This week’s roundup features a lo-fi retro-themed delivery sim, an unofficial remake of a ’90s masterpiece, and a Vampire Survivors-inspired roguelite featuring vehicular convoys.
Cleared Hot
Inspired by the popular Desert Strike series (if you recognise that name, your knees probably creak when you sit), Cleared Hot sees you playing a mercenary helicopter pilot piloting a variety of choppers. With an isometric perspective, tight controls, and physics-based combat, this game is a tonne of fun and I’m only disappointed that the demo is so short.
Cleared Hot is very much a work-in-progress at this stage, but the controls, character design, and gameplay are already very polished. It should be testament to the game’s quality and design that MicroPose has taken on the publisher’s role. If, like me, you’ve been hankering for a fun, twin-stick shooter for a while, try the demo and pray that Cleared Hot releases on time (scheduled for later this year).
Developed by Not Knowing Corporation and published by MicroPose Software.
Easy Delivery Co.
It’s hard to put my finger on what exactly it is that makes Easy Delivery Co. so fun and atmospheric. The characters exude a muted, Animal Crossing charm but the atmosphere has more in common with Silent Hill than with the lo-fi driving game that Easy Delivery Co. actually is. The world is unforgiving but the game isn’t difficult, somehow melding notions of Japanese mindfulness with the mundane to build atmosphere and character.
There’s a remote mountain-top town to explore, secrets to find, and deliveries to make. The demo is short and the game is far from ready, but it reeks of charm, style, and more importantly, potential. This one is also expected later this year.
Developed by Sam C. and published by Oro Interactive.
BroTank
If you’re a fan of Vampire Survivors you owe it to yourself to give BroTank a shot. Like the game that inspired it, BroTank is an action roguelite where your character — a convoy of “tanks” in this case (if you count armoured vans) — takes on wave after wave of enemies.
Unlike Vampire Survivors, there are more resource-management elements in the form of upgrades you purchase and how you kit out your vehicles. You’ll also stumble across objectives as you progress, such as new vehicles to recruit, capturing criminals, and more. Even at this early stage it’s clear that BroTank isn’t going to dethrone Vampire Survivors anytime soon, but it seems like a fun distraction that fans of the genre might enjoy.
Developed and published by Dfriend Games.
