X-Com: Enemy Unknown/Enemy Within. More turn-based goodness.

In my excitement to write about classic turn-based games I forgot about one notable favorite of mine, the X-Com:  Enemy Unknown.  I have spent hundreds of hours working to defeat the alien menace that is threatening Earth and if you like turn-based games, you should too!

I'm a little ashamed to admit that I haven't played the classic X-Com games.  I'm sure the X-Com purists would strongly dislike the 21st century adaptation of the strategy classic.  Maybe someday I will try to experience them in all their glory.

Anyway...back to Enemy Unknown.  In X-Com:  Enemy Unknown you play as the commander of a super-secret Earth defense organization known as X-Com.  The game opens on a cinematic of mysterious alien devices bombarding Earth and unleashing a noxious fog on it's inhabitants.  The gameplay starts with a short mission that is part tutorial and part story.  You command a small squad of soldiers (initially 4, but that number can be changed with purchases made later in the game) and your goal is to investigate and destroy any hostile alien invaders.  You learn the basics of movement on the in-game grid and the importance of utilizing cover (seek out full cover whenever you can).  The aliens have superior technology and the strange ability to telepathically control humans--how could you possibly hope to defeat them?

The answer to that is the pooled resources of the world in the form of the X-Com project.  You have access to the best soldiers and technology on Earth and everyone wants to work together to defeat this threat.  The main part of the game is centered on combat missions where you command your squad of soldiers--there are different types of missions and the objectives could be to wipe out all the aliens on the map or to rescue as many civilians as you can.  The combat missions are fun and can be quite challenging.  My best advice to you is save early and save often--you will pay for every small mistake you make.  Before each mission you get to choose which soldiers will make up your squad.  There are four basic classes of soldier to choose from--sniper, assault, support, and heavy.  The sniper is your ranged specialist who can pick off an alien from a long distance.  Assault soldiers wield a shotgun and are good at moving in close to take out a target.  Support soldiers can be played a couple of different ways--they can become medics who can heal or revive injured soldiers or they can specialize in throwing smoke grenades to provide cover for your squad.  The heavy uses a mini-gun and a rocket launcher to lay down some massive damage.

My squad prepares for battle.  Enemy Within content included.

Another major aspect of the game is managing your base and resources.  Each month you can earn money by providing satellite coverage to different countries/regions.  The more satellites you launch = the more money you earn.  Unfortunately it isn't that basic.  Satellites take a long time to build and require you to construct a satellite uplink that can only support 2 satellites (or the much more expensive nexus that can support 4).  Satellites also require aircraft to provide cover and you'll have to build and maintain those craft.  Then there's the issue of what you want to focus on--do you want to focus on science and research or engineering?  You only have so many resources to spend and this decision can be tough.

The initial difficulty curve in X-Com is quite tough.  You start off with a squad of inexperienced soldiers who can't hit the broadside of a barn and who panic at every opportunity.  But if you hang on and keep playing, you'll have an experienced squad of ice-cold professionals who won't bat an eyelid at the biggest and baddest aliens out there.

X-Com:  Enemy Unknown is frequently on sale on Steam.  Buy it if you love strategy and taking out aliens.

The turn-based good ol' days

Playing Divinity:  Original Sin has reminded me of other turn-based RPG's that I have enjoyed.  My favorite series was the Fallout series.  Before the sprawling open-world Fallout games of today (Fallout 3, Fallout:  New Vegas) Fallout was a cool turn-based game.

The original Fallout came out way back in 1997.  Much of the story would be reconizable by players of the newer Fallout games.  The world is in chaos after a series of wars have destroyed much of civilization.  Some of the more fortunate people have retreated to large, underground bunkers known as "vaults."  The vaults are meant to be self-sufficient and the people who live in them are meant to stay underground until things are safe.  Unfortunately this seeme to rarely be the case--something always goes wrong and someone has to fix it.  In the original Fallout, you play as the "vault dweller" whose task is to find a water chip for your vault (apparently your vault failed to order a sufficient number of backup chips).  You must venture out from the safety of your vault into a dangerous and chaotic world populated by mutant animals and violent bandits.

The turn-based gameplay in Fallout was very enjoyable.  Depending on your chosen skills you learned how to manage your action points.  I usually picked perception based gun skills so that I could snipe things from afar.  This usually meant that I only got one aimed shot per turn, but it was usually for high damage.  A big part of the game was finding companions to accompany you on your task.  In Fallout these companions weren't playable characters, but they were handy to have around during combat.

Mmmm...Iguana Bits.

The series expanded into two follow-up games--Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics.  Tactics added in the ability to control an entire squad.  This was a big change since the initial games only allowed you to control your character.  This formula has become one that I enjoy immensely and it's really fun that this style of game seems to be making a comeback.  Modern games like Divinity:  Original Sin and Wasteland 2 (both Kickstarter games) are looking to ressurect this somewhat lost genre of gaming.

If you're looking for some old-school gaming fun or are curious to see what Fallout was before Bethesda, pick up the original Fallout series on Steam (you can get all three games for a low price).  If you're looking for a modern re-vamp pick up Divinity:  Original Sin or Wasteland 2.

Divinity Diaries: Stabby, Stabby

My first efforts to master Divinity:  Original Sin failed pretty horribly.  I made several very rookie mistakes and decided to scrap my first group and start over.  For my new group I picked a very similar make-up for my new characters, Cirina is a scoundrel who specializes in the thiefly arts and backstabbing and Viktor is a wizard (a distant cousin of Roderick) who specializes in fire and earth spells.

I've been much more careful when doling out my ability and skill points and my squad is a better mix.  I have been able to buzz through the early content in Cyseal rather quickly.  This time when I headed out of town to take on the undead menace, I felt like I knew what I was doing.  Combat has been much smoother.  Cirina pops invisibility and moves into position to quickly incapacitate and then take down ranged foes while Madora serves as my tank.  Viktor can lay down a path of fire to keep the melee foes away from my casters and fling fireballs at ranged enemies while Jahan can keep my melee characters healed and also stunned with his lightning spells.

My squad!  Alive for the moment.

After wiping out the undead west of Cyseal, I decided to that it was time to take down my old nemesis "the ghoul who guards the lighthouse."  I anxiously saved my game and moved my squad into position to attack.  My plan this time--move my melee into position to take down the ghoul and ignore the smaller enemies.  Earlier I had figured out that if you keep the explodoskeletons wet or chilled they can't explode and decimate your melee.  After my melee were in position I had Viktor lay down a field of fire to block the zombie dogs.  This strategy worked well and it wasn't long before I was happily gathering up loot from the dead ghoul and it's minions.

I can say I feel better about the direction this group is heading, but I can't say I've figured everything out.  Crafting is still a little confusing and I don't think I've utilized it as much as I should be.  I am liking Divinity:  Original Sin more and more despite the difficulty.  The challenge is part of the fun.

Divinity Diaries: A New Hope

The ghoul who guards the lighthouse proved to be my undoing.  Time after time I kept throwing my little group up against the enemy in vain.  I tried switching my strategy, ignore the zombie dogs and archers and go straight for the ghoul, only to have my melee exploded by the explodoskeleton.  I tried laying down a massive pool of elemental devastation, but the ghoul kept resurrecting the baddies.  In a state of total frustration, I started Googling to find some advice on how to defeat this stupid ghoul.  I never really found the answer, but I did find out I had made it much more difficult than it really should have been.  I had made some pretty big mistakes.

Big mistake #1--when you level up and get new skill points the next level costs one more skill point than your current level (so if you are a level 1 crafter you actually need 2 skill points to gain another level).  I had instead purchased a bunch of one point abilities that would do me absolutely no good.

Big mistake #2--redundant skill choices.  I didn't pay close attention to which skills my characters had and was repeating skills.  Pick one character to be your thief-like character, one to be your crafter, and so-on.

Crafting--there's really not much of a tutorial on crafting, but you can make all kinds of stuff.  I was unaware of how this really worked so didn't utilize it at all.

So here's my advice to a new player--find as many guides as you can before you start.  Bookmark the heck out of them and call on them any time you are confused.  Divinity does very little handholding and instead can be a lot of trial and error or, in my case, just error.

My characters were so screwed up.  To unscrew them would require me to replay hours of content.  I decided that I would start fresh with a new group now that I had a better idea of what I was doing.  So RIP Elore and Roderick--sorry your short lives were so poorly executed.

My new group is going to be awesome.

Divinity Diaries: Disasterous

I managed to cobble together a small group for some adventuring outside of Cyseal.  My group consists of Elore (shadowblade), Roderick (wizard), Madora (knight), and Jahan (wizard).  This group seems promising--a nice balance of melee and ranged abilities.  Jahan's spells are air and water based and seem to offset Roderick's fire based abilities.

It was time to finally venture out of Cyseal.  I decided to head West and see what I could find.  I encountered several packs of undead skeletons and zombies wandering around.  I managed to dispatch most of them with very little dying.  I ran into some legionnaires who had apparently run from an encounter at the lighthouse (purported to be haunted).  I volunteered my brave heroes to defeat the undead guarding the area.

As my group approached I first took in the surroundings--a few oil barrels sat against the wall of the lighthouse.  One of Roderick's fireballs should turn those into a flaming pool of death.  I readied my group and approached the enemy.  Hmmm some zombie dogs, some skeleton archers, and a rather gelatinous ghoul aptly named "the ghoul who guards the lighthouse."  I moved my melee characters into a safe position away from the possible location of the flaming pool of death.  Roderick unleashed one of his fireballs and the zombie dogs were engulfed in flames.  My melee characters stayed in position and were targetted by the now flaming zombie dogs.  Elore and Madora fonished them off rather quickly.  But wait...the very next move the ghoul resurrected the zombie dogs at full health!  And now there were also two skeleton archers and an explodoskeleton.  Great.

Divinity Diaries: Today this is how I died....

Divinity--Day 1

Today I created my awesome combo for "Divinity:  Original Sin."  Elore is my shadowblade a combination rogue/caster and Roderick is my Wizard.  Roderick specializes in hurling fireballs at the bad guys while Elore can get up close and personal.

I'm still a little confused about how much of the game works.  You play through a tutorial dungeon and get some handy tutorial tips, but that's about it.  The tutorial dungeon was fairly easy to navigate and I learned the basics which include the following:  you can click on barrels and boxes to open them for loot.  You can also move them onto things--like gas vents.  Another very basic, but seemingly difficult concept to grasp is that you need to be very aware of your surroundings.  An oil barrel that is too close to Roderick's awesome fireball can result in a large explosion that often engulfs your melee characters in a pool of fire.  Standing in a pool of water or puddle of blood and get zapped by your own lightning spell...DOH!

Roderick and Elore haven't fared too well and have spent a large portion of my total playtime taking dirt naps.  I've also spent an immense amount of time creeping around Cyseal doing things that seem completely unacceptable--digging up graves, stealing paintings and place settings (a great way to make some extra cash), and talking to sheep.

Maybe I'll venture out into the great unknown around Cyseal--the guards don't seem to think that's a great idea.

Incredible Indies: The Stanley Parable

You are Stanley.  One day you go to your same humdrum job and do the same thing you do everyday.  Suddenly, you realize that something is horribly wrong.  You leave your boring little office and find that everyone else is gone.  The building is completely empty and you have no idea where everyone is.  You decide to solve this mystery by exploring your office.

"The Stanley Parable" is another exploration based game.  Your actions and choices are voiced by a spiffy British narrator.  Your choices are what drives the game.  "The Stanley Parable" is a game that doesn't want to be a game.  It's much deeper than a simple game.  It makes you think about your choices as you're playing.  I realized at one point how much the addition of achievements has made me try to play to earn them.  Is that natural?  Why am I clicking on this stupid door five times?  For some stupid achievement?  Who gives an achievement for clicking on a door five times?  There are also like a billion different endings.

I don't want to ruin the game.  Pick it up for yourself and try to help Stanley out.

Incredible Indies: Bastion

Looking for a game that's not totally unlike other games you've played, but is still an indie?  "Bastion" just might be the game for you.  There's an interesting story, unique features, and beautiful artwork and music.

"Bastion" is an action RPG set in a beautiful, fictional world called Caelondia.  One morning, your character--known simply as "the kid," wakes up to find that the world around him is crumbling away.  Everyone is gone and he's by himself.  As you explore the crumbling ruins of Caelondia you discover that something called "the calamity" is slowly destroying your world.  The last remaining and safest place in Caelondia is a chunk of land known as "the bastion."  As you progress, the bastion becomes your place to rest, re-arm, and learn more about what is happening to your world.

The combat in "Bastion" resembles combat in many other games.  Left-click to perform a normal attack and right-click to perform a special attack.  There are several varieties of both melee and ranged weapons to choose from and they are unlocked as you progress through the game.  There are also challenge levels where you have the opportunity to complete different weapon based challenges.  The higher your score, the better the prize.

The part of "Bastion" I enjoyed the most was the uniqueness.  It's a game that plays like many others, but has unique aspects.  The narrator's voice that describes what you are doing--even when you do something boneheaded like rolling off the world--is really cool and fun.  The artwork in Supergiant games is always something amazing and beautiful, you just want to look around and enjoy the world they've created.  Oh and the soundtrack is something that is definitely worth purchasing.

"Bastion" is a familiar yet unique Indie game that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for something that's not too indie.

Incredible Indies: Guacamelee

The first reason I even noticed "Guacamelee" was it's name.  How witty to take a beloved Mexican dip and combine it with a fun gaming term.  Just to forewarn you there is little actual guacamole in the game.  If you were hoping for some sort of weird cooking and punching combo then I am sorry to disappoint you.  "Guacamelee " is a platformer set in a traditional Mexican folktale and it's a really fun game.

In "Guacamelee" you play as Juan, an agave farmer and secretly a luchador (wrestler).  Juan is called upon to use his secret wrestling abilities when El Presidente's daughter is kidnapped.  In the process of attempting to rescue her Juan is killed and finds himself in the land of the dead.  In the land of the dead he meets another mysterious luchador named Tostada.  Tostada gives Juan a special mask that gives him special powers and allows him to return to the land of the living.

Juan--Agave farmer and luchador.

As you progress through the levels you unlock special wrestling moves from an odd goat/man character.  The wrestling moves are fun to execute and spice up the regular punching/kicking aspect of the game.  You also receive bonus points based on the number of punches/kicks/wrestling move combos you are able to string together.  This is a valuable skill because after you complete the game there are challenge levels that require you to string together as many attack combos as you can.  One other unique part of "Guacamelee" is the ability to switch between the land of the living and the dead.  Some obstacles exist in only one plane of existence and require you to switch between them in order to progress.

"Guacamelee" was originally released on PS3 and then later was adapted to a PC game.  One note for PC gamers to keep in mind is that you should probably use a wireless XBox controller to play it.  I managed to finish it using a mouse/keyboard combo, but it was difficult.  Some of the key combos get a little insane and would be much easier with a controller.  There is also the option to play co-op with a friend.  The soundtrack for the game is very catchy and fun and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys game music.

Buy "Guacamelee" and explore your secret desire to be a Mexican wrestler.  Or just enjoy a unique indie game.  Either one.

Incredible Indies: Gone Home

"Gone Home" is a game that probably isn't for everybody.  It's not a game packed with action or fancy graphics.  There is no loot or epic boss battles. Instead, "Gone Home" is game in which the player unravels a powerful story through exploration.

When you start the game you don't even really know who you are.  You have to inspect items in your inventory to figure it out.  From doing this you are able to discover that your character is a college student who is returning home after a long trip abroad.  Apparently, while your character was traveling in Europe their family had relocated to a new house.  You've never been in this house before and are completely unfamiliar with the surroundings.  The first thing you discover is that the rest of your family is busy and you're by yourself.

The first task you must accomplish is finding the key your family left you so you can gain entry into the house.  After opening some cabinets on the porch and examining some items, you find the key and are able to enter the house.  Once inside you set out to explore your new home and piece together what is happening with your family.  I'm not going to go into a lot of detail because you should experience it for yourself.

I wonder what's in that locker?

I really enjoyed the exploration and piecing together the story.  Some doors were locked and forced you to keep exploring to figure out how to open them.  You literally must search every drawer and cabinet to find clues.  The game is set in the mid-1990's so there's also a nostalgia factor for anyone who grew up in this era.  

"Gone Home" is not a game for everyone, but instead is a great game for anyone looking for something different.

Incredible Indies: Trine/Trine 2

Once in awhile I like to check out something fresh from a smaller publisher.  Indie games often offer the fun and excitement of the big boys without the big boy price.  For the next few days I'm going to post about some of my favorite Indie games.

Trine/Trine 2

Trine is a puzzle/platformer from Frozenbyte, a small, independent publisher based in Helsinki, Finland.  In Trine, the player can switch between 3 different characters, each with a different set of abilities, to solve puzzles and advance through a level.

The thief wields a bow and can use a grappling hook to latch onto and swing between platforms.  She's a great choice for navigating vertically or moving quickly across obstacles.  She enjoys long walks on the beach and stealing treasure.

The wizard is useful for his ability to conjure objects like boxes and planks.  He can also levitate objects and move them where they are needed.  Unfortunately, this wizard is a bit of a failure and was unable to master any offensive spells.

The knight is the muscle (and beer belly) of the group.  With sword and shield at the ready, he is good at dispatching skeletons and other enemies.  He possesses the unique ability of being able to push large objects.

Trine is a beautiful game with lots of stunning artwork and interesting zones and levels.  The recently released "enchanted" edition features the ability to play co-op games with three players.  Here's a nice trailer with gameplay:

If you're looking for a fun Indie to try out you can find Trine on Steam or buy it as part of the Humble Bundle.

Indies, Please

I wrote yesterday about Papers, Please a strangely entertaining indie game.  I thought I would post the trailer.  Don't be turned off by the low-fi graphics--it totally fits the game.

I'm feeling a little swamped today so am keeping it short.  I think  I will post about some other enjoyable indie games tomorrow.  Enjoy the theme music for Papers, Please.

Papers, Please

The Steam sale is something I always look forward to and the prices can be too good to pass up.  Sometimes I find myself buying things that I wouldn't normally buy.  A game where you play a border inspector whose job is to inspect documents?  It's only $2.99?  Sign me up!  That is how I acquired one of the strangest, but oddly entertaining games that I have ever played--Papers, Please.

In Papers, Please you play the role of a border guard in a pseudo-Soviet communist state known as Arstotzka.  You job is to decide who is allowed to enter this fictional country or who is turned away.  It's deceptively simple.  First, you must reference your handy rule book to see what restrictions are currently in place.  Characters seeking entry present you their documentation and you must inspect it for any false or expired information.  In the beginning the rules are fairly simple, make sure the info on one or two documents matches,  but it gets harder.  You are paid based on the number of people you correctly admit or turn away.  If you start making mistakes you can be fined and lose money.  Losing money is bad as at the end of the day you must support your family by making enough to pay your rent, heat your apartment and buy food.  You don't want your fake Arstotzkan family to starve.

As the game progresses the rules become more complex.  You are presented with 4-5 documents to inspect and must do it relatively quickly.  Sometimes people hop the fence and try to illegally enter and it's your job to stop them, either lethally or non-lethally.  There are also difficult moral decisions--a mother with an expired passport begs you to let her in so she can see a son she hasn't seen in years.  A secret organization offers you a lot of money to allow it's members to enter illegally.

This guy seems shady...

Papers, Please is a simple game that is very engaging.  It's well-worth the ultra-low sale price that you can find once in awhile.  Pick it up for some document inspecting fun.

Casting off aspersions

I never know what reactions I am going to get when I tell people that I enjoy video games and spend time playing them.  Some people cringe like I just admitting to storing severed human heads in my freezer. Others giggle and roll their eyes.  Then I get the eventual questions like "so do you dress up like the characters in the games?"  For some reason people always make this huge leap from the concept of playing games to pretty much doing the nerdiest things possible.  But that's what I want to write about today.  I'm tired of being treated like some sort of social outcast because I like enjoy gaming.

For a long time I was a closet nerd/gamer.  I played games in secret and never talked about them.  But why should I feel the need to hide something that I enjoy?  Gaming has such a negative social stigma attached to it and I really don't understand why.  To me games are just a fun way to experience a story.  The player gets to be the main character and shape how the story progresses.  To others gamers are socially inept and use games as a crutch to escape.

The reality is that gamers are an amazingly diverse and creative group of people.  I'm always amazed by the amazing mods (and not so amazing ones too) and user generated content that is created by gamers.  Most games today have some sort of social aspect built into the gameplay whether it's competitive or co-op.  The argument that games are "anti-social" seems totally outdated.  Playing WoW and hanging out with my guildmates was always a fun social experience.

Another reality is that most people play games.  If you play games on your phone, guess what, you have played a game so you can stop rolling you eyes at me and pretending you are just too cool for games.  Is the person who hangs out on Facebook all day any different from the person who plays WoW?  I think it's time to cast off the negative aura that surrounds gaming.  If someone asks if you're a gamer, own up to it.  Don't be embarrassed!  Gaming is nothing to be ashamed of, so game on.

Environmental Matters: Part II

Here are some more of my favorite gaming environments.  They are in semi-numerical order (Rapture is my ultimate favorite, but the others are pretty much a toss-up).

4.) The Citadel--Mass Effect/Mass Effect 3

From the first time the Normandy approached the Citadel in Mass Effect to the last moments of the Citadel in Mass Effect 3, it has always been one of my favorite places in gaming.  I like the concept of having this central place where the members of an entire galaxy can co-exist.  If the Citadel were an actual place to travel, I'd totally go there.  I'd hang out with an Elcor and dance with a Hanar while a Turian looked on with disdain.

5.) Skyrim--The Elder Scrolls V:  Skyrim

I know I've said before that I get tired of some open-world games.  It's true.  That doesn't mean I can't admire their beauty.  I love the snowy wilderness and jagged peaks in Skyrim.  Standing on top of a mountain and looking down on the vastness of the world is always breathtaking.  Just don't get me started on caves, although I have to give them some credit for their variety of caves.  I also like the Viking-like style influences on the architecture of the cities.

6.) Pandora--Borderlands/Borderlands 2

Sometimes it's not about the beauty of a place.  It's about creating the last place you'd ever want to live.  I think Pandora would be that place.  From the violent flora and fauna to the cast of psychopaths that occupy the planet--it's just not a nice place.  But that's really the idea and it's executed in a completely ridiculous and random way.

So it's pretty.  But then Claptrap started talking....

Environmental Matters

No, I'm not talking about saving whales or buying a hybrid.  I'm talking about the atmosphere or setting where a game takes place.  I've played a lot of different games that takes place across a wide spectrum of settings.  Here are some of my favorites.

1.) Rapture--BioShock/Bioshock 2.  Let me first just say that I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to freaky games.  I try to avoid the scarier games so I can sleep at night.  Rapture is definitely one of the scarier atmospheres for a game.  From the first moment you sink down under the ocean you are filled with a sense of wonder at this beautiful, underwater city.  But once you step out of your bathysphere you realize that this utopia is broken and filled with genetically addicted and completely crazy splicers.  The shadows on the wall and screeching voices tell you that there is trouble up ahead...or maybe there isn't?  You turn around and bam, there they are.  Freaky-eyed little sisters dance through the leaking bulkheads accompanied by their hulking big daddies.  It's a shock around every corner.

Just wait till you get inside...

2.) Azeroth--World of Warcraft.  I have always enjoyed the variety of atmospheres in World of Warcraft. One minute you can be in a boiling lava cauldron and the next in snow capped mountains.  Depending on which faction you pick you can hang out in some unique cities that reflect the culture of that specific group--Orgrimmar with its pointy, orcish structures or Stormwind with its sweeping castles and cheery town buildings.  The towns and camps of the night elves were always my favorite with their adaptation of nature.

Winterspring.  One of my favorite zones.

3.) The Northern Kingdoms--The Witcher/The Witcher 2.  The Witcher series is filled with both beautiful and ominous environments.  In The Witcher you spend a lot of time in cities, but the cities are filled with many interesting areas.  The slums where the non-humans are forced to live are dirty and crowded.  Dark graveyards are filled with monsters that pop out from the shadows.  The sewers are dark, dank, and filled with monsters.  The Witcher 2 is where the environments truly shine.  The very first set of quests in the game have Geralt taking his place by the king's side in the middle of a medieval style siege complete with siege towers and ballistas.  It just gets better from there as you travel to the backwater town if Flotsam with its dark, looming forest.  Forests filled with monsters, of course.

This forest is creepy.  Watch out Geralt.

To be continued...

Playing casually. Just be cool.

Sometimes it's nice just to settle down and de-stress with a casual game.  In fact, according to a research study conducted a few years ago, playing thirty minutes of casual games can actually have a positive effect on your health.  That's why I like to kick back and enjoy some nice, peaceful Popcap games.

If you're looking to take a break from having twelve-year olds scream at you in Call of Duty, you should check out Bejeweled 3.  In case you have been living under a rock or just don't pay attention to casual games, I'll explain the basic premise of Bejeweled.  Bejeweled is a puzzle/matching game where you match sets of 3 or more gems to score points and eventually move on to longer levels.  Each level is accompanied by a very soothing soundtrack that just makes you feel happier and more at peace.  There are also other gameplay modes that are more challenging, like lightning mode where speed counts, or butterfly mode where your goal is to keep special butterfly gems from reaching the top of the screen.  If you're just looking to chill, you can also turn on zen mode which is an endless game.  In zen mode you can pick which soothing sounds you play to.  Want to listen to softly falling rain while you match gems?  It can happen.

Another great Popcap game is Plants vs. Zombies or the newer Plants vs. Zombies 2 (I'm pretty sure #2 is only available only available on the iPad).  Plants vs. Zombies is a tower defense game where the player must use an arsenal of attacking plants to defend their home from zombies.  The zombies and levels get tougher as you progress--some levels take place at night and the player can only use nocturnal plants while others take place on a pool or roof and require their own special sets of plants.  PvZ is a completely goofy game and is appropriate for all ages.

Maybe matching jewels or shooting peas at zombies isn't your thing.  Peggle might be right up your alley.  Peggle is a pachinko style game where the player shoots balls at different patterns of pegs with the immediate goal of hitting all the orange pegs and the ultimate goal of hitting all the pegs.  Clearing all the pegs requires some masterful aiming and players who are up for a real challenge can try out the challenge levels.  There are tons of unique characters, guides, and patterns to keep you shooting.

Take a breather from your usual games and kick back with cheery, casual Popcap games.

Borderlands: A whacky adventure on Pandora.

Ahhh Borderlands, what a strange game.  Whoever decided to mash together an RPG and a shooter was definitely onto something great.  Loads of guns + crazy talents = awesomeness.  It's a formula that works.

What do I love the most about the Borderlands series?  I love the complete lack of seriousness in Borderlands.  The characters are funny, the quests are funny and the guns can be funny (remember that weird cursed gun that made that horrible cartoony noise every time you fired it?) They are games that are meant to be completely zany.  

The first game, Borderlands, introduced me to the crazy world of Pandora.  Populated mostly by aggressive, disgusting wildlife and bandits who want to hack your face off, Pandora wasn't the normal beautiful environment I was used to.  But there sure was a lot of stuff to shoot and loot!  But what about the ending?  Yeah, it pretty much sucked, but the second game redeemed the crappy ending in the first game.

Borderlands 2 introduced me to the villain Handsome Jack.  Handsome Jack has some of the most ridiculous dialogue I've ever heard in a game and he's a great villain, I wanted to kill him.  I purchased a few of the 900 add-on packs that accompany the Borderlands game and enjoyed the fact that they pulled Handsome Jack into the side stories and kept him as the main villain character.

In Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel it looks like the whackiness will continue and be magnified beyond the first two games.  This game will take place on one of Pandora's moons which means there is low gravity--bouncing and shooting may just be one of the best things to happen to a shooter.  Besides shooting while bouncing, the game looks to add some unique playable characters and everyone's favorite wub-wub robot--Claptrap!

This video is awesome and if you haven't played any of the Borderlands games should give you an idea of the general weirdness of the series.

And just watch this one because it is absolutely ridiculous.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Like Mass Effect, The Witcher was a game I sort of stumbled upon.  I bought it on a whim during a Steam sale for a very low price.  It was definitely worth much more than the low price I paid.  I pre-ordered the second game "The Witcher 2:  Assassin of Kings" and have replayed it at least 4 times.  I'm really looking forward to the third installment in the series "The Witcher 3:  Wild Hunt."

So here's an awesome trailer to get you pumped up and maybe to pre-order!  (I'm totally slacking on this post because I'm beat...apologies if you actually have been reading this)

I just discovered GOG.com!

I can't believe that I hadn't heard of GOG.com.  Yesterday I was doing some Googling to see if anyone was doing a re-make of "Theme Hospital" (I wrote about TH yesterday--and the answer is no on the re-make, but don't despair!). That is when I stumbled upon GOG.com.  GOG stands for "Good Old Games" and offers not only classic games, but also some modern ones too.  But it gets better...games on GOG.com are Digital Rights Management (DRM) free.  No client to download that only lets you play online (Steam/Origin), no restrictions on the number of devices you can use, and the best part...no copy restrictions.

I know, it sounds too good to be true...I was skeptical at first.  "Is this really some Chinese keylogging system?"  GOG is a legitimate subsidiary of CD Projekt (think CD Projekt Red producers of "The Witcher" series) and you can find tons of games and movies that are totally DRM free.  I was floored to see old classics, like "Theme Hospital" being offered for $5.99 (I promptly bought "Theme Hospital" and am excited to replay it).

This system of DRM free games is very interesting to me.  I would think companies like CD Projekt Red would be completely opposed to something that would make their product easier to pirate and would possibly cut into their bottom line.  But I guess they aren't, which makes me love them even more.  I'm looking forward to checking out some more of their DRM free games.  So check it out if you haven't heard of it--get some classic games!

Games I Love: Theme Hospital

I'm sure you're thinking, "what game is that?"  Yeah, it's most likely a game that you've never heard of. "Theme Hospital" was released in 1997 by Bullfrog games.  Like the other "Theme" games it is a management game.  You play the role of a hospital administrator who is tasked with running a hospital.    All the decisions are left in your hands.  Want to jack up the prices for treatment to maximize your profits?  Go ahead.  Want to make your doctors work until they pass out?  Totally acceptable.  Vomit wave in the hospital?  Hire more custodians.  Yes, I said vomit wave.

The dreaded vomit wave.

The diseases that you treat in this game are completely ridiculous, but also hilarious (read the descriptions if you haven't).  A see-through patient walks through the door and you realize they have a bad case of transparency from licking yogurt lids.  Glowing patients have clearly been radiated and need to be decontaminated.  There is also an awesome receptionists voice (completely British and very chirpy) that constantly reminds you of what is happening in your hospital.

It's not all goofiness and you have to balance many demands--hiring specialists who are psychiatrists or surgeons, keeping your employees happy with bonuses and pay raises, researching new diseases, and reacting to emergencies (10 cases of bloaty head coming.  Prep the inflator, stat!).  The game also gets progressively harder requiring you to make more money or keep your patients happy.

I have always enjoyed this old classic and am totally absorbed the minute I start playing.  You can pick up "Theme Hospital" on GOG for $5.99.

Games I Want to Love...but can't

Have you ever played a game that others have raved about but you absolutely couldn't get into it?  There are several that come to my mind.  I always feel a little weird when someone is gushing about how great a game is..."OMG, this game was so awesome!"  "Uh....yeah," then I feel like I should probably like it.  So I usually force myself to go back and play it to try to change my opinion.  It doesn't work.

Now, I can't say I hated these games or that they are the worst games ever....for some reason or other, I just don't like them.

The first game I think of is "Civilization V."  This was the first game in the series I had played.  I like strategy games, I don't mind turn-based games, so I figured this would be a sure thing.  Nope.  I recently tried to re-insert myself into some Civ and lost interest pretty quickly.  So what is it about Civ V that doesn't do it for me?  I am still confused about all the ways to win.  In other strategy games you have one option...destroy your enemy.  I get games where you build up an army and then use it to crush your opponents (Age of Empires, Starcraft II).  I don't get Civ V's multiple ways to win.  Maybe I'm just too pre-programmed and can't deny the urges to conquer everything.  I know what you're thinking..."But you can be warlike in Civ V."  Sure, but it takes a long time to build up an adequate force.  I guess I don't have the attention span to wait 3500 turns to win.  This makes me kind of sad because as a history nerd I can respect Civ V's gameplay and historically based set of cultures.  I just can't do it.

Pretty!

Another game I had a tough time with is "Transistor."  "Transistor" is the follow up to the indie hit "Bastion" by Supergiant games.  I really liked Bastion (pick it up on Steam) and Supergiant did a fabulous job of making it unique enough to stand out.  So I picked up Transistor without any hesitation.    There are parts of Transistor I absolutely love--the artwork in the game is stunning as is the soundtrack.   But besides those two things, I just couldn't get into it (I did manage to finish it, but haven't touched it since).  This is another game that is (or can be) turn-based.  The combat seemed too slow and broken up.  The game also had kind of a blah story.  I just kept expecting something great to happen and it never did.  Is Transistor a bad game?  No, just not my cup of tea.

I think it's alright to not like games that other people do.  Gaming is and should be a personal experience and you shouldn't like a game just because everyone else does.

Multiplayer or single player? That is the question.

Let me first confess my almost complete loathing for multiplayer games.  Other people are the worst.  When games come out and tout their awesome new multiplayer feature...well, meh.  But I honestly can't say that I haven't had good multiplayer experiences in gaming.  So this is a really tough question...

The good experiences

I posted previously about my experience with World of Warcraft.  When I first started off playing WoW I mostly played it as a single player game.  I ran around and did quests mostly.  But then I realized I was missing out on a huge part of the game and decided to check out dungeons and raiding (this is before the days of the dungeon/raid finder).  It was a struggle at first, but eventually I fell in with a good group. Probably the best/most fun experiences I have had in gaming were downing raid bosses in WoW.  There really isn't anything like working as a group to figure out a boss, wiping a lot, and then finally downing it and waiting for the loot.  I've also met some really awesome people in WoW who I wouldn't have met otherwise.  I will fully admit to doing very little PvP when I played WoW.  Every time I entered a battleground it seemed like everyone was more interested in sniping at each other rather than successfully working together.  Not fun.

The bad experiences

I am not a big player of shooters.  I've never been into Call of Duty or games of that type.  I played the BioShock series, does that count?  When Left 4 Dead came out I decided to get on the shooty-game wagon.  A game where you get to slaughter legions of zombies...I'm down.  I tried it out on my own with the AI and found out it is almost impossible to accomplish anything.  So I decided to take the plunge and try it out on multiplayer.  Everything went shockingly smooth for several games.  Then it all came crashing down in a magnificent fashion.  I got into a game and discovered I was grouped with what sounded like a very vocal twelve year-old.  (I don't mind if kids play games.  Kids should play games--maybe not L4D.)  From the second we started off he/she was spitting out orders like he/she was the next general Patton.  Our little group managed to make it through the first two maps fairly easily.

On the third map everything came crashing down.  Our group encountered a tank in an awkward spot.  A long narrow place where it was difficult to find good shots or get out of the way.  The tank proceeded to bulldoze us down amazingly quickly.  General Patton Jr....went........off.....the........wall.  12 YEAR OLD NERD RAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (I'm censoring this because GP Jr.  had a potty mouth and this is a family blog).  "You guys *$&% suck!"  "You can't handle one $*%&%&% tank!"  "This is the worst !@$%%# group I've ever played in!"  Meanwhile, the rest of us, who through the entire two and a half maps hadn't said a word just stood around in silence.  The tirade continued after we had been placed at the beginning of the map to start over--and it wasn't going to stop.  So, I did a bad thing....Did I cuss out some 12 year old with anger management issues and probably more than a little ADHD?  No.  I shot him right in the face as we stood in the starting area.  "WHAT?  WHAT DID YOU ##$*%&% do?  YOU $*%*)#!*$!"  Then I promptly left the game and haven't played L4D since.  Which is a shame because I really like L4D.

Now, looking back on my actions I sort of regret them.  There was most likely an option to mute the little turkey and that would have been a much better choice.  I don't believe in griefing or trolling or generally ruining someone else's gaming experience and I had just done exactly that.

In the end I guess it comes down to your own personal preferences.  I like co-op multiplayer.  I would much rather work together with a group than compete with other players.  Can I say that a new gamer should absolutely avoid multiplayer?  No, I can't.  You really are missing out on a unique aspect of gaming.  My advice would be to find a group of friends to play with or friend people you meet in-game who you enjoy playing with.

Games I Love: Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect is a game I miraculously stumbled upon.  I saw it on a Steam sale and decided to pick it up.  A sci-fi/space game?  I would rather play in a world populated by orcs and humans, but I was willing to give it a shot.  Mass Effect was awesome from the first minutes on the Normandy.  The first game introduced me to the concept of an amazingly vast galaxy populated by diverse species and the hero who would save it all-- Commander Shepard.  I played through it and couldn't wait for the second game to come out.

(There will be spoilers about Mass Effect 2 ahead.  Read at your own risk if you haven't played.  Seriously, go buy it)

Now, I wish I could say that I loved Mass Effect 2 from the start, but I didn't.  The very first part of the game involved the destruction of the Normandy and the death of Commander Shepard.  But then he/she was alive again?  Not only resurrected, but by the organization that was firmly established as the arch enemy in Mass Effect.  I really did not like this as a plot starter, but I kept playing.

The rest of the game made up for what I perceived as a weird start.  I liked the idea of recruiting a crew for your ship and loved the unique characters that occupied the empty spaces in the Normandy SR2.  The game really built upon your relationship with your crew and as a player I wanted to spend the time interacting with them.  This is something that I think BioWare does extremely well--make engaging and interesting characters.  I've spent a total of 368 hours playing and re-playing ME2 and I can still manage to find some detail that I missed.

So here's a weird list of things I love from ME2.

Favorite character:  Garrus.  He's such a complicated character.  Turian culture requires him to be dutiful to his people, but he also has a strong sense of justice.  He's willing to bend the rules to do what he sees as being right even if it compromises his sense of duty.  Plus, he's super tough.  He gets his face blown up and is still rocking it.

MaleShep or FemShep?  FemShep all the way.  The voice actor for the female character is so much better.  I know the dialogue for the characters is identical, but when the female character says it there is just way more attitude and force.

Favorite non-squadmate:  That's a hard one.  Joker is one of my favorites and on ME2 the relationship between him and EDI is pretty hilarious.  I like visiting the cockpit just to hear them bickering.  I'd have to say Aria T'Loak is my favorite.  Firstly because the character is voiced by Carrie Ann Moss (Trinity from "The Matrix" if you don't know celebrity names) and she does an awesome job.  And secondly because she is a total badass.  "I am Omega," I mean, c'mon.

Paragon or Renegade?  Paragon.  Every time I try to make a renegade Shep I feel like the character would be a horrible person.  I want my Shep to be heroic rather than ruthless.

Hardest paragon/renegade moment not to click:  For paragon Shep, not punching Khalisah al Jilani (the annoying reporter).  She clearly needs to be punched.  For renegade Shep, not hugging Tali when she finds her father's body on her personal side mission.  What kind of horrible person wouldn't hug her?

Favorite planet/zone:  Illium.  It's beautiful and you are given a strong sense of Asari culture.  The Asari are diplomatic, but it is a culture run by females and really seems it.  There is constant intrigue and plotting going on but it's all behind the scenes.

Favorite ME2 moment:  Mordin singing.  Every time I get to that exchange it makes me laugh.  Mordin is a fun character.

Least favorite character:  Miranda.  I get the whole ice queen aspect of her personality, but I got tired of her constant whining about her imperfections.  "I'm genetically perfect, but I suck," over and over.

Favorite DLC:  Lair of the Shadow broker.  Liara is one of my favorite characters in the series and this DLC plops you right into the middle of Illium.  From chasing Vesir to fighting on the Shadow Broker's ship, the content is well-worth the extra cost.

If you haven't picked up Mass Effect 2 (#1 on PC Gamers list of the top 100 PC games) you should definitely do so.  You can get all three games in the Mass Effect trilogy on Origin for $29.99.

The Sims 4: First Impressions

I've had a little time to delve into the Sims 4 and so far I like what I've seen.  Every part of the game seems to have been improved from the last episode.

The first thing I noticed was that the create-a-Sim feature is much more detailed than it used to be.  The user is given the ability to choose pre-made features and outfits, but can also opt to zoom in to a Sim's face or body and alter it.  The facial tool has changed to where you can zoom in to a specific facial feature and change it almost any way you want.  Want your Sim to have super wide spaced eyes and giant, chubby cheeks?  No problem, just isolate the part and click and drag to you specifications.  Want your Sim to be tatted up like crazy?  Add a sleeve or two of tattoos.  You Sim can also be super buff with the muscle definition of a bodybuilder or have some serious flab. You can also set their wardrobe for every possible situation choosing from a wide variety of styles and colors.  The possibilities for creating a unique Sim are almost endless.

The actual gameplay is not too terribly different from the previous games.  You are still tasked with managing the activities of a selected Sim or household, but in the Sims 4 your Sim's emotions are much more complex.  I started off playing a pre-made Sim who had geeky traits and aspirations that centered around computer/gaming skills.  My computer nerd Sim wanted to raise his video gaming skills and his fun level would rise very quickly when he played games, but when I entered him into a gaming tournament and he lost then he had a negative moodlet from losing.  Some days he would return from work with a "tense" moodlet from being stressed.  Each moodlet, either positive or negative has an action you can perform to earn aspiration points.  My stressed out nerd wanted to take a long relaxing shower after work and was rewarded for doing so.  When your Sim is tired you notice him/her slouching, when they feel confident their walk is upright and bouncy, and when they really have to pee they walk with their knees together.

Another area that had become more complex is the party and date aspect.  In the Sims 3 you could throw a party and just had to have lots of stuff for your guests to do in order for it to be considered a "great party."  The Sims 4 actually lays out objectives that must be accomplished in order to increase your score for it to be considered a success.  While on a date you might need to socialize with your date 10 times or flirt with your date.  As you complete the objectives a scoring bar indicates the quality of your event.  New objectives pop up as you complete them and your goal is to fill up the entire bar in an specific time frame.  This really helps the player understand what they need to do to have a quality date or party.

I have yet to play with the build function, but I could already see improved aspects (ability to make rooms that are different shapes, pre-styled rooms).  I am planning on dedicating some time this weekend to digging deeper into the Sims 4.

Dragon Age: Inquisition. Now with 100%more multiplayer!

One new feature I forgot to mention in my previous post was the introduction of co-op multiplayer into Inquisition.  While playing the previous games I always thought "it would be so cool if this was co-op."  Imagine having three other people playing your companions rather than having to manage the whole party.  No more pausing to issue orders or frustration that the computer controlled characters are not doing what you want them to.  (Now there'll be a real live human controlling a character that's not doing what you want it to)

The multiplayer sound like it will be modeled after that of Mass Effect 3.  You're in a small group trying to accomplish some sort of goal.  Read more about it here.  

And here's a video for you non-reading people.

Dragon Age: Inquisition: Looking awesome!

I love me some BioWare games!  Memorable characters, great gameplay, and super story lines.  When I first heard that they were making a third game in the Dragon Age series I was pumped.  I've spent hundreds of hours in both Origins and Dragon Age 2.  Yes, even Dragon Age 2.  I know a lot of people didn't like it, but I did.  So what if you were in Kirkwall or a cave or a beach or in Kirwall again?  The flashy combat and engaging characters more than made up for the lack of scenery.  Varric himself was enough.  I <3 Varric!

Varric Tethras--One sexy dwarf

So far, what I've read about Inquisition sounds amazing.  BioWare has set out to address some of the gripes that gamers had about DA2.  The largest of those gripes was the lack of variety in locations.  Inquisition is going to be open world and reps from BioWare have been bragging that they've created one of the "biggest" areas in gaming (supposedly bigger than Skyrim).  You're guaranteed to have lot of places for exploring or                                                                                            questing.

But is bigger always better?  I don't think so.  Sure, it's nice to have variety in a game and to be able to experience unique regions, but the story has to remain engaging.  I've played plenty of games that boast "open worlds" (games from Bethesda are the first to come to mind--Skyrim, the Fallout series) and I usually find myself getting bored.  Eventually, it's like "oh goodie, another cave/building/pile of forks to loot."  I really hope that in Inquisition, BioWare finds a way to make the "open world" concept more engaging.

One part of Inquisition that I am looking forward to is having a base and a wide set of followers to choose from (think the Normandy in Mass Effect or the camp in DA:O--not so much DA2 where you had a much smaller set of followers).  BioWare does unique characters very well and I love learning about them.  The character side quests are always my favorite.

Inquisition also boasts sparklier graphics due to BioWare going with a new engine.  It's pretty!  Lots of gorgeous environmental details and menacing dragons.

Inquisition is slated to come out in mid-November and can be pre-ordered from Origin.  I haven't pre-ordered due to the fact that that I'm not quite sure my dated PC can handle it, but I hope to once I see the system requirements.  I can't wait to sink back into the world of Thedas.

The Gamer Spectrum Part 2

I return with more mock scientific analysis of gaming.  So we left off in the middle...

Below the "game enthusiasts" you have the "weekend warriors."  Like the name implies, these guys log on and play for a few hours every week.  They wouldn't openly claim to be gamers and they have a small game library.  They might play some of the more popular mainstream games, but wouldn't be caught dead prancing around as an elf.

Next up are the "casual" gamers.  Casuals don't play consistently and play games that are light on content.  They enjoy games like Bejeweled and sometimes try to crossover into higher levels of gaming.  They are despised by the "hardcores" and identified by the "back in the days" as the reason why games have gotten easier.

The bottom of the list are the dreaded "newbs."  Newbs have very little to no gaming experience and can typically be found running around confusedly.  They are frustratingly bad due to their lack of knowledge and are scorned by all levels on the spectrum.  

Here's it is laid out in spectrum form:

Ultra-hardcore

Hardcore

Back in the day

Game snobs

Game enthusiasts

Weekend warriors

Casuals

Newbs

Where do you fall?  One of five people reading this may find it useful.

The Gamer Spectrum

I like making up random things that sound semi-scientific.  We've all heard terms like newb, casual, and hardcore thrown about when it comes to describing a type of gamer.  It can be daunting when you are trying to figure out your own level of gaming proficiency.  So here's a handy spectrum to help you label yourself.

At the top lie the "ultra hardcores."  UH's are the people who top the leaderboards and achieve world firsts.  They publish guides and videos about how to be leet like them and they are online 24/7.  You openly ogle their gear and achievements wishing you could be like them.

Directly below are the "hardcores."  Hardcores put in some serious time but can't quite make it to #1.  In a game like WoW they might achieve server firsts, but not world firsts.  Other gamers secretly admire their gear but will openly mock their status as a cellar dweller.

I'm going to throw in a random category here on the high end--let's call gamers on this level "back in the day" gamers.  These guys are the ones who decry the UH's and hardcores. To them it the game was always harder in the last patch or expansion and now that it has been nerfed any idiot can be on top.  The guys play a lot and like to remind everyone that everything was harder "back in the day."

Then we have the "game snobs."  GS's don't play popular games (or they pretend not to).  Anything popular is just bad.  They only play games that require "real skill."  They are similar to the "back in the days" but they are way more bohemian.

In the middle are the "game enthusiasts."  GE's like to play lots of games and don't just specialize in one game.  They don't go for the uber-achievements and like to play just for the experience.  (I would classify myself as a GE.  I like to play for the story or just for fun.  There was a time when I was somewhere more towards "hardcore.")

I'm gonna put some thought into the bottom levels and post the completed spectrum tomorrow.