On a hot day, the cozy games at the SAGE: South Australian Game Exhibition were appropriately cool.

On a hot day, the cozy games at the SAGE: South Australian Game Exhibition were appropriately cool.

Adelaide is really laid back. Its vibrant alleyways, sprawling parklands, palindromic place names, enormous donuts, and incredibly reasonably priced public transportation system are all things I adore. In addition to "cycling everywhere" and "eating one of everything," I can now add the South Australian Game Exhibition to my list of things to do in Adelaide. A chilly hall was ideal because it was a scorching weekend. SAGE had a good ambiance that was halfway between that of a big Melbourne PAX and a tiny Sydney Beer and Pixels. Since every exhibitor at SAGE was from South Australia, it was wonderful to observe just what this particular community is like.

Lokam Yakshini
I instantly felt a nostalgic longing for a console I never had after playing Yakshini Lokam. Take a look at Anthony Stiller's contemporary Commodore 64 games. Although these are more thematically "mid 2010s indie" games, having had a C64, these colors, forms, and noises immediately relate to my ingrained expectations for the platform. I wish I had done a better job of persuading my dad to purchase a Game Boy (for which this was made) after watching Yakshini Lokam. It tells the story of a family who, during an otherwise typical game night, are taken to an ancient realm. Through playing traditional games and encountering supernatural creatures, they learn about various facets of their Indian culture.

Developer Orlando Mee stated at SAGE, "I want to honor my Anglo-Indian heritage."Orlando Mee, a developer at SAGE, stated, "I want to honor my Anglo-Indian roots and commemorate India's enormous contribution to the board game industry, which dates back thousands of years. Snakes and Ladders, the forerunner of chess, are two examples of games that most people are unaware originated in India. Since controlling strategic placement and luck calls for serious consideration, I found learning to play the first of these to be enjoyable. In order to find more cowrie shells, you roll the shell die and then take many steps in one direction, avoiding obstructions. The breadth of the minigames also nicely fits the platform's constraints, and Mee states, "The 8-bit graphics are an excellent way to embody the wholesome/whimsical aesthetic I am aiming for." I observed SAGE participants reminiscing about their early Game Boy experiences. I may have been a bit envious.

Crawler Candy
I was immediately struck by Candy Crawler's intense Homer in the Land of Chocolate vibe. Trees, plants, and deadly foes are all candy. I armed myself with rolling pins and baguettes so I could crush some chocolates and please my eager customers. In contrast to The Simpsons, my experience illustrates why candy might be offered for "half price" in a world where everything is candy. Since harvesting candy is incredibly risky, it is clear that people are looking for my skilled fighting abilities. Cult of the Lamb is slightly referenced throughout the gameplay loop. Enter a dungeon, destroy ingredients, make goods, sell them, and eventually improve both your store and yourself.Although the SAGE demo is still in its early stages of development, I can already see how delicious it may become.

Gaining wealth through successful dungeon play enhances your home base and battle skills, enabling you to play even more effectively. Future iterations should hopefully feature a comprehensive combat control system that makes use of the player's increasing strength. Why? A crowd of marshmallows handed me my ass. After that, I received a 3.5-star rating from a customer, which seems severe considering the awful day I was having. This game has the potential to be quite enjoyable with some polish and balancing. Try the previously mentioned Anthony Stiller's Chef's Quest for C64 while you're waiting.

Bums on the Beach
I apologize, but I am the obnoxious person that is unable to locate misplaced items. My toothbrush is useless if someone in the family knocks it off the sink. It might as well be brushing the teeth of some other creature on a separate plane of existence now, even if it has only moved 10 centimeters. As you read on, keep in mind that I don't play many hidden object games. There is a timer on Beach Bums. It also features an elderly, nude man who says, in a confused tone, "I don't know what happened to my underpants." I do not know of a more difficult circumstance in which to cast someone who is unable to locate anything.

Everyone's equipment was washed away by a tidal wave, and I have to return it? "SIR, DO NOT WORRY. I scream, trying to examine everything but his weak, bare body, "I'LL FIND YOUR UNDERPANTS." Do not be concerned. I am merely making a joke. Beach Bums is amazing. As the timer goes off, the level music changes from corny elevator jazz to wild chromatic harmony, and the irreverent yet adorable artwork is a playful way to accept failure aurally. In a manner similar to Unpacking, I also began to get to know the characters after completing the few levels that were offered at SAGE. The head-popping platformer Plumbo, the ultra-gory End of Ember, and the ambitious role-playing game Scourge of the Reptiles were examples of contrast.