Recent reviews by mariadb_bin

I saw this when it first came out two years ago, and, although I do enjoy strategy games (as well as sci-fi), didn't think it looked good.

A few months ago, I also was given a copy of XCOM: Apocalypse. I didn't enjoy it, as I had no clue what I was doing.

However, after recieving a copy of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, I was met with a user-friendly interface, with simple controls, and a comprehensive tutorial on how to play the game. While I was actually AFK from my PC for most of the 6 hours I have recorded, what I have played has impressed me, and has thus convinced me to recognize this as a well-built strategy game that also succeeds in the graphics department. I would recommend this to both casual and hardcore strategy gamers alike.

Much fun. Such ludicrous stuff. Much buy.

WTF am I playing???

What am I playing???

I've played point and click games. I've also played horrible games. I've never played a "game" this bad.

I've played my fair share of RPGs. Both the good, such as KOTOR, and the bad. Yes, I'm looking at you Mass Effect 3. I wouldn't consider myself a hardcore RPG player, but this has to be one of the best games I've ever played.

First, the game itself is more of an action game with RPG elements. In this regard, it is a lot like ME, where all combat is realtime, and you aren't going to swing at someone, obviously hit them, and be told you missed, unlike its predecessor (although the first Witcher had miss animations). The gameplay is solid, and not quite like Mass Effect in that you have to keep moving instead of staying in cover. One nice thing is that you can glance at the lower left-hand corner to see the last few attacks and defends with their corrosponding damages.

Next, the story is just plain awesome. I can't say much, other than while it was well written, the story is a bit on the shorter side, but no matter, as there are enough areas to explore and quests to finish to keep you playing for a long time.

Also, the graphics are gorgeous, especially for 2011. They are, infact, much better than most games today.

Finally, I'd say that if there is ANYTHING to complain about with this game, it would be that you cannot edit video settings or controls outside of the launcher. However, this is a minor complaint, and can easily be overlooked.

Verdict: This game is a must have. As of the writing of this review, the game is only $4.00. I would gladly pay $40 for a game this well made.

PS. For those of you who decide this game is worth the money. CD PROJEKT RED left a little "surprise" in the games files, concerning Triss Merigold. Let's just say many of you GUYS out there will probably be pleased with it, if you know what I mean...

Made 3 FBI agents, a heavily armored swat commando, and a bank guard to drop their weapons and put their own handcuffs on at the same time, then got tazed in the back.

10/10 would steal (money) again.

I want to like it it. I really do, but no matter how hard I try, I can't. First, it takes WAAAAYYY too long to select your own songs, and there are too few traps with too small maps.

Made fun of EA, Microsoft, Mountain Dew, and DLC in general for $0.98, found a 2D platformer that I like, and has 2 episodes for the price of one, a rare quality these days. 10/10 would buy DLC again.

Developed and released by the U.S. Army, AA:PG is a great looking game on the Unreal 3 engine. That being said, its gameplay is great, very realistic, and doesn't have the Battlefield, Medal of Honor, and Call of Duty health regen B.S. I do generally recommend this game, but it does have its downsides such as its small number of maps and high system requirements (not that anyone with a custom built machine from the last four or five years should have any trouble).

My main complaint really is that since AA:3, they have had fewer training missions. Sure, the training missions would be pointless at this juncture, but they were fun, and informative. For players of AA:3, you may remember the medic training, obstacle course, weapons familiarization course, and MOUT course. None of these courses, which were very useful in the game, and would still be in this one, are present, aside from MOUT.

Furthermore, if you have played AA:2, you would really miss the plethora of training missions, including: paratrooping, stealth training (the hardest one), sniper training, BRT, medic course (I'll concede that that was NOT fun), Hummvee driving, Hummvee CROWS system training, Javelin training, and many more fun training missons.

Lastly, and this applies to AA:3 as well, the maps are somewhat small. While some people will disagree, let me say that these maps are COD size compared to AA:2. AA:2 had vehicles, huge battlegrounds, and even fortified compounds. While this is still a beta, I usually tend to see the beta products are pretty close to the finished product.

The biggest reason this is an issue is that the maps have become smaller, the missions are fewer, the gameplay opportunities are fewer, and this is on Unreal 3, and the better of it runs Unreal 2. Things should be improved as technology increases, not removed.

Aside from the points in this review, I do have to say that I recommend this, but there really isn't too much to say in its favor. While the gameplay is solid, there is much room for improvement.