Darksiders Review

Game:  Darksiders
Year (s):  2010
Company:  dev.  Vigil Games
pub.  THQ
Engine:  Darksiders Engine (no official engine name) using Havok physics
Type:  Third-Person Platformer, Dungeon Crawler
Metacritic Score:  83
My Score:  Hack, slash, hey!  A boomerang!

Price (as of August 29, 2012)

Regular price on Steam:  $19.99
Lowest Buy-It-Now on eBay (new, with shipping):  $12

Game Time: 38 hours first time, completionist style

Obligatory Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArHzEGeiMbg


Plot and Stuff

This is not a shooter, but it's a decent game and there's no reason not to branch out.  More info under gameplay.

War, the Horseman of the Apocalypse, hears the call of the final seal breaking.  He begins the end of the world.  Unfortunately, the last seal is still intact.  The war between angels and demons renders humanity extinct, and everyone is after War, the fall guy.  War sets out not to prove his innocence, but to take vengeance on any that played a part in his frame-up.


Engine

Engine looks fine.  Nothing new.  I had a problem with recognition of achievements, but I'm not sure if that was a fault of the engine or a problem with Steam.


Combat/Gameplay

Darksiders is, essentially, a Zelda type of game.  In each area, you find an item necessary to progress and continue to the next dungeon.  There are some simple puzzles.

Combat is inspired by God of War.  Three different weapons are present, with a variety of moves for each that can be strung together in combos.  "Wrath" abilities add further means of attack, as do several of the items found in dungeons.

Parts of the game are a huge pain.  You might need to put it aside for a few days at some points.  


Expansions / DLC / Sequels

Darksiders 2 came out in August of this year.  The player takes on the role of the horseman Death.


Final Thoughts

If you ever played Zelda anything and though, "I wish this was absurdly violent," then this one is for you.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Game:  Tomb Raider Anniversary

Year (s):  2007

Company:  dev.  Crystal Dynamics, Buzz Monkey                                       Software, Nixxes Software

                  pub.  Eidos Interactive

Engine: Crystal Engine

Type:  Third-Person Gymnastics with occasional                        gunplay

Metacritic Score:  83

My Score:  Hey, a remake of an average game!.

Price (as of July 31, 2012)

Regular price on Steam:  $9.99
Lowest Buy-It-Now on eBay (new, with shipping):  ~$8

Obligatory Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvVqKjaGj_s

What is It?

Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a re-skinned version of the original Tomb Raider, released ten years afterwards. 

Graphics are superior to the original, but not competitive at release.  They look like something that came out around 2004, not 2007. 

Gameplay is virtually identical to what I remembered, which isn't a good thing.  All the jumping, vaulting, and other acrobatics require clumsy key combinations.  I couldn't get the hang of basic things like dodging. 

Expansions / DLC / Sequels

There are a number of games in the franchise, along with a few movies.  I can't recommend any of the other games because I haven't played them. 

Final Thoughts

The first Tomb Raider was known perhaps more for having a nude patch that for its merits as a game.  I got this for the nostalgia value, but the messy controls caused me to quickly lose interest.  Pass on this one.    

Metro 2033 Review

Game:  Metro 2033
Year (s):  2010
Company:  dev.  4A Games
pub.  THQ
Engine:  4A Engine
Type:  First-Person Shooter
Metacritic Score:  81
My Score:  A poorly developed, crappy game.

Price (as of July 20, 2012)

Regular price on Steam:  $19.99
Lowest Buy-It-Now on eBay (new, with shipping):  $11.50

Game Time: Not Applicable

Obligatory Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB_ICAvOmrg

See Also

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Review:  http://fpsandmtg.blogspot.com/2011/05/stalker-shadows-of-chernobyl-review.html


Plot

The player takes on the role of Artyom, who was born in Moscow right before nuclear holocaust.  Twenty years later, he remembers nothing of the surface, as the survivors have found refuge in the Moscow Metro tunnels.  Mutant attacks are on the rise, and Artyom must journey to Polis Station for help, braving monsters, bandits, dark tunnels, and the toxic surface along the way.

The plot of Metro 2033 is based on a 2005 novel of the same title by Dmitry Glukhovsky.


Who is 4A?

4A, based in Ukraine, was founded by two former members of GSC Game World a year before the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.  These two were the main creators of GSC's X-Ray Engine, so the 4A Engine they created for Metro is nearly identical (there has been some contention as to them being seperate engines).  Graphically, it's on the low end of what shooters looked like in 2010.


Combat/Gameplay

Ammo is scarce, and stealth is nearly a must.  Other than that, aim and fire.  The tunnels are more difficult because of darkness, and the surface (also dark) is more difficult because the player must wear a gas mask and have adequate filters while avoiding any radioactive water.  You can carry a handful of weapons and medkits.  Health will regenerate, but very slowly.  Checkpoint saving only.

The game is just as bad as S.T.A.L.K.E.R., for a lot of the same reasons.  While you might have your light off in a tunnel so dark you can't see your enemies, they'll headshot you from fifty feet away.  This, along with an amazing assortment of ineffective arms, make for a gaming experience that is much too difficult to enjoy.  If there was a quick save option, it might be bearable (that's the only way I got through S.T.A.L.K.E.R.), but there isn't one.

The game sought immersion with a lack of HUD, but failed to connect the player emotionally to the characters or their situations.  After dying twenty times in a row at the same spot, I decided I had better things to do than bang my head against this game.


Expansions / DLC / Sequels

Metro: Last Light is scheduled for release in 2013.  This is a direct sequel to Metro 2033.  While author Glukhovsky had some input, the game has no relation to Metro 2034, the second novel.


Final Thoughts

It's a stinker; don't bother.  If you want a fun game set in Russia, Singularity is still the best bet.  If you want a fun post-apocalyptic game, Fallout 3 or RAGE are superior.

BioShock 2 Review

Game:  BioShock 2

Year (s):  2010

Company:  dev.  2K Marin, 2K China

                  pub.  2K Games

Engine:   Unreal Engine 2.5 (modified) using Havok physics

Type:  First-Person Shooter with RPG and Survival Horror elements

Metacritic Score: 88

My Score:  Not Applicable

Price (as of July 17, 2012)

Regular price on Steam:  $19.99
Lowest Buy-It-Now on eBay (new, with shipping):  $8

Game Time:  Not Applicable

Obligatory Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIopXUPVGFE

See Also: 

BioShock Review:  http://fpsandmtg.blogspot.com/2010/11/bioshock-review.html

Plot, Engine, Gameplay

The game begins with you, a Big Daddy, forced to kill yourself.  Ten years later, after the events of the first game, you wake up.  Rapture is still a violent mess. 

The game looks identical to the first.  Something to note, the main developer of BioShcok, Irrational Games, was not involved in this sequel. 

Gameplay is very similar to the first, with small changes that are mostly negligible.  The hacking minigame was changed in a fashion that is impossible for the ten percent of males (like me) who are red/green colorblind.  Hacking is, at times, mandatory, so the game became unplayable after about an hour. 

Expansions / DLC / Sequels

A handful of DLC were developed, split between single- and multi- player content.  Not all of these are available for the PC. 

BioShock Infinite is due out in 2013  This is set in a steampunk floating city, and is being developed solely by Irrational Games.  It is not directly related to the other BioShock games but is set in the same universe.

Final Thoughts

I like BioShock.  I probably would have liked BioShock 2, but the hacking function left me extremely disappointed and unable to recommend this game. 

Dear Esther Review

Game:  Dear Esther
Year (s):  2012 (finished commercial product)
Company:  dev.  thechineseroom and Robert Briscoe
pub.  Steam
Engine:  Source
Type:  First-Person... Story
Metacritic Score:  77
My Score:  Fantastic, surreal, and unique, but requires a certain mindset.

Price (as of July 4, 2012)

Regular price on Steam:  $9.99
Lowest Buy-It-Now on eBay (new, with shipping):  Not Available

Game Time:  2 hours

Obligatory Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7VJ4lP-05A


Plot, Gameplay, and Atmosphere

This game is entirely plot-based.  The player explores a deserted island, interacting with nothing.  Certain spots trigger the narrator to speak.  The scenery is beautiful, and the soundtrack is perfect.  The narration isn't the same with each play, and some of it is quite obtuse.  Sometimes narration is contradictory.  In the end, it's a beautiful, trippy game that you have to be in the mood for.  While each play adds details, they don't make any clearer what is going on, so it is left to the player to make their own conclusions.


Development

From Wikipedia:  "The original rendition of Dear Esther was one of several mods developed by thechineseroom while the studio was still a research project at the University of Portsmouth.[9] The project was funded by a grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and led by Dan Pinchbeck, a professor and lecturer at the university."

In 2009 former DICE employee Robert Briscoe led thechineseroom in remaking the original mod, making the environment lusher and remastering the soundtrack.  When the original funds ran out, The Indie Fund stepped in.


Final Thoughts

The Good:  It's achingly well-developed, and astonishingly unique.  The end result is haunting, drawing more plays and more interest.  Cheap, and two hours are more gripping than many games achieve in twelve hours.

The Bad:  There is no final verdict as to the plot, and the lack of gameplay interaction may discourage some players.  You absolutely have to be in the mood for this, and it's best played without break.  It's short.

The Verdict:  I love this game, but I can understand if someone else hates it.  It's brilliant, but everyone won't enjoy it.  It is the best of times, and so on.  I highly recommend it with a grain of salt.

Quake 4 Review

Game:  Quake 4
Year (s):  2005
Company:  dev.  Raven Software, under supervision of id Software
pub.  Activision
Engine:  id Tech 4
Type:  First-Person Shooter
Metacritic Score:  81
My Score:  Average, with a side of graphic violence.

Price (as of  June 28, 2012)

Regular price on Steam:  $19.99
Lowest Buy-It-Now on eBay (unopened, with shipping):  $29.99

Game Time:  the expected 10-14 hours

Obligatory Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXQFK35CAbU


Lineage

Quake 4 is a direct sequel to Quake II.  Some events of the previous protagonist are mentioned as your squad of space marines jets to the Strogg homeworld.  As before, humanity is in a desperate war to survive against the cybernetic Strogg forces.  Many weapons and enemies return from Quake II, as well as some of the look and sound.

Quake 4 is built using the id Tech 4 engine, and showcases some improvements over Doom 3.  There are outdoor areas, and the flashlight is attached to two of your weapons.  Vehicles have been added, and some degree of cinematic flair.  Stop motion technology was utilized.


Combat/Gameplay

Shoot stuff, don't get shot, and push a button occassionally.  At a few points combat is frustratingly hard, but the pace of the game hits pretty solid.  The only downer: no running.  The player is helped by other marines along the way; some expendable, some invincible.  Partway into the game, the player becomes partially Stroggified, increasing max health and armor by 25% and slightly increasing movement speed.

Quake 4 generally substitutes the jump scares and brooding darkness of Doom 3 for straight-up action.  There are still horror elements, and the engine showcases intense gore, violence, and a more realistic-looking (and therefore more disturbing) vision of the Strogg.

Multiplayer is arena style like Quake 3, but regresses by having no bots.


Expansions / DLC / Sequels

No news on further Quake to date, but id's convention is still titled QuakeCon.  I am going to blindly guess that after Doom 4 and Rage 2 are done, Quake may be revisited.

I have the Special DVD Edition, which includes promotional material, Quake II, and both Quake II expansions.


Final Thoughts

The Good:  Quake 4 gives a serious facelift to the franchise, while also addressing complaints about Doom 3.

The Bad:  Shorter than Doom 3, and didn't age as well.

The Verdict:  When it was released, Quake 4 was good but not stellar.  Nowadays, there isn't any reason to buy it unless you loved Quake II.  

Sanctum Review

Game:  Sanctum
Year (s):  2011
Company:  dev.  Coffee Stain Studios
pub.  Valve Corp (Steam)
Engine:  Unreal Engine 3
Type:  First-Person Shooter Tower Defense
Metacritic Score:  71
My Score:  *yawn*

Price (as of  June 21, 2012)

Regular price on Steam:  $9.99
Lowest Buy-It-Now on eBay (new, with shipping):  Not Available

Game Time:  from ten hours to eternity

Obligatory Trailer:  http://www.gametrailers.com/video/rex-launcher-sanctum/723617


Plot

Kill aliens before they reach the core!


Unreal!

Sanctum won two fourth-place awards in the 2009 Make Something Unreal contest.  If I think of it purely as a game mod, it's innovative.  If I actually look at it, it's ugly.  Simple textures, cartoonish characters, and polygonal structures look like Unreal Engine 2, not Unreal Engine 3.


Combat/Gameplay

Tower defense is a small genre that I first saw in Warcraft 3 (mostly in custom maps), and more recently in Plants vs. Zombies and Defense Grid.  The premise is simple: waves of enemies are after your core (or other central location), which they will damage.  They typically won't attack anything else.  The player builds towers to attack the enemies and block a straight path to the core.

Sanctum happily satisfies that, providing various grids to arrange your mazes of towers by.  Each tower has a use.  Sanctum adds a first-person shooter aspect to the mix, with a handful of basic weapons.  Both weapons and towers can be upgraded.


Soundtrack

The music in the game is a highlight, and is most easily compared to This Will Destroy You.  The music isn't good for all occasions, but has it's moments.  Most game soundtracks aren't even worth mentioning.


Expansions / DLC / Sequels

There are a handful of DLC, most of which cost money.  These includes new levels, new weapons, and the official soundtrack in both MP3 and .wav formats.  Including the DLC, there are ten levels.


Final Thoughts

The Bad:  This game looks like crap, and fails to teach the player basic controls and scenarios in which the various towers and weapons excel.  The game also has no plot, and only features a handful of levels without spending more for DLC.

The Good:  Sometimes I like to play something mindless, and there's some achievements for people that are interested.  The game has an alright soundtrack and is pretty cheap.

Verdict:  This feels like there were no objective play testers as part of the development process.  I wouldn't strongly recommend this one.