After attending PAX South 2015, I was certainly satisfied with the experience of my first PAX ever. There were many games, despite PAX South being in its first year of operation, and I’ve compiled my Top 3 picks after playing and reviewing all of my options:
#3 – Brawlhalla
From indie dev “Blue Mammoth Games,” Brawlhalla is a free-to-play 2D platform fighting game. Okay, I’ll just say it: the game is very similar to Super Smash Bros. But once you get past that thought in your mind, you’ll enjoy this simple brawler without any gimmicks or pay walls. Play now in Early Access on Steam, and become one of the many legends (characters) to choose from, each with their own unique movesets and quirks. At PAX, we were just playing local multiplayer skirmishes, but when you play at your own home, you’ll also have the choice to take your battles online and test your might!
#2 – Gigantic
I had the pleasure of meeting the team behind the Gigantic game, who call themselves “Motiga.” They couldn’t have been nicer and they certainly put on the best presentation within their booth area, as well as hosting their own party room of sorts, with epic game art showing off their intriguing character roster. Think of the game as a free-to-play “shooter MOBA” where your team of 5 heroes will fight alongside a… well, Gigantic “Guardian” in an epic struggle to reach the other team’s Guardian and finish it off in battle. Just like all great MOBA games, Gigantic has many characters to choose from, and a team that knows how to use the specific strengths of their characters can really turn the tide in a close battle. The set-up that Motiga had also was really optimal for how this game should be played: amazing top-flight Alienware computers, teammates sitting next to each other in a line unable to see the opponents’ screens on the other side, and comfy headsets with mics for team communication. I particularly enjoyed playing the divine healer, Vadasi, and being in a supportive role for my team. But there is definitely a character for everyone, from tanks to stealthy assassins to sorcerers and mages. Sign up to enter the Gigantic beta now!
#1 – Knight Squad
An incredibly fun game by ChainsAwesome Games that I fear could’ve been over-looked or underestimated. Knight Squad is an 8 player top-down Bomberman meets Gauntlet game. You and your friends can engage in crazy sword-fights where one hit is enough to take anyone down. The game also contains many weapons and power-ups, like bows & arrows, a ray gun, super speed, and more. I also found enjoyment out of being able to choose from so many different game modes: Play 4 vs 4 matches, capture the flag games, or just go free for all in a holy Grail or a Last Man Standing game (there’s even a giant-rock soccer game that was loads of fun). This is definitely a game to play with your friends, and will be out on early-access in November 2015. Knight Squad was so addicting and worked as a perfectly simple multiplayer game that everyone could get into.
Thank you so much for reading my top 3 games of PAX South, but now I am curious to know what your top 3 picks would be! Sound off in the comments!