While exploring PAX East there are so many games of all types and quality, occasionally I see some that really catch my interest. These are games with interesting concepts or striking visuals that I want to spend a little more time with.

Two on the first day caught my eye, Disco Samurai and Fallen Aces. Very different styles of games, but both had something special that made them stand out.

Disco Samurai

Located in the Games from Poland booth Disco Samurai was an instant try for me with it’s striking visuals and interesting premise. In the game all strikes, blocks and actions need to be timed to a beat to be successful.

The demo is essentially a tutorial level where skills are slowly handed out so the mechanics can be mastered. Hear the music, time the beat and slice, parry, kick or shoot enemies if successful. Miss the beat and you take damage, this results in quick deaths if you can’t keep up with the music.

Thankfully the reloads after death are near instantaneous so it never felt like s alog to try again. Add to the complexity of the beat system the enemies also have differnt attak patterns. Some strike once, others multiple times in a row while others block or shoot their own guns.

Learning the enemy types and keeping on top of the skills at your disposal is key to the magic this game generates. Much like martial arts game Sifu, when you click with the mechanics the game just feels so good to experience.

The music itself is amazing, a mix of techno and electronica beats that pull the action along. A very cool feature is custom mode where you can upload your music and replay a level with your own music.

I was really impressed with Disco Samurai, the musical experience came across even on the crowded floor of the conference. There is no firm launch date yet for the game, but it will be released later this year on Steam.

Fallen Aces

Billed as a crime noir FPS leverage peak 90’s first person technology and a twisted sense of humor I jumped at a chance to try Fallen Aces. The game certainly did not disapoint and I left wanting to see more of this depraved and colorful game.

Fallen Aces focuses around a mystery of, the A.C.E.S. watchful guardians of Switchblade City, being killed one by one and the main character gets pulled into the missle of the mystery. The story is laid out comic book style, but with a fully voiced cast giving their best period era gangster voices. The result is a story that is hilarious in a Dick Tracy kind of way.

Once the game proper begins it surprises right away. It may look like a shinier Duke Nukem or Doom set in 50’s style mobster era, but plays like a modern game. Weapons are grabable from everywhere, things like a bottle, bat, pipe from a wall or chair can be accessed and used at will.

The weapons degrade and the bottle itself was particular cool, hot someone a few times and it shatters starting to cause slashing damage. The levels are inventive, packed with alternate routes and weapons to use.

This is a brawling game at heart, although there are guns to be had, so it is especially fun when going fist to fist (or bat) with someone else. Blocking is effective, as is charged punches and if an enemy is staggered they can be taken out with a finishing blow.

As I explored the demo levels there were plenty of memos, recordings and clues to find to piece together what is happening to the A.C.E.S. as well as the internal politics of the bad guys. The dialogue itself is full cheesy mob lingo and swagger and it is hilarious even as it pushes the game along.

This was a true gem at PAX East and I was happy top see the lines where long the entire conference. It helped that the lead artist was there signing throughout the show and special guest Jenna Lynn Meowri was repping the game in period appropriate goon cosplay.

Fallen Aces is releasing ‘soon’ according to the developer and a demo can be enjoyed on Steam while you wait. Don’t fuggedabout this game as it will be a blast based on what I tried out at PAX East.