Platform: PC (Windows)
Genre: RPG
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Atari
Release: 31 October 2006
Rating: Teen
Price $20
Neverwinter Nights is a game that is often fondly remembered, but which, to be honest, has not aged well. It was a hit-or-miss translation of the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rule-set to PC format, and the party system (what little there was) left a lot to be desired.
Neverwinter Nights 2 is, gameplay-wise, everything that Neverwinter Nights wanted to be. It is a near-perfect transfer of the D&D 3.5 rules, and it has a rather well-implemented party system that feels a lot like Knights of the Old Republic.
At the time of its release, NWN2's visuals were stunning, but only if you had a high-end computer. The necessary specs are far easier to achieve with modern PCs, so the visuals, while slightly aged, are still very nice to look at.
The plot is very much a storm of cliches: You're an ordinary person growing up in a tiny village, but when the village is attacked, you need to take the magical silver shard that they were after and take it to the eponymous city of Neverwinter so you can get another shard from your uncle and we've all seen this sort of thing before. What makes the story interesting is that the writers seemed to know how cliche it was, so they took every opportunity to poke fun at themselves for it.
Of course, the most important part of any story is its characters, and this game certainly delivers on that front. You will gather the standard Ragtag Bunch of Misfits, but they're all surprisingly well-developed and interesting.
Instead of the kind of "Morality" system that's common to modern RPGs, Neverwinter Nights 2 opts for an "Influence" system instead. Based on your actions, you may curry either favor or scorn from various members of your party, and their actions are determined by how much they like you. This will mainly affect dialogue, but it can affect gameplay as well (having high influence with Neeshka can get her to poison a certain foe, making that boss fight easier, for example). Some allies may even leave the group if they dislike you enough.
The main complaint that I can draw against Neverwinter Nights 2 is the sheer number of game-breaking bugs that it contained upon release. In the years since, most of them have been patched, but not all of them. It's not enough to be a deal-breaker anymore, however.
The Steam-exclusive "Platinum" release also contains both expansions to the game: Mask of the Betrayer and Storm of Zehir. Both of them are excellent and well worth your time once you've completed the main campaign. As a whole, the Platinum version is a great investment if you like Dungeons & Dragons or RPGs. There's a lot of game here, and since it comes with the tools to build your own adventures, there's the fan-made content as well.
You can get Neverwinter Nights 2: Platinum on Steam for $20.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Showing posts with label pc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pc. Show all posts
Friday, July 22, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Sonic Mega Collection Plus
Platform: PlayStation 2/Xbox/PC (Windows)
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: Sega
Release: 2 November 2004
Rating: Everyone
Price: $10-13
Sonic the Hedgehog is one of gaming's Long Runners, and like his rival Mario, Sonic himself is immediately recognizable to most. While the series hasn't been relevant in years--most likely due to horrible game after horrible game--the original games remain classics. They're all very flawed, but are still worth playing, if for no reason other than their enormous place in gaming's history. Personally, I hold that most of the games up through Sonic Adventure were quite enjoyable*, and many of them are collected here. The original Sonic Mega Collection contained seven Genesis (or "Mega Drive" if you're outside the United States) titles:
While still incomplete, this updated collection is still an excellent value (containing both the gems and the crap) and since Sonic Gems Collection holds most of the missing games, the Sonic Mega Collection Plus is a worthwhile part of gaming history.
Over a dozen games on one disc for a price of $10 on the PC
or PS2, or $13 on the Xbox makes this an excellent deal.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: Sega
Release: 2 November 2004
Rating: Everyone
Price: $10-13
Sonic the Hedgehog is one of gaming's Long Runners, and like his rival Mario, Sonic himself is immediately recognizable to most. While the series hasn't been relevant in years--most likely due to horrible game after horrible game--the original games remain classics. They're all very flawed, but are still worth playing, if for no reason other than their enormous place in gaming's history. Personally, I hold that most of the games up through Sonic Adventure were quite enjoyable*, and many of them are collected here. The original Sonic Mega Collection contained seven Genesis (or "Mega Drive" if you're outside the United States) titles:
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3
- Sonic & Knuckles
- Sonic 3D Blast
- Sonic Spinball
- Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (which was actually Puyo Puyo, given a Sonic-themed "makeover" for its release outside Japan)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Game Gear version)
- Sonic Chaos
- Sonic Drift
- Sonic Labyrinth
- Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (Game Gear version)
- Sonic Blast
While still incomplete, this updated collection is still an excellent value (containing both the gems and the crap) and since Sonic Gems Collection holds most of the missing games, the Sonic Mega Collection Plus is a worthwhile part of gaming history.
Over a dozen games on one disc for a price of $10 on the PC
or PS2, or $13 on the Xbox makes this an excellent deal.Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, June 3, 2011
Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
Platform: PC (MS-DOS/Mac OS)
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Developer: Raven Software
Publisher: id Software
Release: 23 December 1994
Rating: n/a*
Price: $5
Doom remains one of the most well-made first-person shooters of all time, and thus, its engine was used in other games for years afterward. Heretic is one of them, and as such, its gameplay is heavily derived from Doom itself. So if you like Doom, you'll enjoy Heretic.
That's not to say that Heretic is a carbon-copy of Doom. It's in a fantasy setting (with weapons to match), and has several features that Doom does not, namely interactive environments, inventory management, the ability to look up and down (that may not seem like much today, but in '94, it was a big deal), and limited flight.
There isn't much else to say about Heretic, so I'll talk about its sequels instead:
Heretic was followed by HeXen: Beyond Heretic, which itself was followed by HeXen II. Both take the basic gameplay of Heretic and add features of their own. A class-system was added in HeXen, with the original Heretic character filed under the Mage class. Fighter and Cleric are also available. Each class was given a unique set of weapons, and different physical stats. HeXen II increases the number of classes to four, with an entirely new set (Paladin, Crusader, Assassin, and Necromancer), and layers RPG-elements on top of that. In addition, HeXen and HeXen II added multiplayer co-operative modes.
This is one of the few cases where talking about the sequels is appropriate, since not only can you buy Heretic (complete with DOS emulator so it can run on Windows) from Steam for $5, or all three games for $10. Either way, it's an excellent deal.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
*Heretic was never rated by the Electronic Sofware Ratings Bureau, as the ESRB was only three months old when the game was released, and at the time, it was impossible for them to rate every game.
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Developer: Raven Software
Publisher: id Software
Release: 23 December 1994
Rating: n/a*
Price: $5
Doom remains one of the most well-made first-person shooters of all time, and thus, its engine was used in other games for years afterward. Heretic is one of them, and as such, its gameplay is heavily derived from Doom itself. So if you like Doom, you'll enjoy Heretic.
That's not to say that Heretic is a carbon-copy of Doom. It's in a fantasy setting (with weapons to match), and has several features that Doom does not, namely interactive environments, inventory management, the ability to look up and down (that may not seem like much today, but in '94, it was a big deal), and limited flight.
There isn't much else to say about Heretic, so I'll talk about its sequels instead:
Heretic was followed by HeXen: Beyond Heretic, which itself was followed by HeXen II. Both take the basic gameplay of Heretic and add features of their own. A class-system was added in HeXen, with the original Heretic character filed under the Mage class. Fighter and Cleric are also available. Each class was given a unique set of weapons, and different physical stats. HeXen II increases the number of classes to four, with an entirely new set (Paladin, Crusader, Assassin, and Necromancer), and layers RPG-elements on top of that. In addition, HeXen and HeXen II added multiplayer co-operative modes.
This is one of the few cases where talking about the sequels is appropriate, since not only can you buy Heretic (complete with DOS emulator so it can run on Windows) from Steam for $5, or all three games for $10. Either way, it's an excellent deal.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
*Heretic was never rated by the Electronic Sofware Ratings Bureau, as the ESRB was only three months old when the game was released, and at the time, it was impossible for them to rate every game.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Pennypincher's Corner IV - Double Feature: Alter A.I.L.A. & Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis
Genre: RPG
Developer: Neok
Sturgeon's Law shows up in spades when looking at games made in RPG Maker (I, myself, have fallen to it, which is why I haven't actually released any of the games I've made). Alter A.I.L.A. and its remake, Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis, both fall into that other 10%. They're both really good, if almost different games.
Both versions of Alter A.I.L.A. take place in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world, in which a group of nine prisoners fight for their lives for the public's amusement (kind of like the late Roman Empire). When circumstances allow them to escape, they find new lives for themselves. And this is where the two games differentiate themselves.
The original Alter A.I.L.A. presents three different storylines: serve the Empire, join the rebellion, or try to ignore the conflict and live as a normal citizen. Clearing all three unlocks a fourth, and this gives the game great replay value. You can find it here.
The remake, Genesis, only has one storyline, but this allows for more detail in its plot, and more character development. It also has an improved combat system. Get it here.
Which version you'll want to play all comes down to what you'd prefer. Myself, I love them both equally well, as they're both well-made RPGs. So I say, try them out.
--Kotaro
Note: Both Alter A.I.L.A. and Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis were made using RPG Maker 2003, and thus require the program to be installed on your PC before they will run. Fortunately, RPG Maker 2003 is now officially freeware, so you can easily download it.
Developer: Neok
Sturgeon's Law shows up in spades when looking at games made in RPG Maker (I, myself, have fallen to it, which is why I haven't actually released any of the games I've made). Alter A.I.L.A. and its remake, Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis, both fall into that other 10%. They're both really good, if almost different games.
Both versions of Alter A.I.L.A. take place in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world, in which a group of nine prisoners fight for their lives for the public's amusement (kind of like the late Roman Empire). When circumstances allow them to escape, they find new lives for themselves. And this is where the two games differentiate themselves.
The original Alter A.I.L.A. presents three different storylines: serve the Empire, join the rebellion, or try to ignore the conflict and live as a normal citizen. Clearing all three unlocks a fourth, and this gives the game great replay value. You can find it here.
The remake, Genesis, only has one storyline, but this allows for more detail in its plot, and more character development. It also has an improved combat system. Get it here.
Which version you'll want to play all comes down to what you'd prefer. Myself, I love them both equally well, as they're both well-made RPGs. So I say, try them out.
--Kotaro
Note: Both Alter A.I.L.A. and Alter A.I.L.A. Genesis were made using RPG Maker 2003, and thus require the program to be installed on your PC before they will run. Fortunately, RPG Maker 2003 is now officially freeware, so you can easily download it.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Psychonauts
Platform: Xbox/PlayStation 2/PC (Windows)
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Release: 19 April 2005
Rating: Teen
Price: $10-15
It's always a horrid shame when a beautifully-original game like Psychonauts fails to sell, until years later when the entire world simultaneously discovers it. While yes, it's a good thing that the game is finally being bought, the initial lackluster sales tend to really hurt the publisher.
Tim Schafer is a brilliant man, and has created some of the wackiest games this side of Grasshopper Manufacture. Psychonauts was the first time he worked outside the genre of adventure games, and the result is unpolished, but still genuinely fun. The premise of the game is that the hero, Raz, is a kid at a summer camp for psychics. When a conspiracy comes to light, it's up to him to save his fellow campers by using his powers to explore the minds of other people. So each level has an entirely different feel, and they can get rather surreal at times. The conspiracy theorist's mindscape is a warped version of an American suburb with trenchcoat-wearing, CIA-looking guys all over the place; The boot-camp-style counselor's brain is a war-torn battlefield; and the retired actress' subconscious has actors reliving her life in the form of a stage play.
While the difficulty curve is inconsistent, and the gameplay has a slightly unfinished feel, Psychonauts is still a colorful adventure with an insane cast and is definitely worth a look.
GameStop sells the Xbox and PS2 versions of the game at $13 and $15 respectively, while Steam and GOG offer the PC version for $10.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Platformer
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Release: 19 April 2005
Rating: Teen
Price: $10-15
It's always a horrid shame when a beautifully-original game like Psychonauts fails to sell, until years later when the entire world simultaneously discovers it. While yes, it's a good thing that the game is finally being bought, the initial lackluster sales tend to really hurt the publisher.
Tim Schafer is a brilliant man, and has created some of the wackiest games this side of Grasshopper Manufacture. Psychonauts was the first time he worked outside the genre of adventure games, and the result is unpolished, but still genuinely fun. The premise of the game is that the hero, Raz, is a kid at a summer camp for psychics. When a conspiracy comes to light, it's up to him to save his fellow campers by using his powers to explore the minds of other people. So each level has an entirely different feel, and they can get rather surreal at times. The conspiracy theorist's mindscape is a warped version of an American suburb with trenchcoat-wearing, CIA-looking guys all over the place; The boot-camp-style counselor's brain is a war-torn battlefield; and the retired actress' subconscious has actors reliving her life in the form of a stage play.
While the difficulty curve is inconsistent, and the gameplay has a slightly unfinished feel, Psychonauts is still a colorful adventure with an insane cast and is definitely worth a look.
GameStop sells the Xbox and PS2 versions of the game at $13 and $15 respectively, while Steam and GOG offer the PC version for $10.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, May 6, 2011
StarCraft: Battle Chest
Platform: PC (Windows/Mac)
Genre: Strategy
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release: 31 March 1998
Rating: Teen
Price: $16
StarCraft is often considered to be the greatest real-time strategy game of all time. Nothing else need be said. If you haven't already, play this game. You are missing out.
StarCraft doesn't do much that hasn't been done before, but it does it so well, what more could you want? I'll allow the game's legacy to speak for itself:
-It remains one of the most popular games online to this day, thirteen years later.
-It has become the standard to which all modern RTS games are compared.
-The phrase "Zerg Rush" (named for one of StarCraft's playable factions) has become an oft-used gaming term.
-StarCraft has been used by the US Air Force to teach new recruits how to plan under stress.
I can't say anything about StarCraft that hasn't already been said many times. But if my words can get more people to play this excellent game, then I will say it: buy StarCraft
.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Strategy
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Release: 31 March 1998
Rating: Teen
Price: $16
StarCraft is often considered to be the greatest real-time strategy game of all time. Nothing else need be said. If you haven't already, play this game. You are missing out.
StarCraft doesn't do much that hasn't been done before, but it does it so well, what more could you want? I'll allow the game's legacy to speak for itself:
-It remains one of the most popular games online to this day, thirteen years later.
-It has become the standard to which all modern RTS games are compared.
-The phrase "Zerg Rush" (named for one of StarCraft's playable factions) has become an oft-used gaming term.
-StarCraft has been used by the US Air Force to teach new recruits how to plan under stress.
I can't say anything about StarCraft that hasn't already been said many times. But if my words can get more people to play this excellent game, then I will say it: buy StarCraft
.Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Pennypincher's Corner III: Tyrian 2000
Platform: PC
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Eclipse Productions
Publisher: Eclipse Productions
Release: 30 November 1999
Tyrian may be one of the greatest vertical-scrolling shoot-em-ups ever made. It is fun, challenging, and never takes itself too seriously (one of the unlockable ships is a carrot, for instance). It's far more forgiving than most games in the genre, but makes up for the slightly lessened challenge with depth. Similarly to Raptor: Call of the Shadows, you can purchase new weapons and upgrades between levels, customizing your ship to suit your play-style. And you will need to upgrade if you want to survive the later levels.
Tyrian 2000 has a decent length, consisting of five "episodes" that comprise the plot. Each episode contains several levels, some of which have branching paths. While the game may only take a few hours to complete, the sheer variety of weapons to use gives it high replay value for those who want to try out different strategies.
For a game originally made for DOS, the visuals are beautiful, and everything shows a remarkable attention to detail. There is little in Tyrian about which I can complain, and it stands as one of my favorite "shmup" games.
The version you can download from Good Old Games is already set up to play (with the DOSBox emulator included). At a grand price of $0, you can't refuse Tyrian. Give it a shot.
--Kotaro
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Eclipse Productions
Publisher: Eclipse Productions
Release: 30 November 1999
Tyrian may be one of the greatest vertical-scrolling shoot-em-ups ever made. It is fun, challenging, and never takes itself too seriously (one of the unlockable ships is a carrot, for instance). It's far more forgiving than most games in the genre, but makes up for the slightly lessened challenge with depth. Similarly to Raptor: Call of the Shadows, you can purchase new weapons and upgrades between levels, customizing your ship to suit your play-style. And you will need to upgrade if you want to survive the later levels.
Tyrian 2000 has a decent length, consisting of five "episodes" that comprise the plot. Each episode contains several levels, some of which have branching paths. While the game may only take a few hours to complete, the sheer variety of weapons to use gives it high replay value for those who want to try out different strategies.
For a game originally made for DOS, the visuals are beautiful, and everything shows a remarkable attention to detail. There is little in Tyrian about which I can complain, and it stands as one of my favorite "shmup" games.
The version you can download from Good Old Games is already set up to play (with the DOSBox emulator included). At a grand price of $0, you can't refuse Tyrian. Give it a shot.
--Kotaro
Friday, April 22, 2011
Mass Effect
Platform: Xbox 360/PC (Windows)
Genre: Shooter/RPG
Developer: Bioware/Demiurge Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios/Electronic Arts
Release: 20 November 2007
Rating: Mature
Price: $15-19
It is hard to think of a game developed by Bioware that has not been excellent. While very different from their other fare, Mass Effect contains the same brilliant dialogue and world-building that all their games do. A hybrid third-person-shooter/RPG, Mass Effect shakes up even that formula, by emphasizing the RPG over the shooter aspects. Most are shooters with occasional RPG elements, but Mass Effect is more like an RPG that happens to have shooter combat.
The only complaint I have against this game is the awkwardness of inventory management. Swapping out weapons, armors, and upgrades can be rather annoying once you've built up a large stock, and the shopping system only services to make obtaining the items you want more aggravating.
Almost everything else about Mass Effect is excellent, however. A gripping plot, likable characters, an enormous and atmospheric galaxy to explore, and a well-made dialogue and choice system all make it a worthwhile game.
Mass Effect 2 is far more streamlined than this one, but one should definitely play the first game first, because every choice made here does affect the plot of the next game, giving an entirely different (and much greater) experience.
The original Xbox 360 version of Mass Effect costs $19, and the improved PC port costs only $15.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Shooter/RPG
Developer: Bioware/Demiurge Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios/Electronic Arts
Release: 20 November 2007
Rating: Mature
Price: $15-19
It is hard to think of a game developed by Bioware that has not been excellent. While very different from their other fare, Mass Effect contains the same brilliant dialogue and world-building that all their games do. A hybrid third-person-shooter/RPG, Mass Effect shakes up even that formula, by emphasizing the RPG over the shooter aspects. Most are shooters with occasional RPG elements, but Mass Effect is more like an RPG that happens to have shooter combat.
The only complaint I have against this game is the awkwardness of inventory management. Swapping out weapons, armors, and upgrades can be rather annoying once you've built up a large stock, and the shopping system only services to make obtaining the items you want more aggravating.
Almost everything else about Mass Effect is excellent, however. A gripping plot, likable characters, an enormous and atmospheric galaxy to explore, and a well-made dialogue and choice system all make it a worthwhile game.
Mass Effect 2 is far more streamlined than this one, but one should definitely play the first game first, because every choice made here does affect the plot of the next game, giving an entirely different (and much greater) experience.
The original Xbox 360 version of Mass Effect costs $19, and the improved PC port costs only $15.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, April 1, 2011
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness
Platform: PayStation 3/Xbox 360/PC (Windows/Mac/Linux)
Genre: RPG
Developer: Hothead Games
Publisher: Hothead Games
Release: 21 May 2008
Rating: Mature
Price: 2 parts for $8 each
Penny Arcade is the original--and best--gaming webcomic out there, and their video game, On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, carries the same brand of black humor that makes the comic such a hit. While the gameplay is rather hit-or-miss (essentially Paper Mario as an Active Time Battle), the plot, characters, and humor are enough to make Rain-Slick worth playing.The game throws our heroes, Tycho and Gabe (and the player), into 1920's America, as supernatural detectives fighting against evil gods. It may sound dark, but Rain-Slick never takes itself seriously. What kind of humor can you expect? The final boss of the first episode is a giant wooden statue of a mime with an octopus head that attacks you by dancing. Yes, it's like that.
There is bad news about this game, and it is very bad. It was intended to be released episodically, in four parts, but only the first two were finished. While this leaves the series without a real conclusion, it still should not be missed.
On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness can be bought on the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, or Steam, for $8 an episode. The Steam version also has both episodes as a $12 bundle.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: RPG
Developer: Hothead Games
Publisher: Hothead Games
Release: 21 May 2008
Rating: Mature
Price: 2 parts for $8 each
Penny Arcade is the original--and best--gaming webcomic out there, and their video game, On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, carries the same brand of black humor that makes the comic such a hit. While the gameplay is rather hit-or-miss (essentially Paper Mario as an Active Time Battle), the plot, characters, and humor are enough to make Rain-Slick worth playing.The game throws our heroes, Tycho and Gabe (and the player), into 1920's America, as supernatural detectives fighting against evil gods. It may sound dark, but Rain-Slick never takes itself seriously. What kind of humor can you expect? The final boss of the first episode is a giant wooden statue of a mime with an octopus head that attacks you by dancing. Yes, it's like that.
There is bad news about this game, and it is very bad. It was intended to be released episodically, in four parts, but only the first two were finished. While this leaves the series without a real conclusion, it still should not be missed.
On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness can be bought on the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, or Steam, for $8 an episode. The Steam version also has both episodes as a $12 bundle.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, March 18, 2011
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
Platform: PC (Windows)
Genre: Action/Platformer
Developer: Sunstorm Interactive
Publisher: ARUSH Entertainment/Apogee Software/3D Realms Entertainment
Release: 21 May 2002
Rating: Mature
Price: $6
With Duke Nukem Forever finally on the horizon, now is the perfect time to become reacquainted with some of Duke's old adventures. Following the success of Duke Nukem 3D, Manhattan Project returned Duke to his side-scrolling roots. It is a well-made 2.5D action platformer, albeit slightly repetitive. The level design is rather well-done, however, ranging from New York's sewers, to the streets of Chinatown, to the city's rooftops, and manage to keep things interesting.
Most of the bosses are uncreative (being little more than souped-up versions of normal enemies), every level has an annoying keycard puzzle, and enemy placement can border on unfair at times, but the gameplay is tight and fun, so it's easy to look past Manhattan Project's faults.
Duke himself is the same humourously chauvinist character we've come to know and love, helping to push the game (and all of his games, in fact) from "average but fun" into "hilarious and awesome."
As a whole, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project is the same flawed-yet-fun kind of game we have always expected from Duke (and can likely expect again in Forever), and it's hard to lose when it's only $6 on Good Old Games.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Action/Platformer
Developer: Sunstorm Interactive
Publisher: ARUSH Entertainment/Apogee Software/3D Realms Entertainment
Release: 21 May 2002
Rating: Mature
Price: $6
With Duke Nukem Forever finally on the horizon, now is the perfect time to become reacquainted with some of Duke's old adventures. Following the success of Duke Nukem 3D, Manhattan Project returned Duke to his side-scrolling roots. It is a well-made 2.5D action platformer, albeit slightly repetitive. The level design is rather well-done, however, ranging from New York's sewers, to the streets of Chinatown, to the city's rooftops, and manage to keep things interesting.
Most of the bosses are uncreative (being little more than souped-up versions of normal enemies), every level has an annoying keycard puzzle, and enemy placement can border on unfair at times, but the gameplay is tight and fun, so it's easy to look past Manhattan Project's faults.
Duke himself is the same humourously chauvinist character we've come to know and love, helping to push the game (and all of his games, in fact) from "average but fun" into "hilarious and awesome."
As a whole, Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project is the same flawed-yet-fun kind of game we have always expected from Duke (and can likely expect again in Forever), and it's hard to lose when it's only $6 on Good Old Games.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, March 11, 2011
Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale
Platform: PC (Windows)
Genre: Action/RPG/Simulation
Developer: EasyGameStation
Publisher: Carpe Fulgur
Release: 10 September 2010
Rating: n/a
Price: $20
One thing that always bugged me when playing RPGs was how shopkeepers would never just give you stuff, even though you were trying to save the world. Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale made me realize why. The game puts you on the other side of the counter, where there's no point to saving the world if you're left broke afterward.
Having been saddled with an enormous debt by her missing father, Recette converts her house into a shop, to sell items and equipment to the townspeople and to adventurers passing through. To make the money you need to meet the weekly payments, you'll have to buy, sell at a profit, and hire adventurers to escort you into various dungeons.
The gameplay combines standard trading-simulation game mechanics with top-down action-RPG dungeon-crawling, and it works surprisingly well. There are several adventurers to befriend and hire, each with a unique play-style, and hundreds of different items to find and sell.
That's pretty much all there is to Recettear, and it can get very repetitive after a while. But so many things about the game, from its lovable characters, to its brightly-colored world, to its whimsical story, are all so charming and downright fun.
For the amount of play I got out of Recettear, $20 on Steam was a fantastic deal.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Action/RPG/Simulation
Developer: EasyGameStation
Publisher: Carpe Fulgur
Release: 10 September 2010
Rating: n/a
Price: $20
One thing that always bugged me when playing RPGs was how shopkeepers would never just give you stuff, even though you were trying to save the world. Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale made me realize why. The game puts you on the other side of the counter, where there's no point to saving the world if you're left broke afterward.
Having been saddled with an enormous debt by her missing father, Recette converts her house into a shop, to sell items and equipment to the townspeople and to adventurers passing through. To make the money you need to meet the weekly payments, you'll have to buy, sell at a profit, and hire adventurers to escort you into various dungeons.
The gameplay combines standard trading-simulation game mechanics with top-down action-RPG dungeon-crawling, and it works surprisingly well. There are several adventurers to befriend and hire, each with a unique play-style, and hundreds of different items to find and sell.
That's pretty much all there is to Recettear, and it can get very repetitive after a while. But so many things about the game, from its lovable characters, to its brightly-colored world, to its whimsical story, are all so charming and downright fun.
For the amount of play I got out of Recettear, $20 on Steam was a fantastic deal.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Pennypincher's Corner II: Irisu Syndrome
Platform: PC
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Katatema
Publisher: Katatema
Release: 5 October 2008
Irisu Syndrome is a very difficult puzzle game starring the bunny-girl/witch Irisu. As you play the game, a story of three college students on a camping trip unfolds, told with both images, and text files that slowly appear in the game folder. The ending differs based on the scores you get. I cannot say anything more, for fear of spoilers (and trust me, you do not want it spoiled) For reference, here is how the game works:
-Colored blocks slowly fall from above and pile up on the ground. You can left-click to shoot up a white block, or right-click to shoot up a faster white block. Your goal is to destroy the colored blocks to get points and replenish your slowly-emptying life bar. You can do this in two ways:
1. Knock them into same-colored blocks already on the ground, destroying both.
2. Knock them into same-colored blocks still in the air, causing them to fall and explode.
-Be careful, though, as each block that falls to the ground damages your life bar, and if your life bar empties, the game is over.
-There is also an unlockable "Metsu" mode, which adds some new twists to the gameplay, and expands the story.
Irisu Syndrome, as well as a fan-made English patch, can be downloaded here.
--Kotaro
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Katatema
Publisher: Katatema
Release: 5 October 2008
Irisu Syndrome is a very difficult puzzle game starring the bunny-girl/witch Irisu. As you play the game, a story of three college students on a camping trip unfolds, told with both images, and text files that slowly appear in the game folder. The ending differs based on the scores you get. I cannot say anything more, for fear of spoilers (and trust me, you do not want it spoiled) For reference, here is how the game works:
-Colored blocks slowly fall from above and pile up on the ground. You can left-click to shoot up a white block, or right-click to shoot up a faster white block. Your goal is to destroy the colored blocks to get points and replenish your slowly-emptying life bar. You can do this in two ways:
1. Knock them into same-colored blocks already on the ground, destroying both.
2. Knock them into same-colored blocks still in the air, causing them to fall and explode.
-Be careful, though, as each block that falls to the ground damages your life bar, and if your life bar empties, the game is over.
-There is also an unlockable "Metsu" mode, which adds some new twists to the gameplay, and expands the story.
Irisu Syndrome, as well as a fan-made English patch, can be downloaded here.
--Kotaro
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Devil May Cry 4
Platform: PlayStation 3/Xbox 360/PC (Windows)
Genre: Action
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release: 5 February 2008/8 July 2008
Rating: Mature
Price: $16-18
Devil May Cry has always touted some of the best brutal action combat in games (except for 2, but we don't talk about that one). The formula was perfected in DMC3, and 4 simply expands that even further. If you've seen my Top Ten Replacement Protagonists, you'll know that the new lead, Nero, has replaced recurring protagonist Dante in this game, and frankly, I thank Capcom for that. Because while controlling Dante for the second third of the game is fun as ever, Nero's "Devil Bringer" ability makes pulling off combos much easier. Which was really the main problem that 3 had.
Ever played God of War? While a great game in its own right, its combat is--when you think about it--little more than a dumbed-down version of Devil May Cry, with the emphasis on combos and damage-avoidance ripped out. And to be honest, the style-obsessed, combo-heavy combat is what makes DMC so great.
Devil My Cry 4 is by no means perfect. The level design can be rather obnoxious at times, and there is a large amount of backtracking (though given that DMC originally grew out of Resident Evil, that's little surprise). But the combat is just so much fun that the level design is simply a minor complaint.
The game is also brutally difficult. At least there's an Easy mode, for those who can't master the higher difficulties.
All three versions of DMC4 are great, but I have to recommend the PC version, since it has slightly fancier visuals. And a new difficulty mode, "Legendary Dark Knight," which multiplies the number of enemies, and is a nice challenge for those that have already mastered the game.
All three versions of Devil May Cry 4 are available on Amazon: the PS3 version is $16, the Xbox 360 version is $17, and the PC version
$18.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
P.S.: I apologize for the lateness, but things came up. I think I will start uploading them in advance so they can update automatically.
Genre: Action
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release: 5 February 2008/8 July 2008
Rating: Mature
Price: $16-18
Devil May Cry has always touted some of the best brutal action combat in games (except for 2, but we don't talk about that one). The formula was perfected in DMC3, and 4 simply expands that even further. If you've seen my Top Ten Replacement Protagonists, you'll know that the new lead, Nero, has replaced recurring protagonist Dante in this game, and frankly, I thank Capcom for that. Because while controlling Dante for the second third of the game is fun as ever, Nero's "Devil Bringer" ability makes pulling off combos much easier. Which was really the main problem that 3 had.
Ever played God of War? While a great game in its own right, its combat is--when you think about it--little more than a dumbed-down version of Devil May Cry, with the emphasis on combos and damage-avoidance ripped out. And to be honest, the style-obsessed, combo-heavy combat is what makes DMC so great.
Devil My Cry 4 is by no means perfect. The level design can be rather obnoxious at times, and there is a large amount of backtracking (though given that DMC originally grew out of Resident Evil, that's little surprise). But the combat is just so much fun that the level design is simply a minor complaint.
The game is also brutally difficult. At least there's an Easy mode, for those who can't master the higher difficulties.
All three versions of DMC4 are great, but I have to recommend the PC version, since it has slightly fancier visuals. And a new difficulty mode, "Legendary Dark Knight," which multiplies the number of enemies, and is a nice challenge for those that have already mastered the game.
All three versions of Devil May Cry 4 are available on Amazon: the PS3 version is $16, the Xbox 360 version is $17, and the PC version
$18.Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
P.S.: I apologize for the lateness, but things came up. I think I will start uploading them in advance so they can update automatically.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Left 4 Dead 2
Platform: PC (Windows/Mac)
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Developer: Valve Corporation
Publisher: Valve Corporation
Release: 17 November 2009
Rating: Mature
Price: $20
If you ask me, Valve has not made a single bad game. So it follows that Left 4 Dead 2 is good. Actually, it's great. Valve deserves some kind of award for creating two of the best teamwork-based games out there (L4D2 and Team Fortress 2). There's not much to say about Left 4 Dead 2, since it's remarkably simple. Up to four players can play as four "survivors" (with AI controlling those unclaimed) who have to fight their way through a variety of campaigns after the zombie apocalypse. There's a pretty good variety of weapons to choose from, which is the biggest improvement over the first Left 4 Dead, which only had a handful. Only by working together with your allies will you be able to survive the innumerable hordes of zombies that will come after you.
There's also a Versus mode, where some players control the zombies instead, and try to kill off the survivors. There's actually a fun kind of satisfaction in leaping out of nowhere and clawing your hapless victim's face off.
If you like first-person shooters--and Valve's in particular--the download on Steam is priced at $20, so you should really go check it out.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Developer: Valve Corporation
Publisher: Valve Corporation
Release: 17 November 2009
Rating: Mature
Price: $20
If you ask me, Valve has not made a single bad game. So it follows that Left 4 Dead 2 is good. Actually, it's great. Valve deserves some kind of award for creating two of the best teamwork-based games out there (L4D2 and Team Fortress 2). There's not much to say about Left 4 Dead 2, since it's remarkably simple. Up to four players can play as four "survivors" (with AI controlling those unclaimed) who have to fight their way through a variety of campaigns after the zombie apocalypse. There's a pretty good variety of weapons to choose from, which is the biggest improvement over the first Left 4 Dead, which only had a handful. Only by working together with your allies will you be able to survive the innumerable hordes of zombies that will come after you.
There's also a Versus mode, where some players control the zombies instead, and try to kill off the survivors. There's actually a fun kind of satisfaction in leaping out of nowhere and clawing your hapless victim's face off.
If you like first-person shooters--and Valve's in particular--the download on Steam is priced at $20, so you should really go check it out.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Pennypincher's Corner I: Cave Story
Platform: PC
Genre: Action-Platformer
Developer: Studio Pixel
Publisher: Studio Pixel
Release: 20 December 2004
Cave Story is notable in that it was made by one person over the course of five years. It was a labor of love, and it shows. Cave Story is brilliant, and is in fact more well-made than many AAA titles. An updated version is available for download on WiiWare, but the original PC version of the game remains free.
As for the plot, the main character wakes up in a cave with amnesia, and saying anything more would be a spoiler. Half the fun of the game is simply figuring out what happened that lead up to the events occurring in-game. A brilliant cast of characters and lots of nice world-building make it a very worthwhile plot, as well.
Gameplay? Excellent. Comparisons have been drawn to Metroid, which is rather appropriate; the biggest difference from Metroid is in difficulty. Cave Story starts out rather easy, but quickly becomes downright brutal. And if you want the good ending, you have to work for it (you will not get the good ending your first time through, so don't worry about it and just enjoy the game).
While flawed (but isn't every game?), Cave Story is a game certainly worth experiencing. It can be downloaded here.
--Kotaro
Genre: Action-Platformer
Developer: Studio Pixel
Publisher: Studio Pixel
Release: 20 December 2004
Cave Story is notable in that it was made by one person over the course of five years. It was a labor of love, and it shows. Cave Story is brilliant, and is in fact more well-made than many AAA titles. An updated version is available for download on WiiWare, but the original PC version of the game remains free.
As for the plot, the main character wakes up in a cave with amnesia, and saying anything more would be a spoiler. Half the fun of the game is simply figuring out what happened that lead up to the events occurring in-game. A brilliant cast of characters and lots of nice world-building make it a very worthwhile plot, as well.
Gameplay? Excellent. Comparisons have been drawn to Metroid, which is rather appropriate; the biggest difference from Metroid is in difficulty. Cave Story starts out rather easy, but quickly becomes downright brutal. And if you want the good ending, you have to work for it (you will not get the good ending your first time through, so don't worry about it and just enjoy the game).
While flawed (but isn't every game?), Cave Story is a game certainly worth experiencing. It can be downloaded here.
--Kotaro
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - Game of the Year Edition
Platform: PC (Windows)
Genre: Action/RPG
Developer: Bethesda Game Studio
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks/ZeniMax
Release: 1 May 2002
Rating: Teen
Price: $10
Perhaps a bit lacking by today's standards, but easily one of the greatest games of its time, Morrowind is a first-person action/RPG set on the eastern province of a fantasy empire. The character models are blocky, and the textures somewhat low-res, but the game's sprawling open-world and countless quests are simply enthralling.
Morrowind is one of the few sandbox games that actually lets you do anything--and I do mean anything--that you want. Only here for the main storyline? Fine! Want to run around and explore the world? Sure! Want to sneak into places and steal everything that isn't nailed down? Nothing stopping you! Want to find a vampire and have him turn you into one? That's also okay! Morrowind actually feels like a role-playing game, because you can play pretty much any role you want in it.
It's a fantastic game, and the Game of the Year Edition includes both expansions. The above alone would make Morrowind worth buying, but here's the real hook: the fairly easy-to-use modding tools ensure that there will always be new content, giving Morrowind infinite replay value.
And as of right now, Amazon.com is selling this game for just under $10.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Action/RPG
Developer: Bethesda Game Studio
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks/ZeniMax
Release: 1 May 2002
Rating: Teen
Price: $10
Perhaps a bit lacking by today's standards, but easily one of the greatest games of its time, Morrowind is a first-person action/RPG set on the eastern province of a fantasy empire. The character models are blocky, and the textures somewhat low-res, but the game's sprawling open-world and countless quests are simply enthralling.
Morrowind is one of the few sandbox games that actually lets you do anything--and I do mean anything--that you want. Only here for the main storyline? Fine! Want to run around and explore the world? Sure! Want to sneak into places and steal everything that isn't nailed down? Nothing stopping you! Want to find a vampire and have him turn you into one? That's also okay! Morrowind actually feels like a role-playing game, because you can play pretty much any role you want in it.
It's a fantastic game, and the Game of the Year Edition includes both expansions. The above alone would make Morrowind worth buying, but here's the real hook: the fairly easy-to-use modding tools ensure that there will always be new content, giving Morrowind infinite replay value.
And as of right now, Amazon.com is selling this game for just under $10.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
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