LOCUST USA 0.3

Low-budget indie games tend to be some of the most creative around, assuming they aren't just flipping assets poorly in Unity. Without the budget to dazzle the audience with beautiful graphics, they instead need to focus on something else to stand out. These restrictions can lead to some very creative premises. Let's look at Locust USA.

To install Locust USA, simply unzip the files inside the archive into any folder you want.

The premise is simple. You fly into Locust, USA, a town that's pretty clearly inspired by Stranger Things. There are a lot of references to the show in this game, from the hotel being called Hawkins to a cigarette brand named Hopper. It's very Lovecraftian, with the hotels being half-rotten and the locals being extremely unwelcome to outsiders. You settle in and decide which of the town's various mysteries you want to investigate. 

Every investigation leads to a level where you play the core gameplay loop. Every level is basically Breakout - you control a paddle and knock the ball into various blocks, making sure to control its angle so its ricochet lets it hit more blocks than normal.

There are two twists to this formula. One is the map system. Flying off the screen doesn't necessarily mean death - only going into spikes is. Going off screen usually just brings you to another part of the map, which adds a unique exploration system to this game. The other twist are the objectives - you aren't always simply trying to just break every block. Sometimes, you need to break certain, tougher blocks. Sometimes, you need to find something else on another part of the map. Sometimes, you'll run into enemies that try to attack your block. And of course, there's boss fights.

All in all, Locust USA is an incredibly unique horror game that everybody should check out.