Coming This Week, 7/13/20

Hello, dear reader, and welcome to the latest edition of Coming This Week with RPGFan! Summer is in full swing and it’s another banner week for fans of classic franchises: we’ve got surprise sequels and remakes galore. I don’t want to deprive you of too much precious time, so without any further delay…

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town – July 14th (Windows, Switch)

Farmer swimming in a pool that surrounds a cave.

Ready your cows and count your chickens! Friends of Mineral Town, a beloved entry in the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons back catalog (it’s complicated, okay) is once again asking fans to do their chores… but, like, in a fun way. This Game Boy Advance classic is filled with fond memories for longtime fans of the series, but newcomers can find something worthwhile here as well. We already have a review of this remake, penned by Niki Fakhoori, available for your enjoyment.

We Should Talk – July 16th (Windows, macOS, Linux, Switch, XB1)

A phone with a SMS style conversation about slurping drinks vs. slurping noodles.

If you’ve ever been in a relationship, you’ll know that the phrase “we should talk” rarely bodes well. Indeed, such is the premise behind the appropriately named game, where the player will need to choose their words carefully in order to salvage their relationship. Juggle many digital and in-person interactions as you try to maintain said relationship through the power of communication! We Should Talk will be arriving on Windows, Mac, and Linux, as well as the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One.

Beyond a Steel Sky – July 16th (Windows, Linux)

A dark-haired man in goggle-like glasses stands on the road in front of a welcome sign without the "o".

Now, here’s an unexpected delight! Beyond a Steel Sky is a point-and-click adventure that succeeds the cult classic Beneath a Steel Sky. With a story from Charles Cecil, who previously worked on the Broken Sword series, and artist Dave Gibbons of Watchmen fame, this title certainly has a lot of creative talent behind it. It was originally available on Apple Arcade, but now this latest adventure will begin on July 16th for PC platforms!

Paper Mario: The Origami King – July 17th (Switch)

Mario and company run away from giant 3D paper Goombas, Koopa Troopas, and a Shy Guy.

I, uh… have a confession to make. I… don’t like… Paper Mario‘s art style. Now, wait, hold on a second, put down the pitchforks and hear me out. I love the storybook aesthetic of the original Paper Mario and its sequel because it befitted the kind of charming RPGs those games were. What grates on me like sandpaper is how overdone, for lack of a better term, everything looks in the more recent entries. Sticker Star and Color Splash really ran with the papercraft theme for better or worse, and while graphically the attention to detail is impressive, I don’t know. I just find it a touch too silly. But, my being a stick in the mud about video games for children aside, The Origami King does look like a marked improvement over other recent Paper Mario games, so maybe it’ll all shake out. We’ll see on July 17th!

NOTE: Recently, we had a surprise release of Death Come True for mobile and Switch on 6/25/20, and it looks like it is being released on PC this week: 7/17. the PS4 release is still to come as of now. Look at our review and check it out if you are itching for an FMV style mystery from the Danganronpa scenario writer!

And that’s a wrap! Tune in next time for more of the latest game releases, and as always, keep an eye on RPGFan for more of the best RPG coverage around. Smell ya later!