Not all of us have access to the PC side of Game Pass. If you do, then you might want to sit up and take notice of a new release.Â
Cassette Beasts (PC) has landed on PC Game Pass today. We imagine that it arrives with the tape spooling out, and you have to stick a pencil in to wind it.
Cassette Beasts is something of a chimera, as it brings together some gaming classics. At a first glance, it looks like a meeting of Pokemon and Legend of Zelda, as you work through a 2.5D environment, exploring dungeons and mountains. But when combat hits, it’s more reminiscent of a turn-based JRPG, as you take on enemies yourself in menu-based battles.
Then things get a little Costume Quest, as you can shapeshift into hulking creatures to take advantage of their elemental boosts and special attacks to wipe out the enemy. Finally, everything goes full-circle back to Pokemon again, as the creatures you defeat can be collected and fused together to create even more creatures to shapeshift into. Lots of influences, so little time.
Throughout, music plays a huge part. There’s a cassette in the title for a reason. Aside from a fantastic soundtrack, the monsters you summon seem to erupt from your Walkmen, making this a mash-up of ideas that we can’t wait to try. It comes from many of the devs who worked on Stardew Valley, so there’s pedigree here too.
We will try not to get salty that Cassette Beasts was promised for the Xbox, but is yet to emerge. Still, there are whispers that we may still get it in late Spring 2023, so there is hope.
If you’re more of an Xboxer, then April still has one remaining treat in store for you. The Last Case of Benedict Fox (Console, Cloud and PC) is due out on April 27th and looks like a moody and imaginative gem of a game. Expect a review soon.
We have some indications of what is coming in May, too. On May 2nd is Redfall (Series X, Series S, PC, Cloud). On May 4th you can expect the rather pretty Ravenlok (Console, PC), while on May 11th is the unsung Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 (Console, PC). On May 23rd you can play Amnesia: The Bunker (Console), on May 25th is Railway Empire 2 (Console, PC) and finally on May 30th is Farworld Pioneers (Console, PC).
A few games are due to leave on April 30th, so be prepared. Bugsnax (Cloud, Console, and PC), Destroy All Humans! (Cloud, Console, and PC), Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC), Tetris Effect Connected (Console and PC) and Unsouled (Cloud, Console, and PC) are all going to absent from the service soon, so make sure you play them if you planned to.
Is Cassette Beasts tiding you over till Redfall? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
