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The weather has been uncharacteristically sumptuous these past few weeks and though I could have probably spent more time outside, I occasionally looked away from the screen and admired the imminent arrival of a lush springtime. Playing new Game Pass additions whilst basking in those rare rays surely heightened what was an already eager mood. As the weeks went by, Game Pass continued to drip feed me quality titles as though I was convalescing from some bizarre gaming illness at a remote sanatorium.
The following list is merely a peek at the newest games added to the Game Pass library.
A Memoir Blue
This game tells a relatable story of the relationship between a daughter and her mother. Growing up is a uniquely individual experience and yet so similar in many respects; there will be stark differences and extreme circumstances that deserve to be retold and shared, and there are also those generalities that can strike a chord with all of us.
The delicate animation, soothing score, and varied portrayal of mechanics combine in A Memoir Blue as an orchestra does. They interrelate to retain the focus of the picture that is being drawn. It is a short beautiful game and one that deserves an hour or two of your time.
Tainted Grail: Conquest
Having played Magic: the Gathering for far too many hours as a teenager, I rarely come across animated card games with comparable complexity, strategy, theme, and artwork. The game is actually based on the board game of the same name and considering its scope, this makes total sense.
The high-fantasy Arthurian setting is captivating and I found the writing to be of good quality. Whilst the story isn’t overly original, it was enough to situate the world and lend it some life.
This is a rogue-like game with a smattering of RPG elements that focuses on turn-based combat using a deck of cards to mete out punishment. What was most impressive to me was the variety of classes and their corresponding decks. There’s a surprising amount of strategy in this game.
Tunic
The art style immediately reminded of Death’s Door; that’s where the comparisons end though. Tunic is about a cool anthropomorphic fox who embarks on a grand adventure; an adventure that reveals mythical beings and ancient knowledge along the way.
The combat in Tunic is wishy-washy, which I found detracts from the isometric level design and addictive exploration. Though the direction of the game is intentionally hidden in vague undecipherable messages, the exploration is what provides the answers for the player.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
This was my first foray into anything Guardians related, and my second Marvel game (the first being Spiderman.) I ended up being most impressed by what I thought I’d be least impressed by: the story. It was a purely entertaining experience that was bolstered by a fluent, effective combat system.
Although it fits into a typical action & adventure mould, it exceeds expectations because of how well its design is implemented.
If your interest is piqued by this selection, I highly recommend you explore the rest.