Just hearing that a game mixes two genres doesn’t usually excite me. It may be a useful shortcut, but there are only so many roguelike deck builders I can take. Every once in a while, though, a mashup pops up that makes me think, “well, that doesn’t sound right,” and my ears perk up like a dog that’s learned to spell “walk.” Today, that mashup comes in the form of Brokensides, a psychological horror game in which you play as a violent sea rabbit recently released from prison after committing a cardinal crime.
Brokensides is the latest bizarre release from developer FUNKYHEART jusicce, and the surreal and eerie vibes return in this one. The landscapes look like a mix of old-school wireframe 3D, poorly rendered models with strange colors, and ASCII art, all merging into a wonderfully strange and sterile world. It’s all pretty open and desolate, full of 2D characters with varying existences (“Meet nasty creatures, they’ll talk to you even if you stink!!) and glass bodies to struggle with.
Given that there’s only one trailer so far, it’s a little hard to get the feel of the combat, but it’s similar to Slowclap’s Absolver, although it focuses more on streetbrawl-style combat. I’m a big fan of the way enemies break into large, crystalline pieces, the plethora of pieces flying everywhere with a well-timed hit. And yes, you can both dropkick and suplex them, so this game definitely has the juice in that regard.
The game’s Steam page also notes, charmingly, that “while you explore, you can pose and sit wherever you want!! Even if you don’t deserve it!!” Cute! Brokenside was only just announced, so it’s still early. There’s no release date to speak of, not even a release window or year, so for now you’ll just have to join me for by throwing him a wishlist on Steam.
