Holiday Game Sales

December 30, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

This is the traditional time of year for game sales.  Sam and I have been salivating, picking up all sort of games for a pittance.  We both got a mix of indie games, mainstream blockbusters, and some oddities here and there.  So far my favorite is Sleeping Dogs, which makes me feel like I'm in some asian action movie.  It's essentially Grand Theft Auto in Hong Kong, with the atmosphere to go with it.  As usual with the genre, I can run around in silly outfits if I want to.  Sam and I also picked up some 4X space games, and played a bit.  Sam got an interesting indie game that involves exploring an island and researching plants for a plague cure.  I think he likes the realism.

Dark Souls

December 05, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

I've been playing a variety of games lately, as has Sam.  First off was finishing up X-Com, which was quite satisfying.  The original is always a classic, but this one had greatly improved graphics and the gameplay felt pretty well streamlined.  My favorite part was the stories that came out of the game, and how I could name and customize my troops.  Because of this, Denziel Washington saved the planet.  Thanks, Denziel.

I also finished up the Walking Dead, and had Sam play it too.  I hesitate to call it an adventure game, though I guess that's what it technically is.  The main strength is how it draws you into the game, and the intensity of the difficult choices you have to make.  The main character ends up having to take care of a nine year-old girl.  Even Sam got choked up and emotional at the very end.

My latest obsession is Dark Souls, which I've played far less than Sam, but still continue to sink tons of time into.  It's incredibly hard and long-ranging.  Sam's finished it multiple times, and likes to watch me play, berating my sad skills as I go.  I'm getting better, though some of the fights continue to be incredibly hard.  Never have I had so much fun playing such a brutal game.  It can be quite pretty sometimes, though.

X-Com

November 17, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

There's a new X-Com game that came out recently, a remake of the classic "fight against the alien invaders" game.  There are mysterious UFOs you can shoot down, a team of crack soldiers you can advance in rank, base building, research of alien technology, and of course tactical fights against the foe themselves.

I'm having an especially good time naming soldiers after various family members.  Emma ended up in a support role, especially good at tazering aliens to bring back for interrogation.  Sam's a heavy, blowing up buildings with his rocket launcher.  More than once he's saved my team's bacon.

It looked grim for awhile, but I think things are improving.

Zombies, Spaceships, and Wastelands

September 21, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

As usual, I have more games than time these days.  Sam's been playing Lost Souls constantly, badgering me to play.  I've seen the many hours he's put into the game, and sadly realize that those days are behind me.

FTL arrived last weekend, a cute indie game that's all about spaceships in trouble.  As you jump across the galaxy being chased by the rebel fleet, you run into pirates, aliens, and other odd things.  Ships get upgraded.  Your crew becomes more skilled or eaten by space spiders.  It's incredibly hard, even on easy, and I've yet to win the game.

The Walking Dead is a mostly adventure game based on the comic book series of the same name.  You end up surviving a zombie apocalypse and taking care of a little girl.  Mostly the gameplay involves making really hard decisions, along with building empathy for all the characters.  Some of the choices are really hard, and I occasionally need a break after making them.

Borderlands 2 came out a few days ago, a cartoonish shooter that doesn't take itself too seriously.  I'm waiting for Sam, Matt, and Josh to get it so we can all play together.  In the meantime, I'm building up a character so I can be vaugely helpful.

DayZ

June 17, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

There's a new zombie mod called DayZ that I've been playing lately.  This started as a quick test to see if I could record my voice while playing.  That part worked fairly well.  As to how I faced against the zombies, I'll let you decide for yourself.

Game Roundup

June 11, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

Minecraft continues to be a main game in our household, three years after the first alpha came out.  Emma and Duncan's friends get on "the family server" and putter about.  What was once Sam's elegant city has been somewhat transformed by the attention.  I'm attaching a couple renders to give a sense of the thing.

Sam gave up on Max Payne 3 and I "bought" the game used from him, with him logging in with his credentials on my computer.  I'm not especially thrilled either.  Like Sam, I agree that the save checkpoints are too far apart.

He did cajole me to buy Arma 2, which I did yesterday.  I think the game started life as a military simulator, and Sam has been having fun with the scenario editor.  He'll then have us fly in via helicopter, trying to take out the AA guns before they get us.  We sometimes manage to land the thing after the engines get shot out, which is a common occurence.  Sam's also tried his hand at landing a troop transport on an airstrip while I ride in back.  I had to keep reminding him about the landing gear.

In any case, it's a fun sandbox game-like thing.  I suggested we play more tonight, but Sam was inspired to get back to programming.

Mass Effect and Portal 2

May 22, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

I finished up Mass Effect 3 over the weekend.  I had really low expectations, but generally found the game enjoyable.  I certainly understand the complaints - your choices seem a little hampered and the endings all seemed similar.  I do look forward to the new ending DLC that supposedly clears things up.  Still, it was fun flying around the galaxy, despite its flaws.

Both Duncan and Sam have gotten into Portal 2 lately.  It seems that I'm either playing with one or the other when I'm able to.  Duncan is surprisingly good at cooperatively solving the puzzles, even if I nudge him in the right direction.  Sam is wicked smart and sees the solution before I do much of the time.  Last night we were playing the new DLC, which was pretty challenging.  We were at the end and he kept telling me to portal myself over and I just didn't get it.  Finally he grabbed my mouse in frustration and zipped me over.  The ending was pretty amusing and satisfying after wracking our brains for so long.

I'm getting back to some older games.  Sam tells me I have to play Metro 2033, which is both Russian and post-apocalyptic, two of his favorite genres.

Wakey Wakey

April 22, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

I continue to fight the forces of darkness in Alan Wake.  I think I'm about 3/4ths of the way through the game.  There are some somewhat humorous elements in the game, and I'm especially fond of the main town with it's amusing annual festivities.

While it's not the best game ever, I do enjoy playing something in a genre I don't usually partake of.  The other game I'm playing somewhat in parallel is the Legends of Grimlock.  It's an old school dungeon crawler.  I'm currently wandering around hallways filled with puzzles and glowing slimes.

Alan Wake

April 10, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

I picked up a few different video games that were on sale this last week.  Metro 2033 is an interesting Russian post-apocalyptic game that Sam recommended.  Alan Wake is a psychological horror game with literary elements.  I'm really getting into the latter, armed with a flashlight and battling the darkness that threatens the sleepy Pacific Northwest town of Bright Falls.

I'm slowly playing through an Indie platformer called Capsized.  The physics gameplay is fairly fun.

I also threw my money at some Kickstarter campaigns for upcoming games for developers I fondly remember from my past.  One made the pre-Fallout Wasteland and plan on making Wasteland 2.  The other worked on classic adventures like Full Throttle, Monkey Island, and Psychonauts.  Here's wishing them the best.

LA Noire

February 13, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

I've been enjoying LA Noire, playing a detective in 1940s Los Angeles.  The gameplay consists of finding clues, talking to suspects, and occasionally running/driving/shooting my way to a conclusion.  The stories are quite interesting, and I particularly enjoy the immersion into the time period.  Occasionally I find myself wandering around town in my car, or stepping out to look at a store front. 

There's not all that much to do, other than the major cases or minor street crimes that sprout up around town.  Still, I'm enjoying that sense of belonging and the emotional stories that draw me in.

Batman (and Catwoman)

January 08, 2012 by Adam in Adam's Games

I finished up Batman: Arkham Asylum a month or so ago, and recently finished the sequel Arkham City.  I think it's one of my top games of the year, which seems odd as the "fighting game" genre really isn't my favorite.  I think it's because it's loaded with all manner of other gameplay elements, from stealth to detective work to puzzle solving.  The characters are traditional over-the-top DC comics characters.  Roaming through Arkham City under the light of the full moon really makes one feel like the Dark Knight.

Plus you can play as Catwoman occasionally, and she's fun to look at.