Humble Monthly Bundle - July 2019 - Review and Discussion Thread . Full Unlock 7/5/19

[RanceJustice]

It's that time again, the next Humble Monthly Bundle is about to arrive! For those unaware of Humble Monthly Bundles, please see my more in-depth introduction here during my first thread from April 2017 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-april-review-and-discussion-thread.1929347 - I'll just get right into it again!

For those interested, here are all my back Humble Monthly overviews..

May - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-may-review-and-discussion-thread.1931795/
June - (Missed writing one)
July - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-july-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1939318/
August - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...st-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1941294/
September - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1943055/
October - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1945470/
November - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1947730/
December - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...er-2017-review-and-discussion-thread.1949477/
Jan2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...ry-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1951895/
Feb2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...ry-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1953943/
March 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humble-monthly-bundle-march-2018-review-and-discussion-thread.1956171/
April 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...-release-date-4-6-18.1957941/#post-1043572129
May 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-5-4-18.1959906/
June 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-6-1-18.1961480/
July 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-7-6-18.1963715/
August 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-8-3-18.1965425/
September 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-release-date-9-7-18.1966820/
October 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...scussion-thread-release-date-10-5-18.1969171/
November 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...scussion-thread-full-unlock-11-02-18.1970520/
December 2018 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...iscussion-thread-full-unlock-12-6-18.1974264/
January 2019 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...scussion-thread-full-unlock-01-04-19.1975165/
February 2019 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...d-full-unlock-2-1-19.1976661/#post-1044065542
March 2019 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...-discussion-thread-full-unlock-3-1-19.1977810
April 2019 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...discussion-thread-full-unlock-4-5-19.1979767/
May 2019 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...discussion-thread-full-unlock-5-3-19.1980924/
June 2019 - https://hardforum.com/threads/humbl...discussion-thread-full-unlock-6-7-19.1982600/

July Early Unlocks

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice ($30, Windows) - One of the hallmark titles this month is this BAFTA winning title. In Hellblade, titular heroine Senua is a Celtic warrior who's lover was slain by invading Vikings. In her grief, she attempted to stalk her way through the Viking / Nordic underworld of Helheim in order to reclaim his soul that they may be together once again or at least find peace. While many games can be described as "Atmospheric", in Hellblade this is probably the most appropriate and central descriptor of the game, second only to the lens by which that atmosphere is viewed - mental illness. Senua is afflicted with mental illness, particularly that of the psychotic break variety, and this informs everything in the game from per perception of the game world to mechanics and beyond. The developers spent a lot of time researching psychiatry, as well as working directly with neuroscientists and people who have experienced psychosis, which leads to what may be the most realistic portrayal of the experience in gaming to date.

Mechanically the game draws from several genres from the story-focused "walking simulator", to some light puzzling, to 3rd person combat reminiscent of Dark Souls. While it may not be quite as in depth in terms of equipment or combat skills, its worth mentioning that as mentioned, her illness and perception of the world influences everything and there is a progressive mechanic of her mental state worsening every death - both those caused by player error and not. Psychosis mechanics offer both visual and auditory hallucinations with can confound your and Senua's progress ; multiple voices may be screaming at you to run or attack, when there is a distant softer voice that offers the true answer to your predicament, for instance. Its a little difficult to describe (without significant spoliers) the pervasiveness of these mechanics, but it both makes for a compelling story and unique gameplay. In the wake of their multiple awards won, the developers published a video trailer showcasing the various comments/feedback they've gotten from players who experienced this sort of mental illness and/or the family / friends of those who did, attesting to the accuracy and in some cases, that understanding Senua's journey helped them understand what a family member was going through. It may not be the kind of campy demon slaying fun or jump-scare horror one expects of a "journey through the underworld" title, but should the above be true it sounds like Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is well worth approaching with an open mind.



Moonlighter ($20, Win/Mac/Linux) - Dungeon crawling, shop keeping fun awaits this month with Moonlighter! Definitely worthy of showcasing the month's titles, Moonlighter is a crowdfunding success story, melding various gameplay dynamics and polishing them to a sheen, the whole more than constituent parts. With the archeological discovery of The Gates, a series of ancient portals to shifting dimensions and realities, Rynoka village was built as a waystation to supply the adventurers tackling expeditions. As the years wore on however, eventually these campaigns slowed and so did Rynoka. Players meet the protagonist, Will, a young shopkeeper with dreams of adventure and tales of the village's past in mind! Against better judgement, he sets off for the Gates in order to find items worth selling in his small shop, in order to fund future expeditions...and so it goes!

Merging many styles of play, Moonlighter offers much to enjoy. Adventures in The Gates themselves, are top-down adventure-RPG real time combat, not unlike "The Binding of Isaac" or certain entries in the "The Legend of Zelda" series being the progenitor in the minds of many. The Gates offer a "rogue-lite" shifting setup, procedural generated to explore each time. Stocked with a wealth of hostile creatures and enemies, the goal of these expeditions are the items dropped upon vanquishing them. Will only has a certain amount of inventory space in terms of what can be carried, be it items to help within the dungeon itself such as HP restoring potions or spoils to carry out. Deciding when to call it quits for a given run and what to take out with you is important, as if you fall you'll lose everything collected! There are other mechanics as well, such as temporarily locking the layound and keeping it from shuffing to something new in the hopes of completing a given run, including mini bosses, bosses, and overlords who drop some of the rarest materials. Coming out of the dungeon bulging with loot, Will then takes to his job at his item shop, selling the wares he collected. Inspired by the "Shoppe Keep" and "Recettear" series, players must price their loot and watch customers in the shop, adjusting as need be if too low or too high, to ensure a fair return. There is also a very "Stardew Valley" , "Graveyard Keeper", "Staxel", or other town-life sim dimension to the game, as Will can take the items and money to not just upgrade his gear for future expeditions into The Gates, but also to expand the town. Talking to townsfolk doesnt just give the opportunity for lore and plot development, but the town itself can expand based on Will's success. Starting with expanding his own Item Shop to offer more inventory, other buildings can be fixed up, with NPCs arriving to add new features and dynamics! Thus, the game expands both in terms of mechanics and story, adding to an enjoyable game loop and revealing more and more of the lore behind the Gates and Rynoka itself.

The developers should be commended for providing the promised Mac and especially Linux native versions of the game, as well as their content-focused updates. To date there have been several quality of life and content patches, with the first paid DLC expansion "Between Dimensions" scheduled for a summer release; for the moment there is no precise release date nor price, but I expect it to be reasonable. Definitely a gem this month, Moonlighter provides fans of many game types an enjoyable, well crafted experience - and with more to come!

 

[RanceJustice]

July Humble Monthly


Road Redemption ($20, Win/Mac/Linux) - Take a ride this summer and raise some hell! Road Redemption is the spiritual successor to the 90's series of motorcycle-racing-combat "Road Rash". Motorcycle racers are relatively few compared to other racing genres and still rarer are combat-based games like this. Road Redemption takes place in a post-apocalyptic future lorded over by a despot. Within this "Mad Max" style setup, motorcycle gangs warred and clashed for years until an uneasy truce was brokered, but wouldn't last for long. The leader of a weapons cartel is assassinated and a huge bounty is put on the head of whomever did it, causing all the gangs to race to find the culprit and take his head for the reward. There are multiple game modes including the story-based campaign, one-off races, and even support for both 4-way split-screen and online multiplayer!

Mechanically the game plays like a high speed combat racer, emphasis on the combat. As you ride, you'll need to contend with opponents who attack you with everything from bats and chains to guns and explosives. Of course, you'll have those weapon possibilities as well! With this in mind you need not simply outrace but also have the option of out-fighting rivals instead, causing high speed chaos. Other antagonists, such as law enforcement may also stand in your way. Missions keep things fresh, with varying requirements offering additional XP if completed along the way. With combat such a focus, it is also surprisingly in depth with ways to counter, rebuff enemy's attacks, and turn things to your favor. Your success allows you to collect loot used to customize your character, upgrade your bike, and other equipment. There are also skill trees enabling progressive advancement over time. Multiplayer can be cooperative, competitive, or a mix of the two with the option to turn off "friendly fire".

The developers earn credit for offering Mac and Linux support, as well offering content updates in-game; there's little to no paid in-game DLC. Road Redemption is a love letter to a niche of gaming and it shows!



Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus ($30, Win/Mac/Linux) - The future is dark indeed within the expansive Warhammer 40,0000 universe. Originally experienced through the use of meticulously painted (and expensive) tabletop miniatures, the 40K universe has spread expanding its lore through various media, including video games! Warhammer games, be they in the medieval inspired original setting or the dark future of 40,0000, vary significantly over the years, with some being winners and others...less so. However, it is worth noting that thanks to its tabletop pedigree, well made real time strategy/tactical titles, such as the "Dawn of War" series have been particularly well received. It is into this lineage we find Mechanicus! Where in previous titles the focus was on the well known Space Marines, Mechanicus instead puts players in command of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Imperium of Man's most technologically advanced - and modified - troops. As leader Dominus Faustinus, you are sent along with your Cohort (made up of Tech-Priests and lesser ranked soldiers of the Mechanicus) to investigate Silva Tenebris, a newly discovered Necron planet ; Necron being a race melding massively advanced technology and undeath hostile to the Imperium, as well as pretty much anything else living.

Players set down into an expansive hand-crafted campaign, strategic and tactical alike. There are multiple forms of gameplay starting from Missions offered from the bridge of the Mechanicus' command fortress, with goals and rewards listed. The choice and order of said missions is important, as missing or allowing a critical one to elapse may have consequences down the line beyond simply missing out on loot. Each mission starts with a map-and-event driven exploration system where players choose to delve into one of the awakening Tomb Worlds, in search of plunder and secrets Any given room may harbor story events and choices which will have effects, positive or negative, while the increasing time spent trying to achieve missions requirements or plunder more secrets raising the "alert level", offering negative status effects on the rest of the expedition and eventually wakening (greater amounts of the) Necron Army from their slumber, strengthening them. Combat takes place in a turn-based, XCOM-style grid encounter where your Cohort does battle, offering all the tactical depth of the genre. Success and relative safety means increasing loot, but players must know the millions of sleeping Necrons awaken the longer you stay, so you must plan to achieve your objective and get out - trading risk for reward! The game offers a ton of lore and character info, written by luminaries of the Warhammer universe, so it will be a treat for fans but also accessible to those less well versed but still open to sci-fi. Multiple endings await based on your conduct over the course of the game, so the replay value is high; it is said that some of the best and rarest endings are only accessible to those who can balance on the razor's edge near destruction and come out a winner!

Like many Warhammer 40K titles, I have to give the developers credit for offering Mac and especially Linux support. The title is also updated with many in-game content patches, adding new features as well as honing existing ones; the recent Augment Update being one of the largest. As far as DLC is concerned, there is currently an upgrade to the "Omnissiah Edition" which offers a soundtrack, artbook, and short story ebook, along with the in-game Arc Scourge weapon, all for about $6. Now listed but not priced is the upcoming "Heretek" DLC expansion, scheduled for release this summer with all kinds of new content, including new classes, campaign/plot lines, and more! There's a lot to enjoy for fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe and/or tactical adventures! Hail to the Omnissiah!



Love Is Dead ($12, Win/Mac ) - Love and death is given a wholesome take in this indie puzzler! A zombie apocalypse and undeath isn't enough to separate two lovers, now zombies, as they go off into the world to search for their lost pets, Catface and Dogface. The fully realized sequel to the web-based Flash game series "I saw her standing there", graphically and thematically the world is colorful and welcoming, with characters being simplistic almost "boardgame piece, peg-shaped" style. Players can choose the color and appearance of the pieces representing the zombie lovers, including the gender pronouns for each, which despite its innocuous nature will probably cause someone's head to explode.

Players can choose to play solo (swapping between the zombies) but there is also couch/local multiplayer available. Players go from zone to zone, level by level. Each level is set up like a board game of sorts, both aesthetically and in function. Players must figure out where they need to move the zombies in order to ensure they can make it to the "exit" spot or otherwise solve the level. ALong the way they will do standard puzzler moves such as changing the color/traversal of tiles, but also eating humans or doing combat with pirates and stealing their booty, among other wacky adventures. The ability to collect the most "pancake" collectibles along the way will unlock special levels and additional content, as well!

While I'm glad to see Mac support, its a bit of a pity that Linux isn't offered natively; I'll have to check Wine/Proton.
Definitely the sort of game its nice to see on Humble Monthly, as great indies can sometimes be overlooked for direct purchase. This seems to be a lighthearted puzzle adventure as well as the most wholesome depiction of life past zombie apocalypse I've seen, so be it one player or two, get ready for a good time!



60 Parsecs! ($15, Win/Mac) - Travel back to the good ol' days of fearing nuclear annihilation! Follow up to the previous title from developers Robot Gentleman, "60 Seconds!", 60 Parsecs! takes its dynamics into space! Staged in the sort of cartoonish 1950's retro-futuristic aesthetic, you are captain of a space station when nuclear war breaks out wiping out life on Earth! Problems compound however when an errant missile is heading straight for your station! Players have only 60 seconds to race around the station, choosing what supplies and crew they can fit into the life-saving rocket pod before it hits!

With you and your crew now adrift as the final remnant of Humanity, the game becomes a management simulator. You must set your crew to tasks to survive and use what supplies you brought with you to stave off threats to health and hunger. Of course, luck isn't always on your side and bad things can happen, so many events will arise with the chance for users to choose how to proceed - to beneficial or detrimental effect. Send the wrong person on an EVA, not only will you not fix a thruster, you may end up losing a crew member too! Crafting and smart use of resources will hopefully enable you to make it to a nearby planet, which will open even more events! Friendly, hostile, and laughably incomprehensible alien life forms may come your way, from a hostile AI taking over the mind of a crewmate to a transdimensional sentient pizza which....wants...you to eat it? Maybe? Of course, the mindset and welfare of your own crew can be equally as helpful or harmful - some guy with a pipe, "space madness" , and the desire to open the airlock can be as bad as a brainslug or two, if not worse.

Permadeath and procedural generation means each escape campaign has new potential in this dark sci-fi comedy! There are multiple successful endings, all difficult but some harder to find than others, so replay value continues if you're in the mood for a kooky resource management sim! If anyone manages to Win on the planet of the Space Communists, let me know!



NAIRI: Tower of Shirin ($10, Windows) - Those in the mood for an adventure inspired great works of animated art, check out this title! Inspired by animated shows such as "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and especially the productions of Studio Ghibli (aka the "Disney of Japan", NAIRI: Tower of Shirin tells the story of a young lady raised in the aristocracy eager to peer forth from her gilded cage. As Nairi explores the world and meets others, including her equal parts gangster-and-scholar sidekick Rex, a story of friendship through a troubled land grows.

The game meshes gameplay mechanics out of "Visual Novel" style narrative storytelling, a popular dynamic in Japan that has spread round the world, along with point-and-click puzzling adventures in the legacy of great LucasArts or Sierra titles. All of this is expressed through a fanciful and charming animated aesthetic, rendering the world of Shirin in what many would call a "kawaii" style cuteness; a dynamic that works to enhance the tale. Logic puzzles are one of the challenges that Nairi and company must complete in order to progress, along with the sort of object collection, combination, and proper application puzzles familiar in the point-and-click adventure genre. The developer notes the title as the "opening to the Nairi saga", suggesting that sequels are planned should the title do well enough to warrant them, so those that find themselves wanting to see more of the game universe may have their opportunity. Those seeking a more relaxed narrative after some of the month's more intense titles may find the charm of NAIRI: Tower of Shirin well suited!



Kind Words ($??, Win/Mac/Linux, Humble Original) - This month's Original is one of the more unique I've seen recently! Kind Words is focused on the premise of positive support through letter writing. Players are encouraged to write about what stresses them, is making them sad, or bothers them in their life. When this act of catharsis is finished, they are sent anonymously into the aether, which brings us to the other portion of the game. Besides writing their own letters, players are delivered letters written by others and are encouraged to write back in a positive, affirming, and supportive fashion. As you do so, grateful recipients may send you collectibles, such as stickers and other items to decorate your virtual room as you write.

While many would consider it a thoughtful indie project were it a single player experience, Kind Words does not merely simulate communication - all the letters written and their responses are authored by players of the game! This takes it beyond simply a game to something of a virtual group therapy or positive affirmation session, something that players can engage with should they be feeling down and/or are open to helping others with a Kind Word or two. All of the gamified elements, from the relaxing lo-fi audio tracks playing in the background, to the simple and warm graphical style, to the collectibles, are conducive to putting players in the right frame of mine to take part in this shared experience.

Releasing as a Humble Original as something of a "sneak peek", Kind Words is only available via direct download at the moment. The Steam release is scheduled for September 12th. I am unsure if all Humble Monthly subscribers will be eventually granted a Steam key as well, but shall endeavor to find out. Regardless, if you have any interest and/or want to support the developer, I would suggest wishlisting the title on Steam. It should also be mentioned that unlike many Originals there is Mac and Linux support, with a recent "Ask Me Anything" revealing that the developer is a fan of Linux and did a large portion of his development upon it. When indie developers of unique, quality titles take the time to focus on or favor Linux, I find it laudable and attempt to give a little extra support in kind. Kind Words is a very interesting project, wholeheartedly designed to provide anonymous catharsis and support to those in need.



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So that's it!

Don't forget that aside from each month's games, you also are granted a global 10% discount (that even stacks with other discounts!) in the Humble Store , access to the Humble Trove of downloadable titles , and extras like discount coupon If you enjoyed any of this and wish to subscribe , feel free to use my Recruit-A-Friend link and discount/credit-sharing code to lock in the savings - https://www.humblebundle.com/monthly?refc=02L8o8 . There is also another coupon that can be used for 10% off everything on Humble Store for a month, but unlike the RAF it can only be used once per month - PM if you're interested in that (note: I do not think it stacks with Humble Monthly Discounts; its a new program version after all) Don't forget you can always "pause" your subscription for a month too before the unlock day, if you don't think you'll want what's upcoming. Enjoy!

 

[Derangel]

There was some pretty solid stuff this month. Everything they put in is interesting in its own right and the early unlocks were both games I've wanted to check out for while. The early unlocks for next month are pretty solid as well.

 

[RanceJustice]

There was some pretty solid stuff this month. Everything they put in is interesting in its own right and the early unlocks were both games I've wanted to check out for while. The early unlocks for next month are pretty solid as well.

Glad to hear it! I owned Moonlighter from long ago, but I held off on Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice so I'm glad to get it for such a great value as part o the monthly.! I agree this month's setup is pretty well done. What does everyone else think?

The early unlocks for August also seem promising - Kingdom Come: Deliverance I backed during Crowdfunding and it is quite a great medieval adventure, but I hear good things about Surviving Mars as a Paradox strategy title. I've not yet written an Early Unlock post for August, but for those interested I would suggest picking them up ASAP - both titles have a significant amount of content-heavy DLC which can currently be picked up - through Aug 9th anyway - on the Steam store!

***SPECIAL*** I should also mention that, for a limited time, the Humble Monthly Subscriber's 10% stacking discount on the Humble Store titles has been increased to 20% as of today! Get in now and take advantage of the promo!

 

[polonyc2]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance seems like the showcase title for August...$12 seems like a good deal just for that alone...I own the games I get right?...so even if I cancel after a few weeks or a month I still get to keep all the games for that month right?

 

[RanceJustice]

Kingdom Come: Deliverance seems like the showcase title for August...$12 seems like a good deal just for that alone...I own the games I get right?...so even if I cancel after a few weeks or a month I still get to keep all the games for that month right?

Indeed! Every game you unlock is yours forever (make sure to read any small print about redeeming them on Steam or whatever by a given date; most don't have this and those that do its a long time in the future like the end of the year but still be aware), but yes they provide keys that can be redeemed and permanently bind a title to your account on Steam or elsewhere. Titles that have direct download access will also always be available via Humble pages too.

You can cancel after a month, or even subscribe for multiple months and "pause" an upcoming month so can skip it and not have it "count"/be charged etc. Any months you lock in and pay for however, are always yours!

I agree that Kingdom Come Deliverance is a certainly a showcase title. If you want to pick it up, as I said before keep in mind that its content/expansion DLC is currently available on Steam discounted until the end of the Steam Summer Sale, but you'll at very least get a minimum 20% (for the moment, normally 10%) stacking discount on the Humble Store too, so its a good time to pick it up once you've subscribed!

Edit: At the time of writing, the Humble Store 20% discount for subscribers is currently the largest discount available for Kingdom Come DLC! The Steam Summer Sale has the same DLC for between 12-17%, so if you're interested in picking up Humble Monthly for August, feel free to use my link above and lock in not only the game, but the potential to pick up the DLC at significant discount!

Surviving Mars on the other hand, the DLC opportunity is split. If you want everything, lock in your key with Humble and then buy the Season Pass on the Steam Summer Sale, discounted for 33% before it vanishes. Otherwise, purchase of individual DLC packs vary - the earlier ones are discounted for 25% via Steam Sale, but the newer ones are not discounted at all on Steam, yet available for 20% off via Humble Store.