PC Building Simulator--Updated Review

I've somehow gotten sucked back into the fictional world of PC repair in PC Building Simulator.   My first experience in this world was with the unfinished, early access version of the game.  Even in its unfinished state, it was a bizarrely fun game.  The full release has expanded upon the gameplay from the early access version and made it even better.

Pros:
+ Huge list of officially licensed components.  I was impressed by the number of component manufacturers who signed on to early access, but the list has grown to include many of the major players in the PC component world.  These components are extremely detailed and look exactly like the actual products.

One of the custom jobs--it requires lots of PURPLE.

+ Helpful tutorial that teaches about the the components themselves and how to put it all together into a working PC.  Building a PC from the ground up is a seemingly simple matter of installing the correct parts into the proper location.

+ Two gameplay modes to choose from--Free Build lets you put together any combination of components (that need to be unlocked through career mode) and test them out.  Free Build is the perfect place to play around--want to build an uber-PC the likes of which you could never afford?  Totally possible.  Want to build a magical RGB light factory?  DO IT!

Career mode places you in charge of a PC repair shop.  Customers e-mail you their requests for services and deliver their PC's to you.  Then, it's up to you to deliver the services that they request.  These services start off fairly simple--eliminating viruses, adding more memory, or replacing broken components.  As you complete jobs, you gain experience and the jobs become more complicated.  Customers might request that you figure out what's wrong with their PC's, they might want you to upgrade their PC to a certain benchmark, or, the real payoff, build them a brand new custom PC.

The brilliant thing about career mode is that as you progress you unlock more advanced parts.  There are also some fun, almost storylike, PC's that show up--repeat customers who range from technophobe authors who keep damaging their PC's to wannabe streamers who need you to continually improve their PC.

Your personal PC displays your current background.  A fun feature.

+ Customer feedback system.  The full release added a star rating to your store that serves as your reputation.  As you complete jobs according to customer requests, they can then rate your service--a perfectly completed job will earn you a 5-star rating.  Earning 5 stars requires a lot of attention to the exact requests of a customer--they might request that you use a certain brand of components, that you use only new parts, that you add special cables, or that you provide additional services like virus scanning or benchmarking.  Reaching the 5 star level is the ultimate goal because certain jobs are only available at the highest ranking.  Actually reaching 5 stars is very difficult and requires you to complete 25 jobs in a row at 5 stars (I haven't managed to accomplish this yet).

+ Overclocking.  The full released added jobs that require you to overclock CPU's, GPU's, or RAM.

+ Purchasable upgrades.  As your shop makes more money in career mode, you can unlock tools that make your work easier--auto-cable tools, auto-standoff tools, etc.  These upgrades keep you playing with the goal of unlocking them all.

+ Custom water cooling.  This was also added in the full release.  It unlocks at a high level and requires many hours of play.  It's a fun new feature that further increases the amount of variety and personalization.

+ Numbers game.  One of the most enjoyable challenges is trying to maximize profits.  Each job has a budget, but trying to figure out exactly how you can keep costs low is fun.  You can also sell unneeded components and there's an in-game application with fictional market values that can be tracked.  Gamers who enjoy the economic side of certain games will like this feature.

Cons:
- Certain jobs can be repetitive.  I've noticed that every "diagnose and repair" job that I've gotten means that either the CPU or the mobo are broken.  I wish there was more variety in what parts are broken.

-While there is a tutorial to help learn the basics of building, there aren't any tutorials for other game mechanics like benchmarking or overclocking.  I still don't fully understand how benchmarking scores work.

- You need a note-taking system since there isn't one in-game.  I use a pencil and paper to record the components for my builds and details of jobs.  It would be really great if there was a notepad-like application in the game.  This is something that has been requested for awhile by many players.

- It can be frustrating when you can't figure out why something isn't working correctly.  The game won't tell you, but you can usually Google it and figure it out.

I'm very impressed with how PC Building Simulator has grown from a niche simulator game into a genuinely fun game.  The improved career mode has added challenge and will keep you playing to strive for that coveted 5-star ranking.  There are tons of licensed parts and putting them together into a working PC is strangely enjoyable.

Recommended for:
+ Fans of simulation games
+ Wannabe PC builders
+ Number nerds
+ People looking for a relaxing game

Not Recommended for:
- Adrenaline junkies.  It's a simulation game about building PC's...that's the maximal excitement.
- Extreme realists.  Yes, it's probably not the most realistic depiction of PC building.

Chaos And Calm

Periodically I go through bouts of extreme indecisiveness where I just can't decide what I want to be playing.  Most nights I just want to come home from work and relax, so the thought of something stressful isn't very desirable.  As a result of my own weirdness, I've been bouncing back and forth between two very different games--Guacamelee! 2 and PC Building Simulator.

I recently went back and replayed the very excellent Guacamelee! and had a great time replaying it.  My decision to invest in a controller helped to make it a much more enjoyable experience than the first torturous playthrough using the not-recommended mouse/keyboard combination.  I felt so good about the experience that I even decided to attempt to complete the challenging sequence of tasks to collect the five magical orbs that unlock the "secret" ending (I would recommend that everyone does it.  The secret ending is so much better than the "real" ending.).  Three of the tasks aren't extremely difficult, but two of them are downright devious, and I spent several hours trying to master the difficulty of leaping across disappearing platforms and mastering the horrid Tule tree obstacle course.  It's not for the faint of heart, and I almost gave up, but in the end, I did manage to complete it and earn the coveted "El Savior" achievement.

Tostada, Juan, and chickens!

Feeling good about completing the orb challenges, I decided to invest in Guacamelee! 2.  Navigating the extremely challenging obstacles gave me useful insight into the controls--it was the perfect time to continue playing the next game; while the controls were fresh in my consciousness.  The main problem with this is that I don't necessarily always want to play something intense/challenging everyday.  It's arguable that it's very "intense," but I just wasn't feeling it despite the fact that the second game seems to be just as good as the first game.

So far, Guacamelee! 2 seems to have kept many of the core gameplay features of the first game--the fighting and platforming is basically identical.  The core mechanic of swapping between dimensions is still very much present (and can still be challenging).  There are a couple of notable changes though; Juan's Pollo Powers (chicken form) has been vastly improved--many platforming moves remain usable in chicken form and you can also use wrestling grabs/moves.  A new addition to the game are special "chicken dungeons" that provide challenging puzzle-like scenarios, but that can contain special powers usable in chicken form.  I'm also enjoying the fact that Juan meets special trainers throughout the game who unlock talent tree-like options that can be used to beef up Juan's stats or abilities.  I'm enjoying what I've played so far.

Building PC's is oddly relaxing.

When I'm not feeling the intensity of fighting/platforming, I'm spending time running my own PC repair shop in PC Building Simulator.  Back in January, PC Building Simulator exited early access with the promise of new features in the full release.  I decided to check it out and see the new changes.  Since my old career save was rendered invalid by the full release, I decided to start a new career.  One of the first things I noticed is that jobs have many more variables than they did in early access--jobs come with a budget that should be followed (you don't have to, but there are negative consequences) and customers can make very specific requests for things like no used parts or a preference for certain component brands. There are also secondary objectives that aren't directly shown on the job panel when you're working on a PC--closely reading customer e-mails is essential as many will request special touches like a certain color of cables or benchmarking their new components.  Now, there is a customer review system that impacts the type of jobs you can access.  Doing a good job, and following all their special requests, means you will earn a higher review and earn more reputation for your shop.  Certain jobs, like building custom PC's, unlock with higher star ratings.  There's much more attention to detail required.

PC Building Simulator has continued to add to its list of sponsored in-game components and now sports a lot of the major players in the component world.  There are new achievements and trading cards, if that is your thing.  I would highly encourage anyone who hasn't played the full release to check it out--it's much improved! 

Guacin' It Up

A few weeks ago I had a strange hankering to replay several games that I recalled enjoying.  Not abnormal.  Then I remembered that they were fairly difficult to play with the traditional mouse and keyboard setup that is the staple of PC gaming.  They weren't impossible, because I did manage to finish them, but they would have been much more enjoyable without the insane button/mouse combinations.  I decided to bite and do something a bit sacrilegious to PC...I bought a controller (*shameful glance*GASP*).  Once my new controller arrived, I happily delved back into one of my favorite Metroidvania/platformers from the past, Guacamelee!

Since I'm on a budget and didn't feel like spending much money to try the experiment of a controller, I went with a very cheap model (Amazon Basics XBOX One Wired Controller).  It was only $19.99 which was less than half the price of the official Microsoft controllers.  Is it fancy or cool?  No, not at all.  Does it do what it's supposed to do?  Mostly.  I have very little experience with console controllers, but do get a sense that the rumble function doesn't seem to work as effectively as it should--this is something that is mentioned in many of the reviews.  For someone used to a controller, this would probably be a problem.  For me, it's not a big deal.  The controls worked as they should and definitely were much easier than mouse and keyboard.  Setting it up was very easy--I just plugged it into a front USB port and it was detected right away.  If you're someone who's on a budget and looking for a basic controller (and aren't terribly attached to the rumble function), I would recommend giving this cheap model a try.

Tostada, Juan, and skeletal bad-guy Carlos Calaca.

Guacamelee! is a game that I picked up about five to six years ago, managed to finish, really enjoyed, but hadn't picked it back up again due to the complexity of the controls (FYI--it does recommend a controller).  The story involves a wannabe wrestler (luchador) named Juan who lives on the outskirts of a small village in Mexico.  Juan is on his way to becoming a legitimate luchador when there's a sudden explosion at the home of his secret love--El Presidente's daughter.  He rushes off to see if she is fine, only to discover that a mysterious skeletal figure has bombed the mansion and is kidnapping the daughter!  Juan attempts to free El Presidente's daughter but is struck down...when he wakes up, he discovers that he is in the land of the dead and that his love is nowhere to be found.  Juan discovers that he can shift between the land of the dead and the land of the living through special portals.  He then sets out to track down his love and eliminate the posse of strange characters who are in league with the evil Carlos Calaca.

Pros:

+ Unique setting and basis for the story.  Mexican folklore serves up many of the characters, places, and environments in the game.  The characters are luchadors, masked wrestlers, popular in Mexico.  There are elements of the traditional Mexican holiday, dia de los muertos, scattered throughout the game.  Juan adventures through many environments inspired by Mexico--dry deserts, high mountains, and Aztec-like temples.  There's also the entire mechanic of switching between the worlds of the living and the dead.

+ Rockin' soundtrack inspired by traditional Mexican music.  It's great--there are mariachi-like segments that are perfect for the faster-paced periods of gameplay.  One of the best parts of the music in the game is the fact that it changes slightly when you switch between world states--the music in the world of the dead has a wavy, ethereal spin.

+ Fun and challenging mechanic of switching between world states.  Some objects will only appear in a certain world state--indicated by a sparkly texture--and, in many sections, a major part of the challenge comes from being able to quickly switch between those states.  Enemies can also utilize the two world states and attack you from either.

+ Metroidvania gameplay style paired up with platforming elements.  Fighting enemies means punching and kicking them to rack up combo points.  After a certain amount of damage, enemies become "graspable," and can be grabbed for a wrestling inspired finishing move.  Some moves are unlockable through specific events and others can be bought with in-game currency found throughout each area.  It's highly enjoyable to piledrive an obnoxious foe into the ground.

+Many different enemy types.  There are several varieties of skeleton (which can be identified by the color of sarape they are wearing) that have different attacks; flying chupacabras that spit fireballs at you; weird, floral monsters that can hide underground...and many, many more.  Each enemy requires you to learn the ideal way to deal with them  There are also many "boss" battles that require you to use specific combinations of skills that you have learned.  There are points in many areas where an area is closed off and you must defeat a bunch of enemies to proceed.  These serve as challenges and are (mostly) very fun to complete.

+ Challenging mechanics.  There's an almost puzzle-like element to figuring out how to navigate certain areas.  Those areas might require you to use a set of special skills or to be able to balance using skills AND switching between world states.  It can be brutal, but it's doable.

+ Special challenges, collectibles, and sidequests.  Scattered throughout the game are puzzle areas that usually reward players with heart fragments (which increase your total health when three have been found), stamina fragments (ditto on the three), or special chests filled with money.  There are also other challenges like the Combo Chicken gym....where a giant chicken challenges you to perform complicated combinations of skills on his defenseless (and hapless) skeletal luchador assistant.  There's also the Cavern of Pollo (chickens are a big theme) where players have to fight their way through progressively harder sets of enemies to reach the reward at the bottom of the cave.  Or, the Infierno, a set of special combat-based challenges run by the devil himself.  Essentially, there is a lot to choose from.

+ Replayability.  Since there are so many hidden collectibles (and even a secret hidden ending that can be unlocked through completing a set of very difficult puzzles and challenges which are hidden throughout the game), there are tons of reasons to want to fire it back up.

+ Cosmetic features.  Through completing challenges players can unlock new outfits or skins for Juan.  Some are purchasable with in-game currency.  Certain outfits have special benefits and unlocking them is part of the fun.

+ Workshop support.  The Steam Workshop is filled with unique themed outfits for Juan (and his female counterpart, Tostada).

Cons:

- While it is possible to play it with mouse and keyboard, you really should have a controller.  Trust me...it's for your own sanity.

-Certain sections of the game are truly challenging to navigate--they might require you to perform a very specific series of moves combined with swapping between world states.  It can be quite frustrating.  The good news is that there's no penalty for dying, so you can just keep at it.  If you get frustrated easily, you might not have much fun.

- The main storyline is relatively short--~7-8 hours.  (This could potentially be a + for someone looking for a short, sweet little game that is fun).

I would highly recommend Guacamelee! to anyone who is looking for a fun Metroidvania/platformer style of game with a unique aesthetic.  Even though segments of it can induce controller chucking rage, it can be conquered with perseverance (and Youtube walkthroughs).

Recommended for:

+ Fans of Metroidvanias/platformers

+ People who like challenging gameplay

+ Fans of wrestling moves

+ Fans of chickens

+ Fans of Mexican folklore/stories

Not Recommended for:

- Controller throwers

- People who get frustrated easily (see above)

- People who hate chickens

Meh Face.

I just posted mere hours ago, but already I have finished my slog through The Banner Saga 3.  It makes me sad when I feel as overjoyed as I do at finishing a game that I'm truly not enjoying (the question might remain in your head..."but why do you keep playing?"  Cuz I paid for it, I guess?  I'm a masochist?).  Even though I didn't write a review for games one and two, I feel compelled to write a review now.

If you're unfamiliar with The Banner Saga, it's an indie darling that has gotten some very positive reviews.  It has a unique, Norse mythology/Viking style that stands out among many games who tend to plug away at old, familiar stories and settings.  The gameplay involves decision making that does very deeply impact the story; tons of beautiful art; fun, 80's cartoonish animation; and turn-based strategy style combat.

The first two games in the series see your ragtag group of clansmen and varl fighting to survive and learn about the cataclysm spreading across the world.  You gather many notable and unique characters along the way and have to make some staggering decisions.  I *mostly* enjoyed the first two games.

The Banner Saga 3 starts off exactly where you left off in TBS2--what, you don't remember?  Well, I didn't either and throughout most of the game was very confused.  The premise is that your group has finally arrived at the last remaining stronghold; the only safe place that holds out against the encroaching darkness.  You probably also don't remember that part of your group split off with the goal of finding the cause of the cataclysm and ending it.  The story follows both groups as they desperately fight to survive.

Pros:
+Ability to import your save from the previous two games.  I always love it when games tie everything together.  Since TBS is a game about making tough decisions, having them impact the entire story is a big plus.

+Maintains artistic style and flair from the previous games.

+The story has advanced to a point where the situation is extremely desperate.  TBS3 does a great job of making you feel like you're literally balancing on the edge of the end of the world.  Every choice impacts your ability to hold out and survive...for better or worse (worse in my case).

+New, wave based combat.  This new feature adds a timer that will see multiple sets of baddies appear if you haven't defeated the current crew.  If you do defeat them, you are given the option of fleeing or staying to face more waves.  There's more challenge and the possibility of earning unique items.

+Replayability.  Since there are so many decisions, and in TBS3 they have a strong effect on how long you can hold out, there's a ton of replayability.  I made a bunch of poor decisions and things didn't turn out well for one of my groups.  (I'm probably not going to replay it, but someone who has more positive feelings about it could definitely get multiple endings)

+ or - (depending on your views) There are purchasable DLC options that include an endless wave mode and a new survival mode.

Cons:
-There is a recap option for the previous game, but it provides very little information that is useful.  I spent much of TBS3 very confused about what exactly was happening.  If I had been more motivated, I could've looked up a refresher--but one of the downsides of all your impactful choices is that there's really not a great way to recap all of them.  It has been almost 3 years since the last game!  Unless you plan to do some extra reading and research, you should expect to be confused.

-I've always hated the combat in TBS.  It's turn based, but it's not very fun.  I might be dense (very likely) but I have never understood it.  There are no changes to the way combat works in TBS3--it's exactly the same as in the previous two games.  If you're hoping that it has been improved...nope.

-Soundtrack?  I wasn't as awed by the music as I had been in the past and can think of few times that I really heard anything that fantastic.  This is a bummer, because the music in the series has always been a high point.

-Felt wrong!  Since much of your focus in TBS3 is on defending one place, the entire aspect of leading your followers on an epic journey doesn't work well.  There are several scenes where they include your banner and your followers trekking to the gate, but it's just not the same.  It's true that one of your groups is taking more of the traditional journey, but there are few opportunities for dialogue or rest.  Part of the fun and challenge of the previous games was trying to keep people in your group fed and happy.  That mechanic is virtually gone.

-Story felt underwhelming.   It does resolve itself, but barring the absolute desperation of the situation, it's not very exciting.  It was a bit draggy.

I was fairly disappointed in TBS3 and really had to work to get myself through it.  In my opinion, the previous games were much better.  I'm very glad I bought it on sale.

Ideally, playing all three games in a row would be your best bet.  Part of my dislike could very much have to do with the fact that I couldn't recall much of the previous two games.

Recommended for:
+Fans of the series who want to see the story end.  I didn't find the story to be especially satisfying, but if you've made it through the first two games, chances are you want to see things resolved.

Not Recommended for:
-Newcomers to the series.  It did appear that you can play it with a fresh character, but it would probably make very little sense.  (I would wait until it starts being offered in a package deal with the other two games)

-People hoping the third game would mark some improvements in things like, say combat.  Nay, good man...nay.

That Strange Moment of Confusion

I don't think I've ever had this happen before...at least not that I can directly recall.  Here's the situation--I start playing a game (and it's not a standalone or new game--it's the third game in a series!), get about midway through said game, and then have this crazy realization...I'm not enjoying this game very much and it's very possible I didn't enjoy it much in the previous two games.  How, HOW, does this happen?  Am I delusional?  Let's hope not.

The game in question is The Banner Saga 3.  I played the previous two games and can vaguely remember feeling a bit mixed about them (and, I strangely never reviewed them--I think that was mostly due to my undecidedness).  Yeah, I guess we really do forget a lot over the course of a few years, because I snapped TBS3 up like a hot tamale with absolutely no thought about "do I really want to play this?"  Welp, it turns out that the answer to that question is "not really."

There are many familiar faces in The Banner Saga 3.

There are things that I have always liked about the series--namely the artistic aspects (the art and animation in the games is very unique and beautiful--I've always gotten an 80's cartoon-y feeling from the cutscenes), the decision based gameplay, and the Norse/Viking mythology which serves as the inspiration.  Sadly, the part that I've always (and I remember it now!) not liked is the turn-based combat.  I've always found it a bit weird and never fully understood exactly how it works.  Enemies have armor and strength--armor determines how much protection they have and strength determines the power of their attacks AND also represents their total health.  Killing an enemy is a confusing mix of whittling down their armor while also making sure to go for health as well.

TBS3 has kept the same combat formula, but has also added in scenarios where you face waves of enemies.  The nice part about this feature is that you can choose to flee after you've defeated the first wave or you can stick around and try to defeat subsequent waves that include a "boss" type of enemy that could potentially award a powerful item.  It's up to you, which is handy.  For me, combat ends after the first round of enemies--I probably only have 1-2 characters still conscious, soooo better to get the heck out of dodge.

I've had a hard time starting it up and feeling motivated to play.  Luckily, I'm dedicated to seeing it out and finishing the series.  Wish me luck.