So I got the itch for some side-scroller, beat-em-up, simple, linear action.
Shank met that desire for a scratch with a blood stained shiv. Everything from stabbing people in the face, shotgunning people in the face, or impaling them with the various sharp objects you easily hold on your back. Oh, and you can throw people off cliffs, which I resort to if I'm trying to replay an area quick, because I died, or if something is lobbing grenades at me.So without a question, the gameplay was solid.
The controls were a little finicky at times (aiming up in particular), but once you got used to their nuances, it wasn't a big deal. Just plug in the 360 controller, and go crazy.
The story was good enough to keep me thinking without having to go too deep. Yep, people are going to kill you, but you have pointy things to stop them. If only you could remove the required number of gallons of blood from their body so they stop getting up... but how...
The boss fights were really unique and interesting. I died multiple times at almost every boss fight, but since there was learning to be done (and obvious hints given to you after multiple deaths), I got past them eventually.
For game length, it took just shy of four hours for me to beat the entire game, which was fine by me. I came to this game with an itch, and left quite satisfied.
I would definitely recommend it, and have already queued the second one on my list for a good playthrough when the itch comes back.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Cave Story+
So I played this game back when it was free about 8 years ago. It was awesome then, it's still awesome. The only thing that's changed, is I forgot how difficult it was (or I played it on easy back then...). Anyways, this game is tough.
Do NOT play this game on Hard difficulty unless you love games where normal enemies one-shot you and you die. For some reason it took me quite a good chunk of the game before I realized I wasn't getting health upgrades... Then I replayed in on normal and enjoyed it much more, granted, it was still tough.
I used JoyToKey to allow using my Xbox 360 controller for this game, which made it actually playable. You can also use a gamepad controller, but the 360 controller felt better to me. I also cheated and set a button on the controller to be a turbo-shoot button, so that I don't worsen my inevitable carpal tunnel progression. Also, it's a platform shooter, so having a turbo button allows me to completely own the enemies face as I stand next to them.
So back to the review! The game is really enjoyable, in a nostalgic way. The graphics were updated when they put the game on Steam, and they also redid the soundtrack. They also added a seasonal graphics update which you can enable or disable in the options. All of these are great, and the overall game did not change (it was good then, it's good now).
The story is good, and the presentation of the story fits.
The difficulty options:
* Easy - you take half damage
* Normal - this is what I played it on this time around
* Hard - you get no health upgrades and will be one-shot by quite a few enemies, be prepared to load... a lot
The weapons power up as you collect mini-Triforces dropped by killed enemies, which makes not getting hit doubly important. Also, there are some hidden weapons, if you want to just Google them. Almost every weapon has a good use, and there are a few you have to choose one or the other.
So the only thing I planned to do that I didn't do this completion run, was the optional extra final boss. He is unbelievably difficult to get to, and once you get to him, it's a multiple-stage boss fight and if you lose, you must redo quite a bit of legwork to get back to fighting him. I had the patience 8 years ago, and I'm not sure I still have it.
Ok, quick update. Screw that, it only took about 30 minutes, but I beat the bastard again. Muahahahaa! Done.
Yep, I've been spoiled by modern games. Also, if any game has quick saves, I will quick save enough such that I will never have to repeat:
* Any fight
* Any conversation/choice
* Reopen any door I opened before
Also, if the quick saves are not on a small rotation or single slot implementation, I will most likely fill up my hard drive (stares at The Witcher)
Overall, very enjoyable game filled with awesome nostalgia. If it's your first time through, play it on Easy and enjoy it.
Do NOT play this game on Hard difficulty unless you love games where normal enemies one-shot you and you die. For some reason it took me quite a good chunk of the game before I realized I wasn't getting health upgrades... Then I replayed in on normal and enjoyed it much more, granted, it was still tough.
I used JoyToKey to allow using my Xbox 360 controller for this game, which made it actually playable. You can also use a gamepad controller, but the 360 controller felt better to me. I also cheated and set a button on the controller to be a turbo-shoot button, so that I don't worsen my inevitable carpal tunnel progression. Also, it's a platform shooter, so having a turbo button allows me to completely own the enemies face as I stand next to them.
So back to the review! The game is really enjoyable, in a nostalgic way. The graphics were updated when they put the game on Steam, and they also redid the soundtrack. They also added a seasonal graphics update which you can enable or disable in the options. All of these are great, and the overall game did not change (it was good then, it's good now).
The story is good, and the presentation of the story fits.
The difficulty options:
* Easy - you take half damage
* Normal - this is what I played it on this time around
* Hard - you get no health upgrades and will be one-shot by quite a few enemies, be prepared to load... a lot
The weapons power up as you collect mini-Triforces dropped by killed enemies, which makes not getting hit doubly important. Also, there are some hidden weapons, if you want to just Google them. Almost every weapon has a good use, and there are a few you have to choose one or the other.
So the only thing I planned to do that I didn't do this completion run, was the optional extra final boss. He is unbelievably difficult to get to, and once you get to him, it's a multiple-stage boss fight and if you lose, you must redo quite a bit of legwork to get back to fighting him. I had the patience 8 years ago, and I'm not sure I still have it.
Ok, quick update. Screw that, it only took about 30 minutes, but I beat the bastard again. Muahahahaa! Done.
Yep, I've been spoiled by modern games. Also, if any game has quick saves, I will quick save enough such that I will never have to repeat:
* Any fight
* Any conversation/choice
* Reopen any door I opened before
Also, if the quick saves are not on a small rotation or single slot implementation, I will most likely fill up my hard drive (stares at The Witcher)
Overall, very enjoyable game filled with awesome nostalgia. If it's your first time through, play it on Easy and enjoy it.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Bastion
So, I picked this up on Steam a little while back, but only because it had 360 controller support. No controller support for a platformer/button masher means I will never own the game on PC.
Anyways, the game starts out good, introducing you to weapons one at a time, with an awesome, gritty narrator talking to you and about you as you travel and kick ass through levels.
I really liked the changing world, and the upgrades on the weapons, it kept everything fresh and new for the entire game. Having read the directions though, I was almost shy to upgrade since I wasn't sure if I would be screwing myself later (I literally upgraded Kratos' starting blades to max, and then saved all of the other red orbs until the final boss in God of War II, seriously). Anyways, go nuts with upgrades, but try to get a few weapons to max, and not just spread things around. I found the few that worked for me, and pumped the crap out of them.
There are also challenging mini games for each weapon where you will will prizes for using it as effectively as possible, but keep in mind that sometimes you need to upgrade the weapon to get the best score. There are also other challenges that reveal story and give you more points for upgrades, so double bonus there.
The story was really good, the narrator really breathed life into it, and the progression was well-paced. I would highly recommend picking this game up if you get the chance. Steam with a Xbox 360 corded controller or XBLA, either will do just fine.
Anyways, the game starts out good, introducing you to weapons one at a time, with an awesome, gritty narrator talking to you and about you as you travel and kick ass through levels.
I really liked the changing world, and the upgrades on the weapons, it kept everything fresh and new for the entire game. Having read the directions though, I was almost shy to upgrade since I wasn't sure if I would be screwing myself later (I literally upgraded Kratos' starting blades to max, and then saved all of the other red orbs until the final boss in God of War II, seriously). Anyways, go nuts with upgrades, but try to get a few weapons to max, and not just spread things around. I found the few that worked for me, and pumped the crap out of them.
There are also challenging mini games for each weapon where you will will prizes for using it as effectively as possible, but keep in mind that sometimes you need to upgrade the weapon to get the best score. There are also other challenges that reveal story and give you more points for upgrades, so double bonus there.
The story was really good, the narrator really breathed life into it, and the progression was well-paced. I would highly recommend picking this game up if you get the chance. Steam with a Xbox 360 corded controller or XBLA, either will do just fine.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Orcs Must Die!
So I picked this game up on the Steam sale last weekend, and a good deal it was!
I've always been a fan of tower defense games, but never really felt that the first person shooter perspective was the right way to go with them. I had tried the Sanctum demo a while back, but it felt like I was either ignoring my towers, or ignoring shooting things. Somehow, they got it right with Orcs Must Die! Also, the humor and voice acting keeps it light. =)
So I was able to beat probably 70% of the game with my typical "if one thing gets past me, I'm restarting the level mentality." But eventually there were just too many openings for me not to let anything get past.
The turrets and abilities are all fun to try out, but I have to say that I always picked the Alchemist's Satchel since it can kill 10-15 orcs in one bang. I didn't realize this was a DLC item until after I beat the game, so... yeah. Same with the Floor Scorcher.
Anyways, it took me just shy of 14 hours to beat the entire game on normal difficulty, and I still have the 5 DLC levels to play. I'd recommend the game for anyone with the tower defense itch as it will definitely help with that.
I've always been a fan of tower defense games, but never really felt that the first person shooter perspective was the right way to go with them. I had tried the Sanctum demo a while back, but it felt like I was either ignoring my towers, or ignoring shooting things. Somehow, they got it right with Orcs Must Die! Also, the humor and voice acting keeps it light. =)
So I was able to beat probably 70% of the game with my typical "if one thing gets past me, I'm restarting the level mentality." But eventually there were just too many openings for me not to let anything get past.
The turrets and abilities are all fun to try out, but I have to say that I always picked the Alchemist's Satchel since it can kill 10-15 orcs in one bang. I didn't realize this was a DLC item until after I beat the game, so... yeah. Same with the Floor Scorcher.
Anyways, it took me just shy of 14 hours to beat the entire game on normal difficulty, and I still have the 5 DLC levels to play. I'd recommend the game for anyone with the tower defense itch as it will definitely help with that.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Batman Arkham Asylum - TBD
(there's a newer post for this, but I want to keep this around because it reminds me of the sadness that can happen)
I played this game quite a bit on my PC since I got it on a Steam sale. Then I replayed a bit of it so that I could enjoy it from the comfort of my couch, and play some of it with my wife.
But... my save game was lost. And not in some freak, Xbox-exploding accident. In some super-lame, I-can't-believe-I-just-saw-that-happen accident.
So, I give you, repro steps:
1) start up Xbox 360
2) launch Batman: Arkham Asylum
3) game logos play
4) title screen shows, now turbo press A because you want to play the game
5) game starts, intro batman video plays
6) "Elegrem logged in to Xbox LIVE" cheer appears (hmm, that seems odd)
7) quit game (the game is now saving your 0% progress over that first save slot)
8) title screen shows, with the first save slot showing 0% progress
9) son... of... a... bitch.
So I just went from 58% to 0%. just. like. that.
I want to get back into it again, but I'll need some time away from it for now.
I played this game quite a bit on my PC since I got it on a Steam sale. Then I replayed a bit of it so that I could enjoy it from the comfort of my couch, and play some of it with my wife.
But... my save game was lost. And not in some freak, Xbox-exploding accident. In some super-lame, I-can't-believe-I-just-saw-that-happen accident.
So, I give you, repro steps:
1) start up Xbox 360
2) launch Batman: Arkham Asylum
3) game logos play
4) title screen shows, now turbo press A because you want to play the game
5) game starts, intro batman video plays
6) "Elegrem logged in to Xbox LIVE" cheer appears (hmm, that seems odd)
7) quit game (the game is now saving your 0% progress over that first save slot)
8) title screen shows, with the first save slot showing 0% progress
9) son... of... a... bitch.
So I just went from 58% to 0%. just. like. that.
I want to get back into it again, but I'll need some time away from it for now.
Dragon Age II - Mark of the Assassin DLC
Wow. That was some really good DLC. Also, it was really hard. I had beaten the Legacy DLC and the entire game on hard difficulty, but this time around, I set the damn thing to normal and just enjoyed the content (after a few epic combat fails).
The story was good, nice level of involvement. I really liked the more intricate puzzles and the sneaking mechanics. Nicely done.
The story was good, nice level of involvement. I really liked the more intricate puzzles and the sneaking mechanics. Nicely done.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Dragon Age II - Legacy DLC
So I had beaten Dragon Age II a while back and really enjoyed it. There were a few complaints I'll agree on (area reuse, needing more impactful decisions), but overall it was a really enjoyable game.
Before I started on Legacy, I had to free up some bag space, because I only had about 3 bag spaces left. A quick run to the Black Emporium, dump the junk, find out which staff does the most of each damage, ditch the lesser one, and purchase a few things with my rediculous ~250 gold (I still refuse to buy anything that isn't worth the cost). Now we're ready!
So I first thought I'd try out a party that does more damage, but doesn't have Aveline tanking. Yep, that fell on it's face. So now that I'm using my regular group Varric (range DPS), Aveline (tank), Fenris (melee DPS), and myself as a healing mage (keep's everyone alive), we're making progress again.
Each and every fight in this DLC was tactical, and fun to play. Keep in mind that there are switches on the battlefield that will trigger traps and make these fights much easier. I didn't notice some of these, and spent a lot longer on fights than I should have... There were also a few more puzzles and extra battles if you pursue it, which I like very much (anyone remember the Revenants in DA:O?)
The cut scenes and dialog were top notch, which was to be expected from any BioWare game. This also had really good boss battles, which made me remember some of the great ones in DA2 (high dragon fight, rock wraith, etc.)
The items were a decent enough upgrade that I actually spent a few minutes balancing out the party gear. There were still some junk/trash items, but with the extra bag space, that will just be something to manage next time.
The final battle felt very epic, and I'm glad that I was able to beat it on hard difficulty, even though I had to look up the tactics. The first few times I was fighting against an obvious mechanic and it was really frustrating. After I stopped that and did the fight using the mechanics that were obviously put in front of me, I got through it, no problem. I didn't even have to res anyone, although it got close a few times.
Should you buy this DLC? Absolutely. Should you purchase DA2 and this DLC if you don't have either? Yes. Am I a BioWare fanboy that can only say good things about BioWare games? I'll get back to you as soon as I find a BioWare game not worth buying and playing. *ka-zing!*
Before I started on Legacy, I had to free up some bag space, because I only had about 3 bag spaces left. A quick run to the Black Emporium, dump the junk, find out which staff does the most of each damage, ditch the lesser one, and purchase a few things with my rediculous ~250 gold (I still refuse to buy anything that isn't worth the cost). Now we're ready!
So I first thought I'd try out a party that does more damage, but doesn't have Aveline tanking. Yep, that fell on it's face. So now that I'm using my regular group Varric (range DPS), Aveline (tank), Fenris (melee DPS), and myself as a healing mage (keep's everyone alive), we're making progress again.
Each and every fight in this DLC was tactical, and fun to play. Keep in mind that there are switches on the battlefield that will trigger traps and make these fights much easier. I didn't notice some of these, and spent a lot longer on fights than I should have... There were also a few more puzzles and extra battles if you pursue it, which I like very much (anyone remember the Revenants in DA:O?)
The cut scenes and dialog were top notch, which was to be expected from any BioWare game. This also had really good boss battles, which made me remember some of the great ones in DA2 (high dragon fight, rock wraith, etc.)
The items were a decent enough upgrade that I actually spent a few minutes balancing out the party gear. There were still some junk/trash items, but with the extra bag space, that will just be something to manage next time.
The final battle felt very epic, and I'm glad that I was able to beat it on hard difficulty, even though I had to look up the tactics. The first few times I was fighting against an obvious mechanic and it was really frustrating. After I stopped that and did the fight using the mechanics that were obviously put in front of me, I got through it, no problem. I didn't even have to res anyone, although it got close a few times.
Should you buy this DLC? Absolutely. Should you purchase DA2 and this DLC if you don't have either? Yes. Am I a BioWare fanboy that can only say good things about BioWare games? I'll get back to you as soon as I find a BioWare game not worth buying and playing. *ka-zing!*
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