Playing Every Game in the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality
PEGBRJE: ‘Out The Window: a car trip sim’ and ‘Moonstone Deep’
Simplicity and Expansive
Out The Window: a car trip sim is an infinite runner sim by Phoebe Shalloway, aka girl_debord, and featured earlier with Equaboreal 12.21. This time, players will take the extremely relatable path of watching the countryside roll by on a road trip and making up someone to accompany them on the outside.
At its core, Out The Window is an expansion on infinite runners to shift the focus to a more narrative space. If players are familiar with Google Chrome’s dinosaur runner and the old Flash games of the same variety (RIP Flash), then the gameplay will be instantly familiar. With only a single button, players will jump to avoid obstacles as their character of choice slowly builds up speed. Each obstacle cleared will give a point, and lives can be collected so that a single misstep will not result in an immediate end. For those that are able to beat their own high score, upon losing they will be given a ‘snack coin’ which can be traded in at gas stations for goodies. This will reset the game back to zeroes, so be wary of stopping if on a hot streak.
This is not why you play Out The Window, however; it’s because we’ve all done this at some time in our lives. We have all stared out the window of a car, peering at the landscape as it zooms by with your destination becoming closer. With seemingly nothing to do and no interest in talking with those around you, your imagination runs wild.
Suddenly, a figure appears outside your window, and they run along over the scenery, interacting with it. As a kid, it was Naruto, or a Pokemon or a superpowered version of myself doing parkour. As an adult, it is whatever show or novel character I most recently read. There’s a joy in just letting your mind drift and letting the scenery engulf you, with the only annoyance being how uncomfortable the seat is and the glare of the sun on the vehicle window. Getting to stop will whisk away that character, but once the car goes again they’ll be waiting.
If you wish to relive that whimsical feeling, this is a fun little game to pass the time and bring that aesthetic back.
Moonstone Deep is a massive retro RPG crafted by criacuervos, an indie developer based out of Switzerland. Players will follow the story of Ryan, a thief who is down on their luck and broke. Looking for a new gig, he heads towards Moonstone hoping to catch a big break, and ends up finding himself intertwined with the people there.
Players will delve in to a world of magic, where players will recruit members to round out their party of four. They’ll start in Moonstone with the simple task of assisting with the mine, interacting with everyone to get as much information as possible while making decisions on how they will act and be perceived. Who they bring with them is completely dependent on how the player wants to play, either in a defensive or offensive manner. Just remember that Ryan is a thief first and foremost. His skills with a lockpick will come in handy and he knows his way around a fight, but he will need a bit more support if he is to delve through the mines unscathed.
In terms of combat, JRPG fans will recognize the style instantly as encounters will bring them to a turn-based combat with different attacks, spells and statuses. Enemies and allies alike will have weaknesses and resistances to certain abilities. Identifying them will ensure that the party survives to fight another day. Special attacks also make an appearance, which use a resource accumulated by performing successful moves against enemies. This resource carries over from fight to fight, so do not worry about needing to use them before combat ends.
This is just a vertical slice of Moonstone Deep, which spirals out of control as the game continues. There is so much to do that it is a bit daunting. Again, those who play JRPGs will be familiar with this sudden increase in content.
If you love this retro style and enjoy games with dozens of characters and options, this is a perfect adventure to go on. There is also a demo to try out the game if you are a bit unsure.
