Polar Opposites

I've just traversed the equivalent of polar opposites in the gaming world.  I went from the icy, cool, casual dystopian world of VA-11 Hall-A straight into the boiling, frenetic, chaotic pits of hell in DOOM.  Talk about a bi-polar journey!  DOOM, which I bought on a lark because it was 50% off and because I finally convinced myself that the violence can't scar me that much, turned out to a riot of gore soaked fun.

Even though I play a wide variety of games, I will admit that first-person shooters are generally very far down my list.  I am not a big fan of multiplayer games so I usually stay as far away from them as I can.  Single player shooters seem to be a rarity these days--sure, you could claim that many shooters have some sort of single player campaign built in, but that is generally as an afterthought--the bulk of the gameplay is centered around multiplayer.  Oh and then there's the guilt over playing a game that is way over the top violent.  Despite these personal qualms I can say that I would recommend DOOM to anyone who enjoys shooters and who secretly enjoys the cathartic experience of video game violence.

Doomguy doing what he does best.

DOOM is the next generation in the classic shooter series from my childhood.  As a kid it was one of those games that you probably weren't supposed to be playing, but played it anyway (and turned out mostly fine).  Doomguy has returned and is battling the legions of hell as they attempt to enter our universe.

Liked:

--Classic vibes.  The demons, the guns, doomguy in his shiny green suit of armor, the story...all of it was familiar/nostalgic, but it has been improved for a new generation of gamers.  Oh sweet super shotgun...at last I've found you...  Older (let's say "mature") gamers will get it.

--There's a story!  I'm not going to pretend that the story is the focal point of the game (shooting stuff is...duh) but between dismembering demons there is a decent story.  After all his exploits in the early DOOM games, Doomguy was captured by the forces of hell and sealed away for future use (I don't fully understand this because I didn't really play all the games).  Now, with the forces of hell trying to break into the universe, Doomguy has been re-birthed to stop this from happening.  Humans have figured out how to create a source of energy from hell's power and things have started to go wrong.  Corrupt leaders, gates of hell opening, you have to close them and kill the ones trying to do all the evil.  I'm just amazed that there's some sort of feasible story.

--Environments.  Part of the story takes place on Mars in a massive lab complex--one that has been attacked by demons.  The winding labyrinth of halls, ducts, labs, and the occasional large, demon-filled area are spattered with gore and suggestions of demonic presence.  It's all very ominous...and seems gooey.  You do get a good sense at the size of the complex as you travel to the many areas--it's huge!

Once you've progressed far enough you find yourself travelling to hell.  It's plenty hellish--lots of pentagrams, bloody pools, creepy candles,  and bleak demonic landscapes.  I just wanted to get out of there--the horror of the labs felt better than the barren landscapes of hell.

--Weapons.  As I mentioned before, they really tried to stay true to the classic games and keep similar weapons.  There's a weapon for every play style and situation--shotguns for up close and personal encounters, a heavy assault rifle for hard to reach demons, a rocket launcher for explosions, and....the all important BFG for when you need to mutilate an army of demons quickly.  My favorite is the super shotgun.  I like to shoot things from two feet away.

There's also a handy upgrade system that lets you customize your weapons even further.  Want to have mini-missiles on your heavy assault rifle?  No, problem.  Want that shotgun to shoot three round bursts?  Totally.

--Level design that is very intuitive.  You might start out running through some narrow halls and encountering a few demons.  When you hit a large, open room you know that the demon hordes are coming.  These rooms aren't simply horizontal planes....they have a vertical aspect as well.  During the chaos of a demon rush you will find yourself traversing ledges and scaling many levels in a large room.  This design gives players the ability to follow the "always moving" playstyle that is a core part of the game.  I enjoyed having the ability to move up and down and shoot demons from above or below.

--Metal mania.  In my regular non-gaming life I don't listen to heavy metal.  I had a brief period in high school where I listened to a little Metallica, but it was very brief (and Metallica is probably not considered very "metal").  For some weird reason the combination of the raging guitars and Doomguy breaking off the arm of a demon and then clubbing it to death...it just works.  The soundtrack is perfect for the pace and chaos of slaying.

--Tools.  The SnapMap tool allows users to create their own maps and content.  I am a big supporter of any game that allows community creation and interaction.  Personally, I have the creativity of a hyena...which means none...so I won't be making any maps.  I tested out the tutorial and making a map seems relatively simple.  Making a fun, challenging, or unique map...that's a whole other story.  There are singleplayer maps, challenge maps, co-op maps, multiplayer maps, story maps...maps, maps, maps!

--Game modes and replayability.  The story campaign isn't all there is to DOOM.  There's multiplayer (which I will give a wide berth) for those who enjoy slaying others and there's an arcade mode which is more about seeking out the highest score and competing on a leaderboard.

--Challenging, but not too challenging boss battles.  Hard enough that you're going to die a few times figuring it out, but not so hard that you get frustrated and give up.  You felt a small sense of accomplishment after finishing off a boss.

And, I saved the best for last...

--Glory kills.  Once you've staggered a demon there are numerous ways to finish it off and all of them are enjoyable.  It's like 1001 flavors of sweet, sweet violence.  Finding all the unique ways to send a demon back to hell makes killing them even more fun.  My personal favorite is "death from above" but I also enjoy the many varieties where you get to tear off a random body part and stuff it into an eye socket or other body part.  I don't know that I've seen this mechanic before, but now I want more.

There are numerous aspects of DOOM to enjoy and I have been pleasantly surprised.  There were a few minor things that I didn't like so much and are most likely a little nitpicky.  There's a bit of an exploration aspect that I didn't feel fit in with the pacing and energy of the game.  While the heavy metal is banging away in the background I'm searching for a hidden duct or floor panel in order to unveil a secret area that could contain an upgrade or collectible.  Should I be exploring or destroying?  It just felt oddly out of place.

I had to tweak the settings on my graphics a bit because the larger battles with lots of action could get a little slow.  I would recommend turning down the motion blur to low or completely off.  After I turned down this one setting it seemed to solve the problem.

Mostly, I had a good time.  DOOM is a fantastic followup to an old school classic. 

Mixing Drinks and Changing Lives

I've finally made a couple of purchases in the Steam Winter Sale and am happy to say that my restraint has proven to be a good thing.  No, I did not cave and buy the big name titles I mentioned in my last post, but instead opted to go for one big name title (DOOM.  I was hesitant to buy it...but daaaaaang if it isn't fun--but more on that later!  I haven't finished ripping demons into chunks yet) and one indie title--VA-11 Hall-A:  Cyberpunk Bartender Action.  You're thinking "what, the what?"

VA-11 Hall-A (which I am going to refer to as "Valhalla" because it's easier) is a game that you probably haven't heard of and which might not appeal to every gamer.  Trying to pick out genres to describe it is difficult.  It touts itself as a "cyberpunk" game and is set in a sort of dystopian future filled with genetic experimentation, AI's/robots (called Lilim), ominous powerful corporations, massively corrupt police forces...the whole questionable future grab bag.  But you won't be seeing those things directly.  Instead, you will learn about them through people you meet as you play the role of Jill Stingray, bartender at Valhalla.

As bartender Jill must interact with the people who work at the bar--her boss, Dana and her co-worker Gillian (a guy...named Gillian)--as well as the patrons who turn up for a drink.  Every day there is a different story and set of clients.  There is very little interaction with the clients and the "gameplay" hinges on paying attention to drink orders and then "making" drinks.  Each drink has a specific recipe that must be followed and involves dragging the correct amount of ingredients onto a shaker and then making sure that ice is added, a drink is aged, or it is mixed or blended.  That is about as "game" as it gets.

The majority of the game is about the interactions that Jill has with the clients at the bar.  Each character has their own personality and set of joys, problems, or psychoses and the more they visit the bar, the more you get to learn about them.  There are no dialogue options, it's just you sitting back, enjoying the drama in the lives of all the characters and occasionally mixing a drink.  Those interactions also slowly unwrap the story of Jill, the bartender herself.  I've seen the game described as a "visual novel," and that would be an accurate description.

Vallhalla shines in its ability to tell a story with a cast of kooky but engaging characters.  As they return to the bar throughout the game you uncover just a little bit more about their personal story.  And man....are there some interesting stories!  There's Dorothy, the Lilim (a type of AI/robot) who is an upbeat sex worker; there's Sei, a member of the city's paramilitary police force; there's Rad Shiba, a talking dog who wears sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt; there's Jamie, an assassin who also happens to be a really nice guy...and there are many, many more.  The characters are well written and oddly relatable.

Even though there aren't many choices to make throughout the game, those that you do make have an impact on the story.  Remembering someones favorite drink and serving it to them or deciding which purchases Jill should make are all decisions....even if they don't really seem that way.  I thought I was doing pretty well but one choice made me end up with the "bad" ending (which really isn't all that bad).  There are several different endings involving certain key characters from the bar.  I am eventually planning on going back and replaying the story to get a different ending.

I enjoyed Valhalla, but it might not be everyone's cup of tea.  Let me try to break down what I liked...

Liked:
--Anime style without being too....anime.  This is a personal preference.  I'm not into anime.  I don't really have strong feelings about it, but I can appreciate the aesthetic and the fact that some people enjoy it.
--Mixing drinks is simple, but strangely enjoyable.  There is some freedom in what you choose to serve.
--Music/Soundtrack.  One task Jill performs every day is to choose music for the Jukebox.  You get to pick the songs that play in the background.  The music has a fun, retro feel and can impact the mood of the story.
--Well written, relatable characters.  It's fun to get to know the lives of the fictional patrons at the bar.
--Goofy, adult conversations.  There are plenty of more...adult references that will make you chuckle.

Who would like playing Valhalla:
--People who like stories told through game-like mechanics.
--People who like to read.  You are going to read lots of dialogue.  If you aren't the type of person who likes to read in games....probably not a good choice.
--People who like lots of character development.
--People who like relaxing, casual games.

2016--My Conflicted Year in Gaming.

With the holidays firmly under our belts and stacks of cash/gift cards now waiting to be spent, what better way to celebrate than picking up some fantastic new games?  Oh and the holiday Steam sale is currently plugging along at full....well, Steam!  It's a great opportunity, in the words of the twentieth century poet Snoop Dogg, to "Drop it like it's Hot!"  Oddly enough, I'm having a difficult time doing exactly that, which serves as an accurate reflection of how I've felt about gaming in 2016--conflicted.

Where does this confliction come from?  Mostly from the fact that it has become an acceptable trend to release broken, buggy, poorly optimized, or unfinished games to paying consumers.  As I look at my Steam wishlist and see that almost every game on it is currently on sale, I still can't pony up the cash.  Dishonored 2 is a game that I've been looking forward to for quite awhile.  The trailers looked awesome (but that's the entire point of trailers) and I greatly enjoyed the first game.  Unfortunately, there have been numerous complaints about the game running very poorly and that it was released in an extremely poorly optimized state.  There have been patches to address the issues but until I start reading glowing reviews...I think it'll have to wait until a different sale.

Another game on my list is a whopping 67% off and I still can't bring myself to buy it.  Deus Ex:  Mankind Divided was released fairly recently and didn't have the performance issues that Dishonored 2 reportedly did, but did have a very clear aim--to leech as much money from gamers as possible.  According to reviews the main story was short and the only way to finish it up was to purchase day one DLC.  To pay extra...on the first release day!  Ridiculous!  The DLC season pass also featured a number of items that were only usable once.  Plus, there are microtransactions in a single player game.  No, just no.  They can keep their 67% off because I refuse to be treated like an ATM for the big developers to pump money out of.  It's a huge disappointment.  What ever happened to treating customers fairly?

But I don't want to be a total downer; I played some great games in 2016.  Here is a list of some 2016 games that are worthy of celebration:

1.) Stardew Valley.  Never in a million years would I have imagined playing a game about making friends and farming.  I also have very deep seated skepticism about pixelated retro-feeling games.  Luckily I put that skepticism aside and discovered a game with a heart of gold.  This world needs more Stardew Valley's and the enjoyment of being kind, even to pixelated video game people.

My early Stardew Valley farm.

2.) RimWorld.  Although it is an early access game, I have already sunk many, many hours into this enjoyable and quirky survival game.  It has been my permadeath frustrator and has ended in so many ridiculous situations, but I still want to play it.

One of my RimWorld colonies that made it.

3.) Halcyon 6:  Starbase Commander.  I have to admit that I haven't finished this game yet, but I had a blast even getting to the point where I stopped playing.  Managing a starbase and defending the galaxy from a catastrophic alien invasion is the basis of Halcyon 6.  The combat seems to draw from games like Final Fantasy and is a turn-based strategy funfest.  This is another one of those pixelated indie games, but it panned out.

4.) XCOM 2.  Yes, it definitely falls into the category of "games released in a buggy state," but after those bugs were fixed this game turned into an intense followup to Enemy Unknown.  Basic features were improved and new, punishing timers were added to force players into thinking quickly rather than thinking brutally (the "kill em' all" mentality doesn't work well).  If you're a fan of turn-based strategy and don't mind being pushed, this is one you want to play.

5.) The Witcher 3:  Blood and Wine.  I cannot write enough about The Witcher 3, it has quickly become one of my absolute favorites.  The Blood and Wine DLC saw Geralt travelling to the beautiful, sunny region of Touissant to solve a series of murders.  The DLC added a huge new region filled with new monsters, characters, quests, cards, and an interesting storyline.  This is how DLC should be done--a full expansion rather than some half-assed minor features.  If you tried to complete every quest and map feature you could easily sink another 40+ hours into it.

The final shot in Blood and Wine.   Geralt and Yennefer at Corvo Bianco.

 Blood and Wine also features something that I've always wanted in my massive RPG's--the perfect happy ending for my hero.  It's very satisfying to see Geralt return to Corvo Bianco, his new home base, to find either one of his sorceress lovers or a cherished friend waiting for him (if you opt out of romancing a sorceress it will be either Dandelion or Ciri).  It's nice to imagine the "happily ever after" scenario.

Even though there were some clear disappointments this year these five games (or DLC's) would make great additions to any library.

A Pinball RPG Mashup

The most recent addition to the Pinball FX2 collection is a three table set that represents three of Bethesda's biggest hits--the Fallout series, Skyrim, and DOOM.  But how do you translate two massive RPG's and one serious FPS into a pinball table?  Before I go any further in this review, you really have to question your reasons for playing PFX2.  Do you purchase and play specific tables because you are a fan of that specific series or theme?  Or do you play it because you enjoy pinball in all its various shapes and forms?  This is important because depending on your reasons you could either love or hate this set of tables.

If you're the type of player who enjoys seeing how they've managed to turn your favorite game/comic/cartoon into a pinball table, you're going to want to pick up these tables.  I've played a lot of Fallout and Skyrim so I was curious to see exactly what details and features made it into the game.  Both tables incorporate features that fit in with the RPG theme--you can choose to create a character with certain stats.  These stats give you some small gameplay benefits, but don't impact the game much.  As you play your character can "level up" and gain better stats--XP is earned through completing quests and events.  Those quests and events are specific to the series--on the Fallout table you choose from factions like the Institute, the Railroad, the Brotherhood of Steel or the Minutemen.  Completing quests involves shooting the correctly lit lanes, ramps, or orbits.  Once in awhile you encounter enemies and have to shoot the correct targets to down an enemy or to dodge incoming attacks.  It's a strange marriage between pinball and RPG that works on many levels.

My least favorite table in the set is the Skyrim table.  Like the Fallout table it is very RPG focused--you create a character, have an inventory and skills, and can complete quests to level up.  The odd thing about the table is that the gameplay carries over every time you play.  Your character retains their levels and items.  The table follows the progression of the main storyline in the game--you start a specific quest and if you finish it, you advance to the next step in the story.  There are bandits (and dragons!) to kill by shooting them with the ball and chests to loot.  The RPG aspect is neat, but the table itself is a bit on the boring side.  It features my least favorite table feature--something huge right in the middle of the playing field (in this case it's a cave)--that takes up a ton of space.  Your character changes appearance as you equip new items and there's a dragon but that's about it.  It feels like all the thought went into making the RPG elements and very little went into actually designing pinball-like features on the table itself.

The downside of the RPG-like elements in the Fallout and Skyrim tables is that you will have to interrupt play to manage your character.  This is something that true pinball fans aren't going to like--the interruption of the flow of play.  It can be odd and a little annoying.

Those who like pinball for the sake of pinball will enjoy the DOOM table.  Even though it starts off making you pick your difficulty level it doesn't feature the interruptions of play like the other two tables.  This table is chocked full of thoughtful pinball features--spinners, orbits, ramps, weird little rock bumpers, and so much more!  The missions are challenging and fun and the table captures the heavy-metal shoot em' up feeling of the game.  Even though I've never played the newest reiteration of DOOM, this table is my favorite.

I would recommend the table for fans of Bethesda series like Fallout and Skyrim (The Elder Scrolls).  However, I would cautiously recommend this package to pinball fans.  If you want pure pinball there are other (cheaper) tables that play more traditionally.  One nice feature in Pinball FX2 is the ability to play a short demo before you pony up the cash for new tables.  Maybe give them a play before you decide.

Slime Ranching Goodness for the Whole Family

Every once in awhile a completely random game will come along that surprises you.  I was casually perusing a list on Steam and found Slime Rancher.  I was skeptical at first--the slimes just looked too goofy, it looked like a kids game, it is early access--the reasons not to buy it were clearly stacked.  So, I turned to the reviews and they were shockingly good--overwhelmingly positive and people were raving about it.  After playing it for awhile and getting my ranch up and running I can say that the positive reviews are justified.  The rave reviews....maybe not so much.

The entire idea behind Slime Rancher is that you are a novice slime wrangler trying to make your fortune.  Many varieties of slimes inhabit the world where your ranch is located and it's your job to capture them.  As you explore you come across different species of wild slimes that roam around eating and producing "plorts."  These plorts are a valuable commodity and can be turned in for coins.  Using your handy "vac-pack" you can suck up slimes, plorts, chickens, and food resources (slimes gotta eat!).  Once you've captured some slimes you can take them back to your ranch and work on creating corrals to keep them contained.  Corralled slimes need to be fed and will produce plorts whenever they eat.  You can then collect these plorts and sell them at the market that is handily located on your ranch.

My slime corrals in Slime Rancher.

After you've gathered and corralled your first slimes you can work on gathering food stockpiles and then start experimenting.  Two species of slimes can be combined to create a "largo" slime that combines the dietary needs and physical appearance of both species.  Largo slimes will also produce plorts belonging to each of the two species of slimes.  I started off with the basic pink slimes and then crossbred them with rock slimes.  As the plorts start rolling in you can improve your corrals by adding higher walls, a ceiling, or even some music speakers to keep your slimes calm.

With your corrals improved and your slimes happily producing plorts, you can set out to explore the wider world.  You will discover new species of slimes and unique resources to get your slimes producing even more plorts.  Each slime has a favorite food that will make it produce double plorts.  These foods are somewhat rare and must be discovered.  You will also discover locked doors that require a key.  Slime keys can be found by feeding "gordo" slimes until they explode.  Once you've found a key you can unlock a unique zone that holds different species of slimes that can be vacced and taken back to your ranch for corralling.  There are several different zones--a rocky mine, a lush forest, a volcanic crater, and a sandy beach.

Your ranch can be improved to grow crops and once you've gotten enough plorts you can purchase expansions which add new areas with additional space.  Once your ranch has reached a lucrative state you can purchase the slime science addition which allows you to build new items like teleporters and decorative items to spruce up the appearance of your ranch.  You can also continue to improve your characters health, energy, vac-pack, or to upgrade plots on your ranch.  Eventually you will run out of things to do...that's the downside.

I Enjoyed:
--Cute slimes.  Players want to explore to find all the different types scattered around the world.
--Easy to pick up and understand with a limited tutorial.
--Bright, colorful world.
--Management aspect is simple, but someone could spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to maximize profits.
--Family appropriate.  It would be completely safe for your kids to play Slime Rancher.  The most violent thing they will do is shoot water at evil slimes known as "tarrs."
--Hidden objects and areas encourage exploration.  There are treasure pods scattered around the world that can be unlocked once the correct upgrade is purchased.  The challenge is finding them and remembering where they are located.
--Slime science upgrade offers convenient and fun items.  Teleporters cut down on long trips to each zone and adds in decorative items for the ranch.

Needs Improvement:
--It's a small world after all.  For an early access game there is a fair bit of content and by all appearances it looks like the intent is to add more zones.  Once you unlocked all the zones there isn't much keeping you exploring.
--Can get repetitive and grindy.  Once you've wrangled up and corralled a collective of slimes you fall into a definite pattern of feeding, collecting, growing, and other ranch related tasks.  With slime science gathering rare resources requires you to travel to the unique zones (easier for some zones than others) and slowly grind out new items.  It'll keep you playing if you want to build everything.  It would be great if they could add some random events that would encourage leaving the ranch more--something like weather events that feature certain rare slimes.
--A map would be awesome.  Even though the world in its current state is small, it is still easy to forget where a teleporter is or where a certain slime door might be.  I found a volcanic zone but cannot remember how to get back to it.
--More vac-pack improvements.  I wish my vac-pack could suck faster.  Or that it had more than 4 slots!

I would recommend buying Slime Rancher with the warning that it is early access.  The structure that is in place has promise and with some work it could turn out to be a great little game.

Death of a Save Scummer

I've admitted it before, but I will admit it again...I am a shameless save scummer.  My general attitude about saves is "why have them if you're not going to use them!"  And use them I do.  Anytime things get a little hairy there's always that handy quicksave and quickload button.  Go ahead and admit that you do it too, it's alright.  I didn't really think it was anything to be ashamed of until I started researching Iron Mode runs in XCOM:  Enemy Unknown (not for the weak!).  There was so much negativity around saving and re-loading that I realized that I should work towards weaning myself off of the satisfying drug of non-failure thanks to saves.  Now the time to put that into action has come!  And it sucks.  Massively.

What game would be better for testing out my newfound resolve than RimWorld!.  I had managed to successfully rescue two different bands of survivors (on regular difficulty with some scumming) and was feeling pretty good.  So I started up another scenario and opted for "permadeath" mode which only allows you to save when you exit.  Then the failures started to stack up.  I had initially ramped up the difficulty to "rough" only to find out that they ain't a lyin' about it being rough.  My colony would survive for awhile but always seemed to be at least one technological step behind every enemy.  The enemy would be sporting some flashy personal shields and my poor colonists would be trying to club them.  It was a disaster, so I decided to swallow my pride and turn the difficulty down to the "some challenge" mode.

In "some challenge" I lasted longer, but that was about it.  There would always be some crisis that would turn into a "game over" moment.  One time a pyromaniac colonist started setting fires while the rest of the settlers were carting stuff from a downed cargo pod across the map.  By the time they got back the entire structure was engulfed (probably should've made multiple buildings).  The icing on the cake was when the AI decided to throw a raid into the mix.  I could only watch as my colonists got injured and there was no medicine, no beds, and no way to recover.

This is the way the world ended...once.

The subsequent attempts resulted in similar results with only one getting close to completion.  It also seemed like the AI was throwing some real curveballs my way--once I got a horrible random event involving toxic fallout.  Radioactive fallout settled on the map and only those indoors were protected.  Settlers could venture outside, but only for short periods.  Everything on the map besides my settlement was completely wiped out.  Fortunately I had enough food stocks to make it to the end of the disaster--only to watch as my colonists were wiped out by an enemy siege.  In a different playthrough I landed the volcanic winter event (which I think is an intentional way to counter those wussy people like myself who set up in a tropical rainforest zone for year-round growing).  Volcanic winter means that the sun is partially blocked--solar panels generate less electricity and crops and plants grow slower.  While not as catastrophic as the toxic fallout event, it still was a real zinger....and my colony still ended up failing.

My last attempt was the deal breaker.  I had managed to make it to the point where the ship was almost completed--I was just waiting for the coveted AI core event to happen.  Then the sieges started happening.  Sieges have been my downfall because I still haven't fully figured out how to counter them.  If you attack early and have a little luck, you can take them out before they have time to set up.  That strategy worked well until my colonists couldn't hit the broadside of a barn and got picked off one by one.  I was so close!  Just one stinking ship piece (although to be fair, probably not that close because the AI core event was still quite a ways off).

For now I'm taking a bit of a break to let the frustration wear off.  Even though I have failed over and over I feel like I am learning more about the mechanics of the game than I would if I had continued to save and reload.  I'm thinking that personal shields and artillery stations are probably the best plan for countering sieges--I need to step up my defensive game!  Failure isn't always a bad thing--even if it does feel frustrating.

Some day.....some day I will save a colony.

You Think my Tractor's Sexy--Farming Simulator 17

I have officially dipped my toes into the shallow end of the simulation pool and am now finding myself playing games that I would never have considered in the past.  The door to the simulation genre opened when I grabbed a massive pile of Truck Simulator games on sale during the Steam summer sale.  After finding those games oddly enjoyable (am I getting old?) I decided to peruse another branch in the simulation genre--Farming Simulator.  If you secretly have a yearning to drop everything and spend your hours peacefully steering your tractor this series is perfect.

Farming Simulator 17 is the newest entry in the Farming Simulator franchise and was released in November, so it's still somewhat of a new release.  If you pay attention to the Steam Top Sellers list you probably noticed it oddly jutting out among the Civilization VI's and Dishonored II's of the Steam charts.  There's a reason for that--it is an amazingly enjoyable experience.

One of my tractors.  It's the starting model, so not that sexy.

In FS17, players start off with a small farm--three fields, a house, some chickens, a few pieces of machinery, and the basics required to get things up and running.  You also start off with a small pile of debt--gotta pay for those tractors somehow.  Your overall goal in the game....well, that's basically up to you.  You can opt for farming domination--to make enough money to buy out all the fields and become a farming mogul or you could settle with having the best tractors and machinery available.  If you're some kind of tractor or farm machinery enthusiast there is an extremely wide variety of hulking machines to choose from (watch this trailer--I've seen it termed "tractor porn").

New players should start off with the multi-step tutorial which covers all the basics you will need to effectively run your farm.  You learn how to plow, plant, fertilize and harvest your fields.  There are also many handy tips which are not directly pointed out in the core game.  So, if you're thinking of skipping the tutorial, I would say don't.  Once you've mastered the tractor skills you move on to the animal related part of the game.  Your farm can support a number of critters--namely pigs, cows, and sheep (you start off with chickens which require no care and produce eggs that can be sold).  Each animal has basic needs--they all need a source of food and water as well as clean bedding--but all differing care requirements.  The tutorial will teach you the basics of caring for you animals but doesn't go into great depth.  I have spent considerable time looking up details that are not covered in the tutorial.  The good thing is that there are plenty of good sources of information to find answers.

Once you have finished the tutorial you dive into starting your personal farm.  Your fields start in a variety of states--one field is ready for harvest, one field is partially grown, and the last field has just been harvested and needs to be re-planted.  Harvesting is probably the most enjoyable of the farming tasks.  You just maneuver your harvester (very slowly) and watch as all that sweet, sweet moola flows in.  Another aspect of play is keeping an eye on the prices for the crops you are ready to sell.  You can opt to find the best price at the moment or to load your crops into a silo and wait for a higher price to come along.  There are also demand spikes which last for short periods but see drastic jumps in prices.

Each task proves to have its own challenges.  Plowing is slow and methodical (and, thankfully only has to happen every three harvests), planting requires attention so you're not wasting seed and fertilizer, and harvesting requires watching how full your bin gets before you have to dump it.  Once you've completed the tasks on your own farm and are waiting for your crops to grow, you can perform odd jobs on other farms.  These odd jobs are timed tasks that pay a bonus if you complete them quickly.  If you're too slow you won't get paid so plan accordingly.  Doing odd jobs pays surprisingly well (you almost make more than just focusing on your own fields) and are a good way to save some cash.  Your farm needs a good source of cash flow because vehicle maintenance costs and loan interest are debited from your account every day.  Plus, your farm also has operating costs related to purchasing seed, fertilizer, and fuel for your tractors, harvesters, and other vehicles.

Once you've accumulated a decent amount of cash you have to decide on your next steps--do you save up for a better tractor?  Do you buy a new piece of machinery that could help boost your yields?  Do you buy some animals?  Or, if you're really boring and overly responsible like me, you pay off your loan.  I also bought a plow in an effort to boost my yields.

After seventeen hours of play I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of Farming Simulator 17.  There's still logging to do and animals to raise!  When will I ever find the time?  Even if you're skeptical about a game that is about farming, FS17 is a peaceful journey through simulated country living.  It doesn't have the best graphics (there's some online grumbling about that), but it's not a game about the best graphics--it's a game about the joys of growing things.

If you're looking for something more exciting than the basic crop cycle you might want to pass on this one.  Fans of casual, peaceful and relaxing simulation games will enjoy the complicated web of tasks required to run a successful farm.  Pick Farming Simulator 17 up on Steam for $34.99 (or wait for the upcoming Winter sale and grab it for slightly less).

I Game, I Saw, I Conquered now has a Steam Curator Page!

Making a Steam Curator page has been a goal of mine for awhile and now, after a well-timed snow day in which to work, it's a reality.  Like this blog, I am gearing my curator page more towards the games I enjoy and write about here.  My target audience is gamers who are similar to myself--working adults with lives and responsibilities who game for fun.  I wish I could say that I explore a lot of unknown, edgy titles but I tend to stick to the tried and true.

If you're looking for a curator to follow, please consider me.  The link to the curator page on the Steam store is:  I Game, I Saw, I Conquered Curator Page

Thanks to everyone who visits or reads!  I will continue to post reviews, thoughts, and updates on this blog.  Look for the Mars Attacks!  alien to find me.

New Mass Effect: Andromeda Gameplay Trailer!

Well, it was new two days ago anyway.  If you haven't see it, here you go!

Tell me that you don't feel like running around a room doing cartwheels after watching that!  I was very excited but also tried to take a somewhat analytical approach as I did with the previous new video.  Before I begin with my listicle of obsession, let me clarify a few things.  Firstly, I am a huge Mass Effect fan, but not the kind of person who will spend hours reading every conspiracy theory, amateur Reddit/Youtube analysis, or just generally trying to dig up every juicy little detail.  I wait patiently for a new official video to drop and occasionally read an article if it pops up on my Facebook timeline.  There are, most likely, some people who will dissect this video like a middle school biology frog.  I'm not that person--I don't have that kind of time.  Let us begin!

1.) I was completely wrong about the ship in the previous video being the new Normandy.  Apparently it's some sort of ark ship (I read this somewhere) that is carrying a large contingent of people (species, if you will) to the new galaxy.  So maybe we should think of it as a type of mini-Citadel?  The new ship is called the "Tempest" and has a very Normandy-esque outline and feel.  The video opens on a fabulous shot of the Tempest buzzing through a beautiful asteroid field.

UPDATE:  I have totally ignored the Andromeda Initiative stuff that I signed up for awhile back.  I decided to go watch the intro videos and I would recommend them to everyone else.  They shed some light on the backstory--the Hyperion is an ark ship which is carrying survivors from all the Milky Way species to the new galaxy.  I was correct in the assumption that it would function like a mini-Citadel as a center for your activities.  The training briefs also emphasize the fact that you are travelling to Andromeda to establish a new homeworld.  (You get some sort of in-game item if you complete all the activities--so far there are two out of the total of six).

2.) The new environments look siiiiiiiiiickkkkkk and extremely varied.  I am so excited to explore any of these new gorgeous places!  Tell me you didn't tear up just a little when you saw the beautiful planets?  Tell me!

3.) We get to see a city and it looks awesome--a great hub for meeting new characters and embarking on quests.  And, like the hubs in other Mass Effect cities, it looks to be filled with all kinds of interesting activity.

4.) We get to hear more of the female Ryder's voice.  It sounds good, but will it have the same punch as FemSheps magical Jennifer Hale?

5.) The video expressly states "these worlds are big."  I'm cool with open world as long as that doesn't mean losing the story and characters that are the HALLMARK of Mass Effect games.  I sense some very Dragon Age:  Inquisition elements (the map bar in the city scene).  While I am also a fan of Dragon Age, I would really like Mass Effect to keep it's own unique feel.

6.) A new Mako!  It looks like a vehicle that functions normally too.  Haters have always bashed on the Mako and it's completely ridiculous abilities, but I liked the fact that the original Mass Effect still had a very space-y feel.  Yes, some planets would have low-gravity and driving on them would be weird.  I guess the low-gravity, space-y stuff is getting totally tossed out which is sad in a way.

7.) There's a scanning tool.  More and more RPG's seem to be using some flavor of "detection" in them--whether it's Geralt's "Witcher senses" from The Witcher 3 or Lara Croft's "Survival Instincts," an emphasis on details has taken center stage.  I am glad to see some sort of new enhancement added to the omni-tool.  Six hundred years have passed, it should be able to do some amazing stuff that is different than the previous games.

And now, for the best part....

8.) Combat.  It looks glorious.  GLORIOUS!  I always felt like there was too much hunkering down in one spot in the previous games (less so in the third).  The new combat looks fluid and seamless.  A few things I noticed--1.) the UI looks familiar but more streamlined. 2.) There were basically no longer pauses, only short ones which leads me to a few questions.  Can you still issue orders to teammates?  I am getting the impression that combat is moving towards a more Inquisitions-esque combat style...which....yeah, I don't know.  A more fluid combat system is great, but when there are specific "combos" to plan, I had difficulty getting the AI to time it correctly.  I don't trust the AI!  3.) Is combat going to be more individualized?  I didn't see any teammates in the whole combat part of the video.  4.) I very much enjoyed the biotic charge ability in Mass Effect 3 and it looks even better now.

And, the not-so-best part (depending on your personal preferences).

9.) "Everything you need you will have to find or craft."  Inquisition had an interesting crafting system that wasn't too heavy.  You grabbed the occasional animal, vegetable, mineral or killed a dragon to get the rarer components required to craft the best gear.  Then, you could customize your gear to the umpteenth degree to get exactly the stats or look that you desired.  This crafting thing is new...besides adding mods to weapons and armor in the original Mass Effect, all items were purchased or discovered.  This is a very RPG element in a series that has seemed to be moving away from an RPG-like structure.  I am intrigued...but cautious.  Crafting can sometimes tend towards the grindy and depending on how you feel about grinding, it can be tedious.

10.) Already the haters are out in force about criticizing the facial animations in the video stating that they look "rubbery."  I noticed it a bit, but not enough to be too terribly distracting.  BioWare has stated that the animations are in a preliminary stage and that they will be improved by release time.  I think that criticism seemed a little nitpicky, but...to each his own.  (I'm a fan, so completely biased)

There are many, many things to be excited about!