Recent reviews by ɠųąཞɖıąŋ ąŋɠɛƖ!

A larger, more polished, more expansive game than its predecessor by every measure. And yet, despite the significantly greater ambition behind Arkham City, the game, with the protestations of many, is not as good. Why?

The game recycled most of the graphics, including models/animations/textures and even scripts. The game still feels good and you still move/act as Batman should but the game hardly feels as innovative as it once did. You're still performing gliding/inverted/shadow takedowns. You're still fighting in the same frantic way as you're hopelessly outnumbered by the game's very cheap AI. You're still crawling through conduits, dodging large numbers of armed flunkies. I suppose you could argue that the gameplay is what makes Batman fun. I love Batman. He's a favorite to me, don't get me wrong and, yes, the game has distinct moments where you feel like the consumate hero/champion. You definitely have the opportunity to kick some butt in this game but most of the game seems pointless filler.

While the game's beginning is catchy and puts Bruce Wayne in peril, the game's story quickly loses its impetus and becomes yet another story in the Batman mythos. By dropping you within Arkham City and giving you choice...the game actually diminishes one of the most charming elements of the prequel: the ability to move quickly, with purpose and to "know what to do". Instead you're presented with a bunch of moral quandries that repeat over and over and never really enhance the game before the first encounter. Do you save the two reporters incarcerated in Arkham Aylum? Or do you pursue Titan? Do you waste time figuring out Enigma's puzzles? Or do you stop Zsasz?

If there is a thing such as too much freedom, then Arkham City has a patent on it. Traveling through the city with gliding/batline is an awesome experience...for the first 2-4 hours. Afterwards many people just use fast travel or numb themselves to the banality of it all. Similarly, the city is *crawling* with goons. In fact, there are 3-4 goons on the rooftop to every building. You're constantly fighting goons. While that's an excuse to practice your combat and feel like a virile pummeler of justice, the truth is that it gets old very, very fast because there's no context or purpose to just going around and punching an endless wave of cardboard cutouts in the face. And navigating Arkham City can be a pain, even with the built in GPS.

Some goons are fine. 10000 goons? Not so fine.

Yes, the ending does try to be more profound than its predecessor's and it does take distinct risks. But by then many players, myself included, are just numb from the constant parade of enemies. Batman has such a rich, expansive rogues gallery and yet we see all the same baddies again. Joker. Enigma. Bane. Penguin. Two Face. It would have been so nice to mix it up with different enemies and LESS enemies. Batman is the world's greatest detective and yet we rarely see that side of him in these games. You rarely have to employ cleverness outside of combat, and that's so sad.

I won't spoil the ending but despite trying something daring, the ending makes no sense. Several key characters die and Batman reacts to the death of one ... but not the other. His behavior is illogical and unsubstantiated from the DC universe interpretation. In all, it feels bizarre, contrived and it ruins much of the game's story for me.

Arkham City isn't a bad game. It's fun in short stretches and you still have a wealth of takedown options in Batman's arsenal. Too bad they put *too* much in the game and soured the experience a bit. If you can get it for 8 dollars, during a Steam sale, it's worth trying.

Worth a look.

7/10.

The best Batman game ever made. As the first in the Arkham series, all the conventions the game presented, including the third person camera view, takedown varieties, gliding/batline travel, the complex fighting system with tumbling/evading/blocking/counters and the universe's general aesthetic "DNA" were all new and fresh. The story was simple fare: enter Arkham Asylum, and stop the Joker and his enlisted bosses, through technology/subterfuge/force, from holding the institution. The ending was a bit of a cop-out. The story wasn't anything amazing and didn't have any lasting implications in the Batman universe.

Despite it all, the game *feels* good. It moves/travels/fights as Batman should. Possessed of some legitimately tense moments, the game also exhibits a Batman that we remember from the comics. Unlike successors that have suffered from feature creep and a series of issues, Arkham Asylum is very linear, thankfully enough. The game moves briskly and with purpose as you work your way towards the conclusion.

Definitely worth the time if you can get it on an 8 dollar Steam sale.

Recommended.

8/10.

Singularity is simply a great game.

Raven's last real try at producing a stand alone title, Singularity is also one of their few IP-owned properties and it shows. Unlike 2009's Wolfenstein, which was bland, drab and uninspired, Singularity is a vibrant game that shows love/thought in every facet of its construction. Possessed of a *great* story that gives you several plot twists and a beautifully unique theme/aesthetic, Singularity beats most other FPS story elements hands down, creating a living, breathing and interesting universe.

Gameplay isn't to be outdone by Singularity's story, however, as the game runs on modest stystems, looks good, has genuine ambiance and great set piece design. The game has a unique aesthetic and much like other games, including Deus Ex or Bioshock, creates a unique visual identity for itself. Scary moments abound, of both the jump scare and creepy varieties and the game has excellent weapon variety with good punch/heft/feel.

The show-stopper, however, is the TMD (time manipulation device) which is a glove that allows you to do a variety of things. Shove enemies back with a forceful pulse, age/de-age objects so that they change shape, age enemies to either kill or mutate them into monstrosities that fight by your side, open portals, levitate/hurl a variety of objects and other powers, all allow you to manipulate a physical world to solve a variety of problems. Upgrade weapons, your TMD, and even yourself to customize your playthrough in the way that best fits your style.

The game has a staggering attention to detail in the campaign but the title is quite short, with most players finishing it in under 10 hours. That said, the game has multiplayer! While the community is dead, the multiplayer is pure gold and that's a shame. Deathmatch or team deatchmatch seem like simplistic options but team deathmatch offers a Left 4 Dead 1/2 asymmetrical gameplay style that pits powered humans against Katorga 12 creatures. Humans can wield a variety of weapons and employ a small handful of skills/perks but may also choose of one of four classes that confer either teleporational capabilities, healing skills, improved durability/melee or the ability to turn invisible.

The monsters are even better! Played in third person, your options include a phase-shifting brawler, a crafty spiderling(phase tick) which can climb over almost any obstacle in the map(yes, he can run on the ceilings!) and detonates himself kamikaze style(or takes control of enemies) and a giant arachnid tank that fires grenades. Perhaps the best monstrous class, though, is the Revert which is a slow but tough mutant that burps up mines and vomits a putridly hilarious and voluminous torrent of toxic sludge.

From every possible facet, this game is a pure winner. Its lack of success is mostly attributable to Raven's lack of a reputation and its publisher's failure to advertise the game on release. While it may not be worth 30 or 40 dollars, if you can get this game for half that, it's a worthwhile FPS classic that I would place on the shelf next to the best examples of the genre.

Highly recommended.

9/10.

(mini-review)

Dinosaurs, guns and multiplayer! What can go wrong? Everything. You know the game has a serious problem when its menu graphics are more awesome than the game graphics themselves. The game is bad. That's why it's constantly on sale. While some of the dinosaurs have great controls and the graphics aren't bad for, say, 2008, the game simply lacks any coherent theme, plot or worthwhile game play. The game engine feels awkward and the title exhibits limited replayability.

I love dinosaurs. I really do. I don't regret spending 3 dollars on this game but its not good.

Not worth the time. You'll find better games elsewhere.

5/10.

A fun game to be sure, this title is a prime offering for individuals that want to dip their toes into TBS fare. While not worth the outrageous offering price of 40 dollars, the game is worth purchasing if you can find the game on a hefty Steam sale. Unfortunately, the game lacks the deep, rich tactical combat that it purports to have and, instead, exists as an annotated view of the the tactical/wargamer genre. Warhammer 40K fans will be delighted at the amount of units but most individuals would probably be better served purchasing the game on the iPad. The game runs just as well, controls just as fluidly, costs less and its difficulty level better matches a portable/mobility environment.

In fact, had the game not shipped on iOS almost a full year after I purchased it on Steam, I'd never have bought it for PC. Weapons are said to affect different units in different ways but this is wholly untrue most of the time. What's truly disappointing is paying 40 dollars for this game, which lacks any appreciable cut scenes, fleshed out story, unit animations, complex combat system or pervasive mulitplayer/modding community and yet experiencing Slitherine's absolute gall at asking for 20 dollars a scant year later for what amounts to a small expansion. Seriously? You just charged us the price of a triple A game, despite obviously providing a much simpler experience and you can't give us some goodies and support before you hit us up again for money?

Worth a look.

7/10.

(mini-review)

(While I'm aware that my review may rub people the wrong way, I can't in honesty rate this game on the same level as a title like Diablo 3, which has better graphics, a broader storyline, a greater variety of enemies, infinitely more loot, and a significantly more substantive array of modes/quests. (It's not that Torchlight 2 is bad, per se, but simply that it is unimpressive compared to other contemporaries.) Ultimately, Torchlight II is a cutesy, clever, competently made dungeon crawler, but it isn't Diablo 3 and it lacks D3's execution, quality and pedigree in almost every regard.

If you can get it for 5 bucks, go for it. You're probably better off saving up for a $20 copy of Diablo 3 though.

Worth a look.

7/10.

Requiring an install that's almost as large as its predecessor, The Old Blood fails to impress on every level. With lacking character models, murky textures, minor screen tearing and jerky animations Machine Games obviously assigned its "B Team" to this Wolfenstein addition. Every location feels small and set inside a sound stage. Half the maps feel like Disneyland rides. Blessed with a thankfully short campaign, the game still plays repetively, pitting you against a dozen enemy types -- all seen in last year's Wolfenstein. Lacking the strong plot or emotional character bonds of its stronger sibling, the game resorts to ferrying the player from one frantic escape after another. While many people believe that the second half is a stronger chapter, I'd disagree and argue that the first half seemed better thought out and put together. The presence of the Nazi zombie "Shamblers" was great fun but doesn't support the game by itself. Wulfburg feels like a hollow, empty city, rather than a bustling town and the game would've benefited from adding more supernatural enemy types. Perhaps a completely supernatural/archaeological theme was necessary?

Oh, the boss fight was a letdown. The design isn't all that compelling and the creature seems to come ...well...out of nowhere.

The Old Blood is still a fun romp for a few hours but not the inspired experience of The New Order.

Pick it up for 5 bucks or less.

Worth a look.

7/10.

(mini-review)

A well-executed, muscular, throwback shooter that captures the nostalgia and gameplay essence of older FPS fare. A solid story, interesting character interactions, beautiful and varied locales and a fun collection of gameplay tropes comprise this satisfying game. Sneak or gun your way through both historical and futuristic Nazi bases and battle a variety of outlandishly fiendish opposition. Add punchy weapons and a gut-wrenching set of plot twists and you have a nice winner. Good stuff.

Recommended.

8.5/10.

I've played all the Tomb Raider series and enjoyed them all, which is why it pains me to say that it is hard for me to recommend this game. While the title itself is fun and *extremely* well-crafted, the game was poorly implemented on the PC/Mac. The game runs at 60 fps/max on my system (vsynced) but the developers failed to port TresFX on the Mac version of the game and that's a damned shame since my computer can obviously handle it. It makes no sense that a system with a stronger CPU/GPU than the recommended requirements should miss out on soft lights/real hair just because of a rushed port job.

Another small problem present is the bad implementation of quick-time events that results in a player repeating the same scene as often as a dozen times. The real problem however is the inability to turn off some features like a pronounced head bob. Basically, the camera bounces off of objects as it rubberbands behind Lara's model. Unlike most 3rd person shooters which keeps a steady cam and only moves the camera during intense scenes, the camera in Tomb Raider gets hung up/bounces off...everything. The result is that many gamers get nauseous/ill from playing this game. I've played all kinds of shooters and it rarely happens to me but despite gaming for 30 years, I have to shamefully admit that the nausea keeps me from fully enjoying this game.

Console gamers don't have this problem because the picture is large and far from their field of view but because PC gamers have a smaller, closer screen, the problem is amplified. The game simply lacks the ability to turn the feature off. And despite hundreds of complaining customers, the developers still refuse to fix the issue. Fortunately, despite massive nausea I finished the game. It's a fun romp. I'd even give it a nine, if it just lacked that blasted head bob and had stronger thematic/storytelling elements. As a slick, well-produced and conceptualized TPS with cinematic elements, this game definitely delivers.

For the game (on Windows): Recommended.

8.5/10.

(With the presence of the head bob and Mac-gimped deficiencies, the score drops to an 8/10.)

The greatest game ever made.

I was going to preface the review with the greatest WCRPG ever made, or perhaps the greatest RPG ever made but neither of those really describe the scope of this game's promise. Sure, you'll probably end up having more hours in other games. If you play a multiplayer game and you're playing for the people, you aren't really going to credit the game for those relationships but as I stare at my original BG II: SoA case sitting on my shelf, I'm supremely happy that I bought the Steam Enhanced Edition. BG II quite simply has everything you can want out of a video game.

Unlike so many RPGs, BG II has the perfect balance of linear story, and branching exploration. In fact, it's one of the few RPGs I've ever played that has successfully achieved that goal. In BG II, you pursue a tense and captivating story, but the game allows you to explore Amn and the surrounding countryside at your leisure. The result is an experience that doesn't feel like a plot train, nor like a meandering sandbox devoid of purpose. Every main quest and its satellite components fit neatly in the plot mythos, creating a truly organic and wonderful experience.

Thematically, the location of Faerun is as rich and varied as high traditional high fantasy can be, rivaling even that of Tolkien's creations. The game features a large, exotic sister city to Baldur's Gate (Amn), rife with political intrigue and a myriad of hidden secrets. Walk past a bar a dozen times, and yet on the thirteenth a new adventure allows you to find an underground cellar with new, untold dangers. The cavernous Underdark, hidden druidic groves, pirate ships, desolate islands, dark forests, castles of every imagination, ruins and even planar travel await you in this game.

The variety is staggering but theme alone doesn't propel this game's story. A plot full of surprises, twists, moments of worry, panic and dread make this game something that you experience, not play. The game organically develops, unfurling the finale like petals in a flower, instead of so many other, formulaic RPG plots. Perhaps the characterization however, is the game's strongest storytelling element. A diverse array of characters exist, both comically memorable and fearsomely grim and they not only interact with the protagonist but also with each other, with staggering consequences.

After playing through BG II and its expansion ToB, and logging over 240 hours with the original release, I am now happy to introduce other gamers to this forgotten classic. With rich and deep tacitcal gameplay, endless customizeability and properly functioning multiplayer, everyone can now enjoy this gem of a game. And because the game has such low system requirements, no one is left out.

I played this game 15 years ago, as an adult but even as a grownup, I was still transformed by the depth and breadth of this amazing gaming experience. Fifteen years later, middle aged as I am, I still appreciate what a special title this really is. From art design, to music, to gameplay this title will give you exactly what you put in.

Buy it, sit down, steep yourself in the lore. Go slow and luxuriate in the rich tale that will unfold. As a gamer, I can think of no better gift to my peers than to recommend this game.

Must buy.

10/10.