The Best Game at PAX Prime 2011: Squids

AAA games like Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, Rage and Gears of War 3 dominated PAX Prime 2011. However, there is one casual game on the horizon that deserves its time in the spotlight. It’s called Squid, and even though the title of this article is an exaggeration on my part the fun factor of Squids isn’t.

Squids is a casual game created by The Game Bakers, a new development studio comprised of former Ubisoft employees and based in Paris and Montpellier, France.

We had a sit-down with Audrey Leprince and Emeric Thoa from The Game Bakers and played Squids on mobile devices. I honestly wasn’t thinking too much of the game due to its presentation, which is enough to make any hardcore gamer turn a snooty nose in disinterest. Once you start playing Squids you realize there is more to it than cute characters and bright colors. The gameplay is very RPG inspired with turn based combat system and customizable characters each with unique skills and personalities. The goal is to lead a team of sea creatures against an evil threat which is spreading black ooze through their underwater kingdom, turning sea-dwellers into monsters.

The gameplay is very simple, fun and addictive. You stretch the Squid by its tentacles to move around the level, and once that’s done you can bump into enemies or perform combo attacks and  special moves. The art direction of Squids is truly something to behold as well. One of my favorite levels has you riding the back of a turtle as you battle monsters on its shell.

Squids will cost you $2.99 and release for the iPhone / iPod Touch in October and later for the iPad, Mac, PC, Android, and PSN.