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This week on XBLIG Fridays, I bring you a game that you may have already heard of. This game was part of the Indie Games Winter Uprising, an event held by some XBLIG developers about a year ago who wanted to show that the Indie Games store wasn't just full of Avatar games and shovelware, and was so successful Microsoft gave them a spot on the front page. Most of the games in the Uprising were pretty good, and this satire-laden RPG was no exception. Let's get to the meat of the story…
Cthulhu Saves the World (I'll call it CSW from now on), a retro styled RPG by Zeboyd Games, might tell you from the title that it isn't the average RPG. If you think you're getting into an average, 'save the world and the princess' turn-based RPG, then you'd be wrong… sorta. See, in CSW, everyone's favorite Elder God finds his powers stripped away from him, and the only solution? Being heroic and helping the world in need. The game coins the term "Save the world to destroy it!", and it can't be closer to the truth. Of course, given the absurd setting, CSW is a parody RPG, and makes fun of itself and the RPG genre quite a bit.
If you glance at a few screenshots, you'll find that CSW is styled like an SNES RPG. The graphics, while not the best, are pretty nice looking. This game also prides itself about its fast pace, in a bit of mockery to the plodding pace of most RPGs. In addition, things like the limited number of encounters per area and the party getting fully healed after every battle help to keep your progress going strong. Because of this, however, the game only lasts about ten hours, though it's chock full of story and laughs.
Much like the rest of the game, the battle system is also very fast paced. Most of it is like a typical old-school turn-based RPG (though in fast-forward), but an interesting twist is the Insanity effect. Certain moves can turn enemies insane, which has a different effect based on the enemy. Most enemies will become weaker and easier to kill, but others can become super powerful, so you have to be careful when using the skills. It adds a nice, unique touch to an otherwise ho-hum battling.
In addition, there is a bit of a branching level system. Every time a character levels up, you can choose between their A or B level up. In other words, you can choose the type of skill you'll get, or whether your characters will be more balanced or more built towards a particular stat. While there isn't a lot of customization involved, it's a bit better than getting the average static characters in these types of RPGs.
Oh no, Cthulhu has fourth-wall breaking superpowers!
Cthulhu Saves the World really is a special flower in the realm of XBLIG. While there are plenty of games in the service that tries to provide satirical value, CSW is one of the few that actually manages to pull it off. Any RPG fan can enjoy its inside jokes and the fast-gameplay, and anyone else can download the demo and see if it's their cup of tea. Also, since the game is short, it's perfect for a weekend romp through the world of the heroic Cthulhu.
Interested? Cthulhu Saves the World is 240 MS Points ($3), and you can check out the game here. In addition, you might want to check out is spiritual predecessor, Breath of Death VII: The Beginning, which is also 240 MS Points ($3) for some more parody-ridden retro goodness, and you can see more about it here.
Got a game you discovered on XBLIG you want shown to the world? Post it in the comments (and while I didn't mention this before, I'll give you credit for the find, of course)!