Days of Gaming

Writing this one more as a way to let out my thoughts more than making any particular statement. Recently I’ve been juggling some of my game time between things like Core Keeper and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. A big contrast between two different genres. One is a survival game and the other a 2D platformer. I don’t remember writing about Mario Wonder specifically before, but it has such a great charm. Enemies will look and react to Mario and friends when approached. They will also react when a fireball passes them by or a bubble is headed for them. Picking up a wonder flower is always a fun wacky event as the level completely changes. Sometimes Mario himself transforms, changing the mechanics completely at a moment’s notice.

Then there’s Core Keeper. Every time I return to my base, near the core feels like a return home. The music of this game, to me, is so good. Every area has its own themes both awe inspiring and mysterious. The Azeos Wilderness music is one of my favorites. As a programmer myself I can imagine all the hurdles that had to be jumped to reach the polish this game has. Oftentimes it seems massive in scope as you venture forth to explore. Boss battles can be fun and challenging. Finding new equipment to use feels rewarding. Gaining levels on the different skills provides a great sense of progression.

Ultimately, the contrast between these two games is the fact that one is made by a huge publisher and the other is made by an independent developer. Despite this they each cover their own space in the market and both have a space where they can thrive. In a market as saturated as this one, it’s great to see indies pushing through and finding success. With the advent of Switch 2 on the horizon I hope that continues to be so.