When I was first offered the opportunity to demo a couple of games published by Blowfish Studios at PAX, I almost didn’t take it. Reason being, the only game I had played which they had published was not my favorite. But I try not to judge by first appearances, so I decided I’d give them another shot, and I’m very glad I did. I played two very different titles being published by Blowfish Studios, and had a great time with both.
First up was Whipseey and the Lost Atlas. First, let’s get something out of the way. Yes, Whipseey was obviously inspired by classic NES games, and one unmentionable little pink puffball in particular. That said, this is more than just a clone. For one thing, your main character doesn’t start as a pink hero, he gets transformed into one by a magical book. For another, you don’t devour and gain abilities.
Instead, all the combat is based around use of his magical whip. You can use it to swing across chasms, helicopter around and more. Also, the art in Whipseey is delightful. It evokes retro games of the past while not being tied to their restrictions. I had a feeling I might like Whipseey, and I’m glad I decided to demo it. But the other game I played at PAX West courtesy of Blowfish Studios was a huge surprise.
Obey Me was a game I took pretty much on a whim. All I knew was that it was a cooperative brawler, which in no way prepared me for the meat of the game. It’s set in some dystopian world ruled by angels and demons, essentially those with supernatural powers. You are one such character, a human turned demon named Vanessa. Your boss is Ammon, aka the Archduke of Avarice. You do his bidding, and in the demo that meant finding and murdering a mark.
Thankfully, things get more complicated very quickly. The mark isn’t going down easy, and seems to be busy building an army of resurrected zombie-style minions. But Vanessa isn’t on her own, her hellhound Monty is able to help her during battle, transforming into a more powerful form when needed. He also can talk, and boy does that pooch trash talk. When the duo work well together, they’re a force to be reckoned with, throwing daggers, breathing fire and teleporting all about. I was kicking ass and taking names until I got to the first mini boss, and then I really had to earn my victory.
Obey Me has a really unique vibe and world, and coupled with smart writing and fast and functional combat, I think it has a lot of potential. Not bad for a game I wasn’t really that sure about to begin with.
All in all, I’m really glad I gave Blowfish Studios a second chance at PAX West. Both games I played were very different, but satisfying in different ways. If you like quirky and interesting titles, I’d definitely give them both a look.
