Japanese pixel art strategy game

It’s been three years since Jonathan Holmes squealed overC-Wars, “a post-apocalyptic ARPG + RTS + OMG.” And it’s not even out yet. Take that, Kickstarter backers! On the other hand, the game does exist in a playable state, so there are more egregious crowd-funded campaigns yet. I remember some asshole once got $1,500 to go to Japan and write a few funny blog postsand he never did. The end goal was literally a vacation and he couldn’t deliver.

C-Warshas been on Steam inEarly Accessfor about half a year — it’s even 25% off right now — but I caught it last week during the Game Developers Conference and spent a week trying to come up with any take more scalding than, “C’mon, guys, ‘C-Wars’is a bad titlefor anything other than vaginal warfare.”

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The real-time take on pixellated tile tactics was hard to grasp in quick demo form, especially one scaled for “fun” rather than against a typical learning curve. So for my failings (back to start, do not pass go, this isRogue-like) with the standard character knifing and shooting zombos (on the moon, a scourge let loose by way of evil mega corps, a cyberpunk staple), I then switched characters to the man in the mech — my favorite Michael Jackson song — with the huge sword that hit for mad tiles of damage.

I still like the art, butC-Warsis a far cry from how its concept debut three years ago. That’s not inherently bad, even if its original form was more reminiscent forMega Man‘sBattle Networksub-series, which is good. For the first few games, at least.

John and Molly sitting on the park bench

Close up shot of Marissa Marcel starring in Ambrosio

Kukrushka sitting in a meadow

Lightkeeper pointing his firearm overlapped against the lighthouse background

Overseer looking over the balcony in opening cutscene of Funeralopolis

Edited image of Super Imposter looking through window in No I’m not a Human demo cutscene with thin man and FEMA inside the house

Indie game collage of Blue Prince, KARMA, and The Midnight Walk

Close up shot of Jackie in the Box

Silhouette of a man getting shot as Mick Carter stands behind cover