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Despite not being made of money, I always tend to go nuts on the Steam sales when they come up.
As such, here's a thread for anyone else participating to give their opinions on their purchases. Include a rating out of 5, 10, or 100 and at least a couple of sentences about why they deserve that rating.
Because of the way the Steam sale works, I'm explicitly allowing double posting, under the condition that each post must contain at least one review, and that review must be at least a paragraph. Triple posting should be avoided, because that's just silly. Naturally, you can post your own opinion on a game that someone else already mentioned, the nature of the Steam sale guarantees overlap. They must be recently purchased Steam games, though.
I'll be posting more as I play more, and as each day of the Steam sale continues to unfold.
Star Ruler - 9/10
I've never actually had this much fun with an "Indie" title before. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever encountered an indie game before that was actually good. Star Ruler accomplishes that. It's a "4X" space RTS, pitting you against the AI or other players in a war for control of the galaxy. This game would have 10/10 from me, were it not for how challenging the AI can be, the lack of an in-depth or even interactive tutorial, some interface quirks and some save/load crash bugs that I'm praying will be fixed in a later update. Nice, original soundtrack too. The developers actually seem to care about this game, as twelve months on there are feature additions and patches.
Toki Tori - 6/10
Toki Tori is a puzzle game, and I seem to have picked up quite a few of these. I'm not huge on puzzle games, so I just can't give this a high rating. I'm also not sold on much of any of it, but I do appreciate that it could be a good game for children or particularly sensitive women. As an RPG/FPS/RTS etc player though? Yeah, it's not quite in the same league.
Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West - 2.5/10
No, seriously. I feel like 2.5 is being kind.
This seems like such a great premise, and yet it's executed so badly in every possible way. This is a shooter that seems more like a beta than anything else. Perhaps I just couldn't work it out, but as far as I can tell, here are some things that are plain missing from a game of its type: No jumping, no crouching, no first person mode (The view change is "Behind, from the left" or "Behind, from the right"), no campaign mode. To top it off, terrible performance, at least for my setup. I would go so far as to say that FPS could be doubled with some performance work. This isn't even nitpicking, as I currently have no graphics card, yet can play many of the better (and more aesthetically-pleasing) titles with acceptable frame rates, in larger environments.
It features four classes, each of which have two weapons and a particular role, and a number of multiplayer modes in addition to some offline capabilities. Honestly, though - if you're into this kind of thing, just buy Left 4 Dead and be done with it.
BIT.TRIP.BEAT - 7/10
A game simple in execution and difficult in gameplay. Effectively plays like a horizontal version of breakout with a well-synced soundtrack. Instead of a lives system, the game opts for a progress bar towards oblivion, which comes in the form of muted music and simplified graphics. Fail again, and it's game over. It's a different take on a classic game, which is done rather well. I'm not a huge fan of the inevitable menu delay (You effectively confirm each option by not moving your paddle after hitting enter), and I'm not sure that the game has immense replay value, but it does have initial play value.
Dwarfs!? - 4/10
Ever play a game and think "This isn't so bad", only to discover that you've already done everything? Enter "Dwarfs!?", a game with a good beginning and no middle section. You are a small colony of dwarves, over which you have very little control. You dig, and you dig, and you dig. Sometimes you die. Unfortunately, that's all there is to say about Dwarfs!?, as it contains only one building and two unit types (A warrior, for defending against enemies you encounter, and diggers). A few minigames are also included, which are actually better than the game itself, as they have clear and measurable goals with decent gameplay. Naturally, some of those minigames are therefore a time-limited offer...
"Dwarfs!?" could be a much better game, if they add a game onto it.
Magicka - 8.5/10
Before July, Magicka was known to me as a game that didn't cost very much and had enough DLC to buy the game twice over again. Thanks to the Steam sale, it became a very cheap game with all the DLC included, which was enough to look into it. Magicka is an RPG that tries very hard not to take itself seriously, while still providing an awesome game at the same time. It arguably succeeds.
Just like all parties I seem to come up with, everyone's a wizard with a dizzying array of spells as they embark on an epic quest to save Sir Shmoopy's dying grandmother rid the world of evil. Spells are created by combining up to five elements together with the keyboard, from one of eight base elements (With two additional combo elements). Each element gives the spell a slightly different effect, and can be cast on oneself, in a direction, or as a player-based AoE effect. As a result, there are probably thousands of very similar spells that a player can cast
Magicka is at its best in co-op mode, wherein players try very hard to pretend not to have deliberately blown each other up. Up to four players casting spells through keyboard combinations ensures that this remains just plausible enough, while the plot remains implausible enough to be hilarious. Worth playing.
Defense Grid: The Awakening - 6.5/10
To be clear, there is nothing particularly wrong with Defense Grid. It's a 3D tower defense game which pits you against an evil race of unnamed aliens. Sadly, this is also the premise of every other tower defense game, and there are only so many ways you can design the same game. Defense Grid doesn't offer anything original, but it does achieve what it sets out to do - Provide a decent, high-quality tower defense game.
Swords and Soldiers HD - 5/10
Perhaps I'm just too old to appreciate games like this. Swords and Soldiers is a very simple RTS that puts you in the role of Vikings who love barbecues enough to kill people over, or something. To that end, you will attack your enemies in the name of the holy meat in order to defend the kingdom against... Vegetarianism? The plot is actually too simple for me to follow.
Nonetheless, gameplay is not. Gameplay consists of buying enough gold miners that you can spam soldiers and axe throwers as they automatically make their way across the screen, defeating enemies in their way (Or not, as the case may be). Some spells are also available, such as lightning bolts and healing, which assist them in their quest. Gameplay objectives range from destroying everything to stockpiling resources, and sometimes both. If you're looking for anything more than an idle timewaster, though, this probably isn't for you. Then again, if you're looking for a timewaster, why not play a Flash game instead?
The Polynomial - 6/10
The Polynomial is a space exploration and shooter game, I suppose. Its main premise is its randomly generated world, based on music. This is the same idea behind games such as Audiosurf, which generate a map and obstacles based on an MP3 file.
In many ways, however, this can be compared to "Dwarfs!?", in that it doesn't have any clear objective. It's a neat idea, and it gets marks for it, but Mikouen puts it best when he calls it a glorified Winamp visualisation. A solid foundation that just lacks a purpose.
Fortix 2 - 5/10
One of the most important questions to ask oneself when reviewing a game for something like this is to ask, "Am I having fun?".
Fortix 2 is another strategy game which sets you on the task of reclaiming the lands from the forces of evil. In order to do so, you must cross the map, conquering sections by drawing a line. If an enemy crosses the line, or it is fired upon, you lose a life. Anything within the box you create becomes claimed, safe ground.
Yet I'm reminded of an early 90s game called "Gotcha", which was pretty much the same game. This one has updated graphics, multiple enemies and cannons instead of minefields, but it's very much the same game. Unfortunately I played that game through to completion about 15 years ago, and therefore my answer would have to be "No, I'm not having fun". The idea just seemed weak to me. Defeating dragons by walking around them? Towers that can cause you to lose a life by firing where you aren't? Nice try, not for me.
Trine - 6.5/10
I'm not a fan of puzzle games these days and my opinion on this will reflect that, because that's exactly how Trine is best described. To be more specific, Trine is a physics-based puzzle game, with three characters that must be switched between in order to complete the objective - Moving from left to right and completing the level.
As physics puzzles go, Trine is at least a little more involved. The three characters are distinctly different, and have abilities of their own. The thief grapples surfaces and fires ranged attacks, whereas the wizard can conjure up boxes and planks to stand on. Each has their own health and energy quota, allowing for some survival tactics when fighting enemies. Sadly, these tactics usually consist of "Let the wizard die". Abilities are gained and upgraded with RPG-like leveling as the game progresses.
Trine was previously available as part of one of the "Humble Indie Bundles", and was probably better value at the time, depending on how much you paid (Or in my case, didn't) to get the pack. It does have an acceptable storyline and voiceover acting, though, which is more than can be said for most indie games.
Aaaaa! - 6/10
Perhaps it's because indie games are cheap that I've ended up with so many of them, and because they're so light on disk space that I've played so many of the ones I've bought.
Although the game seems clearly named to appear at the top of game catalogues, it's not utterly terrible, which is another way of saying that they picked the wrong name. The simplistic gameplay consists of jumping off a building and staying as close to the buildings as possible to gain daredevil-like points, awarded as "Hugs" and "Kisses". The difference between the two appears to be entirely in the spelling. At the end of the run, after scoring as much as possible (In every way, it would seem), open the parachute and try to land in the dotted circle. Simple enough.
Though simple, it actually has some replayability, if only to remind yourself that you actually did achieve a five star rating on that particular level. Most of the difficulty is down to your own momentum, which can make or break the run. Sadly, there isn't much else to this game (And I'm not sure what else could have been done for it), and it's all downhill from there. Still one of the better indie games I've played, and about as well designed as it's going to get.
AI War: Fleet Command - 7/10
Maybe I just have a thing about space games. AI War is a space RTS that almost goes out of its way not to be fair to the player, guaranteeing a challenging game. Plotwise, humans and AI are at war, but the AI have taken over to such an extent that humanity's pretty much making a last stand. Battles are huge, but over too quickly, leaving no time to enjoy the fireworks as several hundred ships are destroyed.
That said, the game offers good controls for a game of its scope and a randomly-generated campaign mode, which asks you to take back the entire galaxy with one or more players. No player vs player mode exists, you only co-operate against the well-armed enemy as it launches wave after wave at your defenses. Not a bad game to sit down and start playing from time to time, and I could perhaps see myself doing so.
Beat Hazard - 7/10
I promised myself that I wouldn't buy any more music games.
Unfortunately, Beat Hazard had two things going for it - One, it was actually popular, implying that there may be something to it. Secondly, it was a ticket achievement on Steam, and I seem to be gathering as many as I can, despite not really needing to anymore.
The problem with Beat Hazard is that it's actually good, or maybe it's because I like space games. I don't know, but this was probably the best of its kind that I've played. Would I have enjoyed it as much with a Magicka theme to it? I don't know; perhaps. The RPG element is a nice touch, though it almost forces a replay value. When your levels are randomly-generated based on the player's music, though, one would think they had enough replayability already.
Then again, I played The Polynomial, so maybe not.
Still to play:
Test Drive Unlimited 2
Star Wars: Empire at War
Heroes of Might and Magic series
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Torchlight
Mount and Blade series.
King Arthur: Collection
As such, here's a thread for anyone else participating to give their opinions on their purchases. Include a rating out of 5, 10, or 100 and at least a couple of sentences about why they deserve that rating.
Because of the way the Steam sale works, I'm explicitly allowing double posting, under the condition that each post must contain at least one review, and that review must be at least a paragraph. Triple posting should be avoided, because that's just silly. Naturally, you can post your own opinion on a game that someone else already mentioned, the nature of the Steam sale guarantees overlap. They must be recently purchased Steam games, though.
I'll be posting more as I play more, and as each day of the Steam sale continues to unfold.
Star Ruler - 9/10
I've never actually had this much fun with an "Indie" title before. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever encountered an indie game before that was actually good. Star Ruler accomplishes that. It's a "4X" space RTS, pitting you against the AI or other players in a war for control of the galaxy. This game would have 10/10 from me, were it not for how challenging the AI can be, the lack of an in-depth or even interactive tutorial, some interface quirks and some save/load crash bugs that I'm praying will be fixed in a later update. Nice, original soundtrack too. The developers actually seem to care about this game, as twelve months on there are feature additions and patches.
Toki Tori - 6/10
Toki Tori is a puzzle game, and I seem to have picked up quite a few of these. I'm not huge on puzzle games, so I just can't give this a high rating. I'm also not sold on much of any of it, but I do appreciate that it could be a good game for children or particularly sensitive women. As an RPG/FPS/RTS etc player though? Yeah, it's not quite in the same league.
Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West - 2.5/10
No, seriously. I feel like 2.5 is being kind.
This seems like such a great premise, and yet it's executed so badly in every possible way. This is a shooter that seems more like a beta than anything else. Perhaps I just couldn't work it out, but as far as I can tell, here are some things that are plain missing from a game of its type: No jumping, no crouching, no first person mode (The view change is "Behind, from the left" or "Behind, from the right"), no campaign mode. To top it off, terrible performance, at least for my setup. I would go so far as to say that FPS could be doubled with some performance work. This isn't even nitpicking, as I currently have no graphics card, yet can play many of the better (and more aesthetically-pleasing) titles with acceptable frame rates, in larger environments.
It features four classes, each of which have two weapons and a particular role, and a number of multiplayer modes in addition to some offline capabilities. Honestly, though - if you're into this kind of thing, just buy Left 4 Dead and be done with it.
BIT.TRIP.BEAT - 7/10
A game simple in execution and difficult in gameplay. Effectively plays like a horizontal version of breakout with a well-synced soundtrack. Instead of a lives system, the game opts for a progress bar towards oblivion, which comes in the form of muted music and simplified graphics. Fail again, and it's game over. It's a different take on a classic game, which is done rather well. I'm not a huge fan of the inevitable menu delay (You effectively confirm each option by not moving your paddle after hitting enter), and I'm not sure that the game has immense replay value, but it does have initial play value.
Dwarfs!? - 4/10
Ever play a game and think "This isn't so bad", only to discover that you've already done everything? Enter "Dwarfs!?", a game with a good beginning and no middle section. You are a small colony of dwarves, over which you have very little control. You dig, and you dig, and you dig. Sometimes you die. Unfortunately, that's all there is to say about Dwarfs!?, as it contains only one building and two unit types (A warrior, for defending against enemies you encounter, and diggers). A few minigames are also included, which are actually better than the game itself, as they have clear and measurable goals with decent gameplay. Naturally, some of those minigames are therefore a time-limited offer...
"Dwarfs!?" could be a much better game, if they add a game onto it.
Magicka - 8.5/10
Before July, Magicka was known to me as a game that didn't cost very much and had enough DLC to buy the game twice over again. Thanks to the Steam sale, it became a very cheap game with all the DLC included, which was enough to look into it. Magicka is an RPG that tries very hard not to take itself seriously, while still providing an awesome game at the same time. It arguably succeeds.
Just like all parties I seem to come up with, everyone's a wizard with a dizzying array of spells as they embark on an epic quest to save Sir Shmoopy's dying grandmother rid the world of evil. Spells are created by combining up to five elements together with the keyboard, from one of eight base elements (With two additional combo elements). Each element gives the spell a slightly different effect, and can be cast on oneself, in a direction, or as a player-based AoE effect. As a result, there are probably thousands of very similar spells that a player can cast
Magicka is at its best in co-op mode, wherein players try very hard to pretend not to have deliberately blown each other up. Up to four players casting spells through keyboard combinations ensures that this remains just plausible enough, while the plot remains implausible enough to be hilarious. Worth playing.
Defense Grid: The Awakening - 6.5/10
To be clear, there is nothing particularly wrong with Defense Grid. It's a 3D tower defense game which pits you against an evil race of unnamed aliens. Sadly, this is also the premise of every other tower defense game, and there are only so many ways you can design the same game. Defense Grid doesn't offer anything original, but it does achieve what it sets out to do - Provide a decent, high-quality tower defense game.
Swords and Soldiers HD - 5/10
Perhaps I'm just too old to appreciate games like this. Swords and Soldiers is a very simple RTS that puts you in the role of Vikings who love barbecues enough to kill people over, or something. To that end, you will attack your enemies in the name of the holy meat in order to defend the kingdom against... Vegetarianism? The plot is actually too simple for me to follow.
Nonetheless, gameplay is not. Gameplay consists of buying enough gold miners that you can spam soldiers and axe throwers as they automatically make their way across the screen, defeating enemies in their way (Or not, as the case may be). Some spells are also available, such as lightning bolts and healing, which assist them in their quest. Gameplay objectives range from destroying everything to stockpiling resources, and sometimes both. If you're looking for anything more than an idle timewaster, though, this probably isn't for you. Then again, if you're looking for a timewaster, why not play a Flash game instead?
The Polynomial - 6/10
The Polynomial is a space exploration and shooter game, I suppose. Its main premise is its randomly generated world, based on music. This is the same idea behind games such as Audiosurf, which generate a map and obstacles based on an MP3 file.
In many ways, however, this can be compared to "Dwarfs!?", in that it doesn't have any clear objective. It's a neat idea, and it gets marks for it, but Mikouen puts it best when he calls it a glorified Winamp visualisation. A solid foundation that just lacks a purpose.
Fortix 2 - 5/10
One of the most important questions to ask oneself when reviewing a game for something like this is to ask, "Am I having fun?".
Fortix 2 is another strategy game which sets you on the task of reclaiming the lands from the forces of evil. In order to do so, you must cross the map, conquering sections by drawing a line. If an enemy crosses the line, or it is fired upon, you lose a life. Anything within the box you create becomes claimed, safe ground.
Yet I'm reminded of an early 90s game called "Gotcha", which was pretty much the same game. This one has updated graphics, multiple enemies and cannons instead of minefields, but it's very much the same game. Unfortunately I played that game through to completion about 15 years ago, and therefore my answer would have to be "No, I'm not having fun". The idea just seemed weak to me. Defeating dragons by walking around them? Towers that can cause you to lose a life by firing where you aren't? Nice try, not for me.
Trine - 6.5/10
I'm not a fan of puzzle games these days and my opinion on this will reflect that, because that's exactly how Trine is best described. To be more specific, Trine is a physics-based puzzle game, with three characters that must be switched between in order to complete the objective - Moving from left to right and completing the level.
As physics puzzles go, Trine is at least a little more involved. The three characters are distinctly different, and have abilities of their own. The thief grapples surfaces and fires ranged attacks, whereas the wizard can conjure up boxes and planks to stand on. Each has their own health and energy quota, allowing for some survival tactics when fighting enemies. Sadly, these tactics usually consist of "Let the wizard die". Abilities are gained and upgraded with RPG-like leveling as the game progresses.
Trine was previously available as part of one of the "Humble Indie Bundles", and was probably better value at the time, depending on how much you paid (Or in my case, didn't) to get the pack. It does have an acceptable storyline and voiceover acting, though, which is more than can be said for most indie games.
Aaaaa! - 6/10
Perhaps it's because indie games are cheap that I've ended up with so many of them, and because they're so light on disk space that I've played so many of the ones I've bought.
Although the game seems clearly named to appear at the top of game catalogues, it's not utterly terrible, which is another way of saying that they picked the wrong name. The simplistic gameplay consists of jumping off a building and staying as close to the buildings as possible to gain daredevil-like points, awarded as "Hugs" and "Kisses". The difference between the two appears to be entirely in the spelling. At the end of the run, after scoring as much as possible (In every way, it would seem), open the parachute and try to land in the dotted circle. Simple enough.
Though simple, it actually has some replayability, if only to remind yourself that you actually did achieve a five star rating on that particular level. Most of the difficulty is down to your own momentum, which can make or break the run. Sadly, there isn't much else to this game (And I'm not sure what else could have been done for it), and it's all downhill from there. Still one of the better indie games I've played, and about as well designed as it's going to get.
AI War: Fleet Command - 7/10
Maybe I just have a thing about space games. AI War is a space RTS that almost goes out of its way not to be fair to the player, guaranteeing a challenging game. Plotwise, humans and AI are at war, but the AI have taken over to such an extent that humanity's pretty much making a last stand. Battles are huge, but over too quickly, leaving no time to enjoy the fireworks as several hundred ships are destroyed.
That said, the game offers good controls for a game of its scope and a randomly-generated campaign mode, which asks you to take back the entire galaxy with one or more players. No player vs player mode exists, you only co-operate against the well-armed enemy as it launches wave after wave at your defenses. Not a bad game to sit down and start playing from time to time, and I could perhaps see myself doing so.
Beat Hazard - 7/10
I promised myself that I wouldn't buy any more music games.
Unfortunately, Beat Hazard had two things going for it - One, it was actually popular, implying that there may be something to it. Secondly, it was a ticket achievement on Steam, and I seem to be gathering as many as I can, despite not really needing to anymore.
The problem with Beat Hazard is that it's actually good, or maybe it's because I like space games. I don't know, but this was probably the best of its kind that I've played. Would I have enjoyed it as much with a Magicka theme to it? I don't know; perhaps. The RPG element is a nice touch, though it almost forces a replay value. When your levels are randomly-generated based on the player's music, though, one would think they had enough replayability already.
Then again, I played The Polynomial, so maybe not.
Still to play:
Test Drive Unlimited 2
Star Wars: Empire at War
Heroes of Might and Magic series
Star Wars: Battlefront II
Torchlight
Mount and Blade series.
King Arthur: Collection
Torchlight you will like unless you're a dummy. Empire at War fails at its best. Mount and Blade is pretty awesome if you don't mind the graphics.
Quick bug report guide: