code, select the type of game you want to play, and start playing together. Most of the game modes will be locked, but you can unlock them by just playing the game. If you want to test yourself solo, the singleplayer content is pretty fun (have been playing for sometime now, and the vibes kick in hard). The post Guntouchables multiplayer guide – How to play with friends appeared first on Destructoid .

Indie Archives – DestructoidAug 7

Ball X Pit Breaks Out This Mid-OctoberLet's bounce. The post Ball X Pit Breaks Out This Mid-October first appeared on Kakuchopurei .

Indie | KakuchopureiAug 7

Demonschool Launches Early SeptemberHella learning. The post Demonschool Launches Early September first appeared on Kakuchopurei .

Indie | KakuchopureiAug 7