I just realized the worse part of Carrier Command: Gaea Mission, this gameplay is almost exactly what I would want from a new Mechcommander game. Toss me some more kit for my personal mech and some pilot profiles, I would be in heaven.
You have my full attention.
I too am intrigued. I loved Mechcommander. Mechcommander is free to download but it looks like too much work to get it to work on newer OS.
The walrus aren't invincible and getting the point where I can kit them out feels like Mechcommander 2 where I was trying to balance my desire for pew pew and dakka dakka for the fact that some might not make it back before I could resupply. There's a terrain element where I could creep the bases faster if I navigated up the sheer cliff faces with these all terrain vehicles. It was a moment where I though, "You know what would be great? If I was doing this in a mech with jump jets."
The Mantas are quite vulnerable to anti air and other things but at the lightest armor and gun level, are useful for zipping around, scouting, picking off the lone defenders that would wear down my offensive, and after my offensive starts, killing anything I want that dying too slow and hitting too hard.
I can really pretend its a MechCommander game and enjoy it, but like Jazz and I said earlier, there is so much that is running loose in the machinery, so many squeaky wheels, that its really hard to call it good and fun. I literally had my offensive stalled because two walrus couldn't pathfind their way around my carrier. A speed up button would have been useful for certain vehicles to travel back to the carrier and retool. But I suppose I should have kept one back at the carrier for options.
Oh, the campaign gets so much better once you've repaired the carrier and unlock the ability to produce shit. Gonna try full strategic mode once I beat the story (which is laughably bad. Chronicles of Riddick is a more riveting experience).
Which reminds me, how long till Vin Deisel and Titan bring us another Riddick game, preferably one where I murder Necromonger after Necromonger and build an army of true believers to take down Vaako the usurper.
DrakeEdgelord TrashBelow the ecliptic plane.Registered Userregular
edited September 2014
The secret to the Walrus in Carrier Command is in the name. Sure they aren't graceful (or smart), but they get the job done. I think a lot of what feels like bad pathfinding in the game is actually just the way the vehicles perform. Carrier Command does a lot of things that other RTS games don't. The vehicles have a real turning radius and simulated suspension, instead of the spin in place move you'll see in a lot of games. Terrain is really important. Mud and rocks are real obstacles. And the AI won't give you a "Are you kidding" like in Starcraft when you tell them to move through impassable terrain. They just say "OK Boss" and go and get stuck. But when you combine this with some legit pathfinding issues in the game then I think it just creates the impression that the shit be janky yo (as you kids enjoy saying).
Remember, this is the same bunch that made the Arma games. Sure there are clunky bits and all but the game is really reaching for some stuff that I've been dying to see in this style of game for a long time. Action Strategy hybrids of this type are few and far between and I'm hard pressed to think of any that have the scope of Carrier Command. Hostile Waters: Anteus Rising comes close but there is no strategy beyond how you assault each island as you move in a predetermined advance through the island chain. Really fun story and presentation though.
Find my damn Arcanum CDs. They have to be around here somewhere...
Honestly, the GOG version was worth the six bucks just to cut down on messing around with patches and such. It was actually the first time I knowingly re-bought a game despite having the disk on hand.
Many moons ago that actually felt strange. Now it just kind of happens when I'm not paying attention.
Find my damn Arcanum CDs. They have to be around here somewhere...
Honestly, the GOG version was worth the six bucks just to cut down on messing around with patches and such. It was actually the first time I knowingly re-bought a game despite having the disk on hand.
Many moons ago that actually felt strange. Now it just kind of happens when I'm not paying attention.
CDs still look nice on a shelf, but the GOG version is a real blessing. If it weren't for Wasteland 2 dropping in a few days I might be tempted to give it another crack (curse you toll bridge goons!)
+2
The Escape Goatincorrigible ruminantthey/themRegistered Userregular
edited September 2014
I was looking through my humble library and it seems I have some overflow codes, figured I might as well toss them over here if someone wants them.
First one is Antichamber, the weird puzzle-platformer anti-'game sense' game thing. Second one is Fez if someone somehow doesn't own Fez by now.
SteevLWhat can I do for you?Registered Userregular
From a few pages back: there were 9 codes, and only one has been taken so far. I'm sure plenty of people grabbed it when it was free last week, but this is the perfect chance to get it now if you missed out!
That reminds me, I grabbed a bunch of gift codes for Warlock: Master of the Arcane last week when they were free. Redeem them ASAP, because they expire next Monday: Loading...?
Find my damn Arcanum CDs. They have to be around here somewhere...
Honestly, the GOG version was worth the six bucks just to cut down on messing around with patches and such. It was actually the first time I knowingly re-bought a game despite having the disk on hand.
Many moons ago that actually felt strange. Now it just kind of happens when I'm not paying attention.
These words you speak, they sound wise.
I shall consider them.
For now, because @CorriganX begged and pleaded and started crying, I decided to give "The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky" a whirl. So far, so cute!
And if it turns out to not be fun, I can just kick Corr in the shins. Win/win!
I was looking through my humble library and it seems I have some overflow codes, figured I might as well toss them over here if someone wants them.
First one is Antichamber, the weird puzzle-platformer anti-'game sense' game thing. Second one is Fez if someone somehow doesn't own Fez by now.
I picked up Fez—guess it's about time I checked it out. Thanks!
Also, it looks like I've got Papers Please, Rock of Ages, Rising Storm, and Zeno Clash in my spares. PM if you want one.
I was looking through my humble library and it seems I have some overflow codes, figured I might as well toss them over here if someone wants them.
First one is Antichamber, the weird puzzle-platformer anti-'game sense' game thing. Second one is Fez if someone somehow doesn't own Fez by now.
Also, reminder: I still have these codes left to give away (and I'll probably have a few more after HIB12 adds its extra games tomorrow): Crusader Kings 2, Gish, Jamestown Deluxe, Orcs Must Die 2 Complete, Sanctum 2, Soundodger+ and its soundtrack, and Terraria. Soundodger especially comes with my highest recommendations.
Just pretend the character's name is "Pink" instead of "Red," and you'll be all set, @Pixelated Pixie.
(What didn't you get? Were you using the space bar to stop time and plot out your moves enough in combat? It can be overwhelming if you play it straight each time. The game's balanced with healthy use of whatever the game calls bullet time. Maybe play until you get to the practice room -- it's not too far in. It helps a lot to have a combat sandbox to try out different combos. Also you unlock more songs by that point. Gorgeous, honey-voiced, lush songs. Oh the music...)
The world/plot/whatever. It didn't make any sense to me. It had that same "not a whole world" vibe I've felt in other games that make it super hard for me to connect/relate in any way.
It could have just been bad timing on my part. I'll give it another whirl.
No you pretty much have it. The world/plot doesn't make sense at all and the game withholds so much critical information that the story is left in shambles. Transistor is like pulling out a 100 piece puzzle and there's only 25 of the blasted things.
Well, I'm over 80% for Tomb Raider. Soon I will begin my ME 1 playthrough on my Monday nights. I have no idea where it is, but I'm
just used the boat to go into the island and to the temple for second time. Met some old warriors that were garding the area, and watch that A-hole traitor die. I knew he was a traitor, that Whitman.
Another game bites the dust! I'm putting "The Book of Unwritten Tales" square in my finished column.
I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by the game- I went into it not expecting that much, but after it was all done, well, I'm satisfied that I got my money's worth out of it.
The story follows three people- the gnome Wilbur, the wood elf Ivo, and the human Nate, as they try to wander off and find a super-powerful magical artifact before the forces of darkness do. It's an adventure game- you need to find the items you need to solve each of the problems that come at you, and you can usually do that with items you find in all the areas you can search. The key thing to this game is to investigate everything, and investigate it until it won't let you anymore or until it starts letting you hear repeat dialogue. Use everything with everything.
The graphics are actually pretty good, and the characters are voiced, which is a nice surprise. The voices are clear and actually understandable- a far cry from other games.
About the only gripe I have is about the characters.
Wilbur's pretty fun to play with- I like his attitude and observations, and I hope we get to meet more of his family in the next game. He comes from a long line of tinkerers, and his grandfather has a few screws loose, but overall, he's a nice guy to play with.
Ivo is your wood elf, the one who pretty much carries the plot square on her back. She's actually one of my favorite characters- snarky when appropriate, doesn't really need to rely on some guy to help her out, and she's seemingly immune to Nate's "charms" and all of his passes at her. To be honest, there need to be more female characters like her in games- confident, able to solve things on her own, not needing to be paired up with some guy just because...
Nate, on the other hand, I could do without. He reminds me more of a Zapp Brannigan-type character, and honestly, he makes me roll my eyes more than once. Pretty much all of his comments are to establish the fact that he considers himself a "manly man" type of character- won't go near anything he doesn't consider manly- instead choosing to mock it, and he's got the emotional density of a smoked ham. There were a couple of instances where his behavior pretty much made me facepalm- just, really, how could he come off like that? I hope he's toned down in the next game, because if he's still pulling the bro act, I might not pick it up.
Gameplay is made up of five chapters- though I think the fifth one was definitely rushed, or sliced off the fourth chapter because it was too long- compare it to the second, third, or fourth chapters in terms of length. I feel like it was a copout- why wasn't this just left attached to the fourth chapter, where the story would flow better?
In the end, though, I still had a lot of fun with it- there are tons of call-outs to many other series if you know what to look for, but the ending... yeah, it's going to leave you more than a bit wanting. I've never been a fan of this type of ending, and it just really feels like they were just looking for a convenient place to end the game rather than a satisfying ending.
Out of ten, I'd give it a "Kind of want". It's a solid game, but... it's not worth the full price they want for it. If it's on sale- thirty percent off or more- then I would say jump on it. I like the series, but... I don't think I could see myself paying thirty bucks for the next installment. Ten, sure. Fifteen, maybe. But thirty? I don't know. But I did get my two bucks out of it, that was for sure.
Rebellion is teasing something about Sniper Elite 3, saying not to buy it today, but to look for friends. Probably a free weekend incoming, or at least a sale.
Divinity: Original Sin is not a short game, in case anyone was wondering.
You mean it isn't a third-person shooter with cover mechanics? You mean the narrative isn't passed to me in pre-digested gobbets, every half hour or so? What are you saying? You mean there are no quick time events?
You mean it doesn't finish after five hours? Who has that kind of time?!
Don't get greedy, don't get greedy, don't ruin the run with greed, don't GET GREEDY TEEMAN DON'T GET GODDAMN GREEDY WHAT THE HELL HAVE I JUST BEEN SAYING OH GREAT NOW LOOK AT THE RUN YOOOOOOOOUUUUUU YOU AND YOUR GREEEEEEED
- A typical Dungeon of the Endless run. The quintessential definition of the expression "cannot leave well enough alone"
Steam sounds awesome, ill definitely have a look when I get a pc up and running...
He hasn't played a videogame in about 5 years, I would guess. Certainly no PC games since then. The last game we were able to co-op together was Gears of War, before we both had kids. The FIRST game we played together was Descent, sharing a keyboard. That's where we each got our handles, when we had to choose pilot names. This is going to be glorious.
Steam sounds awesome, ill definitely have a look when I get a pc up and running...
He hasn't played a videogame in about 5 years, I would guess. Certainly no PC games since then. The last game we were able to co-op together was Gears of War, before we both had kids. The FIRST game we played together was Descent, sharing a keyboard. That's where we each got our handles, when we had to choose pilot names. This is going to be glorious.
What sort of PC-centric games are you looking to bring him up to speed with? I'm sure this thread is up to the task if you're looking to bounce ideas around
Steam sounds awesome, ill definitely have a look when I get a pc up and running...
He hasn't played a videogame in about 5 years, I would guess. Certainly no PC games since then. The last game we were able to co-op together was Gears of War, before we both had kids. The FIRST game we played together was Descent, sharing a keyboard. That's where we each got our handles, when we had to choose pilot names. This is going to be glorious.
What sort of PC-centric games are you looking to bring him up to speed with? I'm sure this thread is up to the task if you're looking to bounce ideas around
I'm prepping a list now, and will share it once it's ready.
@JaysonFour - While I disagree with your tepid approval of Book of Unwritten Tales in a number of ways*, I am particularly flabbergasted that you managed to talk about the game at length and not so much as mention Critter, the best character after Ivo (who really deserves her own spin-off).
*E.G.: How do you manage to not talk about the sheer brilliance of the humor?
If he's at all into South Park, I am going to suggest that The Stick of Truth. Holy crap. I spent 20 minutes in it last night with just a big stupid grin. They captured the tone of the show absolutely perfectly. I cannot wait to play it some more.
I also still have the following codes up for grabs so @f3rret, if you want to make a humble account for you friend, you can just put them all in there. Anyone else is welcome to them too. Just send me a PM.
Hmmm... maybe throw him a link to the thread and an invitation to join us on the forums, as well? I mean, he's missed a lot of PC games, and we can help him separate the Divinities and Unwritten Tales from the Bad Rats and the Deponias.
But if there is giftbombing to be done, I will throw my hat into the ring and tune up the old Gift-A-Pult. Might need to put a bigger payload delivery system on it, if we're launching that much stuff...
I can has cheezburger, yes?
0
Zavianuniversal peace sounds better than forever warRegistered Userregular
First, comes the PC. Then the Steam account, THEN the games. I don't want to claim anything for him now, just in case something falls through with the purchase of the PC.
I'll point him at this thread, but he's not much of one for forums. I can assure you that he is the classiest of gentlemen IRL though.
First, comes the PC. Then the Steam account, THEN the games. I don't want to claim anything for him now, just in case something falls through with the purchase of the PC.
I'll point him at this thread, but he's not much of one for forums. I can assure you that he is the classiest of gentlemen IRL though.
If you gift it, he will come.
Alt-text: Field of Steams
The secret to the Walrus in Carrier Command is in the name. Sure they aren't graceful (or smart), but they get the job done. I think a lot of what feels like bad pathfinding in the game is actually just the way the vehicles perform. Carrier Command does a lot of things that other RTS games don't. The vehicles have a real turning radius and simulated suspension, instead of the spin in place move you'll see in a lot of games. Terrain is really important. Mud and rocks are real obstacles. And the AI won't give you a "Are you kidding" like in Starcraft when you tell them to move through impassable terrain. They just say "OK Boss" and go and get stuck. But when you combine this with some legit pathfinding issues in the game then I think it just creates the impression that the shit be janky yo (as you kids enjoy saying).
Remember, this is the same bunch that made the Arma games. Sure there are clunky bits and all but the game is really reaching for some stuff that I've been dying to see in this style of game for a long time. Action Strategy hybrids of this type are few and far between and I'm hard pressed to think of any that have the scope of Carrier Command. Hostile Waters: Anteus Rising comes close but there is no strategy beyond how you assault each island as you move in a predetermined advance through the island chain. Really fun story and presentation though.
The only thing I've ever played that is genuinely comparable to Carrier Command: Gaea Mission is the original Carrier Command. The biggest difference between them gameplay-wise is that, due to the technological limitations of making a fully 3D strategy-action hybrid game in 1988, all the islands in the original were flat. And rectangular. So capturing each one wasn't the 30-minutes-to-an-hour mini-campaign that is is in CC:GM. So the pace is a bit different.
To completely mangle the old quote, CC:GM's reach exceeds its grasp, but that's what heaven's for.
@RoyceSraphim, I'd very much still call it good and fun. More fun than good, perhaps. I absolutely love it, for all its flaws. But I do come from a place of dearly loving the 26-year-old original too, and there's plenty of its DNA in CC:GM. Even the islands all share names with ones from CC's (actually bigger) archipelago. I can still fire up the old CC and genuinely enjoy it as a brilliant game, without nostalgia factoring in as it usually would with such an old game. It's still brilliant and almost unique.
@Drake, I do like the way you look at it. And the Walrus AI isn't, for me, a game-breaker. If anything, knowing I do need to keep half an eye on them actually involves me more in the minute-to-minute gameplay. It just can get a bit frustrating at times, but I suppose that's a fair trade for everything the game does right.
CC:GM is without doubt one of my favorite games of recent years, it's just that the caveats make it a bit tricky to unreservedly recommend. At least there's a demo, though, and on both its platforms, no less, so that I can recommend to the curious. Games like this are such a rarity.
It's fair to say that the existences of a NEW! Carrier Command and a NEW! Elite are two of my favorite things about gaming at the moment. And since one of those is PC (well, computer) exclusive... well...
EDIT: And there's a NEW!Midwinter coming as well... it's enough to make me weep tears of joy. If there's ever a NEW! Midwinter II, I'll probably just marry my computer.
Finally got around to finishing Metro 2033 Redux. Opinion still stands: this is pretty much the definitive version of 2033 unless the extra graphics make your computer's soul explode. More details on individual changes and improvements under the spoiler, which picks up where I left off at the Archives. Obviously, spoilers for anyone that hasn't finished the game:
- Forgot to mention this last time, but the shambler shotgun now loads properly. In the original game loading from empty only let you slot in five shells, and you had to fire it once before you could get all six in. LL obviously fixed this, and this fix has been applied to the Redux.
- Just to reiterate, it's now possible to stare down the librarians within the Archives, as opposed to them going hostile instantly in the original. I tried this multiple times just to be sure, and despite being detected got through without firing a shot.
- Most cutscenes have been replaced or modified with a first-person perspective; basically you leave Artyom's perspective far less often. This is most noticeable just after the Archives, where you hop in the truck with Ulman and Miller and ride to their surface base at the church.
- The flamethrower sequence on the way to D6 is no longer a turret section. You still have to hold out against nosalises, but you can move around on the train car and, more importantly, the flamethrower is a normal weapon now: it uses fuel and requires being pressurized like the Hellsing/Tihar. Quite a bit of ammo for it too, and the area up through D6 has fuel pickups so I was able to keep using it through to the end of the game.
- 'Dungeon' and 'Cave' are now one big level that stretches from the Rangers' train dropoff to the automated subway car leading to D6.
- Boris' death is less contrived. Rather than a nosalis dropping down in regular gameplay (allowing the player to fruitlessly try shooting it, only to watch it live until it finishes the kill animation), the attack happens while Artyom is opening a gate.
- The tunnels to D6 now feature the bugs from Last Light instead of armored nosalises. Not sure if those guys show up elsewhere or on harder difficulties instead, but the flamethrower was extremely useful here.
- D6 is now one big level, covering the arrival, Biomass, and Separation.
- Activating the air filtration system is much simpler. The generators were still called out at random, but there was no overlap or repetition.
- On the way to the command room, Miller solved the relevant puzzle (activating a cargo tram to force a door open) on his own. Don't remember this happening in the original, will have to double-check.
- Miller's suicide march through the amoebas is now much easier. For starters, it seems only one amoeba spawns per spawn point, making it less likely either of you will be swarmed. The spawners themselves are easy to destroy once you know what to look for, and Miller had no trouble targeting the amoebas coming for him. They also don't come at you from long range, meaning his (still leisurely) path through each section won't trigger a bunch of them on the way. I actually got sloppy here and he took several hits without dying; I'm assuming the harder difficulty modes make this a little more punishing, but it was still a major improvement.
- The lower floor beneath the biomass has been redesigned to be considerably more claustrophobic - while also lowering the total number of spawners. Again, this section was much easier than its original counterpart.
- During the crane sequence I noticed the cabin taking damage from the biomass' attacks. Again, I don't recall this happening in the original - I know it attacks, but I don't recall the cabin being visibly damaged in the process.
- The elevator back to the upper level drops you near the train you came in on, rather than a separate train on one of the lower levels.
- Finally, the tower approach was a lot more manageable. Miller made fewer stops during the watcher assault and seemed to be a better shot, though there was a glitch involving a few stray watchers during the stealth sequence. Although dressed up in better visuals, nothing has been added to the tower itself save for journal entries, and the final nightmare sequence is more or less intact.
By no means comprehensive, but that's everything I came across. If you were wondering whether there would be enough changes to justify buying the game again... well, I suppose that depends what you feel like spending, but in my opinion the changes justified the cost (disclaimer: I bought it prior to release for the 50% discount for having the original). They definitely went further than I thought they would in making improvements, and while it's not without its flaws, there's no question in my mind that 2033 Redux is the superior game.
JaysonFour - While I disagree with your tepid approval of Book of Unwritten Tales in a number of ways, I am particularly flabbergasted that you managed to talk about the game at length and not so much as mention Critter, the best character after Ivo (who really deserves her own spin-off).
Don't get me wrong, oh pink one, I like the game- believe me, I think it's indeed a good solid release- but yes, I might have given it a seven or eight, myself. It's not something to where I'm going to spring for the sequel day-of-release for thirty dollars, but at the same time, if it gets a decent sale, I'll grab it. (It's more of a hesitation to drop thirty dollars on something that may or may not be good enough to be worth the thirty dollars than it is if it's going to be good. I think it will be good, but if they want thirty bucks for it, it better darn well be worth the thirty dollars!)
I guess the humor, while good in places, just didn't click with me all that much. I admit, the World of Businesscraft had me laughing- I mean, what else are people in a fantasy world going to play to blow off steam then a simulated version of our world, complete with tax laws and a solid 9 to 5 job where they have to fill out paperwork for experience points? Maybe I'm just some halfling's avatar, earning experience points for posting on a forum... (If only work was like that, really...) I chuckled at a lot of the in-jokes (a lot of the little incidentals- finding red and blue potions on the first area, the fact that the tavern in Seastone is called the "Prancing Hog Head"- a mashup of the Prancing Pony from LotR and the Hog's Head from the Harry Potter series)- and the fact that while I didn't like the fact Chapter Five was so short, I just now realized the REASON why it was so short- I won't spoil it here, because it takes a little thought to get the joke, but it's a decent one, I'll grant you that much.)
Critter is funny, but she needed more screentime. I thought she was the mascot of the team until you could actually use her for parts of 4 and 5- why was she not let into the Temple to help out there instead of more Wilbur? I guess I ought to have sprung for the DLC... it looks to be more Critter-centric. I think she makes a pretty good character- she would have made a nice change of pace from Wilbur, that's for sure.
I think I should have sprung for the DLC while it was two bucks; the trailers looked pretty funny (gratuitous drunken penguins that may or may not be a Chilly Willy callout!), and more Critter looks like a definite plus but now that it's twenty bucks, well... maybe the next sale. (Like I said about the sequel, I tend to ruminate on purchases above ten dollars- if I'm dropping twenty bucks, it better be worth twenty bucks...)
I guess I never picked up the torch for adventure games. I've never played stuff like Monkey Island, for crying out loud. I'm still working on the first season of Sam and Max on my 360, too...
Maybe it's just my tastes. I'm still getting the sequel, though.
In my continued attempt to push Zachtronics for helping me fix a gaming related computer issue where a handful of other indie studios ignored my pleas entirely ...
If you get the DX:HR Director's Cut on Steam, does it remove the original version and Missing Link from your library assuming you already had them? Or is it effectively a whole new entry?
JaysonFour - While I disagree with your tepid approval of Book of Unwritten Tales in a number of ways, I am particularly flabbergasted that you managed to talk about the game at length and not so much as mention Critter, the best character after Ivo (who really deserves her own spin-off).
Don't get me wrong, oh pink one, I like the game- believe me, I think it's indeed a good solid release- but yes, I might have given it a seven or eight, myself. It's not something to where I'm going to spring for the sequel day-of-release for thirty dollars, but at the same time, if it gets a decent sale, I'll grab it. (It's more of a hesitation to drop thirty dollars on something that may or may not be good enough to be worth the thirty dollars than it is if it's going to be good. I think it will be good, but if they want thirty bucks for it, it better darn well be worth the thirty dollars!)
I guess the humor, while good in places, just didn't click with me all that much. I admit, the World of Businesscraft had me laughing- I mean, what else are people in a fantasy world going to play to blow off steam then a simulated version of our world, complete with tax laws and a solid 9 to 5 job where they have to fill out paperwork for experience points? Maybe I'm just some halfling's avatar, earning experience points for posting on a forum... (If only work was like that, really...) I chuckled at a lot of the in-jokes (a lot of the little incidentals- finding red and blue potions on the first area, the fact that the tavern in Seastone is called the "Prancing Hog Head"- a mashup of the Prancing Pony from LotR and the Hog's Head from the Harry Potter series)- and the fact that while I didn't like the fact Chapter Five was so short, I just now realized the REASON why it was so short- I won't spoil it here, because it takes a little thought to get the joke, but it's a decent one, I'll grant you that much.)
Critter is funny, but she needed more screentime. I thought she was the mascot of the team until you could actually use her for parts of 4 and 5- why was she not let into the Temple to help out there instead of more Wilbur? I guess I ought to have sprung for the DLC... it looks to be more Critter-centric. I think she makes a pretty good character- she would have made a nice change of pace from Wilbur, that's for sure.
I think I should have sprung for the DLC while it was two bucks; the trailers looked pretty funny (gratuitous drunken penguins that may or may not be a Chilly Willy callout!), and more Critter looks like a definite plus but now that it's twenty bucks, well... maybe the next sale. (Like I said about the sequel, I tend to ruminate on purchases above ten dollars- if I'm dropping twenty bucks, it better be worth twenty bucks...)
I guess I never picked up the torch for adventure games. I've never played stuff like Monkey Island, for crying out loud. I'm still working on the first season of Sam and Max on my 360, too...
Maybe it's just my tastes. I'm still getting the sequel, though.
Few notes:
Critter is male. You're forgiven for not realizing this, though. It's more clear in the prequel because half the point of the prequel is Critter-in-love.
The Critter Chronicle prequel is really not worth playing. Especially if you were not sold on Nate, since it's the "All Nate and Critter" story. It just fell flat and wore out its welcome halfway through. I couldn't even bring myself to finish it. Sure, it had some hilarious stuff in the beginning but... the horse was dead by the end of chapter one. Save yer moneys! (although, having said that, the jokes at the expense of the vegan environmentalist might have been worth the price of admission on their own)
SteamWorld Heist is a game about space adventures and survival. Recruit a team of rag-tag robots to explore and scavenge the remains of a destroyed world. Board enemy ships and command your crew in a unique variety of turn-based combat.
The game will be released in spring 2015 on multiple platforms.
If you get the DX:HR Director's Cut on Steam, does it remove the original version and Missing Link from your library assuming you already had them? Or is it effectively a whole new entry?
I guess it's just my tastes showing, I guess. I'll give it another run-through soon and play it again.
Though I will say putting the guard in his place when it came to card games was very, very satisfying. I know too many of those types of people, and it's always a treat to show up a loudmouth.
Posts
The walrus aren't invincible and getting the point where I can kit them out feels like Mechcommander 2 where I was trying to balance my desire for pew pew and dakka dakka for the fact that some might not make it back before I could resupply. There's a terrain element where I could creep the bases faster if I navigated up the sheer cliff faces with these all terrain vehicles. It was a moment where I though, "You know what would be great? If I was doing this in a mech with jump jets."
The Mantas are quite vulnerable to anti air and other things but at the lightest armor and gun level, are useful for zipping around, scouting, picking off the lone defenders that would wear down my offensive, and after my offensive starts, killing anything I want that dying too slow and hitting too hard.
I can really pretend its a MechCommander game and enjoy it, but like Jazz and I said earlier, there is so much that is running loose in the machinery, so many squeaky wheels, that its really hard to call it good and fun. I literally had my offensive stalled because two walrus couldn't pathfind their way around my carrier. A speed up button would have been useful for certain vehicles to travel back to the carrier and retool. But I suppose I should have kept one back at the carrier for options.
Oh, the campaign gets so much better once you've repaired the carrier and unlock the ability to produce shit. Gonna try full strategic mode once I beat the story (which is laughably bad. Chronicles of Riddick is a more riveting experience).
Which reminds me, how long till Vin Deisel and Titan bring us another Riddick game, preferably one where I murder Necromonger after Necromonger and build an army of true believers to take down Vaako the usurper.
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16534
Remember, this is the same bunch that made the Arma games. Sure there are clunky bits and all but the game is really reaching for some stuff that I've been dying to see in this style of game for a long time. Action Strategy hybrids of this type are few and far between and I'm hard pressed to think of any that have the scope of Carrier Command. Hostile Waters: Anteus Rising comes close but there is no strategy beyond how you assault each island as you move in a predetermined advance through the island chain. Really fun story and presentation though.
Honestly, the GOG version was worth the six bucks just to cut down on messing around with patches and such. It was actually the first time I knowingly re-bought a game despite having the disk on hand.
Many moons ago that actually felt strange. Now it just kind of happens when I'm not paying attention.
CDs still look nice on a shelf, but the GOG version is a real blessing. If it weren't for Wasteland 2 dropping in a few days I might be tempted to give it another crack (curse you toll bridge goons!)
First one is Antichamber, the weird puzzle-platformer anti-'game sense' game thing. Second one is Fez if someone somehow doesn't own Fez by now.
Both have been claimed!
Antichamber: https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=8zmnEDPvC3ZzYTre
Fez: https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=wbKxyVKzRwmnzu2V
These words you speak, they sound wise.
I shall consider them.
For now, because @CorriganX begged and pleaded and started crying, I decided to give "The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky" a whirl. So far, so cute!
And if it turns out to not be fun, I can just kick Corr in the shins. Win/win!
I picked up Fez—guess it's about time I checked it out. Thanks!
Also, it looks like I've got Papers Please, Rock of Ages, Rising Storm, and Zeno Clash in my spares. PM if you want one.
Also, reminder: I still have these codes left to give away (and I'll probably have a few more after HIB12 adds its extra games tomorrow): Crusader Kings 2, Gish, Jamestown Deluxe, Orcs Must Die 2 Complete, Sanctum 2, Soundodger+ and its soundtrack, and Terraria. Soundodger especially comes with my highest recommendations.
Really Big Sky
No you pretty much have it. The world/plot doesn't make sense at all and the game withholds so much critical information that the story is left in shambles. Transistor is like pulling out a 100 piece puzzle and there's only 25 of the blasted things.
It was a heck of a lot of classic isometric CRPGing for less than the cost of a burger.
I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by the game- I went into it not expecting that much, but after it was all done, well, I'm satisfied that I got my money's worth out of it.
The story follows three people- the gnome Wilbur, the wood elf Ivo, and the human Nate, as they try to wander off and find a super-powerful magical artifact before the forces of darkness do. It's an adventure game- you need to find the items you need to solve each of the problems that come at you, and you can usually do that with items you find in all the areas you can search. The key thing to this game is to investigate everything, and investigate it until it won't let you anymore or until it starts letting you hear repeat dialogue. Use everything with everything.
The graphics are actually pretty good, and the characters are voiced, which is a nice surprise. The voices are clear and actually understandable- a far cry from other games.
About the only gripe I have is about the characters.
Wilbur's pretty fun to play with- I like his attitude and observations, and I hope we get to meet more of his family in the next game. He comes from a long line of tinkerers, and his grandfather has a few screws loose, but overall, he's a nice guy to play with.
Ivo is your wood elf, the one who pretty much carries the plot square on her back. She's actually one of my favorite characters- snarky when appropriate, doesn't really need to rely on some guy to help her out, and she's seemingly immune to Nate's "charms" and all of his passes at her. To be honest, there need to be more female characters like her in games- confident, able to solve things on her own, not needing to be paired up with some guy just because...
Nate, on the other hand, I could do without. He reminds me more of a Zapp Brannigan-type character, and honestly, he makes me roll my eyes more than once. Pretty much all of his comments are to establish the fact that he considers himself a "manly man" type of character- won't go near anything he doesn't consider manly- instead choosing to mock it, and he's got the emotional density of a smoked ham. There were a couple of instances where his behavior pretty much made me facepalm- just, really, how could he come off like that? I hope he's toned down in the next game, because if he's still pulling the bro act, I might not pick it up.
Gameplay is made up of five chapters- though I think the fifth one was definitely rushed, or sliced off the fourth chapter because it was too long- compare it to the second, third, or fourth chapters in terms of length. I feel like it was a copout- why wasn't this just left attached to the fourth chapter, where the story would flow better?
In the end, though, I still had a lot of fun with it- there are tons of call-outs to many other series if you know what to look for, but the ending... yeah, it's going to leave you more than a bit wanting. I've never been a fan of this type of ending, and it just really feels like they were just looking for a convenient place to end the game rather than a satisfying ending.
Out of ten, I'd give it a "Kind of want". It's a solid game, but... it's not worth the full price they want for it. If it's on sale- thirty percent off or more- then I would say jump on it. I like the series, but... I don't think I could see myself paying thirty bucks for the next installment. Ten, sure. Fifteen, maybe. But thirty? I don't know. But I did get my two bucks out of it, that was for sure.
I can has cheezburger, yes?
Steam profile.
Getting started with BATTLETECH: Part 1 / Part 2
You mean it isn't a third-person shooter with cover mechanics? You mean the narrative isn't passed to me in pre-digested gobbets, every half hour or so? What are you saying? You mean there are no quick time events?
You mean it doesn't finish after five hours? Who has that kind of time?!
#Huff
#Hashtag
#Too-old-for-hashtags
#Send-Help
Goodreads
SF&F Reviews blog
- A typical Dungeon of the Endless run. The quintessential definition of the expression "cannot leave well enough alone"
You are all the classiest of people. I just want to leave you with this:
He hasn't played a videogame in about 5 years, I would guess. Certainly no PC games since then. The last game we were able to co-op together was Gears of War, before we both had kids. The FIRST game we played together was Descent, sharing a keyboard. That's where we each got our handles, when we had to choose pilot names. This is going to be glorious.
What sort of PC-centric games are you looking to bring him up to speed with? I'm sure this thread is up to the task if you're looking to bounce ideas around
I'm prepping a list now, and will share it once it's ready.
*E.G.: How do you manage to not talk about the sheer brilliance of the humor?
I also still have the following codes up for grabs so @f3rret, if you want to make a humble account for you friend, you can just put them all in there. Anyone else is welcome to them too. Just send me a PM.
Antichamber
Basion
Eets Munchies
Limbo
SteamID: edgruberman GOG Galaxy: EdGruberman
But if there is giftbombing to be done, I will throw my hat into the ring and tune up the old Gift-A-Pult. Might need to put a bigger payload delivery system on it, if we're launching that much stuff...
I can has cheezburger, yes?
a few more hours left on this if anyone missed out on the deal last week!
I'll point him at this thread, but he's not much of one for forums. I can assure you that he is the classiest of gentlemen IRL though.
Alt-text: Field of Steams
Steam ID: Good Life
Civ 5 modders fix what's missing in Civ 5! The PC Master Race!
SteamID: edgruberman GOG Galaxy: EdGruberman
The only thing I've ever played that is genuinely comparable to Carrier Command: Gaea Mission is the original Carrier Command. The biggest difference between them gameplay-wise is that, due to the technological limitations of making a fully 3D strategy-action hybrid game in 1988, all the islands in the original were flat. And rectangular. So capturing each one wasn't the 30-minutes-to-an-hour mini-campaign that is is in CC:GM. So the pace is a bit different.
To completely mangle the old quote, CC:GM's reach exceeds its grasp, but that's what heaven's for.
@RoyceSraphim, I'd very much still call it good and fun. More fun than good, perhaps. I absolutely love it, for all its flaws. But I do come from a place of dearly loving the 26-year-old original too, and there's plenty of its DNA in CC:GM. Even the islands all share names with ones from CC's (actually bigger) archipelago. I can still fire up the old CC and genuinely enjoy it as a brilliant game, without nostalgia factoring in as it usually would with such an old game. It's still brilliant and almost unique.
@Drake, I do like the way you look at it. And the Walrus AI isn't, for me, a game-breaker. If anything, knowing I do need to keep half an eye on them actually involves me more in the minute-to-minute gameplay. It just can get a bit frustrating at times, but I suppose that's a fair trade for everything the game does right.
CC:GM is without doubt one of my favorite games of recent years, it's just that the caveats make it a bit tricky to unreservedly recommend. At least there's a demo, though, and on both its platforms, no less, so that I can recommend to the curious. Games like this are such a rarity.
It's fair to say that the existences of a NEW! Carrier Command and a NEW! Elite are two of my favorite things about gaming at the moment. And since one of those is PC (well, computer) exclusive... well...
EDIT: And there's a NEW! Midwinter coming as well... it's enough to make me weep tears of joy. If there's ever a NEW! Midwinter II, I'll probably just marry my computer.
Steam | XBL
- Just to reiterate, it's now possible to stare down the librarians within the Archives, as opposed to them going hostile instantly in the original. I tried this multiple times just to be sure, and despite being detected got through without firing a shot.
- Most cutscenes have been replaced or modified with a first-person perspective; basically you leave Artyom's perspective far less often. This is most noticeable just after the Archives, where you hop in the truck with Ulman and Miller and ride to their surface base at the church.
- The flamethrower sequence on the way to D6 is no longer a turret section. You still have to hold out against nosalises, but you can move around on the train car and, more importantly, the flamethrower is a normal weapon now: it uses fuel and requires being pressurized like the Hellsing/Tihar. Quite a bit of ammo for it too, and the area up through D6 has fuel pickups so I was able to keep using it through to the end of the game.
- 'Dungeon' and 'Cave' are now one big level that stretches from the Rangers' train dropoff to the automated subway car leading to D6.
- Boris' death is less contrived. Rather than a nosalis dropping down in regular gameplay (allowing the player to fruitlessly try shooting it, only to watch it live until it finishes the kill animation), the attack happens while Artyom is opening a gate.
- The tunnels to D6 now feature the bugs from Last Light instead of armored nosalises. Not sure if those guys show up elsewhere or on harder difficulties instead, but the flamethrower was extremely useful here.
- D6 is now one big level, covering the arrival, Biomass, and Separation.
- Activating the air filtration system is much simpler. The generators were still called out at random, but there was no overlap or repetition.
- On the way to the command room, Miller solved the relevant puzzle (activating a cargo tram to force a door open) on his own. Don't remember this happening in the original, will have to double-check.
- Miller's suicide march through the amoebas is now much easier. For starters, it seems only one amoeba spawns per spawn point, making it less likely either of you will be swarmed. The spawners themselves are easy to destroy once you know what to look for, and Miller had no trouble targeting the amoebas coming for him. They also don't come at you from long range, meaning his (still leisurely) path through each section won't trigger a bunch of them on the way. I actually got sloppy here and he took several hits without dying; I'm assuming the harder difficulty modes make this a little more punishing, but it was still a major improvement.
- The lower floor beneath the biomass has been redesigned to be considerably more claustrophobic - while also lowering the total number of spawners. Again, this section was much easier than its original counterpart.
- During the crane sequence I noticed the cabin taking damage from the biomass' attacks. Again, I don't recall this happening in the original - I know it attacks, but I don't recall the cabin being visibly damaged in the process.
- The elevator back to the upper level drops you near the train you came in on, rather than a separate train on one of the lower levels.
- Finally, the tower approach was a lot more manageable. Miller made fewer stops during the watcher assault and seemed to be a better shot, though there was a glitch involving a few stray watchers during the stealth sequence. Although dressed up in better visuals, nothing has been added to the tower itself save for journal entries, and the final nightmare sequence is more or less intact.
By no means comprehensive, but that's everything I came across. If you were wondering whether there would be enough changes to justify buying the game again... well, I suppose that depends what you feel like spending, but in my opinion the changes justified the cost (disclaimer: I bought it prior to release for the 50% discount for having the original). They definitely went further than I thought they would in making improvements, and while it's not without its flaws, there's no question in my mind that 2033 Redux is the superior game.
Don't get me wrong, oh pink one, I like the game- believe me, I think it's indeed a good solid release- but yes, I might have given it a seven or eight, myself. It's not something to where I'm going to spring for the sequel day-of-release for thirty dollars, but at the same time, if it gets a decent sale, I'll grab it. (It's more of a hesitation to drop thirty dollars on something that may or may not be good enough to be worth the thirty dollars than it is if it's going to be good. I think it will be good, but if they want thirty bucks for it, it better darn well be worth the thirty dollars!)
I guess the humor, while good in places, just didn't click with me all that much. I admit, the World of Businesscraft had me laughing- I mean, what else are people in a fantasy world going to play to blow off steam then a simulated version of our world, complete with tax laws and a solid 9 to 5 job where they have to fill out paperwork for experience points? Maybe I'm just some halfling's avatar, earning experience points for posting on a forum... (If only work was like that, really...) I chuckled at a lot of the in-jokes (a lot of the little incidentals- finding red and blue potions on the first area, the fact that the tavern in Seastone is called the "Prancing Hog Head"- a mashup of the Prancing Pony from LotR and the Hog's Head from the Harry Potter series)- and the fact that while I didn't like the fact Chapter Five was so short, I just now realized the REASON why it was so short- I won't spoil it here, because it takes a little thought to get the joke, but it's a decent one, I'll grant you that much.)
Critter is funny, but she needed more screentime. I thought she was the mascot of the team until you could actually use her for parts of 4 and 5- why was she not let into the Temple to help out there instead of more Wilbur? I guess I ought to have sprung for the DLC... it looks to be more Critter-centric. I think she makes a pretty good character- she would have made a nice change of pace from Wilbur, that's for sure.
I think I should have sprung for the DLC while it was two bucks; the trailers looked pretty funny (gratuitous drunken penguins that may or may not be a Chilly Willy callout!), and more Critter looks like a definite plus but now that it's twenty bucks, well... maybe the next sale. (Like I said about the sequel, I tend to ruminate on purchases above ten dollars- if I'm dropping twenty bucks, it better be worth twenty bucks...)
I guess I never picked up the torch for adventure games. I've never played stuff like Monkey Island, for crying out loud. I'm still working on the first season of Sam and Max on my 360, too...
Maybe it's just my tastes. I'm still getting the sequel, though.
I can has cheezburger, yes?
Interesting. Because... reasons.
Steam | XBL
Steam | XBL
Few notes:
Critter is male. You're forgiven for not realizing this, though. It's more clear in the prequel because half the point of the prequel is Critter-in-love.
The Critter Chronicle prequel is really not worth playing. Especially if you were not sold on Nate, since it's the "All Nate and Critter" story. It just fell flat and wore out its welcome halfway through. I couldn't even bring myself to finish it. Sure, it had some hilarious stuff in the beginning but... the horse was dead by the end of chapter one. Save yer moneys! (although, having said that, the jokes at the expense of the vegan environmentalist might have been worth the price of admission on their own)
It's just one more game for the pile.
Gamertag: PrimusD | Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
Though I will say putting the guard in his place when it came to card games was very, very satisfying. I know too many of those types of people, and it's always a treat to show up a loudmouth.
I can has cheezburger, yes?