One particular plus when to comes to events like PAX East is being able to see just how varied a publisher’s lineup can become over time. And when it comes to Brace Yourself Games, they always seem to build their variety up with two new games showcased at each notable PAX appearance. At PAX West least year, they showcased the monster-slaying rhythm game spin-offRift of the NecroDancerand the unique turn-based strategy titleGodless.And now at PAX East this year, they added two more titles from two other difference genres to their lineup: a sci-fi deckbuilding game called Cobalt Core and a co-op twin-stick seafaring shooter called Super Raft Boat Together. Another two notably different games and another two potential successes to watch out for.
Starting off with Rocket Rat Games' Cobalt Core, we get familiarity at first when we see the traditional branching map of combat encounters and other events, and we learn about our initial deckbuilding action. But things also immediately take a unique twist when we get into some spaceship combat, and we see that not only are cards used for attack and combat here, but movement as well. The enemy ship at the tops shows just what areas their lasers are about to fire in, and we have to either play some cards to move out of the way, or ones that raise shields to prepare for incoming attacks, or both. Not only do you also have to try and find a way to position yourself in order to deal with attacks, you also have to line up your weapons as well for retaliation, especially if it turns out that your enemy has vital weak points.
It’s a clever approach to the genre, especially once you also starts dealing with cards that mix movement and combat at once, or when you have to work with obstacles such as asteroids that block attacks, as seen in the first boss encounter. Where the game gets even more clever is in selecting the three anthropomorphic critters that make up your screw, each one bringing a unique set of cards to the deck. More importantly, each one brings their own stories that progress as you go along, as all of them attempt to escape a time loop that they’ve apparently been in for a while according to other character you come across. Rocket Rat have already proven that they can make one clever spaceship-themed game withSunshine Heavy Industries,and it looks like Cobalt Core will give them a second winner as well.
Moving from the dark void of space to the wide void of the ocean, Shattered Journal Games were up next with Super Raft Boat Together, a co-op sequel to the original free-to-play game from 2021. Admittedly, I never got around to playing it yet, but this sequel appears to be shaping up to be an action-packed treat for fans and newcomers alike. The premise is simple, the world is flooded, all you have left is a giant raft boat, and you and your friends have to find a way to sail it to the Final Island. The twist is that you’re able to have each section of your raft destroyed as you go along, but also rebuild it with whatever you collect, even creating different types of planks at times.
All that said, I chose to play as the shark character, which kind of nullified the reliance on the raft. As it turns out, the character has to take frequent dips in water, lest they end up dying. While in the water, though, they can jump out in order to bite enemies and deal damage. Of course, they also can’t find their guns while in water, and considering that I was armed with a grenade launcher, I jumped at any chance to stay on the raft. Me and the two other players with me had to properly watch out for each other, using our unique skills in whatever way helped us succeed, fighting off armies of flying fish, ghosts and other sea creatures during each round. After spending all of our hard-earned money on upgrades and health at the shop, it was time to face the Kraken…who is an unbeatable boss for now.
While Super Raft Boat Together wasn’t breaking the mold as much as Cobalt Core, it still proved to be quite fun, especially when you experience the chaotic action with friends. But you can’t go wrong with either game when it comes to an enjoyable experience, or better yet, check out both of them when they come out later on. They look like another pair of winners for Brace Yourself, and I can’t wait for whatever pair (or more) they announce next…
