This week, theEpic Games Storeis giving for free two very different games, with the first being a Roguelite action-platform shooter by the name ofHell is OtherDemons, and the second being a co-op cooking game,Overcooked 2.The Epic Games Store ended its streak of free mystery gamesa while back, and now fans know for sure which titles will be available starting June 24th through July 1st. As a matter of fact, next week the featured free games will beHorizon Chase TurboandSonicMania, and in a sense, they both can have nostalgic vibes for players growing up in the ’80s and ’90s for different reasons.
Horizon Chase Turbopacks the whole essence of classic arcade racing games from that time period, and it is indeed inspired by other games like theTop Gearseries,Lotus TurboChallenge, and even more. Actually,HorizonChase Turbowas described by some as the spiritual successor toTop Gear3000, and it does share a lot of the series' elements, like the soundtrack and the simplicity of its gameplay. On the other hand,Sonic Maniais another retro game that is a perfect portrayal of theSonicseries as a whole, and at its very core, it is also a fun game with new content and fun mechanics to delve into.
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What Horizon Chase Turbo is and What it Offers Gameplay-wise
The main allure ofHorizon Chase Turbois that it is so very similar to arcade racing games from 30 years ago that it almost feels like time hasn’t really passed. Those who lovedOutRun,Ignition,and theNeed for Speedseriesever since its very first games will love howHorizon Chase Turboretains the same style of that time in its graphics, while also shaking things up a little bit with a few key changes.
There are 109 unique circuits inHorizonChase Turbo, and while some of them do share a few key similarities, the game does a good job at offering diverse content. The campaigns take place in 12 countries, and the background feels sort of nostalgic as well, with a few animals living their best life out in the wilds regardless of their low polygon count. The tournament mode is reminiscent of other games as well, including theMario Kartseries from Nintendo, and it comprises playlists with a set of 4 races, each divided into difficulty tiers. Then, there’s endurance mode, which is also divided into tiered difficulties ranging from easy to master, and the purpose is to complete 12 races in easy and up to all 109 in master.
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Sonic Mania Might Be One of the Best Sonic Games to Date
Sonic Maniais described by some as a one of the greatest hits in theSonicseries, although it is an all-new 2D game with the classic ring collection system from similar entries in the franchise and returning levels. The characters that players can choose from are Sonic, of course, and then Tails and Knuckles, with the addition of two extra characters in the DLC in the form of Mighty and Ray. Themain antagonist is the renowned Dr. Eggman, butSonic Maniatakes pride in creating and adding a plethora of unique bosses that were never seen before.
The thing thatSonic Maniadoes extremely well is introducing new elements and mixing them with remastered levels from the classic games, which makes this little gem something to look very forward to next week in the Epic Store. It captures so much the magic of the first threeSonicgames that some players went to the extent of affirming howSonic Maniais a better game than all others in the franchise, and that’s no easy task. Overall, these two games are a perfect fit together because of how well they portray the theme of speed and that of classic arcade titles, andthe Epic Storecould capitalize on this to make this a sort of series made of recurring themes.
TheEpic Games Storewill giveSonic ManiaandHorizon Chase Turbofor free from June 24th to July 1st.
