Support NeoGAF

[Kelegacy]

Morrowind - A couple hours played (maybe more due to loading mods)

Okay, I only started this on a whim today as I beat it almost 10 years ago. I only bought it for my collection to be honest. Vanilla graphics it was okay. Very dated, but it is still nostalgic.

But then i downloaded the graphical overhaul mod...and holy cow it is even better. Looks great even today. The textures, the sounds, the foilage...this game is wow. Now I remember why I loved it so much. And now I see why some people still call it the best Elder Scrolls.

I won't give it a rating, but I just was floored at how well this thing held up with the mod. I am now addicted and playing all over again. I didn't need a bigger Steam discount for Skyrim, not when I have this beauty!

 

[blame space]

why didn't anyone tell me that arkham asylum is basically metroidvania

 

[Jirotrom]

why didn't anyone tell me that arkham asylum is basically metroidvania

you've been under a rock

 

[squid]

Defense Grid: The Awakening + DLC- $5 - 3 hours played
I like Tower Defense games and this is a decent one. Not the best I've ever played, but quite good. I like the AI voice guy, gives it some personality. I'm not very good at the ones where you have to create a maze with your towers, I hate it when I'm up to one of those rounds. Overall, a good TD game that I might eventually come back to. 7/10

Poker Night at the Inventory $3 - 3 hours played
A very fun poker game with very funny characters and a very cool atmosphere. Max and Strongbad are great, and although I've never played TF2, I really like The Heavy in this game as well. The only character I could really do without is Tycho. He has a few funny lines (his love of giraffes...) but to be honest, he just comes across as a bit of a jerk. Love the rest of the game though, great music too. 8/10

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion $30 - 20 hours played (wow, 20 hours already...)
Amazing. I love RTS games and I love Civilization games even more, and this is kind of a blend of the two. And it's in space, and I love space! I think I'll be playing this game for quite a while... I do wish it had some type of campaign or story though, the universe and races this game has are really cool, and makes me wish I knew more about them! In the couple of games I've had, the endgame is a bit too long and drawn out too. Overall though, I love it and hope this series has a long and successful life! 9/10

Rome: Total War - 2 hours played
Ok, I've not had much time with this, and I've never played a Total War game before, so these are just initial impressions. I love the setting, but the game just hasn't grabbed me so far. It is starting to show its age I suppose. The real-time battles are alright I suppose, but the turn-based stuff so far just seems like a dodgy Civilization copy. I'll have to put more time into it and give it a fair go. 6/10

I bought the Total War Mega Pack, so I've still got Medieval 2, Empire and Napoleon to try out, and I'll be getting Sid Meier's Pirates by the end of the sale too, so I see plenty of gaming in my immediate future!

 

[jerd]

Cannot recommend Bastion enough. Ever. Ever. Ever.

 

[Enco]

Thought I would update my Mount & Blade: Warband opinions after playing for 9 hours. Mainly from the other thread:

It's one of the best games I've played in a long time. The multiplayer is great fun. The online community is pretty big and you can even get into awesome 200 player games if you get the Napoleon DLC. It's tough but very satisfying. Nothing like charging a castle with 100 people by your side. The singleplayer is also brilliant. You can make up your own story line and follow it through. Want to be a merchant? Cool. Want to build a band of bandits? Go for it. Want to rule the kingdom? Good luck.

There are things constantly happening around you in the world. Kingdoms go to war, looters ransack towns, castles are taken over, travellers are taken prisoner and a crap load more. You can take part or create your start your own events. There's a HUGE amount of content. However, don't go into the game expecting a fully 3D open world. All the battles are in real time and 3D. You can also explore cities, taverns and other particular areas. The exploration is mainly just for conversation though. You wont see people chatting or doing anything considered immersive. People pretty much just stand. Don't let that put you off though.

If you care, here's how my character started out. My father was a hunter, I went to university and I set out to adventure for vengeance. I hired some small time recruits and started adventuring. I was attacked by bandits and we were defeated. They killed 3 out of my group of 6 and took me and the 2 other survivors as prisoners. They stripped me, took my weapon and a lot of my money. After days I managed to escape. I was angry and followed their group for days. I wanted to free my old group members who were still prisoners but I was too weak.

 

[Ledsen]

Dear Esther

Just finished this... game? movie? I don't really care. Whatever it was, it was intensely beautiful. I found myself taking "photos" (screens) of the environments constantly, trying to frame it just so. The music was haunting and kicked in at just the right moments. Sadly the writing was shitty as fuck, flounderingly dissipating its ruinous ruminations in ponderously labyrinthian metaphors, like an ecstacy-fuelled mouse in my vision of the light at the end of the two-story brick tunnel with tufts of grass blowing menacingly in the dark and foreboding movement of air. That was pretty awkward. But suddenly I'm extremely interested in A Machine For Pigs even though I promised myself not to play it.

 

[jgminto]

Analogue: A Hate Story Time played: 4 hours
Analogue is a visual novel. That will probably scare most people away but don't go just yet because it's absolutely fantastic.

It opens with you the player being sent to investigate the Mugunghwa, a Korean colonisation spaceship that was lost many years ago. Your objective is to retrieve the logs from the ship and return them to your organisation. But when you are greeted by the AI *Hyun-ae you open the door to an isolated world of male-dominated society and monarchy politics.

Gameplay involves the player interfacing with the system through both a command-driven interface to interact with the ship's primary systems and a menu and yes/no decision interface when viewing files with an AI. While the gameplay does offer a few puzzles a some points, it's definitely not the main draw of Analogue.

As *Hyun-ae, and later another AI *Mute guide you through what transpired on the Mugunghwa you will delve into the sad tales of many of the former residents. And this is something Analogue does brilliantly. As you search for files and query them with the AIs you are reading into the diaries and private conversations of the high society of the ship, and viewing their skewed society's view in issues like gender equality, homosexuality, our own perceived worth and being a "true gentleman". And Christine Love deals with these issues superbly. These issues aren't taken lightly and as a result it can become quite a harrowing tale.

Another thing that Love does well is sexual content. Analogue has none of it, in the usual sense anyway. You are delving into the lives of the passengers of this ship and for some, that includes their sexual lives. But this never becomes an erotic story and that is something that really benefits it.

Overall it is a fantastic visual novel with a genuinely moving story with characters you will become attached to. Even for those unfamiliar with the genre it is a definite recommend for its engrossing narrative.

5 Stars
*****

Note: For those that enjoyed or are interested in Analogue, I recommend playing "don't take it personally, babe, it just ain't your story". While Love's previous work doesn't keep the far futuristic setting, it does include the intriguing story and issues. You are a new teacher in a near future high school who has access to the social media accounts of your students allowing you a constant view into their thoughts. A unique mechanic that leads to some really interesting results. And it's free so you have no excuse.