My 5 Favorite Games from Xbox’s GDC Showcase
Once a year Game Developer Conference This week it opened in San Francisco Xbox Brands gathered game Demos are for media to try. These are all from their partner studios, especially those of their ID@xbox sub-brand.
I spent hours playing a few games, talking to several developers behind the title, and coming up with a series of highlights worth watching.
Clear and obscure: Exploration 33
For me, the outstanding performance of the show is easy to cover up by Claire: Expedition 33, the upcoming role-playing game for French studio Sandfall Interactive. Key highlights include a cute art style that shows off a lot of particle effects. The music of the game is also very pleasant, especially during battles. During a long game, I often hear RPG battle music over and over again, and what I expect to hear is a joy.
But the most exciting features, and what really makes Clair stand out in a typical JRPG is the battle itself. It starts with turn-based people – time freezes between you and the enemy between attack and defense – but quickly introduces several real-time elements.
When using special skills, you can press A attack or attack at a specific moment, similar to the attack you see in the paper Mario game. You can also dodge B or use it with RB for higher risks and rewards when an enemy attack subsequently strikes back. By allowing players to further push this real-time action when it’s their turn and control the character Gustav’s battle to suppress the LT’s aiming at a ranged attack, then freely move the reticles and shoot on enemy weaknesses.
A mix of turn-based combat with real-time action sequences makes the game have a super fun process when attracting enemies. When it was released on April 23 for Xbox, PS5 and PC, I was very happy to be in the full game.
Hotels in Barcelona
Hotel Barcelona is led by independent super duo developers Swery and Suda51, known for its deadly hunch that no longer has hero games. When you hear these two names, you will surely expect this collaboration to have a weird, dark tone, which is exactly what the Barcelona Hotel has.
This time, the developers have given their creativity to the side-scrolling Roguelike in horror movies. You will fight through weird sleep camps as you unlock more powerful, more powerful abilities. Each death takes you back to a mysterious hotel full of quirky and alternative characters. The game was very difficult, but Swery told me it was part of the design. You intend to repeat these sequences and really learn to fight. Swery said there is a lot here to find a lot for fans of his previous work, and he and Suda51 are working hard to make it the best game to date.
The Barcelona Hotel has no release date at the moment, but will be available for Xbox, PS5 and PC.
mandrake
Mandragora is another side-scrolling action game, but with the upgrade, people place great emphasis on player customization. Our demo can choose from three classes, and there will be three more categories available throughout the game in the future. Surprisingly, your character has six different skill trees that can be upgraded, including those of other classes. Imagine a rogue who double-waves the poison dagger but still has access to the Mage’s cast? Of course, you can do it.
It is worth noting that combat and soul styles share more DNA than other side-scrolling action games like dead cells. Action cost endurance and animation priorities are key. You won’t need to dodge attacks anytime, anywhere, so players must remain strategic when participating in battles. When you die (and you will), a corpse run is required to collect your missing resources.
Mandragora will release Xbox, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC on April 17.
Herd
The herd is definitely the smallest match I have ever played in the game. You can control a child with a wand who can guide these large horned creatures to you like a dog grazing. You will discover and recruit more of these beasts as you guide creatures through a destroyed apocalyptic city. It gives where wild things resonate.
These puzzles are easy to solve, and the gameplay is definitely more about attracting and touching your new friends. Once you leave the city for colorful lush grasslands, the game introduces the ability to push the beast forward at a faster pace. The demonstration ends after passing through magical flowers as music spreads. This is a very short demonstration and I’m interested in how the team will expand it into a full game.
Herdling will release Xbox and PC sometime in 2025.
To t
Keita Takahashi t-positing for me.
Keita Takahasi, creator of the cult hot Katamari Damacy, becomes a more narrative title T. From there, the demo will take you through several mini games that revolve around this restricted life. For example, children use special sinks and an extra-long toothbrush.
Still, like you would expect from this creator, the game exudes charm and joy. The world is full of whimsical characters, first of all, your friend Giraffe who loves to make sandwiches. But for every wholesome element, the story of this age group has a more touching and darker side. Due to their T-shaped situation, the protagonist was bullied on the first day of school.
Takahashi explained after the demonstration that a touching story he told was nearby, recalling his experience of being bullied when he grew up in Japan. When narrative is a central element in his game, I was very interested in T’s measures and what this designer could do.
TO AT TO will be released on May 28th on Xbox, PS5 and PC.
