Mar 28, 2020Animal Crossing
There are two types of magic wands in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the bamboo wand, and the star wand. Both wands need to be crafted, and therefore require a recipe. If you are lucky, you may obtain a recipe for the bamboo wand from a floating present, or inside a bottle that has washed ashore. Both wands are difficult to craft, but getting your hands on the recipe for the Star Wand is easier. Therefore here’s how to get a Star Wand in Animal Crossing New Horizons.
Owning a magic wand allows players to put together up to eight outfits, which they can then change into wherever and whenever they choose.
You can obtain the recipe for the Star Wand by simply speaking with Celeste, Blathers‘ younger sister. Celeste will pay a visit to your island on nights where meteor showers occur. Tom Nook or Isabelle will inform you during their morning announcements if a meteor shower is due that particular evening.
In order to craft a Star Wand, you will need some rather rare materials. The Star Wand recipe calls for 3x star fragments and 1x large star fragment.
These star fragments can be found on the beach areas of your island the day after a meteor shower. But they will only appear if you managed to ‘wish upon shooting stars’ during the meteor shower.
In order to make a wish, you will need to listen out for the faint tinkling sound that the shooting stars make. Upon hearing this sound, you should immediately push the joystick on your right joycon upwards, allowing you to see the sky. Then, whenever you see a star shooting past, press the A button for your player to ‘make a wish’.
For every ‘wish’ you make, you will acquire one star fragment the next day. As the large star fragments are much rarer, ensure you make as many wishes as possible, or else you may have to wait until the next meteor shower occurs before you can craft the Star Wand.
After crafting the wand, you will be able to put together up to eight outfits and register them to your wand. To do this, simply interact with a wardrobe and select ‘Edit wand outfits’. After registering outfits to your wand, you will be able to quickly change into them by equipping your wand and pressing the A button. You can then select an outfit from a wheel, like you would with the reaction ring.
Sep 26, 2019Feature
There’s something really appealing about pixel art games. Their simplistic art-style induces nostalgic childhood memories of times when 8/16-bit games were the norm. From highly regarded releases such as Undertale and Stardew Valley, to the influx of upcoming pixel-art games in the making, such as Ikenfell and Eastward, it is evident that retro graphics are still highly in demand, and that pixel art is most certainly not dead. And so here’s our 8 favourite modern-day pixel-art games:
Littlewood is a new RPG where you play the role of a hero who has completed their quest of defeating the evil wizard, saved the world of Solemn, and is now trying to rebuild the town of Littlewood. Being developed by the indie developer Sean Young, Littlewood brings an interesting spin to the usual town building simulator by melding together aspects of familiar games like Minecraft and Animal Crossing. Littlewood is out on Steam for $14.99 and will soon be available on Nintendo Switch as well.
Peaceful days is an upcoming indie farming RPG game that aims to please fans of the cutsie, yet so engaging simulation game genre. In Peaceful Days you will meet new characters as you stroll through this beautifully crafted town, make new friends or catch up with lifelong buddies – the choice is always yours. Head over here for some more info on the upcoming Peaceful Days game.
Originally released for Windows, Stardew Valley was highly regarded for features such as complex characters, diversity in character customisation and dating, and the game’s enigmas and secrets. Its overwhelming success leads to its release on other platforms including Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PS Vita. The popular farming sim is also available for Android and iOS. With Multiplayer now available on Steam and Nintendo Switch – soon PS4 and Xbox One, you can also enjoy farming with your friends.
Celeste is a narrative-driven adventure platformer featuring pixel graphics. The aim of the game is to help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain. with over 700 screens of platforming challenges and secrets, and over 2 hours of original music featuring live piano and catchy synth beats, it’s no surprise that the game was given a 92% rating by Metacritic upon its release for Switch back in January. At just $14.99, the game undoubtedly offers good value for money.
Terraria is an indie 2D Action-Adventure game developed by Re-Logic. The game was initiall released for Windows in 2011, but has since been released on various other consoles and devices. Often compared to Minecraft, features of the game include exploration, crafting, building, and combat with a myriad of different creatures. The game has ‘overwhelmingly positive’ reviews on Steam, and as of September 2019, has sold 25 million copies across all platforms. At only $9.99 on Steam, the game is affordable and offers pretty good value for money.
Undertale is a story-rich RPG by tobyfox with ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews. Described as ‘The RPG where you don’t have to destroy anyone’, Undertale is story-rich due to your character’s journey, and also due to player choices affecting the game. You play as a human child who has fallen underground into the realm of monsters and thus, tries to find their way home. You encounter both good monsters and bad along the way, which you can choose to spare or fight. There are a variety of puzzles to complete in order to progress, and a variety of interesting areas to explore.
Rakuen is a beautiful adventure game that features a hospitalised boy, who travels to the fantasy world of Rakuen with his mother. Upon its release on 10th May of last year, Rakuen was a firm favorite here at MPG, despite flying under the radar a little. Since then, however, it has obtained a well-deserved overwhelmingly positive review score on Steam, and captured the hearts of many. Priced at $4.99, the game offers very good value for money. A mini TV series entitled ‘The Farmer In The Sky’, which is based on the world of Rakuen, is currently in development.
Moon Hunters is an indie action RPG game developed and published by Kitfox Games. The game was initially released for Windows, Mac and Linux through Steam on March 10th 2016. It has since been released for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Described as a 1-4 player co-operative personality test, players can create their very own legend. Explore a mysterious Mesopotamian-inspired world which changes every time you play. The Steam version of the game (which is a reasonably-priced $9.99) contains a free expansion pack entitled Eternal Echoes.
Owlboy is a story-driven platform adventure game for Windows, PS4, Switch, Linux, Mac, and Xbox One. Notorious for its long development cycle, Owlboy was started in 2007 and completed in 2016. Playing as Otus, who is part owl and part human, players can fly and explore an exciting world above the clouds. Gather Otus’ friends to join you on your journey as you explore the open skies. Eliminate enemies and overcome obstacles in a game deemed “worth the wait” by Destructoid. The game was first released on Steam on November 1st 2016, where it can be currently purchased for $24.99.
Crossing Souls is an indie pixel art action-adventure game set in 1986 (retro vibesss!). After a group of friends discover an unusual pink stone which allows them to travel between two worlds, they become involved in a government conspiracy. Control five kids with special skills on summer vacation whilst fighting and solving puzzles in order to save the world. Released on 13th February 2018, the game which costs $9.99 on Steam has received ‘very positive’ reviews.
Golf Story is an interesting take on an RPG. It is a pixel based RPG that revolves around the sport of Golf. It is from a new developer called SideBar Games. Besides a really fun and easy to learn Golf play, the game also features a story mode with tons of fun characters to meet. For the green thumb people, there is also some gardening aspect to the game. For only $14.99 this game offers many hours of fun, especially thanks to the multiplayer portion, the game has great deployability.
Hearthstead is an upcoming farming and life RPG game with all the elements needed to make for an engaging experience. Games like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon have redefined the farming and lime simulation genre, with marriage relationships, seasonal events and just so much more to do. The fantasy setting allows the game to take different paths with very little to no creative restrictions. I am thinking fairies, mermaids and garden gnomes who can help with chores! Head over here for some more info on Hearthstead.
In .Age, you are the village elder in a town that has cursed with an apocalyptic curse. This causes all kinds of trouble for you and the villagers that you must protect while growing your village. You will need to gather resources and do research as your town grows, which will aid in the health and wealth of your citizens. If you are as excited as me, check out the latest on .Age here.
This list is by no means exhaustive as there are loads of other great Pixel-Art-Stylised games out there. Let us know in the comments what your favourite pixel art game is!?
Sep 11, 2019Quick Bits
There are a few things you need to know about Celeste before checking out Celeste Chapter 9. When it comes to super fast-paced mountain climbing dashery, it doesn’t get much better than Celeste. Released in January of 2018, Celeste was an exceptionally well received platformer that boasted fun and fury for its fans.
With a rich in-depth story to keep you pushing, this game has won the hearts of many. Battling her greatest foe, Madeline must overcome the “dark” part of herself to make it to the peak of Celeste, a daunting, seemingly insurmountable, obstacle-laden pile of stone.
Now, the new update for Celeste adds over 100 new levels, over 40 hours of new music, as well as new mechanics and items. On top of all this new content, the game also happens to currently be on sale through the Nintendo eShop. There has never been a better time to dive into this amazing adventure game.
For more information on Celeste, be sure to t=check the official Celeste website.
Aug 27, 2019News
A Sister’s Journey is an indie game developed by Florian Lackner who is the sole developer on this upcoming title. The player takes on the role of Violet who is on a journey to find her lost sister. The path to finding her proofs to be dangerous and players will have to make their way through this beautiful yet mysterious world.
The main focus in A Sisters Journey lies on exploration, puzzle solving and of course on platforming. Besides all the features you come to expect from a platformer game, Florian also mentioned that there will be a lot of secrets to uncover on the journey to finding Violets sister. There is a heavy focus on puzzles that players will have to solve in order to advance.
Platformers can often be hectic and challenging at times, A Sisters Journey marks no exception. The tricky part of these sorta games are often what prevents some players who tend to prefer a slower paced gameplay, from being able to enjoy the beautiful and atmospheric look and feel of these beautifully crafted games, much like Celeste a beautiful game with very challenging mechanics.
According to the Kickstarter page there will be a Guidance Mode specifically designed for players who enjoy a more relaxed and laid back gaming experience – something we are personally extremely excited about. This mode will focus on the story line and lets players enjoy and play the game in a different way. Florian says “By enabling (the Guidance Mode), you will probably have a much easier time, by giving you more survivability, movability and more help in general on your journey, to beat difficult stages and defeat bosses more easily,”
A Sisters Journey is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, if you are intrigued by the game and want to support Florian on his mission to create his project and bring this game to life – head over here.
If you are looking for more pixel art games, make sure you check out Witchbrook created by Chucklefish – the company that used to publish Stardew Valley. Or take a look at Little Witch in the Woods!
Dec 22, 2018News
It’s that time of year again! And with it comes yet another Steam Winter Sale.
With a huge variety of games on offer in the Steam Store (some which are extremely generously discounted), the festive season just got even better!
The sale lasts until January 3rd, giving gamers plenty of time to use up those Steam gift cards and spend Christmas cash.
Whilst there are so many games to choose from, here are our fifteen favourite games currently on offer:
My Time at Portia is an Early-access sandbox RPG game with farming, crafting, gathering and mining elements. It is currently available on Steam for just US$15.99.
Portal Knights is an award-winning 3D sandbox action-RPG game developed by Keen Games and Published by 505 Games. It is currently available on Steam for just US$7.99.
Undertale is a story-rich RPG by tobyfox with ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews. It is currently available on Steam for just US$3.99.
Stardew Valley is a pixel-art-stylised village-life farming simulation game for multiple platforms. It is currently available on Steam for just US$11.24.
Celeste is a narrative-driven adventure platformer featuring pixel graphics.
It is currently available on Steam for just US$15.99.
RiME is an aesthetic adventure puzzle game featuring an enigmatic island for your washed-ashore character to explore. It is currently available on Steam for just US$9.89
Yooka-Laylee is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Playtonic. It is currently available on Steam for just US$11.99
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is an open-world adventure game set in the Sprite-filled world of Gemea that is developed and published by Prideful Sloth. It is currently available on Steam for just US$14.99.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is an anime adventure RPG developed by Level-5 and published by BANDAI NAMCO. It is currently available on Steam for just US$29.99
Cat Quest is an open world, action adventure RPG set in a world of cats, developed by The Gentlebros. It is currently available on Steam for just US$5.19
The Gardens Between is a surrealist puzzle adventure game, developed and published by The Voxel Agents. It is currently available on Steam for just US$13.99
Cattails is a feline-themed simulation RPG game available that is developed and published by Falcon Entertainment. It is currently available on Steam for just US$11.99
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time is a magic-themed action adventure RPG game from the Little Witch Academia series.
It is currently available on Steam for just US$15.99.
Moonlighter is a Pixel-art-stylised action adventure game with features including fighting, exploring, shopkeeping, and crafting.
It is currently available on Steam for just US$13.39
Overcooked is an arcade-style cookery game series where players can complete tasks such as chopping, cooking and washing dishes. Overcooked!, and its sequel Overcooked! 2 can be purchased as a bundle for just US$20.69 in the sale.
Dec 8, 2018Feature
Whether you’re looking for great games to give to a gamer this Christmas, titles to spend your Christmas money on, or simply want a reminder of the Switch games 2018 brought to us, look no further. Here are ten terrific Switch games from 2018.
Celeste is a narrative-driven adventure platformer featuring pixel graphics. The aim of the game is to help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain. with over 700 screens of platforming challenges and secrets, and over 2 hours of original music featuring live piano and catchy synth beats, it’s no surprise that the game was given a 92% rating by Metacritic upon its release for Switch back in January. At just £17.99, the game undoubtedly offers good value for money.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the latest addition to Nintendo’s popular Super Smash Bros. series. The Super Smash Bros. series is a collection of crossover fighting games which mainly feature characters from Nintendo’s own franchises. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has new fighters such as Isabelle from Animal Crossing and Inkling from Splatoon, as well as reoccurring favourites such as Yoshi and Pikachu. The game was released just yesterday, the 7th December 2018.
Get Smash Bros. Ultimate here.
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are the two variations of RPG game Pokemon: Let’s go! The game was developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch console. Using a throwing motion with the Joy-Con or Poké Ball accessory, players can catch a variety of True-to-size Pokemon. Set in the diverse region of Kanto, use skill, timing and a well-placed Poké Ball to catch your favourite Pokemon. You can also connect your game to the Pokémon GO app to receive Kanto region Pokémon. Both versions were released on November 16th, 2018, and cost $59.99 to purchase.
Get Pokemon Let’s Go here.
Yonder is an open-world adventure game by Prideful Sloth that was initially released on July 18th 2017 for PS4 and Windows. Owing to its success, it was also released on the Switch eShop on May 17th 2018. With ‘Very Positive’ reviews on Steam, the game has been praised for its beautiful graphics and music, and the relaxing nature of the game-play. Whilst players can fish, farm, craft, and explore, the main aim of the game is to befriend and collect magical creatures (known as sprites), in order to banish the ‘Murk’ from the world of Gemea.
Get Yonder: The Cloud Catcher here.
Undertale is a story-rich RPG by tobyfox with ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews. Described as ‘The RPG where you don’t have to destroy anyone’, Undertale is story-rich due to your character’s journey, and also due to player choices affecting the game. You play as a human child who has fallen underground into the realm of monsters and thus, tries to find their way home. You encounter both good monsters and bad along the way, which you can choose to spare or fight. There are a variety of puzzles to complete in order to progress, and a variety of interesting areas to explore.
Night in the Woods is an autumnal themed indie adventure game. Highly relatable to many, the game shows the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs. After the protagonist, Mae Borowski drops out of college and returns to her hometown, she finds things as gloomy and hopeless as ever. But this time there’s something more. Strange and eery occurrences are happening. And there’s something in the woods. This charming game with beautiful music can be purchased for only £17.09 on the Switch eShop.
Little Dragons Cafe is a game from Rising Star Games, who are infamous for their Harvest Moon series. The story begins with a twin brother and sister running a small café with their mother. All was peaceful and routine until one morning the twins discovered that their mother fell into a deep sleep and wouldn’t wake up. Suddenly, an old wizard appears and tells the twins that their mother is gravely ill and that they must raise a dragon in order to save her. Working together with their three quirky staff members (waiter, waitress, and chef), the two siblings must raise a dragon and manage the family business while at the same time discover what is causing their mother’s illness and find a cure.
Get Little Dragons Cafe here. Check out the adorable limited collection here.
The critically acclaimed story-rich 2016 game Firewatch, is making its way to Switch later this month. Set to be released on the eShop on the 17th December 2018 in America, Europe, Australia and Japan, the game will cost $19.99 to purchase. It is unknown whether Firewatch will get a physical release. Firewatch is an award-winning atmospheric walking simulation adventure game developed by Campo Santo. Set in 1989, you play as a man who is a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. Something strange leads you to explore the nearby forest, forcing you to make decisions that can both build and destroy relationships.
The First Tree is a 3D exploration game featuring beautiful graphics and 2 parallel stories. The indie adventure game was Developed and Published on Steam by David Wehle on the 14th November 2017, and has received very positive reviews. Earlier on this year, it was announced that the game would be coming to consoles later on in 2018. St to be released on November 30th, The First Tree: Console Edition will be available to download on Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. The console price has not yet been announced, but the game is currently affordably priced at $7.99 on Steam.
Cattails is a feline-themed simulation RPG game available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. Originally developed and published by Falcon Entertainment for PC, Mac and Linux on December 1st 2017, the game has garnered very ‘paws-itive’ feedback since its release, subsequently leading to the game’s recent release on Switch. Through the eyes of a cat, Cattails allows players to hunt for food, interact with other cats, gather herbs and explore an expansive world. Kotaku have said that “Cattails looks like Stardew Valley, except cats.” and IGN have said that Cattails is “an adorably silly game, but one that’s also a lot of fun.”
Aug 10, 2018Event
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]re you a struggling student strapped for cash. Or simply a thrifty gamer, who wants to play good quality games for non-extravagant prices? Then look no further, as we’ve compiled a list of 9 great games downloadable from the Switch eShop. And they are all less than £20/$25 USD
Celeste is a narrative-driven adventure platformer featuring pixel graphics. The aim of the game is to help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain. with over 700 screens of platforming challenges and secrets, and over 2 hours of original music featuring live piano and catchy synth beats, it’s no surprise that the game was given a 92% rating by Metacritic upon its release for Switch back in January. At just £17.99, the game undoubtedly offers good value for money.
Stardew Valley is a Harvest Moon-reminiscent RPG farming sim, that also features pixel graphics. Originally released for PC, the game was highly regarded for features such as complex characters, diversity in character customisation and dating, and the game’s enigmas and secrets. Its success meant that it was ported to Switch in October of last year. With an additional multi-player update, the game is well worth its eShop price of £10.99
Sonic Mania is a game that puts a modern twist on iconic Zones and Acts from games such as Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles. The game features the iconic blue hedgehog, Sonic, alongside pals such as Knuckles and tails. You can re-experience your favourite 2D classics, but with added enhancements, such as stunning HD retro-style graphics, pixel-perfect physics, and a game that runs at 60FPS. The game can be snapped up for just £15.99.
Overcooked: Special Edition is an arcade-style cookery game. Players can complete tasks such as chopping, cooking and washing dishes (boo), either by themselves or alongside other players in multiplayer mode. With a plethora of unusual and tricky kitchens, HD rumble support, and two DLC packs (The Lost Morsel, and Festive Seasoning), the £17.99 game would be great for parties.
Also a port from PC is Thimbleweed park, a puzzle-mystery game that features pixel graphics. The tiny town of Thimbleweed Park is home to 80 very strange people. Five people with nothing in common are drawn to the town. Although they might not yet know it, they are all deeply connected. They’re also all being watched. From a rotting corpse to an abandoned circus, the game is a far cry from Stardew Valley. But if you enjoy a good mystery and narrative, you can purchase the game for just £14.99
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebzsjeyjig8
Night in the Woods is an autumnal themed indie adventure game. Highly relatable to many, the game shows the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs. After the protagonist, Mae Borowski drops out of college and returns to her hometown, she finds things as gloomy and hopeless as ever. But this time there’s something more. Strange and eery occurrences are happening. And there’s something in the woods. This charming game with beautiful music can be purchased for only £17.09 on the Switch eShop.
Rocket league is an action-packed racing sports game that combines arcade-style soccer with driving. With rewarding physics-based gameplay, a fully-featured offline season mode, multiple game types, and both casual and competitive online matches, it’s no wonder that this award-winning game is highly regarded. Amazingly, you can purchase it for just £15.
Blosson Tales: The Sleeping King is an action-adventure RPG game with charming pixel graphics. Fight monsters and save the Kingdom of Blossom from eternal darkness whilst playing as Lily, Knight of the Rose. With a dynamic story passed down through generations, your in-game choices influence the narrative and change the course of events. With HD rumble support and over 15+ hours of gameplay, fans of the Zelda franchise and pixel RPG’s alike will be pleased to learn that the game is obtainable for only £13.49
One of the first games available for Switch following its release is Snipperclips, an action-puzzle paper-themed game. Help papery pals Snip and Clip undertake a variety of tasks by cutting them into different shapes. Don’t feel sad though, as they return to their former selves at the end of each task. Magic. The game has a variety of modes, and the option to play solo, or to play with others, potentially making it another game to play at parties. This family-friendly game can be purchased for only £17.99