You VS Drugs
YOU TAKE ON THE ROLE OF REAL-LIFE AGENTS WHO EXIST IN YOUR BRAIN, WHERE YOUR OWN WIT CAN RISE TO REVERT A WORLDWIDE DEVASTATION. THE ENEMY CAN ENSLAVE ANYONE, ANYWHERE. BY EMBARKING ON AN ADVENTURE THAT WILL DEFY YOUR IMAGINATION, YOU WILL DISCOVER HOW DRUG ADDICTION THREATENS HUMANITY. BY WATCHING REAL NEUROLOGICAL EVENTS, YOU WILL BE EMPOWERED TO BETTER PROTECT YOURSELF, AND THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE —IF YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!
Inspiration & theme: “In 1960, only 4 million Americans had ever tried drugs” (2.2% of people). “By creating the Bureau of Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs in 1968, the U.S. set the basis of an official national/international war on drugs” (Drug Enforcement Administration Museum).
50 years later, the National Survey on Drug Use & Health (2019) showed that 164.8 million Americans aged 12 or older (60.1% of people) were past month substance users. Even worse, “children are already abusing drugs at age 12 or 13 (…), including tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana, prescription drugs such as sleeping pills & anti-anxiety medicines” (National Institute on Drug Abuse -NIDA-, 2020). And now, the United Nations’ 2021 World Drug Report states that “pandemic effects ramp up drug risk, as youth underestimate cannabis dangers”. So, what now? NIDA (2020) states that “Increased understanding of the basics of addiction will empower people to make informed choices in their own lives”. But if science took +100 years to unravel how drugs change the brain and produce addiction, how can regular kids & adults learn such complex topics to foresee the hidden dangers of trying drugs?
‘You VS Drugs’ is the first brain-based video game saga in the world designed to prevent drug addiction by empowering people with real knowledge, so they can make better choices in their own lives!
Design & gameplay: It’s a chibi cartoon-style 3D graphic design of characters & settings which give players a sense of action and fun at first glance. Friends & foes, level challenges, sounds, structures & objects are designed for players —that can play alone/with a partner— to explore, have fun, get surprised, fight, and make decisions that test the knowledge players acquire while watching how their brain works, and how drugs mess up with people’s lives. All relevant situations are inspired in real events of the working brain.
Game mechanics (and link to the learning experience):
• Incorrect responses to Path questions lead to situations that diminish energy levels.
• Correct responses to Path questions earn players points. Enough points allow the discovery of a special feature in the camp’s hospital.
• Your choices sometimes affect other AI teammates’ energy levels.
• To complete the first half of a level you need to take care of your fellow(s).
• Once a level is completed, the subsequent level is unlocked.
• Before a new level starts, weapon improvements or new skills can be learned at the camp’s gym.
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Crash The Core
A wonderful little rogue lite and deck building game. The UI is fairly basic but the mechanics are great which is bigger deal to me than shiny UI. I like the monster art and it in just the few days I’ve been playing the publisher has updated it, and fixed some things/issues. I believe it is a tiny or even one person maker of the game. So given the great mechanics and publisher seems to be wanting to make improvements, IMO it is by far worth the price! I always want to support small/indie developers, and this game so far been great fun!
– Real player with 19.6 hrs in game
Read More: Best Co-op Campaign Card Game Games.
It’s nothing revolutionary, but it definitely has its heart in the right place. I had a good time playing, and especially enjoyed it considering the price. If you’re a fan of roguelike deckbuilders, this’ll familiar but fun. The Summon and Item system makes for some interesting synergies. Just be wary of some annoying bugs and balance issues, which may or may not get patched out by the time writing this. Again, nothing phenomenal but pretty alright considering it’s their first game.
– Real player with 9.0 hrs in game