Try it Tuesday: December 6, 2022
The stream has been full of long plays, sponsored content, and other games I’ve promised over the course of this year. Sometimes, I get so much on my plate that I crave the familiarity of a good, long game that will command my attention. Sometimes, I want nothing more then to feel like I’m 13 again, blasting Nirvana and playing Doom until my parents catch me up far too late. And sometimes, I just want a little variety. That’s sort of what Try It Tuesday was born from: whether it was shareware demos aplenty or the spirit of the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade, I’ve always sought out places to try out new games – and as many as I could. You never know what cool new thing you might find by broadening your horizons, and I wanted to help bring some of that energy to an audience. I think it’s gone well so far… 🙂
Tonight, I was craving something cozy. It’s cold out, I’m feeling a little bleh, and as I said earlier… I’ve had a lot on my plate. I needed some slow-paced games that allowed me to curl up in a blanket and just enjoy some time doing something both new, yet familiar: Try it Tuesday. So it was with all of that in mind that I put together tonight’s menu of three games that I’ve had ready for a little bit now. From first to last in order of broadcast, here they are.
Game links with an asterisk * next to them denote affiliate links.
The Van Game
The Van Game has a pretty simple and familiar premise: you’re going from east to west, across the United States with a group of five, and you’re trying to visit as many national parks as you possibly can. You have to manage food, health, and resources. Basically, it’s an Oregon Trail for the new age. The Van Game is cute and to the point, and in addition to being packed with loads of information about national parks – which was my favorite part of the game – there are some minigames that help you earn cash and resources, as well as unlock different customization options for your van. I loved the simple concept of it, and generally it was a fun time… though it did start to get a bit repetitive after a bit. It’s not like Oregon Trail was entirely action-packed either, but the difference being that A) I’m not sitting in my 7th grade typing class, waiting for the opportunity to do literally anything other than school work, and B) it’s been well over 40 years since Oregon Trail was actually first released into the wild, and definitely within the 30 year mark since I’ve played it. So… the formula for The Van Game could use a little spice for the modern age, to make it a little less repititious. Maybe a few more minigames, or other pit stops along the way beyond just parks. Not sure. Loved it for its cute and simple premise, however. And since we’re so into meat in our channel…
🥩🥩🥩 out of 5 slabs
It’s a thing I’m trying out now.
Links to the game:
Flat Eye
Flat Eye is a management simulator on the surface, which is a very familiar gameplay loop for anyone who has played any number of those. Gas Station Simulator comes to mind almost immediately, because you’re constantly working on upkeep of the store while trying to generate income. It takes place in a seemingly dystopian version of Iceland, where you’re the manager of a convenience store of sorts that is actually being run by an AI. You’re the manager, and you are basically telling that AI what to do, what upgrades to make, et cetera. But where Flat Eye becomes much more interesting is the narrative that unfolds as you complete each day. There are priority customers that you have to attend to as soon as you see them, which basically means you have to have a conversation with them. They all have a story that definitely suggests there’s more going on in this world then meets the… flat… eye? You also unlock different parts of your computer system, so dossiers and documents start to become available, that have a lot of pretty deep lore in them. I love this kind of storytelling, because it forces you to explore – much like other games with literal exploration, you have to do a little more mental exploration, or snooping around in places you might not otherwise think to. Flat Eye also has a really soothing soundtrack, and an equally soothing visual style that invokes the memory of another Try it Tuesday favorite, Sable. I could have played this one all night. I truly enjoyed it.
🥩🥩🥩🥩 out of 5 slabs
Links to the game:
A Little To The Left
Every night has a favorite, and this one became by and large the audience favorite tonight… if only because of CATS. The premise of A Little To The Left is pretty simple: sort things. You’re presented with a series of different puzzles: simple screens with various household items, from papers and pictures, to food and junk drawers. Sort, and be set free! There’s no real right or wrong answer! Well, there is, but not really. It’s a puzzle game, after all, so there is definitely a win condition. But there are multiple answers! It’s kind of up to your cozy creativity to noodle out what each one could be, and to take as much or as little time as you need while doing it. Sometimes, a cat will come and knock away your progress as well, which is as fun and frustrating as it is in real life. But it doesn’t actually pose a big roadblock, it’s just a cute addition to an already cute game, so a big plus in my book. Sound design is on point, the puzzles are definitely challenging, and continue to ramp up that challenge the further in you get. Fans of Unpacking or Dorfromantik should 100% get this game, because it scratches all of the same itches as those. I could have also played this one all night as well, but alas… I had to write this post, and then go to bed. Definitely returning to this game soon, though!
🥩🥩🥩🥩🥩 out of 5 slabs
Links to the game:
