So, it is the new year (2011, in case you live under a rather large rock), and I just wanted to wish everyone that visits this site a happy New Year.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Machinarium
Released 16 October 2009, Amanita Design
I love tiny flash games. I particularly love indie ones, created more for art than actual play. And I have explored this genre to its very limit- Plachy Trpaslik, Daymare Town 1-3, Submachine, and a lot more. But nothing has compared to the works of Czech game developer Amanita Design (found at amanitadesign.com). My particular favorite, Samorost 2, is brilliant and gorgeous. So imagine my joy when they released their very first full-length game, Machinarium. This was last year, and though I played the demo, I never bought it. Until now, when Steam advertised it for half off. Sold. And I absolutely love it. I mean, I even discussed it on my personal blog (which I'll shamelessly advertise at the end). It's not a game I recommend for those of you who absolutely love action games or FPS. It's a thinking game, the kind that'll make you reclusive for weeks on end until you beat it. You're playing as a tiny robot, running about a large mechanical city full of evil, black hatted robots with superior size yet inferior brainpower. You must navigate around and ultimately save the city and your friend. It's absolutely beautiful, with amazing 2D drawings and a wonderful, minimalistic soundtrack that is almost as important to the game as the art itself (I honestly don't feel like I'm playing unless the sound is on). There are also no words, relying entirely on thought-bubble sketch pictures to communicate meaning (very effectively, too). Even better, it's not just an artsy toy- the best thing about Amanita's games is the fact that they don't require huge, arbitrary leaps of logic to solve, yet are still extremely difficult. Very pretty, but functional, with a lot of gameplay: when they said full-length game, they *meant* it. I can only describe it as a very long, surreal dream that you can control. All in all, Amanita has delivered the best possible gift unto the gaming world. Go play the demo. You'll like it. You *must*. Roar.
//SleepToDream
I can haz scattered thoughts, as mentioned above: cufflinksoffate.blogspot.com
I love tiny flash games. I particularly love indie ones, created more for art than actual play. And I have explored this genre to its very limit- Plachy Trpaslik, Daymare Town 1-3, Submachine, and a lot more. But nothing has compared to the works of Czech game developer Amanita Design (found at amanitadesign.com). My particular favorite, Samorost 2, is brilliant and gorgeous. So imagine my joy when they released their very first full-length game, Machinarium. This was last year, and though I played the demo, I never bought it. Until now, when Steam advertised it for half off. Sold. And I absolutely love it. I mean, I even discussed it on my personal blog (which I'll shamelessly advertise at the end). It's not a game I recommend for those of you who absolutely love action games or FPS. It's a thinking game, the kind that'll make you reclusive for weeks on end until you beat it. You're playing as a tiny robot, running about a large mechanical city full of evil, black hatted robots with superior size yet inferior brainpower. You must navigate around and ultimately save the city and your friend. It's absolutely beautiful, with amazing 2D drawings and a wonderful, minimalistic soundtrack that is almost as important to the game as the art itself (I honestly don't feel like I'm playing unless the sound is on). There are also no words, relying entirely on thought-bubble sketch pictures to communicate meaning (very effectively, too). Even better, it's not just an artsy toy- the best thing about Amanita's games is the fact that they don't require huge, arbitrary leaps of logic to solve, yet are still extremely difficult. Very pretty, but functional, with a lot of gameplay: when they said full-length game, they *meant* it. I can only describe it as a very long, surreal dream that you can control. All in all, Amanita has delivered the best possible gift unto the gaming world. Go play the demo. You'll like it. You *must*. Roar.
//SleepToDream
I can haz scattered thoughts, as mentioned above: cufflinksoffate.blogspot.com
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
-The One With The NoseRating: 9.2
Reviewing Call of Duty games is hard, just because of the size of each game. All of the COD games have many modes, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. With Modern Warfare 2, this is defiantly true. Let's start with multiplayer.
In the multiplayer mode, you can play one of three ways: split screen, online, or LAN party. In the online mode, there are many modes you can play in, such as team deathmatch, free-for-all, and search and destroy. Each has its own unique characteristics. Speaking to the multiplayer in general, the control over classes that you have is good, and the maps are decently designed, but the unlock system needs work, as does the size of maps. The maps on MW2 are too small, and the unlock system is too easy. All you need to do is get a few kills and you have a new gun. The guns come to easily, and are too powerful. Over all, the multiplayer is good, but needs work.
The next mode we will talk about is the campaign mode. In the campaign, you play as many different characters, and never for long on one. The campaign revolves around a war started by the mission No Russian, in which you go under cover to kill Vladimir Makarov, a contract killer with a hatred for the US. In the mission, you go into an airport with Makarov and his men to kill all of the civilians in the airport. In the end of the level, you are about to get into a truck to escape with Makarov when he shoots you and leaves your body to be found by the Russian authorities, thus causing a war with the US. I enjoyed the campaign mode, but I was disappointed with the end, as you are fighting to kill Makarov, but it is never done. The campaign is good, but again, lacks polish.
The last mode I will tell about is the Spec Ops mode. In Spec Ops, you have many different missions to choose from, in the categories Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, ranging from shooting at wooden targets to fighting 15 juggernauts on an oil rig. The levels can also be customized in difficulty by turning up or down the difficulty. The difficulties that can be chosen from are Regular, Hardened, and Veteran. Spec Ops is my favorite mode on MW2, and it is amazing. It has the polish that other modes lack.
So, I gave this game a 9.2 because the game over all is good, good graphics, good weapons, ect., but it lacks polish. The game is one of the best selling FPS games of all time for obvious reasons, and it is worth the $60.00 I payed for it new even now that I have Black Ops. So, if you want to buy a COD game, consider Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Warcraft III Reign of Chaos
-The One With The Nose
Rating: 9.63
Ok, this is kind of an old game, but it is still fun. It is a realtime strategy game, and the objective is to, in the battle mode, conquer all other people. There are four races you can play as: human, orc, night elf, and the undead. As each, you have different powers, different units, and different requirements. For example, the undead cannot build buildings on ground that is not close enough to another building. To build cities, you must build each individual building, such as a Town Hall, a Farm, and a Lumber mill. This game is really fun, and only costs $24.95 at gamestop.com. This game is defiantly worth the $25. I would know, I've had it for years.
Rating: 9.63
Ok, this is kind of an old game, but it is still fun. It is a realtime strategy game, and the objective is to, in the battle mode, conquer all other people. There are four races you can play as: human, orc, night elf, and the undead. As each, you have different powers, different units, and different requirements. For example, the undead cannot build buildings on ground that is not close enough to another building. To build cities, you must build each individual building, such as a Town Hall, a Farm, and a Lumber mill. This game is really fun, and only costs $24.95 at gamestop.com. This game is defiantly worth the $25. I would know, I've had it for years.
