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Hello friends! I'm Pi25, or you can just call me Pi. I'm just a little Pikachu here writing an article about our community choice winners for the Eevee Expo Game Jam 2024! Without further ado, here we go!
A love letter to the original mystery dungeon games, Pokémon: A Star in the Desert is a bold and refreshing entry in our ever-expanding fan game universe. As with the original games, you start out with a personality quiz and a range of options to choose from if you do not like the results you get. Unsure who, what, or where you came from, you awaken to a familiar water Pokémon with quite the snazzy hat, dragging you along a vast desert. Your character decides to team up with this quirky water type and help transform the desert while solving the mysteries within. Despite being a desert, this world is alive and filled with an exciting cast of characters. My personal favorites were the Dancing Mariachi Cactus Associates (DMCA) group. The game features a quest, crafting, and unique combat system that sets this game apart from the series it was inspired by. The usage of traditional Pokémon RPG elements in combination with mechanics from the mystery dungeon games made the game satisfying in a way.
If you are not a fan of the dungeon crawlers or are unfamiliar with the mystery dungeon genre in general, this game is a fantastic gateway into the series. The game’s narrative is engaging, the custom graphics are visually captivating, and the battle system remains exciting and strategic. I enjoyed that the world evolved around you as well while you progressed through the story. While there were a few pacing issues and some repetition in the desert environment, these do little to diminish the overall experience. You can tell a lot of love and care was put into this game. I highly recommend this game, as it was my favorite out of all of the game jams this year, and encourage everyone to play the completed version of the game.
The latest installment by KennyCatches and ENLS, Pokémon: The Slowpoke Shack involves a young man, his Growlithe, and an ambitious dream to open up a successful restaurant in the quaint Silverspring Town. The game starts off with your character just arriving to Silverspring Town with your uncle and cousin. Arriving at your new home, the player is immediately greeted with stunning graphics and a cozy atmosphere. You are tasked with acquainting yourself with the townsfolk, and getting your brand new restaurant ready for its first day. The town is unique in the sense that there were different NPCs that came in and out of the town as you progressed through the story which made it feel alive. As you progress through the story, and the challenges of opening a restaurant, you find out there are some secrets within the town and some questions to answer.
The game features the traditional Pokémon battle mechanics in addition to a side quest system that I recommend not skipping out on. One of the most impressive features of this game and what sets it apart from others is the cooking system implemented. I have never seen another fan game do something even remotely similar to this. Players who love games like Harvest Moon, Terraria, Stardew Valley, etc will find familiarity and comfort in this game. The realism and relatability displayed in the characters was also pleasurable. Events and situations are not always sunshine and I appreciate when games are able to pull off showcasing this. You learn a lot about the history of your character and how they came to be where they are at now more or less. If you’re looking for a cozy game that isn’t too challenging with a strong story, Pokémon: The Slowpoke Shack is definitely a must try!
Professor Pine of Frostbrae City has discovered a new phenomena in the world of Pokémon: the Berserk Gene. By transmitting certain signals to a Pokémon to trigger its flight or fight mode, a Pokémon can achieve strength and defense unobtainable through normal practices…but at what cost? Unlike the previous entries I discussed, Pokémon Berserk is a fan game that embraces a more mature and darker take on the Pokémon formula. You take on the role as a “beta tester” for the brand new Awakening Ring developed by Professor Pine himself alongside some side characters. As you progress through the game, you soon find out why you had to sign a NDA at the beginning of the game…
The game features new fakemon, Generation IX Pokémon, puzzles, and mini-games the player may partake in. I am a sucker for the Generation II style of games so I drew to this one immediately. I love a Pokémon game with a darker tone, and this game hit the right amount of darkness without being over the top. I was also not expecting the events and puzzles to turn out the way they did. It’s wonderful to play through a game and have things not turn out the way you expect them to. If you’re looking for a game for more of a thrill and dark twists - check out Pokémon Berserk!
...and that's all folks! Congratulations once again to all of the winners of this year's Game Jam. Every game was a joy to play and great in their own right. I had a wonderful time playing all of this year's Game Jam entries, and look forward to future installments from the community!
Pokémon: A Star in the Desert | The Slowpoke Shack | Pokémon Berserk
Pokémon: A Star in the Desert | The Slowpoke Shack | Pokémon Berserk
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