PM Studios’ New Games Will SHOCK You!

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Just got back from the thrilling LvL Up Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I had the pleasure of hanging out at PM Studios’ booth. This versatile company, known for assisting other developers and publishers in bringing their games to market – whether physical or digital – is nothing short of amazing! With a diverse portfolio that encompasses various aspects of game development, publishing, and co-publishing, it’s no wonder they choose such a wide range of captivating titles to work on.

At PM Studios’ booth, the array of games offered was nothing short of exhilarating. From a thrilling hack-and-slash roguelite platformer to an engaging asymmetrical multiplayer game, a captivating simulator, and a retro 2D top-down adventure, not forgetting the delightful 3D platformer – each game was unique in its own way. If I had to encapsulate my impressions of each game into a single word, it would undoubtedly be “innovative.

Dragon is Dead

Created by PM Studios themselves, “Dragon is Dead” is an action-packed roguelite platformer that bears some resemblance to Diablo 2. In this game, players assume the role of a character known as a Successor, who has the unique ability to be reborn upon death – a mechanism that provides the foundation for its roguelike features. Although we weren’t able to defeat Longmere, the tree with three faces who serves as the boss, the potential of the game was evident through multiple playthroughs. We were drawn in by the user-friendly menus and the variety of ways players can customize their characters. Defeating all enemies within each area grants rewards that significantly influence a run’s outcome. It’s apparent that great care and attention to detail have been invested into the game’s progression system, requiring players to make strategic decisions and rely on some measure of luck to create an optimized, complementary build.

In this game, you can gather items that adjust how specific abilities function. The skill system is quite comprehensive and intricate, and it’s in these skill systems where the game appears to have been most influenced by Diablo. Additionally, the equipment comes into play, requiring players to choose what suits their chosen gameplay setup best. Achieving harmony among these three components is crucial for crafting each run’s build, and mastering that build and running effectively fuels the “let me try one more time” sensation in Dragon is Dead.

The most exciting aspect is that the game ‘Dragon is Dead’ has been in an Early Access stage for quite some time now, and it’s progressing towards its full, content-complete 1.0 release. Regrettably, we should have paid attention to its Early Access phase, but its 1.0 launch has certainly caught our attention immediately.

Table Flip Simulator

Table Flip Simulator – A Humorous Perspective

At first glance, Table Flip Simulator appears to be a straightforward concept: anger erupts, objects are thrown, tables get flipped. The narrative commences with an individual feeling frustrated following their capitalist employer’s insistence on making them work beyond regular hours without compensation on their birthday. This sets off a chain of absurd and amusing events.

Initially, the player destroys the office, breaks photographs of their boss, and flips tables. The unique mechanic that defines the core gameplay then manifests in activities such as feeding cats at home, discovering mermaids on a beach, serving coffee, constructing a cabin in the woods, and confronting a college professor. These levels, available in the demo version of the game, offer only a glimpse into the full scope of the game.

At every stage, there was a variety of tasks, some of which were camouflaged. Players aren’t explicitly instructed to rescue someone from a shark attack on the beach level, but they might be inclined to toss anything at everything, such as a steak towards a shark. The primary objectives are imaginative, and discovering these hidden challenges contributes to an enjoyable experience. This is something that enthusiasts of straightforward, entertaining, and creatively engaging simulators should watch out for.

Bandit Trap

The “Bandit Trap” is a multiplayer game with an unbalanced setup: one player takes on the role of the ‘Trapper’, while the other three players are ‘Bandits’. This game can be likened to the movie “Home Alone”, in which the Trapper resembles Kevin McCallister, setting up traps, and the Bandits are similar to Marv and Harry, attempting to evade them. The objective of the Trapper is to inflict sufficient damage on the bandits so as to secure victory, while the bandits must collect 10 treasures in order to win the game.

At the outset of the game, the character known as the Trapper gets a span of two minutes to strategically place traps throughout the house. Following this, the bandits make their appearance, prompting the Trapper to survive, safeguard their valuables, hide, and activate their traps (some of which operate automatically). During this time, the bandits are equipped with various tools such as crowbars for opening doors and jackhammers for destroying furniture. The hidden treasures and traps are primarily located within the furniture pieces. These tools provide brief, skill-based challenges to unlock these items more quickly, while the traps encompass a variety of options including bombs, water guns, homing rockets, and whirlwinds.

It’s important to note that this was just a demo, indicating the game is not yet fully complete. Despite this, it provided plenty of enjoyment. Nevertheless, the developers face a significant hurdle in achieving balance within their asymmetrical multiplayer setup. The Trapper character appears excessively powerful, and it seems they may need less effort to emerge victorious compared to the bandits. Once traps are strategically set by the Trapper, they have the option to take control manually, but correctly positioning traps for treasure protection significantly increases their chances of success. It’s evident that a Trapper could win even without active participation after setting up traps.

Still, with some adjustments aimed at balancing, this game could fit perfectly into a collection of party games similar to Jackbox, Among Us, or Fall Guys. It’s an absolute blast to play and the idea is remarkably innovative. Essentially, it’s like playing Home Alone in video game form, and it certainly delivers on that promise.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo

Titled “Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-Yo“, this is a 2D top-down adventure game that evokes memories of classic, old-school Zelda gaming experiences. The story unfolds as we enter our Aunt’s house only to find her under attack by four villains. It appears they are siphoning energy from her to power their special batteries, suggesting they could be the primary adversaries. However, an unexpected event occurs, and our Aunt gets merged with our Yo-Yo. The game concludes with us leaving for the Safe House before the demo finishes.

Immediately, the classic feel reminiscent of old-school Zelda games was noticeable. In combat, we were frequently prompted to engage with the surroundings using clever directional cues that allowed our yoyo to strike multiple enemies simultaneously. The gameplay in Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a major draw, while the retro atmosphere brings a strong wave of nostalgia. To put it simply, if the game only relied on this, it could become repetitive quickly. However, by providing ample variation in the environment, yoyo use, enemies, and other elements, the developer can keep retro enthusiasts engaged for the long haul.

Yooka Replaylee

Yooka Replaylee, as you know, represents the enhanced and ultimate version of Yooka Laylee. Essentially, the developers aimed to address all the comments and suggestions received about the original project, which subsequently expanded into a larger development phase than anticipated. Consequently, it eliminates much of the hassle, offers numerous possibilities, and preserves that distinctive Yooka Laylee ambiance. During our brief playtest of Tribalstack Tropics, we noticed several improvements from animations to mechanics. In this new edition, all of Yooka-Laylee’s skills are already unlocked at the start, and a single high jump replaces the double jump. The objective is to streamline various aspects while maintaining the game’s unique charm and player-friendly style.

In the demo I played, I managed to rescue Clara Lost from some formidable foes and even had a go at the Rextro Bytes Back mini-game nestled within that level. It was straightforward yet engaging, with a satisfying pace, a fair amount of challenge, and overall, it was just an enjoyable experience in a new yet comfortably familiar setting. Clearly designed for enthusiasts, it’s also poised to be an excellent starting point due to its evident improvements, making it accessible even for newcomers.

Game Rant was provided travel and lodging for LVL Up Expo for the purposes of this preview.

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2025-04-30 20:11