I have, once again, accumulated a large list of completed games that I couldn't possibly go through one by one and will give a simple review for each one.
[The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing - PC]
Genre: Top-down, Point-n-click, Action-RPG
Recommended: Yes
Van Helsing was a surprising entry into my list of games and one that I enjoyed. The game's short and offers limited character builds compared to most Diablo-esque games, but delivers a satisfying experience with easy drop-in/drop-out online multiplayer. The witty dialogue between Katarina and Van Helsing, the subtle yet beautifully memorable melodies of the music, and flashy animations of all the destruction that is done made for an entertaining Action-RPG experience.
[Alan Wake - PC]
Genre: 3rd-Person Shooting Adventure
Recommended: Yes
Alan Wake is a lot more than what I expected. The compelling story and challenging action aspects of the game kept the game interesting and the player wondering the entire way through.
[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]
Genre: Hack-n-Slash, Action-RPG
Recommended: Maybe, Yes if you can find 2 other friends to play with you.
The game isn't entirely deep in terms of RPG or Story, but it does provide an exciting and satisfying Action Hack-n-Slash experience with the ability to cut off limbs and head as finishers. It was a mildly entertaining experience that was more fun when playing with a friend than solo.
[Kung-Fu Strike: The Warrior's Rise - PC]
Genre: Arena Fighter, Beat-em-Up
Recommended: No
I really want to recommend this game as it has some of the best Martial Arts animation I've seen in a game as well as some tight "perfect blocking" mechanics; however, the game is severely flawed to the point where even the easiest difficulty was impossible to complete. Rather than a traditional Beat-em-Up where you progress forward, the game plays much like an Arena Fighter where the player fights off mobs of enemies in a small room. It was an entertaining and hysterical game after I found a cheat to play it, but it's not worth playing through legitimately.
[Legend of Fae - PC]
Genre: Puzzle, RPG
Recommended: Maybe
I did find the game to be really fun, but certain enemies and bosses were so frustrating, tedious and difficult that it didn't seem satisfying even after over coming them. The game is rather challenging considering that it's listed as a casual game, but it was better for most of the game (not the boss battles). I would mainly be able to recommend the game to those who specifically like Puzzle/RPG hybrids as the game seems too difficult for casual gamers to enjoy and too child-like themed for most core gamers.
[Mark of the Ninja - PC]
Genre: Stealth, Action-Platformer
Recommended: Yes
Although there is some familiarity to the developer's previous work "Shank", the game really stands out on its own and a great job of creating a stealth game in 2D form. The game is challenging, thought-provoking, and satisfying when a tactic or plan comes together. It also accommodates to many different play-styles such as playing carefully and passively with stealth and no kills, being mischievous using trickery and tactics, or aggressive with straight-up massacre.
[McPixel - PC]
Genre: Adventure
Recommended: No
McPixel presents the player with a series of clicking Mini-games to save the day. Often times, clicking the wrong object causes odd or hilarious events to happen. Its novelty runs dry very quickly and each minute I spent on the game made it feel like my IQ was dropping. The game is very obscure with a lot of crude humor that was non-nonsensical with absolutely no challenge as everything is trial and error.
[God Mode - PC]
Genre: 3rd-Person Shooter
Recommended: No
Although I had fun with the game, it's not one I could easily recommend to friends. The game is obviously made for cooperative online multiplayer, but the game suffers from the inability to match-make correctly or at all which results in a lot of players playing solo. Although combat is not deep, the mechanics are simple, straight-forward, and satisfying. The game is quite challenging and has a decent amount of weapons and modifiers from "Test of Faiths" to keep it interesting. Sadly, solo play does get old and not being able to play multiplayer does provide very little to offer in replay value.
[Eternal Sonata - PS3]
Genre: Action Turn-Based RPG
Recommended: Yes
Some may complain that the game is too preachy. Some may not like how repetitive and short the game is for an RPG. But for me, the game had a nice steady flow in progressing with little to no grinding required, a decent story, and a entertaining combat experience. Along with my love for Chopin, the music by Motoi Sakuraba made for a wonderful music experience. Fans of the Tales series would probably enjoy this game.
[Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce - PS3]
Genre: Action Hack-n-Slash
Recommended: No
I love Dynasty Warriors and I thought this spin-off had a lot of fun ideas and mechanics that really deviated from the main series in an interesting way. Being able to fly around fighting Lu Bu while going into Super Saiyan mode DBZ style was so ridiculously awesome that I thought for sure this would be a great game. Sadly, I started to see how the worked and didn't like where it was headed. Essentially, the game is short and was originally made for the PSP (handheld) and thus was designed all around a LOT of grinding and replaying levels over and over again. The game was also meant to be played with 4-players with the PS3 version providing online play. I didn't think anyone would play it anymore considering how late I got it from release date, but surprisingly I connected to one other player who helped me defeat Lu Bu because it was impossible in one of the stages I was at. Still, the game was a massive grind and it was difficult to enjoy when it meant playing the same level over and over again. Certain mechanics such as air dashes and wielding two different weapons was eventually implemented into the main series which made me happy.
[Call of Juarez: Gunslinger - PC]
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Recommended: Yes
The last Call of Juarez I played was Bound in Blood, and that game was kind of slow near the end. Not so with Gunslinger. The unique story telling with the player re-enacting all that is being told, exaggerated and changed was really interesting in terms of a narrative. The gameplay was fast-paced and offered various ways of playing depending on what skills/weapons were picked up along the way. The one thing I didn't like was dueling. I hated it in Bound in Blood, and I still don't like it in Gunslinger. Overall, the game does feel fluid, challenging, and exciting. The game doesn't have a multiplayer mode, but it does provide a decent single-player experience for the cheap price of what it's asking for.
[The King of Fighters 13 - PS3]
Genre: 2D Fighter
Recommended: Yes
I was saddened by the smaller roster than what I'm used to in the KoF series, but I was also pleasantly surprised by the over all feel, refinement and quality of the game and its characters. Despite the usual characters and move sets being present, the game does feel rather fresh. The backdrops and character animations are gorgeous while still retaining the overall atmosphere of the long running series. As much as I like this iteration, I'm hoping they bring back more characters in the next game.
[Tekken Tag Tournament 2 - PS3]
Genre: 3D Fighter
Recommended: Yes
The roster contains characters new and old with an array of customizations for your favorite one. TTT2 definitely is the definitive version of a Tekken game it can get with a highly balanced character roster, shiny graphics, and super smooth frame rates. Also capable of playing up to 4 players.
[Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition - PS3]
Genre: 2D Fighter with 3D Graphics (2.5D Fighter)
Recommended: Yes
Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition held up pretty well as the definitive iteration of the game until Capcom announced Ultra Street Fighter IV at EVO this year. At this point, there are two things you can do if you want to play Street Fighter IV: Buy this version and upgrade to Ultra with ($15 supposedly) or you can wait until Ultra releases and just buy that to have the definitive version of SFIV until they decide to milk us some more. But overall, SSF4AE has everything one would want for a Street Fighter.
[Cave Story+ - PC]
Genre: 2D Action-Adventure Platformer
Recommended: Yes
I mainly bought the plus version to support Daisuke Amaya in his creation of a masterpiece. Cave Story+ mainly adds an "HD" graphics which doesn't improve the game as most people find the original graphics to be part of the charm of the game while there are two other music selections besides the original: New and Remastered. "New" changes the songs up a bit and might not sound that great to those who are already used to the originals while "Remastered" is a recreation of the originals that change very little to structure and is more of an instrument change. Cave Story+ also adds challenges and a boss rush mode to the game. Even if you don't pick up this game, go and download the original for free and play it. It truly is a masterpiece of a game that's reminiscent of classic NES games like Metroid and Megaman.
[Street Fighter X Tekken - PC]
Genre: 2D Fighter
Recommended: Maybe
If anything, it's probably better to grab the PS3 or Xbox 360 version of the game as the PC version no longer has anyone playing online. For me, I generally play against computer AI or with friends. The game is an interesting cross up of Street Fighter and Tekken with a lot of flashy abilities and techniques that can be used against your opponent. It's also annoying having to go through Games for Windows Live every time I want to play. Gamepad detect is no problem at all. I've used both gamepad and fightstick and was able to configure the controls with ease. Although the game can be played competitively (featured at EVO the past 2 years), it'll be probably more enjoyable to those who don't play as intensely.
[Sniper Elite Nazi Zombie Army - PC]
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Recommended: Maybe
The game isn't very deep and can be considered very repetitive to some players; however, it was straight-forward and mostly enjoyable for me. Using a sniper rifle against Zombies doesn't seem to be the most practical method of taking them down, but it is pretty satisfying seeing the bullet travel in slow motion as it breaks and tear the legions of the undead apart. The game can be played 4-player cooperatively online on higher difficulty settings and make for an interesting multiplayer experience, but the game is mostly about kiting and fetching items still. It'd definitely be fun to play with 3 other friends while on voice chat though.
[Way of the Samurai 3 - PS3]
Genre: Action-RPG, Simulation
Recommended: No
I've waited so long to get any one of the Way of the Samurai games in the series, and I had finally gotten the third one. I did have some fun with it, but it's simply not a game for everyone. The game is very open-ended and does little to teach you how to play (on purpose) so that you can explore, experiment and learn along the way. You pretty much try your best to be a Samurai by not killing people unless you really need to, helping others, and fight for a cause you believe in. The first few hours were a confusing mix of doing odd jobs that were either dumb, boring, frustrating, or pointless. I then learned that it was just method of earning money rather than to progress the story. A number of decisions can affect the outcome of a playthrough and give one of over 20 different endings. If you have the patience, don't mind poor quality development (graphics, sounds, animation, etc.), then the game can be rather entertaining and even memorable in some events. I found the ridiculous nature and hilarity that can come about from screwing around in the game to be some of the most fun I had in the game. But other than that, I'd say the game caters to a very niche group of players.
[Skullgirls - PC]
Genre: 2D Fighter
Recommended: Yes
I have ignored Skullgirls up till now and eventually Pre-ordered it when I found out it was going to release on PC. I've heard a lot about the comprehensive tutorial and how great it was and I finally understood why. It teaches all the most fundamental basics of a 2D fighter to the player that no other Fighter teaches and thus allows the player to use the same basics and bring them to any other 2D fighter and have an easier time to learn how to play. Story mode is rather short, but it does provide some personality behind each character. There isn't a versus mode against AI and so Single-player only has Story Mode and Arcade Mode to rely on. I kind of wish there was an endless mode or survival mode of some sort for Single-player. The game is a lot of fun and runs really smoothly online. Combos are pretty easy to pull off compared to most fighting games. This game is a must for those who want to get into Fighting games and hasn't played one before.
[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl - PC]
Genre: First-Person Shooter, Survival
Recommended: Yes
If you're bored with linear First-Person Shooters that shuffle you from one point to the next, you should definitely check out STALKER. This open-world, first-person shooter, survival game was a fresh experience with lots of non-linear gameplay providing a lot of side-quests, bonus items to find, and all sorts of loot to gather and manage. The elements in the game resemble a lot of what made DayZ popular: open world exploration, looting enemies, finding food and drinks to stay satiated, etc. Surprisingly, there are still people playing the game online which is the closest to resembling DayZ. There are two iterations in the series that follow this that I'm looking forward to playing once I find the time.
[Bleed - PC]
Genre: Run-n-Gun Platformer
Recommended: Yes
The game's not particularly long nor is it very expensive ($5), but it was really fun. The game tries to capture the charm and difficulty of classic run-n-gun games in a fast-paced action environment with lots of enemies, the ability to air-dash and slow down time, and tough boss fights. The game can be played 2-player cooperatively as well if you attach a controller. The game can be incredibly challenging on higher difficulty settings.
[Cortex Command - PC]
Genre: Sandbox, Action, Strategy
Recommended: Maybe
It's not a very straight-forward game and is very conceptual. Once you figure out how the game works, it's really up to you to "make" it fun. A lot of the controls for moving and shooting are pretty clunky and unruly. This is what usually makes it frustrating for most players. Still, there is a lot that the player can do and can provide a lot of entertainment for those patient enough to build their level and rules to fit the scenario they want to play.
[Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara - PC]
Genre: Beat-em-Up
Recommended: Maybe
A port into the modern generation, Chronicles of Mystara brings the classic Arcade, Dungeons & Dragons, beat-em-up "Tower of Doom" and "Shadow Over Mystara" to the modern generation consoles free of the need to keep stuffing in quarters. I have never played the originals, so this was a fresh experience for me. I understood why it was so revered as I played through the game: multiple story/level paths, collectible equipment, various skills and items to utilize, challenging and memorable bosses, and 4-player cooperative multiplayer. This port allows online cooperative play, but sadly no one plays it anymore (I was able to join 2 games during the first day I bought it during a sale). Then there's playing 4-players locally. The problem is that it didn't recognize any of my controllers which leads me to think that it only uses Xbox 360 controllers like a lot of PC games nowadays. Because of these two factors, I couldn't easily recommend this game as most beat-em-ups are more fun with more people.
[Sacred Citadel - PC]
Genre: Beat-em-Up
Recommended: Maybe
Sacred Citadel has the same exact two problems as D&D: Chronicles of Mystara: No one plays online anymore and it only recognizes Xbox 360 controllers. Even beyond that, the game offers little in variety. Although there are specials moves and abilities, the most effective strategy is to trap all the enemies in a corner and repeatedly stun-lock them there. The game would definitely be a different experience and be a lot more entertaining if you played multiplayer as other strategies come into play with multiple players.
[Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 - PC]
Genre: Platformer
Recommended: No
Sonic 4 tries very hard to capture the magic and nostalgia of the original trilogy but fails to do so in the most important factors. The levels resemble very closely to other levels in past Sonic games such as the first level, the Casino zone, and the Mechanical laboratory. Some of the backdrop really are impressive, but some of the other aspects in terms of graphics just didn't do very well for gameplay. Animation, in particular, causes Sonic seemly move slower, feel heavier and clunky, and some of the hit-box detection really doesn't match up with the model. A lot of the gimmicks and level designs also really slow down the flow of the game. There's also a lot of points in the game where unexpected things happen. The very last boss was nothing but unexpected things one after another. If it weren't for the fact that I had a few dozen lives by then, I would have been furious having to start over that level every time just to figure out what the heck Dr. Robotnik/Eggman was going to do next. I did not enjoy Sonic 4 very much.
[Monaco - PC]
Genre: Action, Strategy
Recommended: Absolutely, If you can find friends to play with
As a single-player game, Monaco is just challenging and rather frustrating. But playing with friends really changes the game. Hilarity and shenanigans ensue as you and your friends try to coordinate a plan to sneak into buildings, steal money, and get out alive as traps, alarms, guards, and dogs cause all sorts of havoc. Unfortunately, the game uses Xbox 360 controllers for local I think since my gamepads weren't recognized in the game. But online multiplayer with my friends really was a lot of fun. The game is also compatible with the Steam Workshops which presents an infinite amount of possibilities for the game in the future.
[Rush Bros. - PC]
Genre: Platformer, Racing
Recommended: No
What really got me interested in Rush Bros. is that it featured music from Infected Mushroom. It takes music and matches the levels moving parts, traps and doors to the beat as the player races through it to get to the goal. At first, the game is pretty solid with a lot of potential for speed runners playing competitively. But as I got to the later levels, most all the levels I came across involved a lot of traps, getting lost while trying to find keys to a locked door, mechanics that took the player back where they were 1-2 minutes ago, and showed how flawed some of controls in the game were. What's more, a lot of the levels didn't follow the beats of a song correctly which made it ridiculously hard to predict the pattern of certain traps. There were even a few level I found that were impossible to complete. I don't mean to say "very difficult", I literally mean impossible as it presented no form or method to get across certain points. The game has some good ideas, but the game overall is highly unrefined and broken.
Whew, that's it for now.
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