Starcraft II. It's Starcraft, but sparklier!

I've played my fair share of real-time strategy games.  The Warcraft and Starcraft series are by far my favorite.  There's just something special about the characters Blizzard creates.  You want to help Thrall and the orcs or Jim Raynor and Sarah Kerrigan and you feel invested in their stories (which I think is a great feat for a strategy game).  It took Blizzard twelve years to release a sequel (not counting the Brood Wars expansion pack) to the original Starcraft, but it was definitely worth the wait.

It was fun to pick up the storyline from the original game and see many of the same characters.  The very first missions follow Jim Raynor as he leads his rebels in an effort to overthrow Arcturus Mengsk.  They're a nice little tutorial that introduces players, both old and new, to the controls.  From the cutscenes and interludes between missions you garher that Jim hasn't really gotten over Sarah Kerrigan, but she (and her Zerg contingent) hasn't been seen in four years.  You are also introduced to a new character named Tychus Findlay who is a former convict turned Terran marine.

The gameplay itself is highly enjoyable.  Blizzard manages to make the campaign missions about more than just attacking and defending.  One of my favorite campaign missions involves a planet with strange day/night cycles.  The humans on the planet have been infected with some sort of disease that turns them into infested zombies.  During the day the zombies can't venture out because they will get burned up by the powerful UV Rays (something like that).  At night they come out in massive numbers and you have to fend them off.  The ultimate goal of the mission is to eliminate the cause of the infection (a special virus spreading Zerg unit) and all the infected buildings.  During the day cycle you must round up your troops and destroy as much as you can within a time limit.  As the timer ticks down you have to move your attacking force back to your base in order to defend against the zombies that will attack at night.  This mission is great because it pushes you to do many things at once--manage your attack squad, plan your base defenses for night, manage the building of new units and improvements, rebuild your defenses....it's a lot, but the challenge is a great part of the fun.

Blizzard decided to break Starcraft II up into three distinct content packs.  Each pack follows one of the three main races--the Terran, the Zerg, and the Protoss.  I've finished the first two--"Wings of Liberty" which follows the Terran and "Heart of the Swarm" which follows the Zerg.  The third content pack "Legacy of the Void" follows the Protoss and will be released when Blizzard is ready to release it (that's how Blizzard release dates generally work--it may take awhile, but it's a slick well-polished game when you get it).  I'm greatly looking forward to this release and will be adding it to my collection.

One part of Starcraft II that I haven't really explored is the multiplayer.  I would get crushed in a matter of seconds so I'll leave that to the pro's.  I'm sure it's a lot of fun and it has become a recognized e-sport in resent times.

Starcraft II is one of those games that every gamer should play.  Even if you don't like RTS games, you will find something to love in this game.

More lady gamers in RPG's?

Yesterday I was doing something and instead found myself reading this article (this happens way more frequently than I care to admit)  "Researchers find that female PC gamers outnumber males."  My first reaction was "huh?"  That just doesn't seem right.  Male gamers have always outnumbered women.  So I kept reading (it's a really short article) and discovered that they were mostly talking about RPG's and that their definition of "RPG's" was fairly broad (so broad, in fact, that it includes many casual games found on Facebook).  I found these facts intriguing.  I've played games with guys and girls but always with a much higher percentage of guys.  The part that I didn't like were all the negative comments at the end of the article.  These comments seemed to revolve around the theme of women not really being "gamers" if they mostly played casual games.  There also seemed to be a lot of vitriol around women being "gamers."

Is casual gaming really gaming?  I say sure!  I know some people who are seriously dedicated to playing Candy Crush or Farmville.  Does that make them less of a gamer than someone who plays Call of Duty or World of Warcraft?  Most of the commentee's from that article seem to steer towards casual gamers not really being gamers  Just accept it people (male people) that casual games are "games" and that women enjoy playing them.  There are probably people somewhere in the world who spend a serious amount of time playing them.

I didn't enjoy all the negativity towards female gamers in this article.  What's wrong with girls who want to be "gamers?"  Guys have been the pre-dominant gamers for a long time, but this is changing.  I played World of Warcraft for 6+ years with both guys and girls.  One of my 10-man raid teams was equally split--5 women and 5 men.  There was nothing weird about it (all such cool people) and we had a blast.  The lady members of the team were just as valuable as the males and probably some of the best players I ever played with.

Guys, it's time to accept that gaming is changing.  Stop complaining, you know you secretly get excited when you find out it's a girl playing (because there are so many GIRL gamers out there--guy in real life).  Don't you want to play a game with your girlfriends/wives?  Gaming is no longer the "man cave" it used to be.

Diablo III--Good vs. Evil and tons o' loot

While I enjoyed the early Blizzard strategy games, I didn't play the early Diablo games.  I still haven't, but I am sure they are great games.  I decided to take the plunge and try Diablo III when it came out a couple of years ago.  I find that I can put D3 down for awhile and then pick it up again very easily.

Diablo 3 Likes

--Simple controls.  Right click/left click and a few hotkeys, that's really it.  It's nice to play a game where you don't have to remember a lot of different commands.

--Variety of classes that play differently from each other.  I have remained invested in D3 because I can start a new character of a different class and enjoy learning the ins and outs of that class.  There are classes that are more oriented towards ranged attacks as well as melee classes.  Even the play within those classes varies--a witch doctor plays much differently than a wizard.

--Epic story.  What's more entertaining than a story that pits the powers of heaven and hell against each other?  How about one that places humanity firmly in the middle.  You fight the forces of evil alongside angels and slay massive demons.  Really, it's cool.

--Cinematics.  I love Blizzard cinematics.  If Blizzard made a game that was just cinematics, I would probably buy it.  There are several really amazing cinematics that just add to the flavor of the story.

--Massive amount of slaying.  You carve or cast your way through hordes of demons.  There is so much clicking that I am afraid of giving myself carpal tunnel syndrome.  There's something enjoyable about the amount of slaughter in D3.

--Tons of loot.  Managing your inventory in D3 can be challenging.  Fortunately, Blizzard implemented a patch before the "Reaper of Souls" expansion came out that simplified the crafting system and adjusted the type of loot that would drop to loot your character can actually use.

--Co-op play.  Slaying demons is way more fun with friends.

Diablo III Dislikes

I don't really dislike much about Diablo III, but I suppose that my biggest dislike is that D3 is a grind game and all that grinding can get boring.  I know there are people who spend thousands of hours grinding the same bosses to get a certain drop.  I admire their patience and dedication, I just don't have it.  Often I put D3 down for a long time and return to it later.

Diablo III is another quality Blizzard game that will keep you entertained for a long time.  

Is anyone else weirded out by live action videos in games?

I don't know if this is a trend or has some sort of budgetary link, but I've seen two game related videos that use real actors rather than animated footage.  To me, it's weird.  Maybe I need to just get over it and accept the fact that it's something new and different.  Here are the two I'm talking about:

This is the opening cinematic from Wasteland 2, which is a Kickstarter game.  I kind of like it, but I kind of don't.....  And here's one from Destiny which is a console game that I will most likely never play.

The Destiny trailer is definitely very cool and probably cost a bajillion dollars to make.

Are live action videos going to become a staple in gaming?  Is it more of a console thing that is crossing over into PC games?  Do you think it's weird or is it just me?

Junk in Wasteland 2 brings back fond memories of the late 80's.

After finishing up Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel I decided to return to my turn-based RPGathon (hoping to build up enough steam to finish off Divinity:  Original Sin).  I decided to pop back into Wasteland 2 a semi-recently released Kickstarter follow-up to the 80's classic Wasteland.  When I left off my squad faced with the difficult decision of saving either the Ag Center or the settlement of Highpool.  Both supply vital goods to the Desert Rangers--Ag Center is the main food supplier and Highpool the main water supplier.  I went with Ag Center (aren't there oases for water?  Who needs Highpool) and had been fighting my way through some killer vegetation and mutated wildlife (very aggressive killer rabbits).  My squad managed to save Ag Center and now I'm continuing my quest to find out what happened to the deceased ranger Ace.

Junk in real life too!

There are several things I'm really enjoying about Wasteland 2.  The first thing is the complete sense of humor in the junk that you find scattered throughout the land.  A large amount of it will be familiar to anyone who grew up during this time period.  Laser Discs, Teddy Ruxpins, 8-track tapes, slap bracelets, "mobile" phones (the ones from the 80's that look like you're holding a brick with an antenna), and even more.  I am also enjoying the complexity of combat.  Sure, it can be annoying when one of your squad member's guns jams at a crucial moment, but it's true to the nature of the original game.  As much as I love just gliding through a game, this is a nice change of pace.  I think Wasteland 2 is a happy medium between "hardcore" and handholding.  All the tie-ins with the first game are entertaining and fun, especially to someone who has played a very long time ago.

Wasteland 2 is proving to be highly enjoyable and I am looking forward to continuing my journey through this modern ode to a beloved classic.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Review

I wrote up this review to publish on Steam, but unfortunately it won't let me publish it for some unknown reason. Here it is for your viewing pleasure.

I finally finished my first playthrough of Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel.  I have to say that I am a bit relieved to have finally finished it.  My first full completion of the game took about 33 hours (I sought out and completed as many side quests as I could).  You could undoubtedly finish up the main storyline much quicker.  My overall verdict is that fans of the game will want to play it to continue the storyline from the previous games.  Gamers who are new to the series would be better served to pick up at least Borderlands 2 and might find themselves a little disappointed with this game.  Overall. I’d give it a 7/10.

I have always felt sort of torn about the Borderlands series.  I love the quirky/dark sense of humor that is infused through the game but I find myself getting bored about halfway through. I’m doing the same things over and over--and yes, shooting things over and over can entertain me for a good chunk of time--but eventually it gets tiring.  I find myself sighing a lot as I fetch another weird quest item and run it back to some central location.  Great games keep you excited throughout--so I can’t really classify Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel as a great game.

Here’s what I enjoyed about Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel:

--Low-Gravity and everything associated with it.  

I was highly entertained by this aspect of the game.  Simply jumping higher, hanging in the air, and slamming down was a lot of fun.  I loved boosting my character over huge gaps or butt-slamming foes.  When I got to the part of the game where there wasn’t low-gravity I missed it and couldn’t wait to get to the next zone that would bring it back.

--Cryo-Weapons/Laser Weapons

A game that boasts a bajillion different types of weapons is hard served to keep dishing out new types.  The cryo weapons added in a fun freezing ability that made butt-slamming and shattering foes even more fun.  Laser weapons gave the game a sci-fi spin that fit the setting really well.

Here’s what I found lacking:

--Interesting NPC’s.

In the previous Borderlands games there were many entertaining NPC’s that made me laugh.  Characters like Tiny Tina or Ellie always had something hilarious to say or some ridiculous quest to send me on.  I was more than willing to do a repetitive step and fetch type of quest just to turn it in and listen to the quest dialogue.  In Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel there are very few memorable NPC’s.  Janey Springs is interesting and somewhat entertaining, but she’s no Tiny Tina.  Maybe it’s partially due to the fact that 2K handed the game over to 2K Australia--there seemed to be some Australian humor in the game that as an American I didn’t really get.  I missed the fun characters like Sir Hammerlock and Mr. Torgue.

--Boring Foot Travel

Sure, there are vehicles in Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel, but I spent a lot of time on foot.  I found myself getting irritated that I would return to Concordia or a different area and find a quest for an area I had just cleared on a bounty board.  I would have to pick up the quest, travel back, and re-clear the whole zone.  I really wish they would put the bounty boards with quests for the zones in the zones themselves.  I found this especially apparent when I was on the Hyperion ship and had several side quests that forced me to return to the veins of Helios (lots of jumping/navigation to traverse).  By the last side quest I was tired of going back and almost skipped them.  In the few zones where you can use a vehicle, the vehicles are sort of lackluster. The boosting/jumping feature on the Stingray felt weird and I never could get it to function comfortably.

I would recommend Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel to fans of the series.  It’s not the best entry in the series, but it’s recognizable and adds some interesting features.  To a new player of the series I wouldn’t recommend it.  Pick up Borderlands or Borderlands 2 if you want a better installment of the game.

Starcraft: Classic Blizzard

The original Starcraft came out in 1998 and was an instant hit in my family.  My Dad ate it up and once he had finished it, my brother and I got our turns.  Starcraft is another great example of the staying power of Blizzard games--I could re-install it and be completely content playing a 16 year-old game.  What makes Starcraft so great?  A great story-based campaign, three very different races to play, and multiplayer.

I really enjoyed the single-player campaign in Starcraft.  I think Blizzard does a great job of amping up the difficulty throughout it's strategy games.  The last scenario in a campaign is always very challenging and could take many tries to get right, but you get that great feeling if achievement.  The story in Starcraft is exceptional and the concept of getting to play as all three races is something I love about Starcraft (and Blizzard RTS in general).  The Terran campaign with it's lead characters Jim Raynor, Sarah Kerrigan, and Arcturus Mengsk is a great lead-in.  The player gets familiar enough with the game mechanics and then is thrust into playing a different race with slightly different mechanics.  Going from Terran to Zerg and then to Protoss kept the game interesting and was considered a revolutionary shift in RTS games at the time.

One other fun aspect of the original Starcraft series is the multiplayer.  I didn't do much multiplayer, but can remember my Dad and brother networking their computers together and having epic battles that would last for hours.  Each of the playable races has their own strengths and weaknesses and that can make multiplayer extremely challenging and fun.  Starcraft (Starcraft II now) is an accepted E-sport that pits the best players in the world against each other.

If you're feeling nostalgic or just want to replay the first entry into the Starcraft franchise, reinstall Starcraft and remember what a great game it is.  It stands up to the test of time--a hallmark of Blizzard games.

Blizzin' it up!

I'm a Blizzard fangirl.  I have been playing Blizzard games since I was a kid (the original Warcraft games) and absolutely love their games.  They are always entertaining, challenging, and just good fun.  I haven't dedicated many posts to Blizzard games so I thought I would do so.

One of my best/most interesting gaming memories was saving up enough money to buy Warcraft III. At the time I remember thinking that $40 was a fortune to pay for a game, but it was a Blizzard game which in my book is pretty much a guarantee of a great game.  (I just laid down $70 for Dragon Age:  Inquisition--crazy!) I spent many hours playing through the main campaign and soaking up the amazing Blizzard characters.  Prince Arthas, the betrayer.  Thrall, the young, green (literally and figuratively) leader of the Orcs.  I can still go back and watch the cinematics from Warcraft III and feel inexplicably happy (the cinematic depicting Arthas's betrayal is one of my all time favorites).  I have played through the game many times and it's always fun.  I think that's a real hallmark of a great game, that it doesn't matter how many times you've played it, you can pop it in and enjoy replaying it for the umpteenth time.

If you're a World of Warcraft player and have never experienced Warcraft III you should check it out.  I was always surprised how many of my WoW playing friends hadn't played Warcraft III.  You will learn so much about the back story and just the world/game in general.

Console Gaming Confessions

Although I am pre-dominantly a PC gamer I have occasionally dipped my toes into the murky water of console gaming.  My console of choice isn't really that cool or cutting edge (it was once though), it's the Nintendo Wii.  I can feel the eye-rolling going on all the way through the Interweb!  I wouldn't call myself a hardcore Nintendo follower, I play specific series and don't try to keep up with the latest and greatest.

Nintendo has been a staple in my life since I was a child (see early post with picture of first Nintendo).  When I was 9 or 10, my brother and I received the first Nintendo console as a Christmas present.  We spent hours in the basement playing Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt and later on Legend of Zelda and Dr. Mario.  So maybe it's that connection to childhood that has kept me playing Nintendo games.  I think it's that way for many people.

My favorite series on the Nintendo are Mario Kart, Legend of Zelda, the Metroid games, and Mario Party.  Maybe it's more that I have fond memories of playing in a group, because the games are virtually the same even as the consoles themselves improve.  The motion controls on the Wii were groundbreaking at the time and added a fun new aspect to the classic Nintendo games.

There are also some exceptional standalone games that aren't part of any series.  My absolute favorite Nintendo game (Wii) is Okami.  The gameplay is very unique and beautiful. The motion controls add a fun feature in the way you use it to "paint" attacks and abilities.  Usually I try to avoid Japanese games, because I don't really get them, but Okami is an exception.  The story plays out as a Japanese folktale with you as the central character--a white wolf (there's way more to this, but I don't want to ruin it).  The combat includes racking up attack combos and timing your special paintbrush abilities for just the right moment.  The story is engaging, cute, and exciting.

My personal console choice is Nintendo mostly due to the nostalgia factor.  If you want to play the latest/greatest games you would probably be better served if you went with the new XBox or PlayStation models.  Or better yet you could just buy a PC and avoid having to fork out $400 every 2-3 years for the next model of console.

The Witcher: Polish RPG is FTW

As an American I don't know much about what gaming/game companies are like in Europe.  I might vaguely hear that a game was developed outside the U.S.  One game that was created in Poland has landed firmly on my radar;  The Witcher.

The Witcher is a Polish RPG based on a series of short fantasy stories by author Andrezj Sapkowski.  The story follows Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter known as a "witcher," on his adventures.  Witchers are specially trained and must undergo mutation to develop their monster slaying capabilities.  These mutations grant the witchers extremely fast reactions making them deadly sword fighters.

Geralt of Rivia is a particularly well known witcher, whose exploits have made him somewhat of a legend.  But like all witchers he is an outcast.  Humans distrust witchers and their mutations and non-humans, like dwarves and elves, don't consider him one of them either.  This makes for some interesting story lines.  As the player you are often presented with decisions that favor humans or non-humans and can choose which side you want to support.

The Witcher is set in a medieval world filled with monsters, sorceresses, knights, and peasants.  The world seems to be inspired by Eastern Europe and I felt like I was getting a peek into the stories and traditions of that region.  The game opens with Geralt wounded and fleeing through the forest.  He collapses but is rescued by two of his fellow witchers.  They load him onto a cart and take him to the dilapidated castle, Kaer Mohren, which serves as their base.  Geralt wakes up, but finds that he has lost his memory.  You play through a series of early tutorial type quests that teach you the basic controls and movement of the game as you help the witchers defend against an attack.  The main plot is revealed as you complete the tutorial--a mysterious mage accompanied by someone known as "the professor" have stolen the witcher's secrets (herbs and mutagens).  Geralt must find them to learn why.

The combat seemed very odd to me and took awhile to get used to (it's very simple--I think that's what threw me off).  You simply point and click to attack a foe.  There is some minor timing involved to perform a "power attack." but you will spend a lot of time left-clicking with the occasional right click to block.  The more attacks you land results in a chain of moves--complete with Geralt whirling around and doing flips.  At points I thought it seemed a little ridiculous, but it is entertaining to watch and really makes the player feel like they are this character with these amazing talents.

There are tons of side-quests and random tasks that you can do to help Geralt earn some money.  Dice poker is a mini-game that can be played against certain NPC's in inns and other places.  There is an entire questline around defeating the dice playing NPC's.  If games aren't your thing you can participate in some good old-fashioned fistfights (for gold, of course).  These little side-tasks are a fun little distraction from clicking on monsters.

You're looking at a good 40-50 hours of playtime if you pursue all the sidequests.  I have played through the Witcher several times and still haven't gotten tired of it.  Pick it up on GoG DRM free or on Steam.

On Origin: Bejeweled 3 "On the House"

Looking for a great casual game to help you unwind at the end of the day?  Pick up Bejeweled 3 on Origin as part of their "On the House" special.  Bejeweled 3 is the third installment of Popcap Games awesome match 3 puzzle game Bejeweled.  It also includes some new, very fun modes.  You can complete different levels which are presented as "quests" in a story mode.  Maybe you want something to really test your skills, in that case you can try lightning mode to see how fast you can make matches.  Or maybe you just want to relax--Zen mode features endless play and you can even set it up to play soothing sounds or alpha waves to help you de-stress.  There is also diamond mine, poker, and butterflies if you were worried that you might get bored with this game.  Bejeweled is one of my all time favorite casual games and it's totally free!  Pick it up on Origin until October 28.

One reason I can forgive Valve for not finishing Half-Life 2

That reason would be Portal.  Half-Life/Half-Life 2 are great games, but Portal is a literal game changer.  I never could have imagined a puzzle game that is so mind-bending and unique.  One of the best feelings I've had in gaming has been the satisfaction of solving puzzles--that initial frustration of not being able to figure it out, the trial and error, and then the eventual victory of solving it.

The first time I played Portal I was a little confused.  You get a gun and there's nothing to shoot?  That's weird.  Not shooting stuff (other than walls) is what made Portal so fun and different.  You really have to think outside the box to figure out how to advance.  You have to visualize where your Portals will lead you and sometimes time them just right or multi-task while flying through the air.  The goofy sense of humor in the games makes the frustration enjoyable.  The fact that there is a computer talking crap to you while you flounder around makes for a great game.

Portal 2 took an awesome formula and made it even greater.  The introduction of gels that have different effects (speed up, bounce, or create a surface to make portals on) made for an expanded array of options and challenges.  The co-op mode in Portal 2 made puzzles twice as puzzling as now you had to think of 4 portals rather than two.  There are still plenty of laughable moments in Portal 2 as you work your way through the history of the Aperture science laboratories.

Sure, I still want to see a finale to the Half-Life series, but I'm happy that Valve took the time to create Portal.

Upgrade! Do you buy the "deluxe edition?"

I finally got around to pre-ordering Dragon Age:  Inquisition.  I did something that I rarely do and upgraded to the "digital deluxe" edition.  It costs $10 more, but you get many bonus items-- including the soundtrack (I'm a sucker for soundtracks).  So what "bonus" items do I get for shelling out $10 extra?  Here's a list:

1.) Flames of the Inquisition Arsenal-- A collection of flaming weapons suitable for any class.  You're not really slaying unless you're doing it with a flaming weapon.

2.) Flames of the Inquisition Armor-- Everyone knows that your weapons and armor should always match so you aren't committing an RPG fashion faux pas.

3.) Flames of the Inquisition Armored Mount--  There are mounts in this game!  Yes!  And it matches your weapons and armor so you can truly ride through Thedas in style.

4.) Skyhold Throne-- Now I haven't kept up with Inquisition as much as I should have, but apparently you can find items to decorate your keep.  This item is a throne made out of a dragons skull.  It's sort of hideous in the picture, but then again you're sitting on a dragons face.  That's pretty awesome.

5.) Red Hart Halla-- Another mount in case you are feeling like a rebel and don't want to match.  I'm sort of conflicted about this mount because if I remember the lore correctly the Halla are valued as more than mounts in elven culture and are used to pull their aravels.  (I looked it up on the Dragon Age Wiki and it stated that they are used "less" as mounts, so I suppose having one as a mount isn't
totally going against the lore)

6.) Bog Unicorn-- I was excited about this mount until I saw the picture and read the description which is as follows:  "Once belonging to an evil marauder, this unique mount has returned to inspire fear into those who would oppose you."  Maybe I don't want to inspire fear.  And this mount looks like a horse with a sword through it's face.  I will be passing on the demonic horse.

7.) Digital soundtrack-- The music in Dragon Age:  Origins was good.  I don't remember much about the music in DA2.  Hopefully there will be some awesome music in Inquisition that I can enjoy outside of the game.

8.) "Bonus digital content"-- Mysterious "other" content that is included, but hasn't or can't be revealed yet.  I am pulling for an art book or something art related, but I'll just have to wait and see.

All this bonus stuff for $10 seemed like a deal too good to pass up.  I am usually very anti-deluxe edition because it just seems like another way (and typically pointless) to make money.  I usually end up buying all the DLC anyway, so I figured why not?  I'm looking forward to not only the game, but rolling through Thedas with my matching weapons, armor and mount.

Free-to-play is it the future of online gaming?

I am a big fan of free stuff; who isn't?  But what about games?  Should they be free?  It seems like free-to-play is the wave of the future.  Every time I log onto Steam there are more and more free-to-play games being promoted.  But are these games any good?  Are they really free, or are game companies promoting them as free to then bog you down in microtransactions once you start playing? I think it's a gamer-beware type of situation.

I have played very few free-to-play games but I have played a few.  Yesterday I wrote about Team Fortress 2.  I think it is a great example of a game that is almost completely free-to-play (I would say 99.9% free--the introduction of loot crates seems to be mostly motivated by making you buy keys to unlock them, but you don't have to).  I'm sure that there are ways that people spend money in TF2, but for the casual player you really don't have to.  Most of the items in the game are unlocked through achievements and random drops.  On Steam you can also get promotional cosmetic items (and some weapons) when you purchase other games.  TF2 is a shining example of a great free-to-play game.

Another FTP game I enjoy is Blizzard's Hearthstone.  Hearthstone is a collectible card game that is themed in the World of Warcraft.  Hearthstone is a game that really can be totally FTP, but there are microtransactions (and not so microtransactions).  You can complete "quests" by winning matches to earn gold or compete in the arena.  It costs 100 gold to buy a new pack of cards.  This could mean completing 3-4 quests before you can buy more cards.  However you can also buy packs of cards with real life money (1 pack for $2.99).  It is definitely much faster to buy cards than to spend the few hours completing the quests.  Many people argue this makes Hearthstone "pay-to-win."  I think the reality is that Hearthstone can be completely FTP, but the player will have to understand this means putting in the time to earn gold and buy cards.  One thing I was a little disappointed about was the release of the single player Naxxramas campaign.  The first "wing" is completely free, you can play through it and unlock a legendary card for free.  The remaining wings can be purchased with in-game gold or real life money, each wing costs 700 gold to unlock or $6.99.  I was hoping it would be compltely free, and I suppose that technically it is, I would just have to put in the hours to earn the gold.  Hearthstone is a very fun game at it's core, but expect to face people who have spent money to build better decks.

These are two great games that function very differently on the free-to-play scale.  If you are thinking about picking up a FTP game you might want to do your homework first and find out if it's truly free or if players who spend real cash are going to have an edge.  Many FTP games allow players to purchase cosmetic features like skins that have no effect on gameplay.  I think FTP games are going to become the standard in gaming and that the big dogs, like World of Warcraft, will eventually end up going this route.

Revisiting Old Friends

I've been putting some time into Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel, but I also had a fun experience last week that I wanted to write about.  You know how you play a game, you like the game, and then you finish it and don't play it for a long time?  Long enough that you forget how fun it was?  That happens to me quite frequently, but I got to revisit an old game that breaks the mold for what I usually play (see RPG's in abundance).

Last weekend I played Team Fortress 2 for the first time in at least 2 years.  Now, Team Fortress 2's whole concepts completely goes against my "no multiplayer" mantra (I wrote about this sometime back--had some bad experiences, tend to think multiplayer is a breeding ground for the worst people on Earth, yup).  Reality is that I had so much fun playing.  I forgot how much fun it is it zip around as a cartoony character and help your team defend a point or push a cart forward.  TF2 is really one of the great games out there.

I started playing TF2 several years ago (5?).  My brother played it and I received a copy as part of the Orange Box (yay Half-Life 2!  And Portal, which I haven't written about yet).  I tried it out and enjoyed it.  My favorite class is the medic--I don't know if I have a natural pre-disposition to play healers, but I just like being helpful rather than blasting people.  Maybe that's why I hate most multiplayer games--very few have an option where you are mostly helping and not just running around killing people.  I am ridiculously bad at the classes that I'm sure most people consider to require the most skill--sniper and spy.  I enjoy the Heavy on the maps where you push the cart (I'm sure they have a cool technical name) and will also play some demoman in a pinch.  That's what I love about TF2--there are so many options to test out and enjoy.  You aren't limited to one playstyle, but can find one you really enjoy.

The modding community looks to have added many very stylish hats and costumes since the last time I played.  It's really amazing how people create these unique objects in the game.  I'm always greatly impressed by everything that is out there.  One aspect I didn't get a chance to check out is the co-op mode, Mann vs. Machine.  It looks pretty cool, I just have to track down 5 people to play with.

The next time you're feeling bored and looking for something to play, revisit TF2.  It seems to be like a fine wine that only gets better with age.  Best part--it's totally free-to-play!  Check it out on Steam.

Low gravity killing fun

Jumping and shooting while hanging in thar air seems to be one of the major improvements in Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel.  I faced my first boss last night in the form of a foe named Deadlift who enjoys zapping things with his lazer, shock gun and using jump pads to bounce around in the air.  I will admit that it took me a few times to finally down him (which is sort of embarrassing because he is the first boss in the game).  Jumping, shooting, and using your abilities takes some getting used to.  The oxygen tank with it's limited oxygen supply hasn't been much of an issue as almost every enemy drops small oxygen tanks to replenish your supply.

The first vehicle station that I found featured a moon buggy as the vehicle.  The moon buggy seems faster than the vehicles in Borderlands 2 and features a lazer cannon or missile launcher.  I made it to Concordia which seems to be the major quest hub/city.  One of the first characters I met there was none other than Moxxi.  Oh yeah, Roland and Littlith were also hanging out in Moxxi's club "on vacation."

In case you feel like some Moxxi cosplay

Handsome Jack--Hero

That's right, I said hero.  I finally got to delve back into the world of Borderlands with the release of Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel yesterday.  There were some familiar faces, but plenty of new crazies to fill up the loony bin that is Borderlands.

For my first playthrough I chose Athena, the gladiator.  Athena's special skill is pulling out her shield--called an aspis--and soaking up damage before throwing the shield for twice the damage absorbed.  This ability seems to suit her as a "tank" type of role.  She can run around soaking up bullets while the rest of the squad blasts the bad guys.

The first few missions take place on the Hyperion space station that is docked above Pandora's moon, Elpis.  Handsome Jack (who's not really Jack, but still John) has hired the vault hunters to help him fight off an attack by some Dahl mercenaries who are trying to take over the space station (the one that looks like a giant H--it has a name that I can't remember).  At this point the gameplay seemed identical to the previous games.  Run around shooting bad guys, loot a billion containers, and complete quests.

Then, the old crew from Borderlands/Borderlands 2 come into the picture (Lillith, Mordecai, and Brick).  As part of the story your chosen character has been capture in Sanctuary and is retelling what happened.  The result of this is that there is lots of funny banter between the old crew (something that was added into DLC like Tiny Tina's Dragon Keep and that I really loved).

It's midway through the opening sequence that your old arch-enemy from Borderlands 2, Handsome Jack, makes his appearance.  Shockingly, he's actually pretty cool.  He guides you through the station and helps you find a way to escape.  He even offers to stay behind and make sure you are launched to Elpis safely.  This is a completely different character from the Jack that you will remember from Borderlands 2.  I'm interested to see how and why he changes as I play through the game.

Once on Elpis you are able to fully realize the difference between the game play in this game and in the others.  Your character is rescued by a zany moon lady named Janey who offers to guide you to her base.  You overcome a short trip with no oxygen and then spend some time completing a mission to find an "oz kit" which is a breathing and jump boosting system for your character.  One part that took me awhile to get used to was the low-gravity on Elpis.  When you jump you hang in the air, when you sprint you take long, bouncy strides.  You can also use your Oz kit to boost your jump and float for a short distance or to slam back down on top of unsuspecting foes.  I haven't quite mastered the butt slam yet, but I'm working on it.

Excited to be Heading to Elpis! Another Borderlands Adventure.

Today I will be starting my next adventure on Pandora's moon Elpis.  I haven't logged on and played Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel yet, but I am planning on forgoing my other conquests for a little while.  My little squad in Wasteland 2 will have to take a breather away from the radioactively mutated bunnies.  Ciril, my elfy archer in Dragon Age:  Origins, can hang out around the campfire and share fond recollections of cookies with Sten.

I am really looking forward to a little Borderlands ridicularity (that's a word I made up kind of like "Pre-Sequel" from the words ridiculous and hilarity).  Tomorrow, I'll be sharing my thoughts on the first few hours of play.

Killed by Giant Bunnies. Yep, it happened in Wasteland 2.

There was a whole herd of them and they annihilated my squad.  But those aren't the only difficulties I've had in Wasteland 2 so far.

One roadblock occurred when I realized that I was almost completely out of ammo.  Running out of ammo is bad, especially since your squad has basically zero chance to hit with melee weapons unless they have the melee talents.  My first idea to solve this was to equip them with melee weapons.  Ummm....just no.  It's not an option.  You're going to have to find more ammo.  Go out and do some more scavenging and look for any containers you missed.

I also found out that friendly fire is real.  I managed to recruit this pistol-packing-Grandma character named Rose at the agricultural outpost.  Rose is packing an interesting handgun that functions much like a shotgun with a wide cone of damage.  Positioning her so that she's not taking out half my squad has proved challenging.  I also had one unfortunate incident where my sniper accidentally took out my melee character.  Guess I need to pay more attention to positioning.

I don't know how much more time I'm going to be spending in Wasteland 2 for a little while (or in Ferelden).  Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel comes out tomorrow and I'm planning on hanging out on Elpis for awhile.

I guess the killer bunnies can continue ravaging the wastelands until then.

Back in Ferelden

As I mentioned yesterday, I decided to revisit Dragon Age:  Origins in honor of it being offered for free on Origin.  The install process was a lot more intense than I remembering it being.  I had forgotten that I had purchased a lot of the DLC that accompanied the original game and spent a few hours downloading all of that.  I had also forgotten about Awakenings, an expansion pack that added in another good chunk of content to the original game.  Once I had that all ready to go I happily started designing my new character for my return trip to Ferelden and the world of Thedas.

My new character is Ciril, a Dalish elf rogue.  Like his Dalish bretheren he specializes in archery and I intentionally made him very elfy.  He has fair skin, long flowing hair, and Dalish tattoos. The Dalish origin story was the only one I hadn't played and I was surprised that I was able to figure that out on the first go.  (Spoliers ahead regarding the Dalish origin story--read at your own risk!). The Dalish story centers around the discovery of a strange artifact, a mirror, in a cave (the eluvian from DA2?).  Your elven character and his/her buddy goes to check it out only to be met with disaster.  The mirror "knocks out" your character and upon waking up back in your camp, you discover that your buddy is missing and you were rescued by a strange human named Duncan.  You get to spend some time in the Dalish camp meeting the other elves before you are sent back to look for your friend.

The elves in the Dalish camp were very familiar as they are the same elves as the ones in Dragon Age 2.  Keeper Marethari instructed my character to locate none other than Merrill to accompany me on my return venture into the cave.  On the way to the cave you encounter your first darkspawn, a sign that not everything is right.  Once in the cave you find no sign of your friend, but do find Duncan.  Duncan informs you that your friend is gone--killed and taken by the darkspawn (but there is no body--was he taken into the Fade by the eluvian?).  Duncan points out that the darkspawn are drawn to the mirror and that he must destroy it.  There is very little explanation about the mirror in DA:  O, but Duncan intones that it is dangerous.  You return to the camp only to find out that you must leave with Duncan and become a Grey Warden.  You are already tainted by the darkspawn and that is your only choice.  There is a sad scene as your chatacter wishes the rest of the clan goodbye and then sets out with Duncan.

I liked the Dalish origin story.  It was nice to see the tie in with chatacters from DA 2.  I am not digging my character as an archer.  I prefer melee characters or mages to this weird hybrid.  I am hoping it will get better as I level up.  I also decided to spend some money and purchase the remaining DLC that I hadn't purchased before.

So far, Ferelden is feeling familiar.  The first thing I did was crank up the graphics settings so I could enjoy the beauty.  Even 5 years later it still has the little details I love in BioWare games--the sunlight filtering through the ruins in Ostagar, a funny conversation between two soldiers in camp.  I also realized how much I like Alistair as a character.  His goofiness brings levity to an otherwise very serious game and story.

Weekend Game Fest: Revisiting Ferelden

I've officially decided that I'm taking a break from Divinity:  Original Sin.  I plan on finishing it, but I've reached the point where it has really become a slog.  In honor of Origin making Dragon Age:  Origins it's "on the house" selection (which I never posted here, but here it is for whoever stumbles upon this and doesn't hear about it anywhere else) I am going to replay that amazing selection.  In case you haven't heard yet, you can download Dragon Age:  Origins for free until October 14.  It's yours to keep, no time limits or demo versions.  The full version of the game is totally yours!  It really is a great deal because DA: O isn't some slouch game.

This is also stemming from a semi-discussion my brother and cousin and I had on Facebook.  I was very surprised to hear that my brother enjoyed DA:  O.  Our tastes vary extremely widely and we rarely agree on games.  He also boasted that he had played through every origin story in the game.  I don't know if I have done that, so now I kind of want to.  But now I have to figure out which one I haven't done (I just got a new computer and am doing a ton of re-installing and downloading--my save games are on the old computer so I have to remember).  Hmmm...let's see human warrior (noble).  Is there another human origin story?  Dwarf--rogue, casteless and noble.  Elf--mage, Dalish and city.  It looks like I might have to roll a human.  I generally try to avoid playing a human character, it seems so bland. I'm a human in real life, I would much rather be another race in a game.  And what class?  I think the one warrior I rolled was a "tank" style sword and board warrior (which unfortunately meant that Allistair sat on the sidelines, which isn't ideal because he is one of my favorite characters in the game).  I am thinking either a 2-handed warrior or a rogue that specializes in archery.  I have never made an archer type character either, so maybe that.

Duncan, I miss your sexy beard.

Wow, I'm actually excited to replay a game I've played through 5 or more times.  I think I'll write about my new adventure in Ferelden tomorrow.

Still playing: Divinity: Original Sin

I posted a couple of weeks ago about my venture into the turn-based RPG of Divinity:  Original Sin.  I'm still pushing through my first playthrough.  I hate to admit that I am getting a little bit bored with it.  I can't say I hate it or that it isn't a game I'd recommend to somebody else, I can say that it's ability to be as engaging wanes about 40-50 hours in.  I don't know that the crazy, raves reviews for it are completely warranted.  If you're rating it against other Kickstarter funded games, I'm sure it's exceptional.  If you're rating it against a non-crowdfunded game, well, I think it's like a 7-7.5/10.

The games I truly love can keep me engaged and excited throughout.  I will finish the game, but I'm just not very excited about it.  I have another turn-based game in the form of Wasteland 2 (also another Kickstarter game) on deck, but I think I might give myself a little turn-based break.  Borderlands:  The Pre-Sequel comes out next week and I feel like delving into that mire of ridiculousness.

Horror Games--I will freely admit to being a coward.

I don't play horror games because I am a total wuss.  I know that if I try them I will be plagued by horrible nightmares and just general freakiness (like bolting awake in the middle of the night at the smallest sound).  I am, however, greatly intrigued by them.  Especially one that was just recently released "Alien:  Isolation."

As a fan of the "Alien" movies I could totally see myself playing this, except for a couple of things.  Firstly, as mentioned above, I am a fraidy cat.  Yup, I will cry myself to sleep if I try to play it.  Secondly, everyone knows that the "Alien" games are generally all full of suck.  However, this game looks really awesome.  My brother played it and said he really enjoyed it.  He did describe it as "pants-crappingly" scary.  I read a review and the reviewer stated that the game isn't so much about gore/violence as it is about anxiety.  Trying to move about the ship when you know the alien is watching you, accomplishing tasks knowing that thing is out there, ready to jump out of the shadows at you.

So I probably won't play it.  But it does look amazing.  Here's a trailer:

Half-Life 2 plus Episodes 1-2.

Half-Life is a classic game that everyone should play and the 2004 follow-up is of the same caliber. Half-Life 2 and episodes 1-2 are probably some of my favorite games.

Half-Life 2 picks up after the events in the original Half-Life and stars one of my favorite video game heroes, Dr. Gordon Freeman.  Gordon "wakes up" on a train making its way into a city known as "City 17."  There are some mysterious masked characters directing Gordon and other humans.  It feels like they are being herded, almost like cattle. A man on a large screen urges co-operation.  Gordon advances through the checkpoints but is pulled aside by a soldier for special screening.  On the way into a side room, Gordon witnesses other humans being tortured.  Things look pretty bleak.  As Gordon enters the room and prepares for the worst, the soldier shuts off the surveillance and reveals himself to be none other than Barney, a former security guard (and main character in Half-Life add-on Blue Shift).  Barney directs Gordon to escape through a secret passage and make his way to a secret hideout being run by a human resistance group.  You navigate Gordon through a few courtyards and buildings getting a good picture of the type of oppression that is happening in the city.  Once you arrive at the secret location you are let into a lab run by a former Black Mesa scientist, Dr. Breen.  You're also introduced to Alyx Vance, the daughter of another of Gordon's former colleagues and a dedicated member of the human resistance.  It is here that you learn that Earth has been taken over by an alien eace known as the "Combine."  Humanity has been reduced to prisoners under the control of this insidious alien group.

The gameplay is very similar to that from Half-Life, a first-person shooter featuring guns but also the signature Gordon Freeman weapon, the crowbar.  You shoot your way through hordes of Combine soldiers, navigating an engaging story that is well narrated.  You also must figure out physics based puzzles to advance.  One fun aspect of Half-Life 2 is vehicle based travel.  You get to pilot an airboat and outrun Combine gunships as they try to mow you down.  In the later episodes there are dune buggies and a car to drive.  It's not really finesse driving, but it's fun to elude the Combine.

Gordon and Alyx gun down some Combine baddies.

 Half-Life 2 also introduces a fun, new signature weapon to the series; the gravity gun.  The gravity gun can be used to pick up and shoot objects at enemies.  There is nothing like mowing down a Combine soldier with a speeding toliet.  The gravity gun can also be used to pull objects to Gordon--health kits and ammo located on high edges can easily be utilized.

The narrative in Half-Life 2 is very engaging.  Gordon becomes a key figure in the human resistance against the Combine and works together with a cast of characters (even some former enemies in the form of aliens) to defeat them.  Alyx, Dog, and many others play an important role in this series of games.

After the success of Half-Life 2, Valve promised to release 3 smaller "episodes" that would expand on the story from Half-Life 2.  Two episodes were released, but the third has never happened.  It's quite a disappointment to fans of the series, but we can always dream that someday the third episode will become a reality.

Half-Life. Hail to the classics!

I don't know how so many people haven't played the original Half-Life.  To me, it is one of those standout games that everyone should play.  It doesn't matter that the game is 16 years old, it is still extremely playable (or replayable).

Maybe you're one of the few unlucky people who haven't had the chance to play Half-Life, in that case I feel bad for you. Half-Life is a first person shooter that follows Dr. Gordon Freeman a theoretical physicist at a secret lab called Black Mesa.  When a secret experiment goes awry an interdimensional rift is opened allowing aliens from another world to invade.  Gordon must fight his way through the lab, facing lots of strange aliens (and humans) and often solve different puzzles/obstacles in order to advance.  The weapons that are available throughout the game range from the conventional pistols, machine guns to the unconventional--a crowbar?  If the zombie apocalypse ever happens, remind me to buy a crowbar.  Gordon also has access to his haz-mat suit which provides some shielding and can be recharged.

Shootin' at a helicopter--I'm sure that'll work.

Half-Life was followed up with two additional content packs--Blue Shift which followed a security guard at Black Mesa and takes place parallel to Gordon Freeman's story.  Opposing Force focused on the soldiers who were sent in to contain the alien threat.  They're not quite as fun as the original game, but are enjoyable side adventures.

Half-Life was really the game that lauched Valve and spawned the 2004 follow-up Half-Life 2 as well as the unfinished add-ons in episode 1 and episode 2.  Whether or not Valve ever decides to finish the series remains to be seen, but you can't go wrong starting with the original.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Stealth or shoot--you choose.

I love it when games give you choices about how you can play.  Deus Ex:  Human Revolution is a great example of a game that lets you choose your playstyle.  Deus Ex is a fun game, but it has its imperfections.

What's awesome about Deus Ex:  Human Revolution:

1.) The future.  Deus Ex takes place in the near future and makes it seem really cool.  There's all kinds of new technology--from weapons to vehicles.  Everything looks futuristic, but believable.

2.) The social complexities in the story.  A huge part of the plot in Deus Ex is the conflict between humans who have chosen (or in Adam, the main character's case, been forced) to become "augmented" and those who haven't and are opposed to the technology.  "Augmentation" in Deus Ex means the use of almost cybernetic technology to aid or improve humanity.  It can be beneficial or used for more sinister means--like creating super soldiers.  It's way more complicated than simply getting an augmented leg if you're an amputee.  Most people who undergo augmentation have to take expensive medications so that their bodies won't reject the implants.  Not everyone can afford them.  Then there's the basic issue of holding onto humanity--are you really human if you're mostly made up of cybernetic parts?  What happens when people want to use this technology for evil rather than good?

3.) Choose how you play (mostly).  Depending on your play style you can choose to be a stealthy infiltrator or a guns blazing type of hero.  A stealthy player will try to sneak past enemies and hack into security to advance through levels.  A guns-blazing player will still have to utilize some stealth, but shoots first and sneaks later.  You can also choose to be merciful and use non-lethal methods (stun gun, tranquilizer darts) to take down your enemies or you can use your skills to kill them.  The talent system allows you to pick the best skills for your chosen style.  Bosses do have to be killed, but there's an achievement for not killing anyone in the game.  There are also dialogue and story options that allow you to choose what happens.  In one mission you are given the option of trying to rescue some hostages or just leaving them and advancing on.   Adam can be a coldblooded killer or a merciful soldier--it's up to you.

4.) Combat.  It's very clear that the focus in this game is combat.  Sneaking is very intense and I found myself holding my breath a lot hoping that guards wouldn't see me.  The actual fighting can be quite fun--gunning down terrorists or augmented gang members is made even better by your augmentations.

What's not so awesome:
1.) Glitchy animations/camera angles.  I am thinking of one cutscene/dialogue scene in particular--the one where Adam is talking to David Sarif in his office.  The camera keeps hopping around and the animations are weird.

2.) Short.  I feel like Deus Ex was a little on the short side.  But maybe that's just me.

Overall, Deus Ex:  Human Revolution is a worthwhile purchase.  Especially since you can get it at a pretty low price since it's a couple of years old.    It's got an engaging and cool story, fun stealth and combat (and hacking!), and a very fashionable picture of the future.

Grand Theft Auto: Teacher by day, gangster by night

Grand Theft Auto and I go way back, all the way to the days of the original Playstation.  I didn't seriously play it, but I remember zipping around trying to elude the police.  I think I've played every GTA  game since the original (except for GTA V--c'mon with the PC port already!) You're probably thinking "wait, you're a school teacher.  What are you doing playing a game that encourages criminal behavior?"  I'm having a good time, playing the role of a criminal in a video game.  Let me explain.

GTA has been a controversial title since it's initial release way back in the 90's.  A lot of anti-video game types claimed that it was too violent and encouraged people (meaning kids) to act out.  I've never really felt that way about it.  To me GTA is a sort of roleplaying game, it just so happens that role is of a character involved in criminal activities.  After playing it I've never felt the urge to buy an AK-47 and gun down a bunch of people or go on a high speed chase.  I would bet that most people feel the same way.  I think GTA offers people a chance to step into the character of an anti-hero and do all those criminal things that they would never do in real life.  (Forrest Gump voice) That's all I have to say about that.

What do I like best about GTA?  Driving.  I love getting into the different vehicles and speeding through the cities, which is kind of weird because I'm not really into driving or racing games.  I like how each vehicle handles differently and you have to adjust to it.  It's always fun to look for the best vehicles in the game and then to steal them.

Another aspect I like, which I think a lot of people would question, are the stories in the game.  Playing as CJ in GTA:  San Andreas and navigating the gang scene that seems reminiscent of early-mid 90's inner-city LA, was enjoyable.  Niko Bellic in GTA IV is a real "American dream" type of story--an immigrant who comes to the U.S. and wants to have a better life.  I had fun helping these characters through their struggle to rise to the top.

I can't say I like everything about GTA, but I think all the negative attention this series has attracted is unwarranted.  If you don't like what the games are about, don't buy them.  It's that simple.  (You are missing out on some seriously fun gaming though)

The Thrill of a New PC or How to Allay Your Buyers Guilt

There's nothing like the excitement of getting a new PC (or console, if that's how you play).  It's like being a little kid at Christmas.  I recently got to experience the joy of unboxing and setting up my new PC.  Then I got to experience the real fun of playing a game on it--the speed, the beautiful graphics.

For me it's always a tough decision to buy a new PC.  It's a big investment and it seems a little shallow.  Do I really need it?  I struggled with this internal debate for months.  My old PC was 6-7 years old, but ran most games at an acceptable level.  Here, I have to admit my lack of PC knowledge.  I buy pre-built PC's.  I don't build my own, which is what all the cool kids do.  When I bought my old PC (a Dell XPS 630i--I think) part of the reason I bought it was that it was supposed to be easily upgradeable or modifiable.  It boasted a huge case and a 750W power supply to add in more goodies.  Before I purchased a new computer I decided that I would try to upgrade my old one.  The graphics card was seriously out of date so that was my first task.

I bought a new, mid-range graphics card to soup up my old PC.  It installed easily enough, but I found out that the motherboard in my computer was too outdated to handle the new card.  So much for being "easy to upgrade."

So I finally caved and bought a new PC and I am blown away by the difference.  Games that were a little slow or laggy run without a hitch.  I can't wait to play the new games coming out soon, "Dragon Age:  Inquisition" and "The Witcher 3:  Wild Hunt."

Alienware Aurora R4.  My new PC!

What's my point in this narrative?  Firstly, I bought a new PC and it's awesome.  Secondly, gaming is my hobby and unfortunately it is a hobby that requires you to upgrade your "gear" fairly frequently.  That's how I've mentally justified my major purchase.  Just think of all the hours you'll spend enjoying it.  I had my old PC for 6 years--let's do some math and figure out costs per month.  I think I initially paid $1200 for it.  6 years = 72 months.  $1200/72= $16.67 per month.  If you go to Starbucks and buy a coffee everyday that's probably about $120 a month ($4x30 days).  So save up your money and make a worthwhile investment in a new PC--you won't regret it.

Torchlight/Torchlight II: A Cuter, Friendlier Diablo

 I am a big fan of Diablo III.  I'm not one of the people who will spend thousands of hours killing the same boss over and over for one piece of loot.  The story on Diablo really drew me in, an epic battle between the forces of good and evil--angels and demons.  What is better than defeating the forces of evil, especially when those forces are as evil as the prime evil, Diablo?  How about a cheaper, equally engagng game in a similar style as Diablo?  That's where Torchlight comes in.

Torchlight is an Indie game in the same vein as Diablo, an ARPG with tons of enemies and tons of loot. You hack and slash you way through enemies and navigate dungeons to ultimately face down bigger and badder enemies in the form of bosses.  The gameplay is a mirror of Diablo, depending on your class you have a few special abilities to put on your action bar.  You also get one special "power" ability that draws on your resources.  In Torchlight II you can choose from four different classes--the engineer can pick talents to be a tank or two-handed powerhouse.  The berserker specializes in quick attacks while dual-wielding weapons.  The embermage is a caster who can choose from different schools of magic like fire or ice.  The outlander specializes in ranged weapons like bows, shotgonnes, or pistols.  One great feature in Torchlight is pets.  Every class can choose a pet to accompany them on their quest.  Pets can attack mobs, but don't do a significant amount of damage.  Probably the best part of having a pet is the ability to send it to town to buy or sell items for you.  You can continue on your adventure without having to portal into town to sell stuff.

Like Diablo, Torchlight features co-op gameplay with up to four players.  Mobs are touger, but two players are better than one.  Players can freely trade lootbetween themselves and it is fun to work towards outfitting your little crew with the loot you find.

Look familiar?  It's very easy to pick up on Torchlight's controls if you've played other ARPG's.

So is Torchlight better than Diablo?  The short answer is no.  If you're looking for the shiny, polished features of a Blizzard game you will probably be disappointed.  There aren't any flashy cinematics (there are cinematics, but they aren't anywhere as detailed as Diablo) or uber-graphic features.  Maybe you're a gamer on a budget who is looking for a cheap, but fun game to play?  Torchlight and Torchlight II are frequently on sale on Steam and can be purchased for as little as $4.99 if you wait till the right sale.  The original Torchlight is available DRM-free from GOG for $14.99.