I really want to know what the hell is going on in 20 Minutes Till Dawn.
As one of several women with vaguely supernatural powers, you’re dropped into an arena with an infinite army of Lovecraftian monsters coming straight at you from every direction. You’ve got a gun and a plan: live until sunrise, at which point the monsters will stop coming. That’s it. There’s no story here, just the vague shape of one, but it’s got my curiosity up.
20MTD is a bullet heaven game in the same spirit as last year’s Vampire Survivors. Like VS, it’s a top-down action roguelite where the challenge comes from surviving long enough to put together a random character build from whatever random scraps the game throws at you; unlike VS, 20MTD gives you limited ammunition and requires you to aim, which makes it feel a little more like classic twin-stick arcade shooters than an idle game.
That gives 20MTD’s gameplayan immediacy that VS, for all that it does right,doesn’t have. You can’t simply stand still in 20MTD, because sooner or later, your gun will run dry. Outside of a couple of particularly degenerate weapon loadouts, you have to run, dodge, weave, and actively create space to avoid being overrun and give yourself space to reload. If your problem with VS is that you don’t like games that, to a significant extent, play themselves, that’s not an issue you’ll have with 20MTD.
What initially got my attention about 20MTD, over the legion of other indie bullet heaven games that came out in the wake of VS’s success, was its visuals. Everything in 20MTD is black, white, or gray, unless it’s red, and the characters all look like they’re from some minimalist, experimental 2000s horror webcomic.
There’s only one background track in the game, “Wasteland Combat,” but it’s got a nice bassy hum which never wears out its welcome. Especially on your first run, when all you’ve got to play with is Shana and her revolver, it gives 20MTD a vibe like a dark horror Western.
20MTD is still in Early Access at time of writing, and could use a few quality-of-life improvements before it’s done. Being able to track your stats on the pause menu would be nice, as would a better font on the combat numbers, which often end up as white text over a white explosion and thus illegible.
It also doesn’t limit your character builds the way that VS and a few other games do. You don’t get, say, six or eight slots to fill with particular abilities in 20MTD; you just get one skill every level until the match ends or you’re dead. The only thing forcing you to focus on a particular build is synergy. Otherwise, you can simply load up on everything at once.
That’s the sort of complaint that you have to be fairly deep in the bullet heaven weeds to make, though. 20MTD’s got a decent core loop combined with a simple but memorable look, which has kept me coming back to it for the last couple of months.
20 Minutes Till Dawn might be for you if:
You like both roguelites and twin-stick arcade shooters.
Your gaming time’s at a premium and you like the idea of something that’s made to take no longer than 20 minutes.
The problem you had with Vampire Survivors was how little of an active role you actually play in any given run.
You like it when a survival game actually lets you survive.
It might not be for you if:
The “monochrome webcomic circa 2005” aesthetic you see in the screenshots is an issue.
Constantly reloading puts your teeth on edge.
You’re that guy who keeps showing up in my email to complain about how shoggoths are represented in modern pop culture. I blocked you for a reason, Howard.
You can pick up 20 Minutes Till Dawn on Steam or mobile, or check out its predecessor 10 Minutes Till Dawn on Itch.io.
LOS ANGELES — Following the conclusion of the critically acclaimed first season of The Last of Us, lead performer Bella Ramsey teased the upcoming second season based on the game’s sequel by strangling a dog to death in front of gathered media.
“Oh my god, I can’t get enough of the fan service in this series,” said Lucy Thorne, a fan of The Last of Us games. “It was cool that the first season had so many direct references to Part One, but I was a little worried they would tone down the insistence on violently murdering dogs throughout the entire game when they got to Part Two. They’re leaning into it, though!”
“Best story in video games, easily,” she added. “Can’t wait to hear the anguished yelp of dying dogs every week.”
Ramsey defended their controversial actions.
“If fans of the show are upset about me executing that little black puppy, I have some really bad news about season two of our show,” said Ramsey, who portrays Ellie on the show. “And if you think the difference is that there’s no way HBO would really let us kill dogs, I need you to google their show ‘Luck.’ It’s not TV, motherfuckers.”
As of press time, a blissfully unaware Pedro Pascal announced an upcoming promotional appearance at a nearby TopGolf location.
You seem like a busy person. Everyone is these days, with so many more nuanced and weird things to keep track of just to be alive in modern society. It’s even worse if you’re a gamer that wants to be plugged into whatever the hot new game is.
Getting acquainted with modern triple A titles means spending your time with a 40+ hour game like last year’s mega-hit Elden Ring. It’s incredible, sure, but who has time for that? Well, if you like your combat Souls-like, your swamps poisonous, and your stories difficult and obscure, you don’t need a major time investment to play Brume.
Brume was developed by Netherlands gaming collective Sokpop. The developer prides itself on making smaller games (of which they have many, like Stacklands), and Brume was made early in the company’s life back in January of 2019. While bigger, flashier indie Souls-likes cover the market, a simple experience like Brume is more than worth the price of admission to dive into the mists and hack away at shadow men for an afternoon.
What little story of Brume’s begins with your explorer, a robed figure who rides their boat onto a fog-covered island. From here you set out to discover what secrets the land holds and face the creatures inhabiting the island. These creatures range from slugs and ticks to a stew-making elf and a cauldron-stirring witch. If you’re looking to get lost in a George R.R. Martin-inspired tale, look elsewhere. But, the island itself has enough compelling and enigmatic energy to get you interested in what’s at the end of it.
To traverse these dangerous lands you’ll need weapons. Starting with just a stick, you’ll eventually get access to a handful of melee weapons that gain experience over time, increasing their damage. You also gain a shield for blocking and a worryingly-red necklace that can absorb enemy blood to restore health.
The Souls-like gameplay of Brume is as Souls-like as you can get. You can charge your base attack for more power, or block and dodge incoming hits, at the expense of a stamina bar. Resting takes place at a number of campfire-like spots, and refills your health while respawning surrounding enemies. It’s not breaking new ground, but harvesting greatness from previously used soil. And yes, there’s definitely a swamp to venture through.
Aesthetically it feels as if you’re watching the action through a Game Boy screen (more specifically a Super Game Boy if you recall the SNES add-on). It adds to the whole minimalist package, which includes the lack of music and minimal sound effects. It evokes the feeling of finding a game you shouldn’t be playing on a parent’s old computer.
As you can assume, there are secrets about the game ready to uncover, but it’s best to discover them on your own. If anything previously said sounds interesting, Brume is worth the meager investment to try out.
You should play Brume if:
You want something small. Brume isn’t meant to be a buffet you can come back to repeatedly to top off your plate. It’s a single, filling meal made by one of the best indie companies to make bite-sized titles like this.
You need another Souls-like in your Souls-life. Being familiar with the genre’s conventions will help you understand where to go and what to do, and how little hand-holding you’ll get along the way.
You’re a fan of old-school adventure games. Not only does the game look retro, it feels like it could’ve been running on an old Mac and talked about in hushed tones by only the most in-the-know of gaming nerds in the 90s.
You should stay away from Brume if:
You are not a fan of Dark Souls. It seems easy to say, but if you’ve played a From Software game and took one look at the Asylum Demon or Tree Sentinel and immediately stopped playing, what Brume does will not interest you. It’s a black licorice game: either you’re born loving the flavor or you’ll hate it completely.
Don’t take my word for it, though, check out Brume on Steam or Itch.io
PEORIA, Ill. — Local gamer Micah Bellwether surprised his friends and family with his secret gaming strategy, which involves specifically timing his playing hours to when Korean children are at school.
“What can I say, I don’t want to just get rinsed in competitive matches all day long,” Bellwether explained. “I realized it was much easier to just figure out when all the South Korean kids are starting their school day, so I can avoid just getting instantly sniped from across the map from someone wearing elaborate cosmetics I didn’t even know existed. Now I’m playing exclusively around 7 p.m., and my competition is all the people who can only squeeze in a few hours after their work day. I have become a God to them.”
Bellwether’s friends said that his gaming strategy has already yielded impressive results.
“I hate having specific restricted gaming hours, but ever since I got on Michah’s schedule all the difficult competition is busy in their Social Studies class,” said Bellwether’s roommate Ryan Hurwitz. “You have to know right when to hop off though, because the moment they get out of school they’re going to hop on and just obliterate you back down to Bronze rank. Also, you have to keep track of the weather in Korea, because if it’s raining they can pop in for a few easy matches against you during their indoor recess time. It’s got a learning curve, but it’s way easier than actually just getting better than them at the game. It’s just Darwinism in action, and the Asian seventh graders are at the top of the food chain. It’s best not to upset the natural order.”
11-year-old Korean child Tae Kim says he prefers online confrontation.
“Bitch,” Kim said. “That’s what I thought. You’re lucky that they take attendance in my homeroom, or else I’d be staying home kicking your ass up and down the competitive ranks all day long. You can run, hide, and cower all you want, but next semester when I get a Study Hall every Friday, you better believe I’m going to be showing you no mercy.”
At press time, sources reported that Bellwether claimed he would be grinding competitive matches in fervid preparation for his ruthless opponent’s upcoming Spring Break week.
PITTSBURGH — A man with no power or responsibility whatsoever claims to relate to powerful, responsible superhero Spider-Man, often referencing the relatability of said character to his baffled friends and family.
Greg Markovich, 27, an unemployed couch-surfing comic book enthusiast, often opines to anyone within earshot that he is “basically Peter Parker,” despite the fact that Markovich’s only meaningful relationship is an odd parasocial fixation on Gwen Stacey cosplayers.
“Spider-Man always has to balance his crime-fighting with keeping his loved ones safe,” Markovich explained. “That’s what makes him so relatable. He’s not some rich guy like Batman or Tony Stark. He’s a regular guy like me who forgets to pay his rent sometimes, or maybe he doesn’t shower for a few weeks. So what if he can’t afford weed? So what if he has to smoke resin? And then everyone at the Applebee’s is looking at him weird because they can all smell the resin smoke on him, so he gets nervous and throws up on the table, then dines and dashes on the Two for Twenty he ordered for himself. That’s just what life is like for a street-level hero.”
Markovich’s brother, Steven, 33, refuses to acknowledge any similarities between his brother and the popular Marvel superhero, despite Greg’s insistence.
“Greg doesn’t have any power,” Steven explained. “Literally, his apartment has no power. He has been sleeping on my couch and using my laptop to ‘look for a job,’ but I can hear his porno step-sisters moaning from across the house. He doesn’t have any responsibilities either. He used to have a hamster, but he burped in its face and its heart stopped. I know hamsters aren’t very durable, but still, a belch that toxic makes me deeply concerned for Greg’s gut health. And I feel like Spider-Man would have at least shown some empathy, maybe had a funeral for the hamster, played some sad Chad Kroeger music or something. Greg just threw it off the fire escape to ‘feed the turkey vultures.’ And I checked two weeks later. The body’s still there. That’s not the kind of Vulture that Spider-Man is dealing with, I don’t think.”
Steven also noted that he occasionally sees Markovitch sitting upside-down on his couch trying to practice kissing with Pokimane’s stream.
“I don’t even want a real girlfriend,” Markovitch confided. “She would just end up dying tragically. That’s why I must make a hero’s sacrifice and love e-girls from afar. Also my uncle’s not doing so hot lately, so fingers crossed for another similarity there soon.”
LOS ANGELES — Local stoner Gus Robertson was reportedly way in over his head after loading up Devolver Digital’s Weedcraft Inc and discovering the gameplay revolved around a significant number of on-screen menus.
“Oh man. Oh jeez. I don’t…I don’t know if I can keep track of all of this right now,” said Robertson as he regretted trying out a higher dose of edibles in anticipation of becoming a virtual weed tycoon. “I really miscalculated how high I was gonna be. I think I’m breathing too fast. Am I breathing too fast?”
Developer Vile Monarch sympathized with Robertson, and hoped he was still enjoying the game even though he got blasted out of his gourd before booting up Steam.
“When we set out to make Weedcraft Inc, we wanted to create a simulator that explored the business of cannabis in an accessible and entertaining way,” said Vile Monarch Producer Lily Chambers. “We understand that the game might be a little intimidating at first look, but we want to assure stoned gamers like Gus that everyone knows you’re high and they’re thinking about you but not saying anything.”
Despite the setback, Robertson endeavored to continue playing, wanting to experience the multiple scenarios and unique cross-breeding mechanics that had attracted him to the game back a few hours ago before he got so stoned that he thought it was a good idea to eat jelly straight from the jar.
“I am going to have a good night tonight. This is my ‘High Night’ and I’m going to be high and I’m going to play this game,” he said to himself. “I am a smart person, and I can read these menus, and I’m not too stoned. I’m a normal guy, who can do normal things and be normal. OK. Let’s do it. I am really fucking high right now.”
At press time, Robertson had finally made it past the tutorial but was struggling to continue after being unable to stop giggling at naming his in-game company “Brewster’s Chill-ions.”
This is sponsored by Devolver Digital! Check out Weedcraft Inc on Steam for just $19.99 and make sure you’re the appropriate level of high before you boot it up and give yourself a panic attack.
DEWEY’S ISLAND — Local man Dewey McCormick woke up shocked the morning after his attempted suicide, when he was reportedly greeted and screamed at by angry mole man Mr. Resetti.
“Yeah, I yelled at the kid. Whaddya expect?” explained dirt-covered Resetti. “You think when things get hard, you can just hit the game over button, punk? No, you can’t. You can’t go through life taking the easy way out, you gotta face your problems head on, like me. You think I like digging these holes? No!!! If I took the easy way out, I’d be crawling around on the surface with you freaks. Neither of us wants that. Let me help you find a good therapist!!!”
According to those familiar with the situation, McCormick was happy for the wake-up call from Resetti.
“I think it was exactly the kind of tough love I needed,” McCormick said. “I’ve been struggling a lot recently. Bees fall out of every tree I shake, I can’t get a good HHA rating and oh yeah. I’m super in debt to Tom Nook. We’re talking a lot of bells; it’s actually so bad, I thought Mr. Resetti was a debt collector when I first saw him.”
“Resetti was really helpful, though,” McCormick continued. “He told me, ‘Life is supposed to have challenges, kid. No Mario without Goombas, no Zelda without weird convoluted puzzles, no quitting until Tom gets his money.’ That really stuck with me. These days I’m doing better; I go down to the beach and collect shells, I plant flowers, and I even got a shovel, so I can start digging money up out of the ground to pay off my debt.”
Resetti insisted, however, that he just wanted to help McCormick.
“Look, what you gotta understand is, Tom runs this whole show. He needs to get paid,” Resetti said, glancing over at his brother Don. “If Tom goes down, we all go down. Them’s the breaks. But, yeah, I just wanted to help the kid. He seems like a good egg, and what I told him is true. There’s no quittin’ in this life, even if your mug is as ugly as his. People love and care about you. Now, SCRAM.”
When reached for comments, Nook Inc. had only this to say: “Oho, that’s simply the cost of doing business, hmmm?”
Over the past decade, there has been an arms race in the theme park world. Universal’s Harry Potter area brought the Wizarding World to full three-dimensional life. Disney shot back with an Avatar-themed area with real floating mountains and one of the greatest simulator rides ever made, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the long-awaited Star Wars land that puts guests in an expansive, in-continuity adventure. And now, Universal is taking the trends of interactive, immersive storytelling to the next level with the big man himself: Mario.
Super Nintendo World, which opened on February 17th at Universal Studios Hollywood, brings to life the world of Nintendo’s beloved game series on a scale never before seen. Have you ever wanted to punch a coin block? You can. Throw a shell in Mario Kart? Go for it. Eat a big ol’ bowl of Spaghetti and Meatballs just like your old pal, Mario? Just save room for the Mushroom Garlic Knots. The land was developed closely with Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto himself was involved in the design process, helping turn the land into more than just a place to ride an attraction or hug Princess Peach. This is a full-on, real-life Mario game.
I’m not kidding. Those coins you “got” from taking your picture hitting a question mark block? There’s an app tracking your score on a leaderboard. There are collectible stamps that act like achievements. There’s an entire game that you can only play if you collect three keys from other parts of the land. They WILL NOT let you in without those keys!
And so, if Super Nintendo World wants to be a real-life video game, we will review it like a video game. In this overview, we’re going to look at the Graphics, the Sound, The Gameplay, and yes, the Fun Factor, to let you, the gamer, know if walking through that warp pipe next to the Transformers ride is going to be a good use of your time. Let’s-a-go!
NOTE: This review is based on two visits to Super Nintendo World before its official opening, one during technical rehearsals and one during an Annual Passholder preview. I did not get to experience all the attractions and there were still some hiccups in operations. Things will most likely smooth out by opening day, so consider this an “Early Access” review.
GRAPHICS
The first thing you’ll notice as you step out of Princess Peach’s castle into Super Nintendo World is just how much movement there is. Everywhere you look, there is a Koopa or Goomba trotting along a path, a Thwomp taking a momentary pause before hurtling to the ground, or a massive Piranha Plant rising up out of the ground. The land crackles with kinetic energy, drawing you in to explore every nook and cranny and see who else might be around. The icon at the center of the land, Mount Beanpole, features multiple moving platforms and animatronics with the iconic end-of-level flagpole at the top. If you poke around, you’ll catch sight of a snow area, an underground cave, a desert zone just out of reach. Everything looks like it was ripped straight out of New Super Mario Bros, immaculately presented with bright colors and pristine detailing.
Hell, even the bathrooms are themed to an underwater level.
Even the line for the headlining attraction “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge” charms, giving you plenty to look at while you navigate the large series of switchbacks. You start off in Yoshi’s Island, depicted in the iconic crayon-inspired style, before entering Bowser’s Castle to get ready for the big race. The castle is where true gamers will have a blast. There are so many references to Mario history packed in here, you’ll want to actually slow down a little and read the title of every book on the shelf.
It’s impressive just how well Universal Creative was able to bring the world of Mario to life here, and I hope the company really invests in keeping the place looking like it does at the opening. How will all of this fare after a year of sitting in the Los Angeles sunlight? What happens when a bean counter asks “do all those coins really need to be spinning?” But for now, I can confidently say you’ve never seen a theme park land like this before.
Also, there’s a robot Yoshi on Mount Beanpole. It’s so good. He just walks around in a little circle moving his little arms. Every time I saw it I would say to my partner, “Aw, look at Yoshi. He’s just having a good time.” What a chill dude.
SOUND
Universal spared no expense in bringing the soundscape of Mario to life. Brand new orchestral renditions of songs from across the Mario series play throughout the land, though my favorite track is the 8-bit version of “Gusty Garden Galaxy” that plays just outside by a warp pipe photo spot.
All of the classic Mario voices are here. Universal wisely did not play any cross-promotional games and featured Charles Martinet as Mario instead of Chris Pratt. You’ll even get to hear a little monologue from the new character Chef Toad while in line at the Toadstool Cafe that will make you say “Wow, I’m not sure I wanted to hear this much dialogue from Toad!”One charming element quickly turns annoying, however: the coin blocks. Every time you hit one, it makes the iconic “ding” sound. Great! How fun. But there are dozens of blocks throughout the land, and people are punching those things constantly. I think you can see where this is going. You eventually tune out the coins, but it certainly makes the first impression a tad overwhelming.
GAMEPLAY
Theme parks have been playing with interactivity as a major selling point for years now. You can buy wands at Harry Potter Land and “cast spells” on interactive elements, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge features an app that tracks your credits that you win on the Millennium Falcon ride and lets you scan lore dumps throughout the area. Super Nintendo World takes this concept a step further. You are not just interacting with the land, you are playing in it.
Throughout the land, there are mini-challenges to defeat classic Mario enemies. My personal favorite was a game where you have to put a massive Piranha Plant to sleep by working with a team to hit as many stopwatches as you can that are scattered around a small area. Each of these games reward you with a key, and earning three will allow you to take on Bowser Jr. for a final showdown. It’s fun, quick, easy, and encourages repeat visits.
This simplicity doesn’t quite transfer to the actual ride. In “Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge,” you don’t just sit as your Mario Kart races through a greatest hits collection of tracks ripped from the game, brought to life in full three-dimensional set pieces and props. You have to drift around corners and fire shells off at Bowser and his Koopalings in order to build up as many coins as possible. This is done through a wheel attached to your lap bar and an AR headset that places Mario and the gang onto the scenery around you. To shoot a shell, you just look at your target and press a button on the wheel.
It’s easy and intuitive, but it took me several rides to be able to focus on the AR characters. I never quite felt like I had a firm grasp on how to best hit the targets, and I often just wanted to ignore them entirely. There isn’t any force feedback to indicate a hit. This is also another recent ride from Universal that has a size limit, and larger guests may struggle to fit in the restraints. Considering this is a slow-moving ride that doesn’t require more than a lap bar, it’s odd to have it be so inaccessible to some audiences.
So, despite some quibbles with the ride, it seems like Universal has created the ultimate interactive Mario experience, right? Well, there’s a catch, and it’s one that gamers will know very well. That’s right, it’s microtransactions.
I hope you brought real life coins too!
In order to activate any of these games track your coin count, or earn achievements, you must buy a $40 “Power-Up Band,” which is essentially a slap bracelet with an NFC chip at the center. There’s six designs to choose from, each corresponding to a different character (I, of course, picked my main man Yoshi). You scan the band into the Universal app, and then you can punch those coin blocks to your heart’s content. As long as one person in your party has a band, you can still play the group games like the Pirahna Plant or Bowser Jr. But if you want the full experience, be prepared to pony up. I also found that the band struggled to stay secure around my wrist, and I often reverted to holding it in my hand.
FUN FACTOR
I strongly recommend you go to Universal Studios Hollywood to see Super Nintendo World. Despite the steep upcharge on Power-Up Bands and one somewhat disappointing ride, I believe it is absolutely worth the trip. This is a land made for Nintendo fans. It’s identified what is so fantastic about Mario and brought it to life. There is so much fun to be had here in just walking around and taking in the sights, listening to the music, poking around the hidden paths and corners.
GREEN BAY, Wisc. — A dentist reportedly unlocked a platinum trophy after pulling a left canine, the last tooth he needed to have finally pulled every tooth.
“It’s difficult enough pulling one tooth, let alone all of them,” said Dr. Michael Armstrong, wiping sweat from his forehead. “And that’s if you can even get the right ones to spawn. I’ve been waiting for this last one for years. The drop rate is so low that I almost gave up. It was a pretty grueling process.”
Washing blood from his hands, Armstrong claimed the trophy was nice, but that he enjoyed the journey itself most of all.
“It’s definitely something I wanted to do, and not something that I was obsessively chasing out of some perfectionist compulsion. Not necessarily enjoyable, but satisfying. Do I regret all the time I spent to get here, when I could have been enjoying new experiences?” Armstrong asked, gazing forlornly at a nearby picture of him when he was younger. He did not answer.
Dental hygienist Amber York claimed Armstrong still didn’t seem happy despite unlocking the platinum trophy.
“He’s been obsessively chasing that trophy for decades. I’m glad it’s over now. He was not having a good time,” said York, who doesn’t track her dental achievements. “He’d be working on people with a guide open next to him, sucking all the fun out of it. It’s more fun when you can just explore and discover how to remove the teeth on your own.”
At press time, Armstrong announced his retirement from dentistry, stating he longer felt the need to continue after unlocking the platinum trophy.
TOKYO — In celebration of March 10, the official Mario holiday, legendary Nintendo executive Shigeru Miyamoto reportedly pardoned a Sonic Fan from execution.
“Today we come together to celebrate a longstanding icon of video games, and what better way to honor him than a show of mercy?” Miyamoto said, posing with a trophy Sonic Fan at a press conference. “On a day that breeds so much slaughter, it’s a nice gesture to let one of Mario’s enemies go free. Today I will not be executing this devoted Sonic fanboy, he’s one of the lucky ones. As for next year? Well, only time will tell. But enjoy your freedom today, and live another revolution around the sun enjoying terrible, disappointing games.”
The pardoned Sonic fan, Rylie Meyers, claimed to have mixed feelings about being saved by the Nintendo developer.
“Mario day is a dreaded day of fear and treachery for all Sonic fans, I’m just grateful Miyamoto was merciful to me this year,” Meyers said. “Every March 10 the fandom hunkers down awaiting the horrible atrocities that may be inflicted upon them by the nation, it’s important to remember the genocide that created this so-called holiday My heart goes out to all the unlucky Sonic fans who had to die today for the glorification of the Italian plumber, and I feel even worse for the even more unlucky Sonic fans like myself who survive and have to keep playing Sonic games.”
At press time, sources at Nintendo reported that Miyamoto also attempted to pardon a Ratchet and Clank fan as well, but none could be located in the entire nation.
