PAX West Adventures! Part 3

Here we are, about to discuss the very company that has been with me since the beginning. NIS America have been my day 1, ride or die, boo. Fun fact but I’d schedule an appointment with them to see three of the games they brought over to PAX West. However, that’s not what happened. I got a bit too swallowed up by YS X and Reynatis, which will be getting a full review, so it won’t be mentioned. With not enough NIS titles to fill the article, I reckon that I should stack it in pure ecstasy. I’m talking about covering heavy hitter after heavy hitter, so allow me to shut the hell up and get into it.

NIS AMERICA

XSeed weren’t the only dancers at the ball with a YS demo in the chamber. NIS America, publisher of VIII and IX, brought the tenth entry along and oh boy, it’s amazing. That fast and frenetic energy we’re familiar with is intact. A teammate in this sequel is Karja. The rep didn’t give me much about her background but he made sure to highlight partner strikes. See, both she and Adol attack simultaneously for devastating damage. Partnership is huge for YS X. It’s utilized to solve puzzles, in fact, because each one has control of an element - Adol is fire and Karja is ice. He burns vines and she freezes water - it feels so delightful to play with.

The addictive nature behind the simple combat had me by the balls. What I adored was the challenge of the bosses. It’s that old-school methodology of trial and error as you learn the patterns and tiny signs for upcoming assaults. You’ve got to memorize it as you try to figure out efficient ways to evade. It’s a blast to mess with and I kept returning to their booth to get a further taste of what YS has to offer. As for visuals, it channels that aesthetic YS VIII and IX sported, but it

refines how crisp the models are, bringing them into the modern age. It’s going to be special - I can’t wait for October.

BINARY HAZE INTERACTIVE

When I reviewed Ender Lillies for us, the entire thing was basically gushing. The music is beautiful, having a haunting tinge. Unsurprisingly, Ender Magnolia, the sequel, is much the same. Actually, it gave me literal chills down my spine from the very first piano stroke. If that isn’t an indictment to how friggin excited I am, then take note that I was squealing internally as I was playing. If you haven’t surmised, that means that the composer has returned and has seemingly gifted us a bunch of bangers. Oh, and if there are any worries, the story’s standalone. References are made but the plot is self-contained.

From my demo, the graphical style won’t be shifting in anyway. The level of detail is still pristine and sprite work is as fantastic as it ever was before. Frankly, for all intents and purposes, it’s an identical experience because the battling remains hack-and-slash bliss. As such, it’s quick to climatize to. While I do like that, it’s cause for pause. See, my session didn’t really reveal fresh features. I’m confident they exist but it’s buried underneath progression. Granted, I adore that we’re in this world again but there are big shoes to fill with a continuation. Luckily, come January 22nd, 2025, we will have answers.

PLAION

KINGDOM COME DELIVERANCE 2!

I’ve got a confession to make: this sequel took away my virginity. I didn’t play Kingdom Come Deliverance as it, to be blunt, didn’t seem like a game that I would enjoy. The first-person combat wasn’t my favourite - I could take it or leave it. That said, it did get praised a lot. If you fall into that camp, rest assured because it remains. I need to parry, dodge, and be methodical in my strikes. The focus is still nailing that realism, and I can appreciate it, but it lends itself to slow moves. As a kamikaze tactician, it was hard not to feverishly tap the attack button. That’s a recipe to lose as the clever AI forces me to be sharp or suffer the consequences of impatience.

If you know me, the facet I was eager to talk about is literary prowess. In asking, the developer said it has, not necessarily branching paths, but detours that will ultimately coalesce back into a linear plot. It’s a small bit of variation but it does open the window to slight replay-ability. There’s humour in the script, too, that’s subtle. The jokes that are told weren’t forced, flowing wonderfully with the conversation. It felt natural and realistic, ticking off the box for immersion. What also helps is the superb voice-acting that blessed my ears during my demo. With 100+ hours of content, I hope you have zero Valentine's Day plans when it releases in February.

MONSTER JAM SHOWDOWN!

From the minds that brought you the acclaimed Hot Wheels title comes their newest foray into the racing genre. We’re giving Monster Trucks a whirl in a game that’s been in the wild for a few days. I was excited to hear the developers behind the project but the demo did it no favours. I played for maybe 10 minutes and it didn’t impress. I felt indifferent, and as I passed every challenger, the roar of my engine sounded like a soft meow. To be blunt, the slower pace didn’t tickle my fancy as many before it. I couldn’t go and cause gnarly crashes or fall victim to odd physics, meaning the fun wasn’t a factor.

INFOLD GAMES!

I’m legitimately so stoked for Infinity Nikki, you’ve no idea. When I heard that Infold would be at PAX West, I went straight for the email to schedule time to try it. If you’ve dabbled in Princess Peach Showtime, you’ll understand the loop. I can dress the titular Nikki, who is very damn cute, with a variety of outfits. Doing that might grant her abilities linked to what she’s wearing - if she’s adorned with an electrician’s overalls, she’ll be primed and ready to rewire any machines needing it. There are a couple that will be purely cosmetic and with the gorgeous visual fidelity, Nikki pops from the screen with her elegance. The graphics are obviously the main attraction.

When I spoke to the PR rep who acted as my guide, I asked if she was shocked to see Infinity Nikki get this rabid response. Her answer was simply no, citing that Nikki is akin to Barbie in that you can dress her in lots of different clothing. It’s thanks to that similarity that Infold Games were quite confident in bringing it over to the West. I think what helps is the fact that she’s a secret badass that isn’t afraid to kick booty when it’s needed. I didn’t get to experience a quick skirmish as I struggled with the double jump aspect, don’t judge me, but I was ensured that it would have a challenge to it, whatever that means. Guys, I repeat, I’m hyped for infinity Nikki.

IN CONCLUSION…

What a swath of variety, from racing to medieval to a fashion consultant to JRPG, and then, Ender friggin Magnolia. The future is bright and looks promising when seen through the lens of this industry. Man, my adoration for gaming is encapsulated by how giddy I felt as I dove into these fine demos. I recall watching E3 on G4tv, jealous that journalists were able to try a ton of upcoming releases and getting sneak peeks at hush, hush projects. I thank God every single day for blessing me with this opportunity and to all of y’all for reading my inane rants.