[ALTF42]A new work in which the main character and the chicken king take on extremely difficult stages!

“ALTF42” is a purchase-based PC game work developed by PUMPKIM and published by GRAVITY, which has been officially distributed on the PC game portal site “Steam” store since June 5, 2024. It is a highly recommended new action game title with an extremely entertaining play element in which you aim for a goal while challenging physics-based stages with an unreasonable and unreasonable difficulty level.

A must-see PC game that features a unique world setting that depicts the main character Donkey, who faces various hardships in order to restore the king who has been turned into a chicken, a replayable gameplay where you watch the character from the camera behind you as you take on the challenge of an absurd action, and a number of strange and brutal traps.

This new game is recommended for people who like the gameplay elements of finding a way through a series of hardships set in a world with physics calculations, those who want to beat the fastest clear time and become the “top” of players all over the world, and those who like collecting indie games that are a “game of ideas” that major companies would never be able to release.

An action game with extremely difficult difficulty

“ALTF42”, which is currently being officially distributed on the PC game portal site “Steam” store, is a recommended new PC game that shines with a surreal world view, story setting, and brutal action elements that will trouble many players. The player takes on the role of Donkey, the main character, as he embarks on an adventure to save the king who has been turned into a chicken.

The play point of view is a third-person view of the main character, Donkey, from behind. You will aim for the goal while avoiding various traps in a map created with a 3D model. The main feature of this work is the extremely difficult difficulty that requires “patience” like the popular work “Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy”, and you will take on many great challenges.

This game, which has the catchphrase “If you die, start over from the beginning,'' does not have the ability to save anywhere, so if the game ends, you have to “start over from the beginning.'' The brutal traps that suddenly attack the protagonist are difficult to clear at first glance, and will require repeated trial and error.

Unlike “Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy,'' which has a basically horizontal play screen, this game's play progresses on a screen with depth, and all the action elements come very quickly. Try to brilliantly avoid traps such as skeletons that suddenly explode when you get close to them, and police cars and flying sharks that attack from nowhere.

By the way, “Alt + F4'', which is the origin of the title of this game, is a shortcut key used to forcefully terminate (shut down) the Windows OS, and this suggests that the game content is so difficult that players will want to shut down their PCs. It's an indie game with a top-notch naming sense, and it's a playful new title.

A new work that shines with a chaotic world view

The main character dressed in armor is reminiscent of medieval Europe, but the game also features a variety of locations from the past to the present, creating a very chaotic atmosphere. There is a legend that “Don Quixote,'' from whom the main character's name is derived, was a madman, and this work seems to embody that mentality.

This strange action game was developed by indie game developer “PUMPKIM” and published by “GRAVITY”. There are 379 user reviews on the Steam store at the time of writing, and the overall rating is “slightly positive.” It seems that the low ratings due to the technical problems mentioned below are affecting the evaluation of the work.

By the way, the individual developer “PUMPKIM (Kim Sang-won)'' who developed this work is also known as the author of the psychological horror action game “11F''. The same work is also introduced on this site, so if you sympathize with his style or simply like playing horror action games, please check out this title as well.

This is a must-see new indie game title that was released on the Steam store as an “early access version” on March 31, 2023, and has finally evolved into the official version after various updates. Many Japanese players are also playing this game, and it has become a popular game worldwide. Those who purchase at the early access price can upgrade to the full version for free.

Compatible with Japanese interface

The selling price on the Steam store is 920 yen, and you can currently purchase it for 736 yen, a 20% OFF “release commemorative sale price” (limited time price until June 19, 2024). In any case, it's an inexpensive indie game title that can be purchased for less than 1,000 yen, making it a perfect gift for a friend. Give the gift of a super annoying game and let's compete together for the clear time.

ALTF42 is a solo play only game and does not support local or online multiplayer. The game comes standard with partial support for operation with an Xbox controller, so even those who usually play games with a controller can feel at ease. Enjoy a world that requires an intuitive control style and instant decisions.

Please note that the product is not compatible with Valve's portable game console “Steam Deck”, so Deck users should be careful. The reason for this is that the game's graphics are not “optimized” for Steam Deck, but neither the developer nor the publisher seem to have any plans to make this compatible, so let's give up hope that it will be updated for Steam Deck.

System requirements

The system requirements for ALTF42 are moderate. The recommended graphics board presented on the Steam store is of the RTX 2060 class, and the recommended amount of main memory is also generally 16GB. It can be said that it is a work that can be played sufficiently if you have a gaming PC in the current mid-spec range. This is a new indie game title that has the potential to be enjoyed by a wide range of people.

The recommended CPU model is Intel's i7-8600K class, and it can be said that the barrier to entry is somewhat low in terms of processor. The installation size is 20GB, which is a common size, so even people who usually keep a lot of games and are a little tight on storage can install it with confidence. There are no plans to add downloadable content in the future, so you can rest assured in this regard.

In addition, in the early access version, there was an opinion that “drawing problems” occurred when using AMD's Radeon graphics board, and this has an impact on the overall user evaluation, but as of now, there are multiple reports that specific models of AMD products are affected, so Radeon users should be careful. Please refer to message boards for solutions.

Normally, the correct development approach would be for developers and publishers to “test play” games in various environments and verify user feedback and problem environments, but PC gamers have a wide variety of environments, and it may not have been possible to reproduce all of them. This is a difficult problem faced by small and medium-sized developers and publishers who lack capital.

All games purchased from the Steam Store come with a system that allows you to get a refund within a certain period of time, so if you actually purchase a game and end up seeing a clearly strange play screen, or if the game doesn't start in the first place, please apply for a refund within the deadline to get your purchase amount back. Another appeal of Steam is that users have the means to protect themselves.

I feel a little sorry for the threatening wording, but on the other hand, there have been no reports of problems from users using NVIDIA graphics boards, so it may be said that this is an indie game that can be recommended to people in the same environment. If you are using an AMD graphics board, please pay close attention to the above points.

Release commemorative campaign is also being held

Currently, pages about various “campaigns” commemorating the launch of the official version of “ALTF42” have also appeared on the Steam store. The application deadline for the “Speed ​​Run Challenge” at the bottom has already passed, but since the results showed that Japanese users were also included in the rankings, I decided to post it.

The recommended new indie game title “ALTF42'', in which you aim for the goal while dodging numerous traps in a game world with an absurdly difficult level, is currently available on the Steam store. It is a must-see title that has been carefully crafted and developed since the early access stage, and has entered the popular genre of “physics-based intense action games.''

It is a popular game that many Japanese players are participating in, and live streaming videos of the game have also been uploaded to YouTube, rapidly increasing its recognition. This is an action game that is definitely recommended for those who are attracted to difficult and difficult gameplay. If you are interested, please visit the Steam store now and check out detailed game information.

[Recommended points]A must-see for advanced action game players!

Gameplay flow

The home screen that appears immediately after you start playing takes you to a settings screen where you can make detailed adjustments to the game's rendering quality. It would be a good idea to edit the various graphic settings each time depending on the potential of your gaming PC. Of course, you can also play around with this screen after actually starting the game.

When the play starts, an action scene unfolds in which the main character, Donkey, and the king, who has been turned into a chicken, advance towards the back of the screen. Text appears irregularly on the screen and talks about something that seems to be the case, but the content has little to do with the actual play, so let's play without getting distracted by this text part.

By the way, the style in which philosophical text appears on the screen seems to have been influenced by the aforementioned intense action game “Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy.'' Mr. PUMPKIM, the creator of this game, has probably played “Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy.'' It's a new work that will make you feel like you've seen the source of a super crazy game.

The main character, Donkey, carries a chicken (king) on ​​his back, and his role is to throw it to trigger an action. Please note that the status of the chicken and the main character are displayed at the bottom of the play screen, so keep that in mind. The interface is very simple, and there is no minimap of the area you are currently challenging, giving you a very good view.

In this game, the physics system is more effective than necessary, and there is also a scene where the player uses incredible jumping power to break through a cliff. Even if you slip and get stuck on the slope of a cliff, you may be able to recover by making full use of jumps, so the more you get used to the unique motion, the smoother the play should be. Enjoy plenty of interesting physics calculation scenes.

If the main character you are currently playing dies due to falling, etc., the words “You Died” will appear on the screen and you will immediately have to start over from the beginning. At this time, a large text saying “X Knight” appears on the play screen, and the number increases each time the game is over. It's a new game that clearly understands the purpose of the game.

This work is interesting in that the map is not a straight road, and there is a certain amount of room for trial and error for the player, and the developments where you can't predict what will happen are quite surreal and good. The detail of the production is also a positive point, as the entire movie is not the control part, but includes movie cut-ins as appropriate. Overall, it can be said to be a high quality new action game.

This title does not give players any instructions to “do this'' or “do this'' within the map, so it is suitable for those who can accept the chaotic world view and take on the challenge of intense action. You'll probably see quite a few game over screens as you explore, but this is a new work recommended for those who can overcome it with an insatiable inquisitive mind.

Overall review: Highly difficult action game is “delicious”

Highly difficult games like “Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy,'' mentioned in the previous section, contain content that may irritate certain people, but on the other hand, they can be great “material'' for those who stream the game live. Videos in which the commentators are stuck in the same scene over and over again are humorous and draw a lot of attention from viewers.

In recent years, the genre of live video streaming has become so popular that some people make a living from it, and some of the people who are leading the way include people who are not good at games at all. It is interesting for viewers to see streamers stuck in situations that they could easily overcome, and this also creates opportunities for the streamers to win.

What I would like to clarify here is that it is important that there are no “false” elements that can be seen in real videos that fail. Naturally, the more the commentator repeats bad plays, the more interesting the video becomes, and the less reproducible situations are created, making it an interesting video even for people who have completed the game normally. Even if you're bad at the game, you can still earn a lot of money from the number of views.

In a sense, it is the entertainer Hidetaka Kano who entertains the viewers with his “crampy'' behavior, and his “realistic reactions'', which are not fake, are a big part of his appeal in gaining viewers. His play is on a par with or below that of an average person, and he is by no means a master of the game. If I had to put it bluntly, I'd say it's a “love for bad things'', but that's the funniest thing about it.

Hidetaka Kano is also famous for leaving a number of “famous sayings'' while playing, and there is also a large demand for edited videos that are edited after the live broadcast. Especially in horror games, there can be a series of scenes that make you laugh out loud, which I enjoy as well. He is a popular talent who loves games and is indispensable to the game industry.

Some people may have the simple question, “Is it fun to watch people play games?'', but for those people, the first thing they should do is to watch the videos of people playing games, which are all over the place, especially videos from people who have a large number of subscribers. Although you will still be watching the game without being able to control it at all, you will be drawn to the highly entertaining content.

There is also demand for players with overwhelming technical ability.

Of course, there is also a great demand for videos of players easily completing the game while demonstrating their overwhelming skills and operating methods. Channels that show off amazing techniques for clearing games in the “fastest time'' are becoming popular worldwide, and it can be assumed that the reason these videos are so popular is because the streamers have techniques and operational abilities that are beyond the reach of many players.

“ALTF42'', which many people are likely to see as the game over many times when they first watch it, is also holding a prize event in which players compete for the “fastest time'' in the above-mentioned release commemorative campaign. We are now in an era where game developers and publishers are conscious of the demand for live streaming, and this trend is likely to continue.

People who like to take on the challenge of extremely difficult game titles that require great reflexes and control techniques, and those who can sublimate their results to the feat of “fastest time'', have the potential to be successful in the field of live streaming. It's a field where a wide range of people can take on the challenge without having to show their face, so it's fun for those who feel like they're the best at giving it a try.

Returning to “ALTF42'', this work is suitable for live streaming, and it can be said that it is a “delicious'' game title that attracts viewers whether the play content is bad or good. If you create a video where the game is over over and over again, people will agree with you, and if you set the fastest time, you will be respected and think, “That person is amazing.''

In the world of YouTube, there are commentators all over the world who frequently play Steam indie game titles and broadcast their content. One of their motivations for continuing their activities is probably “profit'', but the biggest factor is probably the presence of viewers who leave comments. Videos of people playing this game may lead to an increase in popularity.

For that reason, it would be a waste to play this game alone. Streaming videos is easier than you might think (although you may need to prepare the appropriate environment in advance, and there may be some expenses involved), so if you're thinking about giving it a try, regardless of your age, I encourage you to try streaming a gameplay video of “ALTF42.'' That should be what developers want as well.

What impact does live streaming have?

However, on the other hand, does the phenomenon of gameplay videos of new games being quickly circulated all over the world actually lead to an increase in sales of the game itself? The author holds the view that this is a “double-edged sword.'' The idea is that while awareness of the game will increase dramatically through live streaming videos, there will also be users who will be satisfied with the videos.

Recently, many game preview videos feature images of actual gameplay, and this can be said to be a great advantage in visually explaining how the game actually works. However, the official video is “slightly edited'' so that players can enjoy the important parts, so it does not interfere with the excitement.

On the other hand, live streaming videos of new games show almost all of the game's content, making players who watch the videos feel like they are playing the game themselves. There are cases where this doesn't happen, so we can't make a general decision, but there is no doubt that the “surprise'' you get when you actually play the game will be halved.

The reasons why game developers and publishers give permission for distribution are often due to a lack of advertising funds and the aim of advertising effectiveness through spread by influencers.Although there are times when games with secret elements in the story are rejected, there is a strong tendency for almost all games in the world to be made into live streaming videos.

When it comes to movies, for some reason important parts of the main footage end up being made available as YouTube videos before they are released (high possibility of leaks), which can cause great damage to box office revenue. In the gaming world, video streamers who have obtained the right to play first are the first to upload gameplay videos, but the results are almost the same.

Determined gamers will try to avoid watching the end of the game they're looking forward to at all costs, but many casual gamers out there watch videos without thinking too much about it. It is true that this reduces the impact of new releases, and can be described as a “double-edged sword'' in the industry.

Contrary to the above trend, there are some companies like Rockstar Games who are smart about their secrecy, but most games don't gain much public attention in terms of pre-release awareness, and as a last resort they tend to ask influencers to “play first.” It can be said that this was a last resort because they were not able to handle advertising well.

At first glance, influencers playing games in advance seems like a win-win relationship for both video distributors and game companies, but what is being left behind are the users who are looking forward to the game's release date, and this has created a trend in which it is impossible to truly enjoy the game without dodging spoilers on the internet.

I am of the generation that experienced the Famicom version of Dragon Quest in real time, but at that time there was very little information about the content of the new game, and I was excited by the anticipation and imagination until the release date. Compared to that, I think modern game enthusiasts are quite unlucky because they can know the plot and even the ending of a game even before it's released.

It's completely up to the individual whether they want to watch the live streaming video or not, and I can understand why they want to know more about the game before it's released. However, on the other hand, is the disappearance of the “mysterious development'' and “excitement'' a “good thing'' for the game industry? There may be room for reconsideration of this business model.

My philosophy is that “games are for the users,'' and I have doubts about business practices that invite people who are looking forward to playing the game into a “world of spoilers.'' There is nothing wrong with the idea of ​​making full use of SNS, but I think there is plenty of room for disagreement and debate in the “method''.

I've written a lot of unpleasant things so far, but from a very dry perspective, “ALTF42'' tends to be suitable for live streaming videos, so I decided to approach the work from the opposite perspective. I would like to warn you here that if you want to enjoy the world of this work for yourself, it will be more interesting to start playing without watching any of the videos that are currently available.

The recommended new indie game title “ALTF42'', in which you aim for the goal while dodging numerous traps in a game world with an absurdly difficult level, is currently available on the Steam store. This is definitely a recommended title for people who are doing live streaming or are thinking of trying live streaming, and it is sure to get a lot of views.

Although there is no multiplayer feature, it is a game that is suitable for playing with friends and family while watching the play screen, so if you can arrange the environment, you can have fun together. If you are interested, please visit the Steam store now and check out detailed game information.

[Recommended points]A new work perfect for distribution!