Special Coverage | BRAZIL’S INDEPENDENT GAMES FESTIVAL 2021 – pt. 4

Special Coverage | BRAZIL’S INDEPENDENT GAMES FESTIVAL 2021 – pt. 4

Here we are, my friends, for the fourth article about our Brazil’s Independent Games Festival 2021 – or BIG Festival 2021 – coverage. After presenting the show, the games running for Best Game and games running for Best Art, today we bring to you the games that ran for Best Sound.

And without further ado, let’s know these games!

Best Sound

A Short Hike

A Short Hike, from the Canadian studio Whippoorwill Limited (@adamgryu)

And here it is once again! After listing A Short Hike in both Best Game and Best Art lists, it comes as a finalist to another prize.

If you don’t remember it, A Short Hike is a game about exploration and connection with nature. Controlling a bird hiker, you will hike, climb, and soar through the mountainside landscapes of hawk peak provincial park. Follow existent traits or make your way to the summit while befriending other hikers, looking for hidden treasures, and admiring the view along the way.

The game was released for PCs and Switch in 2019, with no demo available.

As mentioned above, the title also ran for Best Game and Best Art of the Festival.

Blind Drive

Blind Drive, from the Israelian studio Lo-Fi People (@lofipeople)

One of the most creative projects I’ve seen in the last few years, I promise you Blind Drive is going to be one hell of an experience! Get yourself a good headset to fully enjoy this game because it is fully experienced through your ears.

In this twisted action game with high doses of comedy, you are a blindfolded man driving a car against traffic! Avoid accidents in the traffic, angry drivers yelling at you, and the cops on your tail – all of it using only the sound!

This little gem was released in March and is available for mobiles and PCs. There’s no free demo available, but you can have the whole experience of the tile on Steam.

Blind Drive was also indicated for Best Art and Best Game prizes.

Figment 2: Creed Valley

Figment 2: Creed Valley, from the Danish studio Bedtime Digital Games (@BedtimeDG)

One more game we have already met in one of our last articles. Figment 2: Creed Valley is an action-adventure game that takes place inside the human mind. Nightmares are spreading, and it’s up to Dusty, the Mind’s courage, to restore peace. Prepare for some puzzles and interesting musical boss fights.

This game is coming soon, and you can try its prologue on Steam.

Figment 2: Creed Valley also ran for Best Game and Best Art.

Genesis Noir

Genesis Noir, from the American studio Feral Cat Den (@feralcatden)

And here’s our winner of the Best Sound prize in BIG 2021. I must say that I didn’t see it coming, but as Vicci mentioned in her review, classic jazz and orchestrated music combination made the design of the game stand out to another degree. So it’s a prize fully deserved for the team of Feral Cat Den.

In this very untraditional title, you will find yourself caught in a love triangle with cosmic beings with catastrophic proportions: the love of your life is about to be murdered by nothing less than the Big Bang, and it’s up to you to prevent it or to destroy the universe to save her.

The game is available for Switch, PCs, and Xbox, where it’s included on Game Pass.  

Genesis Noir was also running for Innovation, Best Art, and Best Game.

In Other Waters

In Other Waters, from the British studio Jump Over The Age (@JumpOvertheAge)

In Other Waters is a very original narrative exploration game where you guide a biologist studying and exploring an alien ocean. With its minimalist visuals, this game has been very well received by the media on its release back in 2020.

The game is available for Switch and PCs. There’s no demo available for it, though.

Pathologic 2

Pathologic 2, from the Russian Studio Ice-Pick Lodge (@IcePickLodge)

Pathologic 2 is a survival game where you play as the surgeon Artemy Burakh in a quest to find a cure for a disease that plagues his homeland within 12 days. First released in May 2019 for PCs, we reviewed its Xbox version in early 2020.

The game is available for Xbox and Steam.

Pathologic 2 was also running for Best Game, Best Narrative, and Best Gameplay.

Red Ronin

Red Ronin, from the Brazilian Wired Dreams Studio (@Thi_o_Oliveira)

A tactical turn-based dash and slash. That’s how the Brazilian Studio (the first to figure between our finalists) define their game Red Ronin. Here you will guide a ronin and her robot in a quest for vengeance against those who betrayed her in a cyberpunk future – one turn at a time.

Red Ronin was released for PCs in March. We look forward to seeing this title on more platforms soon.

Red Ronin was also running for Best Game: Brazil.

Symphonia

Symphonia, from the French Animation/VFX School ISART Digital (@isartdigital)

Symphonia is a beautiful platformer where you play as a brave violinist in a musical quest to understand your role in this universe and play the best Concerto! An authentic piece of art in the shape of a game.

This little jewel is available for PCs and we hope to see it available for other platforms in the future.

Symphonia also ran for Best Game by Students.

Tubelive

Tubelive, from the Brazilian Hammerfist Studios (@Hammerfistgames)

Become a famous YouTube streamer and the best gamer in the world! Control your channel, play tons of minigames and increase your audience while building an empire from your bedroom. And be prepared to face the seven evil YouTubers to win the heart of your girl.

This exciting game was released back in Mai 2020 and is available for PCs.

Vectronom

Vectronom, from the German studio Ludopium (@ludopium)

As their developers describe it, Vectronom is a hypnotic puzzle game about music, geometry, and flow. Controlling a jumping cube, you will traverse geometric stages that change according to the beat of engaging electronic music.

The game is available for mobile, Switch, and Steam, where it has a free demo available for you!

And here it is. One more list of finalists brought to you. Tomorrow I’ll present to you another list of games exhibited at this fantastic festival.

See you soon!