When my wife suggested I start this blog a month ago, this was the kind of game I was looking forward to reviewing. Torchlight is exactly the kind of game I wanted to spend my time playing. If I was going to buy a game this month, it would be Torchlight.
This game is beautiful. Even on the lowest resolution setting, the visuals were wonderfully clear. Artistically, it looks like a wonderful mix between Diablo II and D&D Temple of Elemental Evil, with TF2 character styling. There's a lot in common between Torchlight, Diablo and, in some ways, WoW. Some people criticize the game for this reason, but I don't see it as a bad thing. Runic took what works and polished it, and the user interface is at and almost mirror shine. You may wear out the left-click button on your mouse, but that almost comes standard with the action-RPG subgenre. The inventory problem that runs rampant in this sort of game has been solved in a very interesting way with the introduction of a pet/familiar system that is actually good! The variety in pet choices is very, very limited. You can have a dog or a cat. That's it. When I saw the cat option, I was a little skeptical, because the pets are advertised as co-combatants and beasts of burden, and I wondered how much use a housecat would be in either of those roles, but it turned out to be a rather intimidating lynx/bobcat thing.
The coolest part about these pets is not only their separate inventory and subsequent ability to carry items for you, but the option to send them to the surface to sell the things in their inventory. This comes in extraordinarily handy when you find yourself mid-quest and out of town portal scrolls. True, you lose the pet and their added firepower while they barter with the townsfolk for you, but you may continue questing uninterrupted. That factor alone increases the flow exponentially and makes the game seem much less grindy than the games it is often compared to. One of the strange things about the pet system is their reaction to fish. You may feed fish to your pet, which transforms them into a different animal entirely. I was almost reluctant to feed my pet for fear of the ethical ramifications. Does poor Spot really have a choice in this? What am I doing to him? Who am I do play god with my beloved Spot? But the fish make Spot more powerful, so I decided that it was better for his overall welfare to increase his survivability than worry over his genetic stability. Another nifty thing about the pets is the amazing AI. Your pet fills the role you need it to fill automatically. If you are a tank, the pet runs crowd control for you so you don't get swamped. If you're a dex monkey, the pet tanks the strongest enemy while you take out the minions. And it does this automatically!
High fantasy with an almost spaghetti-western soundtrack make a great game I would recommend and even require for anyone claiming to be a gamer. Even the casual gamer can enjoy it in half-hour spurts or through the sleepless nights. At $9.95, this game is well worth the money. Go pick it up. This is not a request.
Do the right thing, people. Play indie games. There are kittens.
Showing posts with label I love indie games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label I love indie games. Show all posts
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Strange Attractors 2
I will admit, I’ve been pretty self gratifying recently. Tuesday I reviewed an RTS, and today is yet another of my beloved physics games. I promise, an FPS is in the future, but I need your recommendations. Combat Arms seems a tantalizing morsel, but MMOs don’t lend themselves well to reviewing. Imagine I am the unblinking eye of Sauron, searching the lands for the precious thing; a decent FPS. Even Sauron needs a little help from his friends sometimes. Go forth, my orcs. Find me a shooter worthy of Mordor. If you happen to find some hobbits and a gold ring in your search, those are mine too.
Strange Attractors 2 is, to be brief, refreshing and infuriating all in one. I’ve never seen such a simple game use it’s simplicity as a factor in its difficulty. In that, Ominous Development has created one of the most original and creative downloadables I’ve played in a long while. The game controls are comprised of two buttons. That’s it. The point is to navigate your spacecraft through a series of rooms, collecting stars as you go. It’s always stars. They never explain why you’re collecting stars, but they are necessary to your advancement. There are no engines in this craft. You control gravity. The problem, of course, is that there is no leveled use of said gravity. Gravity is either on or off, and the speed you attain is directly related to how close you are to an object and how large said object is. You may also toggle “anti-gravity” which drives you away from objects at the same relative velocity as the normal gravity pulls you toward them.
The reason I chalk the simplicity of the controls toward the games difficulty is how limiting and out-of-control gameplay is. Having no directional influence on your craft’s travel can get frustrating, but it forces you to think with gravity, as it were (to steal a Portal tagline). Manipulation of gravitational forces as a propulsion mechanism is very difficult to predict, but because of that, success is thoroughly gratifying. Using chains of pushes and pulls to orbit larger obstacles or send smaller objects crashing into you to create momentum creates the closest feeling to vertigo I’ve ever experienced in a game. You should also monitor your speed very closely. Faster is not always better in this game. When timing and positioning are crucial, it becomes very easy to inadvertently send yourself hurtling across the map.
The demo is very short. I only got about ten minutes of play-time out of my first run through, and that was with a complete lack of aptitude for the game. I chalk this up to the very reasonable price of the full version. Later on in the main game, however, you are introduced to Ominous’ warped sense of humor. Astronauts are unfortunate, doomed creatures in this world. Fodder for cheap giggles at their grisly ends, they accept their role in the game with near gleeful willingness.
Strange Attractors 2 is worth a look. At $10 over Greenhouse, it’s a low-risk game with a decent payoff. Mind-bending puzzles and decent graphics, merged with a spectacular concept and some cathartic chuckles add up to a game well worth the price. If you have a mind to buy a game, and only want to spend around 10 bucks, snap this one up before Ominous figures out their mistake and raises the price.
I know this was another short one, but I’m on vacation, and my wife is bugging me to let the work be. Forgive me for not visiting, San Francisco friends! Do the right thing, people. Play indie games. Revitalize the California state economy.
Strange Attractors 2 is, to be brief, refreshing and infuriating all in one. I’ve never seen such a simple game use it’s simplicity as a factor in its difficulty. In that, Ominous Development has created one of the most original and creative downloadables I’ve played in a long while. The game controls are comprised of two buttons. That’s it. The point is to navigate your spacecraft through a series of rooms, collecting stars as you go. It’s always stars. They never explain why you’re collecting stars, but they are necessary to your advancement. There are no engines in this craft. You control gravity. The problem, of course, is that there is no leveled use of said gravity. Gravity is either on or off, and the speed you attain is directly related to how close you are to an object and how large said object is. You may also toggle “anti-gravity” which drives you away from objects at the same relative velocity as the normal gravity pulls you toward them.
The reason I chalk the simplicity of the controls toward the games difficulty is how limiting and out-of-control gameplay is. Having no directional influence on your craft’s travel can get frustrating, but it forces you to think with gravity, as it were (to steal a Portal tagline). Manipulation of gravitational forces as a propulsion mechanism is very difficult to predict, but because of that, success is thoroughly gratifying. Using chains of pushes and pulls to orbit larger obstacles or send smaller objects crashing into you to create momentum creates the closest feeling to vertigo I’ve ever experienced in a game. You should also monitor your speed very closely. Faster is not always better in this game. When timing and positioning are crucial, it becomes very easy to inadvertently send yourself hurtling across the map.
The demo is very short. I only got about ten minutes of play-time out of my first run through, and that was with a complete lack of aptitude for the game. I chalk this up to the very reasonable price of the full version. Later on in the main game, however, you are introduced to Ominous’ warped sense of humor. Astronauts are unfortunate, doomed creatures in this world. Fodder for cheap giggles at their grisly ends, they accept their role in the game with near gleeful willingness.
Strange Attractors 2 is worth a look. At $10 over Greenhouse, it’s a low-risk game with a decent payoff. Mind-bending puzzles and decent graphics, merged with a spectacular concept and some cathartic chuckles add up to a game well worth the price. If you have a mind to buy a game, and only want to spend around 10 bucks, snap this one up before Ominous figures out their mistake and raises the price.
I know this was another short one, but I’m on vacation, and my wife is bugging me to let the work be. Forgive me for not visiting, San Francisco friends! Do the right thing, people. Play indie games. Revitalize the California state economy.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Multiwinia
So I will be on vacation in Sacramento through the weekend. For those of you out there wondering, I plan my vacations around family events; that's why I'm going to "vacation" in Sacramento. Friday's post will still be up, but that one, as this one, will be posted in the evenings. I get better traffic in the late evening anyway.
In 1995 this game would be FANTASTIC! That was what I kept thinking as I played through the demo for Multiwinia, an inventive RTS from Introversion Software. The trailer there explains the game basics, and it stays fairly true to the concept. Their tagline "Survival of the flattest" doesn't seem to apply, but then again, maybe that becomes more of a factor in the full version. Two of the three game styles available on the demo are the most commonly played types of games in the whole genre; King of the Hill and Capture the flag. The third, Rocket Riot, was a unique take on the defense aspect of the strategy genre. Capture resource points to fuel the rocket, then fill your rocket with guys, but don't let the enemy attack your rocket, because it could catch fire and you lose fuel. This game mode, along with the challenging enemy AI made for a refreshing, if utilitarian take on my favorite aspect of gaming.
Units are spawned periodically from spawn points, which vomit them out like bad Thai food. The units are two-dimensional stick figures, which do your basic bidding, but aren't afraid to run away from battle if there isn't an officer around or they don't have the clear advantage. The lack of an attack function is pretty nice after a bit of play. It's free of the normal nearly stressful micro-management synonymous with the genre.
In order to get to the packing I've been neglecting (procrastination, GO!), I will simply leave it at a recommendation. If you can't afford the $14.95, the demo at least is worth a playthrough.
Try it here
Do the right thing and all that. I'M A LIBERAL! (Cue maniacal laughter) "tax and spend, tax and spend..."
In 1995 this game would be FANTASTIC! That was what I kept thinking as I played through the demo for Multiwinia, an inventive RTS from Introversion Software. The trailer there explains the game basics, and it stays fairly true to the concept. Their tagline "Survival of the flattest" doesn't seem to apply, but then again, maybe that becomes more of a factor in the full version. Two of the three game styles available on the demo are the most commonly played types of games in the whole genre; King of the Hill and Capture the flag. The third, Rocket Riot, was a unique take on the defense aspect of the strategy genre. Capture resource points to fuel the rocket, then fill your rocket with guys, but don't let the enemy attack your rocket, because it could catch fire and you lose fuel. This game mode, along with the challenging enemy AI made for a refreshing, if utilitarian take on my favorite aspect of gaming.
Units are spawned periodically from spawn points, which vomit them out like bad Thai food. The units are two-dimensional stick figures, which do your basic bidding, but aren't afraid to run away from battle if there isn't an officer around or they don't have the clear advantage. The lack of an attack function is pretty nice after a bit of play. It's free of the normal nearly stressful micro-management synonymous with the genre.
In order to get to the packing I've been neglecting (procrastination, GO!), I will simply leave it at a recommendation. If you can't afford the $14.95, the demo at least is worth a playthrough.
Try it here
Do the right thing and all that. I'M A LIBERAL! (Cue maniacal laughter) "tax and spend, tax and spend..."
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Flash games: Boiling Down
It's time we gamers faced facts as a community. Our genre has expanded to a point of near-critical mass, and the sheer number of games available on a constant basis is staggering. Discounting the traditional platforms (basically anything you can buy at GameStop), anyone with an internet connection can game for countless hours, fulfilling whatever base genre desires your little heart has. Google "flash games" sometime for kicks. Try to find one single game that can capture your attention for more than fifteen minutes. The search itself renders more than 173,000,000 hits. It could send a Zen master into an ADD tizzy.
The problem here is that, upon my initial research, almost 50% of these hits are flash game hosting sites, and even with larger game hosting sites such as armorgames.com, only maybe 70% of their content is original (I'm being generous in my estimation). The others are linked from sites such as Kongregate and addictinggames, etc. and vice-versa. Another problem is that we only have maybe 30 game concepts floating around for the vast majority of the games out there. What I'm getting at is that there are very, very few original games available on a flash platform. So where do we find good games in this veritable sea of mediocrity? Even the casual flash gamer with only a few minutes to spend deserves good games.
What I propose is a list of games that I, as a flash gamer, enjoy. This is a purely subjective list. I am subject to whims of my own fancy, and to the bonds of some loose genre loyalty, so if you don't like RTS or tower defence games, some of the games on the list may seem somewhat undeserved. That being said, here are the games, and a short synopsis/review of each, starting from 10;
10. Seed This game lives up to it's host site's title. It's a fun and addictive little DNA/evolution sim dealing with flowers. Mainly attracting players who like Spore, the number of variations available is pretty impressive, given the game's format. There isn't much diversity to the gameplay itself, but it serves the concept well. Simple, easy to play, and time-altering. Don't play this if you have something to do in the next hour.
9. This Is the Only Level The name says it all. You are a poor little immortal elephant, forced to replay the same level over and over again. Though it sounds repetitive (and in some ways it is), the level evolves with each new iteration to produce an addictive and sometimes infuriating jumping platform game. Mario-esque fun in a challenging, if not somewhat samey box. Easy to learn, impossible to master.
8. Learn to Fly Cute factor is high in this side-scrolling physics game. You are a penguin who has taken it upon himself to break free of his flightless anatomy. Fun upgrades and a very intuitive set of controls makes for a great setting, and by the end I was really becoming invested in the adorable protagonist.
7. Warzone This game is getting huge. Between Facebook and the various tower defence sites pimping it out, mad cow interactive is making a lot of noise with this tight, well polished tower defence strategy game. Not overly creative, but a great way to waste an hour or two.
6. Hedgehog Launch Another cute physics game, there are a few more complexities to this game than Learn to Fly. You are ordered by your government to launch the nation's mascot, a hedgehog, into space to spearhead the nation's space program. The fun in this game is the play. It is genuinely enjoyable to launch that little guy into space, and the ending, though darkly adorable, is tinged with regret that it's over already. The good news: the sequel retained the basic charm. Another game to avoid if you have pressing commitments.
5. The Space Game Not strictly a tower defence game, The Space Game is more of a defence-based RTS. This is a challenging game with many layers of strategic complexity, requiring a high level of tactical improvisation. The story mode's plot is a little thin, but a decent attempt. It would have done just as well without the pretext. Overall, I would recommend this game to fans of management RTSs or turn-based strategy.
4. Dark Orbit Generally, I am not a fan of MMOs or their soul-sucking flash spawnlings, but Dark Orbit managed to suck me in anyway. I credit this to my love for sci-fi and the total lack of necessity to make friends or talk to people in-game. I understand that party building is half the fun in MMOs, and you have the option to do so in Dark Orbit, but I appreciate the game not ramming it down my throat.
3. Effing Hail Catharsis embodied, this game requires you destroy everything you encounter with gusts of wind propelling bits of hail skyward, keeping them aloft as they grow in size until they crash down upon the hapless inhabitants of the tiny world you are tasked to destroy. Definitely worth the time, especially on a bad day.
2. Epic War 2 This game is impressive. Side-scrolling RTS with massive armies, a neat story, and one of the few flash games that gave me a sense of accomplishment when I achieved victory by drowning my foes with waves and waves of expendable troops. There are three unique races to choose from, and great upgrades to quash your enemies. Having to buy the upgrades again every level is a little irritating, but it adds a sense of urgency to what would otherwise be a rather mild difficulty curve. Highly recommend for Warcraft 3 junkies and Tolkien fans.
1. Toss the Turtle This game's major selling point is the artwork, and sell it does. The object of this dark side-scroller is to shoot the turtle out of a cannon as far as you can. The poor little guy takes a lot of damage on the way, eliciting some morbid chuckles. The power-ups at the shop are designed to inflict even more damage on what must be the most masochistic turtle to exist. The artwork, done by Gonzo, is bright, colorful and would make Jhonen Vasquez proud. I highly recommend this game if you have a few minutes, or if you need a way to stay awake all night so the clown under your bed doesn't eat you.
So there you have it; my top 10 flash games currently on the net. No, they aren't the most influential or even consequential, games, but they are fun and provide a doorway to new game artists looking to break in with the industry. Do the right thing, people. Play indie games. Save America.
The problem here is that, upon my initial research, almost 50% of these hits are flash game hosting sites, and even with larger game hosting sites such as armorgames.com, only maybe 70% of their content is original (I'm being generous in my estimation). The others are linked from sites such as Kongregate and addictinggames, etc. and vice-versa. Another problem is that we only have maybe 30 game concepts floating around for the vast majority of the games out there. What I'm getting at is that there are very, very few original games available on a flash platform. So where do we find good games in this veritable sea of mediocrity? Even the casual flash gamer with only a few minutes to spend deserves good games.
What I propose is a list of games that I, as a flash gamer, enjoy. This is a purely subjective list. I am subject to whims of my own fancy, and to the bonds of some loose genre loyalty, so if you don't like RTS or tower defence games, some of the games on the list may seem somewhat undeserved. That being said, here are the games, and a short synopsis/review of each, starting from 10;
10. Seed This game lives up to it's host site's title. It's a fun and addictive little DNA/evolution sim dealing with flowers. Mainly attracting players who like Spore, the number of variations available is pretty impressive, given the game's format. There isn't much diversity to the gameplay itself, but it serves the concept well. Simple, easy to play, and time-altering. Don't play this if you have something to do in the next hour.
9. This Is the Only Level The name says it all. You are a poor little immortal elephant, forced to replay the same level over and over again. Though it sounds repetitive (and in some ways it is), the level evolves with each new iteration to produce an addictive and sometimes infuriating jumping platform game. Mario-esque fun in a challenging, if not somewhat samey box. Easy to learn, impossible to master.
8. Learn to Fly Cute factor is high in this side-scrolling physics game. You are a penguin who has taken it upon himself to break free of his flightless anatomy. Fun upgrades and a very intuitive set of controls makes for a great setting, and by the end I was really becoming invested in the adorable protagonist.
7. Warzone This game is getting huge. Between Facebook and the various tower defence sites pimping it out, mad cow interactive is making a lot of noise with this tight, well polished tower defence strategy game. Not overly creative, but a great way to waste an hour or two.
6. Hedgehog Launch Another cute physics game, there are a few more complexities to this game than Learn to Fly. You are ordered by your government to launch the nation's mascot, a hedgehog, into space to spearhead the nation's space program. The fun in this game is the play. It is genuinely enjoyable to launch that little guy into space, and the ending, though darkly adorable, is tinged with regret that it's over already. The good news: the sequel retained the basic charm. Another game to avoid if you have pressing commitments.
5. The Space Game Not strictly a tower defence game, The Space Game is more of a defence-based RTS. This is a challenging game with many layers of strategic complexity, requiring a high level of tactical improvisation. The story mode's plot is a little thin, but a decent attempt. It would have done just as well without the pretext. Overall, I would recommend this game to fans of management RTSs or turn-based strategy.
4. Dark Orbit Generally, I am not a fan of MMOs or their soul-sucking flash spawnlings, but Dark Orbit managed to suck me in anyway. I credit this to my love for sci-fi and the total lack of necessity to make friends or talk to people in-game. I understand that party building is half the fun in MMOs, and you have the option to do so in Dark Orbit, but I appreciate the game not ramming it down my throat.
3. Effing Hail Catharsis embodied, this game requires you destroy everything you encounter with gusts of wind propelling bits of hail skyward, keeping them aloft as they grow in size until they crash down upon the hapless inhabitants of the tiny world you are tasked to destroy. Definitely worth the time, especially on a bad day.
2. Epic War 2 This game is impressive. Side-scrolling RTS with massive armies, a neat story, and one of the few flash games that gave me a sense of accomplishment when I achieved victory by drowning my foes with waves and waves of expendable troops. There are three unique races to choose from, and great upgrades to quash your enemies. Having to buy the upgrades again every level is a little irritating, but it adds a sense of urgency to what would otherwise be a rather mild difficulty curve. Highly recommend for Warcraft 3 junkies and Tolkien fans.
1. Toss the Turtle This game's major selling point is the artwork, and sell it does. The object of this dark side-scroller is to shoot the turtle out of a cannon as far as you can. The poor little guy takes a lot of damage on the way, eliciting some morbid chuckles. The power-ups at the shop are designed to inflict even more damage on what must be the most masochistic turtle to exist. The artwork, done by Gonzo, is bright, colorful and would make Jhonen Vasquez proud. I highly recommend this game if you have a few minutes, or if you need a way to stay awake all night so the clown under your bed doesn't eat you.
So there you have it; my top 10 flash games currently on the net. No, they aren't the most influential or even consequential, games, but they are fun and provide a doorway to new game artists looking to break in with the industry. Do the right thing, people. Play indie games. Save America.
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