A small time Japanese indie developer known as hinyari9 unveiled their upcoming game project titled “Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2″.
The anticipated game is scheduled for a 2024 release on PC through Steam and happens to be a sequel for their previous game “Marfusha:Sentinel Girls” which officially released on Steam in August 2021, which has since accumulated over 2000 reviews at the time of writing and achieving a “very positive” rating of 93%.
Marfusha: Sentinel Girls managed to release on home consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 4 & 5 and Microsoft’s XBOX One platforms, while currently Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2 is only slated for a PC release though it would be a fair judgement to assume that hinyari9 intends on having their latest game ported over to consoles at a later date.
Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2 is a 2.5D shooting action game that combines somewhat detailed pixelated models with cubic 3D backgrounds. The game puts players in the role of Snezhinka, a contractor for a private military organization assigned to undertake various defense operations. Snezhinka is also Marfusha’s sister-in-law which marks the connection between the two games.
The upcoming release is a base defense shooting game where adorable girls safeguard the country’s borders, using their modest earnings to purchase supplies and confront escalating challenges. Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2 appears to maintain the same concept and world-building as the previous entry, portraying a relentless enemy offensive and the girls’ resistance.
The system of upgrading characters by selecting one of three cards after each battle appears to be consistent with the previous installment. After each battle, players can choose one card from a set of three, following this process to enhance their character.
The game showcases an extensive variety of cards, surpassing 130 different cards, a significant increase from hinyari9‘s previous installment. These cards provide diverse effects, including enhancements for characters and defense targets, featuring over 30 types of firearms and drones that offer firepower support.
Some cards introduce unique aspects, such as increased workload for higher rewards or cards for overtime requests. Additionally, the game retains familiar elements from the previous installment, such as coping with low take-home pay due to taxes, subscription fees, and intermediary company deductions, contributing to the game’s enduring depiction of a dystopic “harsh reality.”
If players obtain allies through cards, it not only boosts their combat capabilities but also triggers conversations and event scenes that impact the game’s ending.
The main mode revolves around surviving for 100 days, and there’s an additional challenge mode allowing players to select from eight characters with distinct abilities, challenging the boundaries of “survival days”, with this challenge mode having an online ranking system as well.
I have a particular fondness for these lesser-known indie titles, especially those with pixelated graphics. The discernible pixelated models within Sentinel Girls convey a sense of genuine passion and dedication which I personally cherish.
I wish hinyari9 all the best with his latest endeavor which I hope brings more success coming his way to fuel his passion and expand to greater heights, as Snezhinka:Sentinel Girls2 is due for release sometime next year.
