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Reviews by faraany3k
Dwarfs!? not Dwarvesfaraany3k | Sept. 7, 2011 | Review of Dwarfs - PC
Dwarfs is a little indie title which is extremely addictive and fun. The premise is simple and is easy to pick and play. We are basically in control of a Dwarven camp that spawns small Dwarfs after sometime that dig the environments around the playing field for gold. We can direct these dwarves around by changing there direction. But the control is limited and manually controlling a dwarf costs money. We need to protect these dwarfs by spawning different classes of dwarfs that counter the environmental hazards like dungeons with monsters that kill our dwarves. There are many environmental hazards like flooding of your base, bosses and lavas. And you need to counter them all while getting more gold as you progress. Dwarfs! Also features a loads of gaming modes that lets you customize your gameplay experience. There is also a campaign mode which is effectively a set of challenges and a detailed Tutorial. Game also includes an extensive STATS system that lets you compare your STATS with the whole community. This create a whole level of repeatability and challenge to improve and rank higher in the leader-board. Graphically game is a 2D top down game reminiscent of old strategy games. But by design and artsytle it looks wonderful. Game is not very challenging, but is immensely addictive as digging for more gold never gets boring. A great indie game that is extremely addictive and a must have at an amazing asking price.
Zombie smashingfaraany3k | Sept. 6, 2011 | Review of Killing Floor - PC
Killing Floor is a first person shooter game that is focused primarily on Coop play. Although game can be played in solo mode but the actual fun is to play with friends. Killing Floor relies on a working and collaborating team that has to take down waves after waves of zombies like in a survival mode. Killing floor is not your average zombie game where we take out zombies without any though. Infact killing floor is far from a mindless shooter. Zombies come in many different types, some are agile and kill you instantly, while others are slow but can take a lot of damage, and still there are those who stun you and take you down from the shadows. Most of them only take a second to kill you if they get close enough. Action here is extremely tense and challenging. And if you don't have a collaborating team, you end up dead pretty fast. After each WAVE that we clear, there is a small 'Preparation' period where we buy guns, Armour and support equipment for the next WAVE. The money is earned through killing more zombies. This works exactly like the BUY option in Counter Strike between rounds. The only difference is we can share our money with our team mates. The shop has all sorts of weapons like trusty old Ak47,Magnum or bizarre weapons like a crossbow. Graphically game is not very attractive as this game started as a mod. So most of the tech feels dated but the artstyle and maps are extremely atmospheric and gore filled. Sound design is also moody and creepy and gets the job done really fine As the game is mainly COOP based, if you are planning on playing it solo it might disappoint a little, but with friends it an absolute blast. There are tons of official and community maps. Game is regularly updated with newer patches and community events. It is fairly popular game with lots of players playing it almost every time of day. A great game at an affordable price.
Left 4 Magickafaraany3k | Sept. 4, 2011 | Review of Magicka Marshlands DLC - PC
This is one of the most fun and enjoyable DLC. Arrowhead tried to bring the familiar flavor of Left 4 Dead or other zombie survival games where we hold off waves of enemies. Each wave comes with an increased level of difficulty. The marshland map itself is expertly made and provides lots of space to maneuver and come up with different experience everytime you play. Its a great addition to your Magicka DLC collection and is a must have DLC for all avid Magicka fans.
Classesfaraany3k | Sept. 4, 2011 | Review of Magicka Reservoir Robe - PC
Magicka shipped with little or no character customization. Basically all of the Mages which we play are identical and game comes down to our use of magicks. Magicka: Party Robes is bringing back that sense of character customization by letting us chose our class. Robes are sort of a class system where our choice of robe will let us play like a TANK that absorbs lots of damage but moves slower, a ROGUE that has a critical damage boost and moves faster, lastly support class is an all round class with balanced stats. It is an interesting DLC and gives Coop portion of the game a lot more variation. But it hardly affects the single player campaign. So if you are playing Magicka with friends. This is a must have DLC.
More of the samefaraany3k | Sept. 4, 2011 | Review of Dawn of Magic 2 - PC
If you have played Dawn of Magic 1. There is very little to distinguish between the two. Games graphics engine is same as before, and story hasn't been dramatically improved. Most of the improvements are gameplay focused. If you like the specialization options from the first part you will love to see inclusion of more options. There is more loot available this time around. Many new types of enemies and environments have been introduced. There were some balancing and difficulty issues in the first part. Most of these issues have been fixed and Dawn of Magic 2 is a much superior and solid experience this time around.
Action Rpgfaraany3k | Sept. 4, 2011 | Review of Dawn of Magic - PC
Dawn of Magic is an action RPG like Diablo or if you play MMOs its like Rise of Immortals. You start off by selecting a character, and then select its specialization as to which type of Mage you want to be. There is fair amount of depth here. After entering the game you play from a third person view, which is more of a isometric view because it is zoomed back a little. As you progress through the game you unlock many new abilities by defeating many magical creatures. There are lots of customization involved here. But games graphics and storyline are extremely underwhelming. Although environments are great and varied but color palette and art style is completely uninspiring and looks ugly. Storyline is fairly cliched where you need to eradicate the world from a great evil. There is fair amount of RPG fun here but ultimately its too stereotypical of the genre and you might have played a game like this many times before. But if you are interested in a fun little RPG game for a while,Dawn of Magic is a great game for its current low price of 5 dollars.
Superbike funfaraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Crescent Suzuki Racing - PC
Crescent Suzuki Racing is a Superbike racing game with lots of content and polished controls. All the superbikes handle in semi-arcade fashion and provide immaculate fun experience. There is a decent amount of learning curve here as for a newcomer, handling a bike around corners is a skill and require perfect timing and practice. Animations, superbikes and environments are all very well done. Graphics are a little old but still quite serviceable Game features fairly large number of tracks and lots of bikes which can be played both in Solo mode and Head to Head mode with a friend. If you are low on cash and want some Superbike racing action Crescent Suzuki Racing is a right choice for you.
Vintagefaraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Golden Age of Racing - PC
Golden Age of Racing is a game based on racing cars of the 60's era. Although this is an interesting setting, but from a gaming point of view it is pretty useless. Firstly game doesn't look good. Graphically tracks feel empty and unimaginative, though cars are faithfully created with even support an in-car camera that helps to create a sense of realism. As this game is depicting an era where cars were not so fast, it really gets boring to play a racing game which isn't able to convey a sense of speed. Everything is so slow and gets boring real fast. Car handling is also more of a chore then actually fun, its uneven and those of you who are looking for some fast speeding roadsters will be greatly disappointed. Game supports a split screen mutiplayer and a number of different game modes that are fun if played with a friend.The game is strictly for vintage car fans. Serious racing fans should look elsewhere.
Not so greatfaraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Space Siege - PC
Space Siege is your average isometric shooter game. You are on a ship alone and now you need to save all the humanity, on the expense of your own. We control the protagonist with keyboard, and where he points his gun is controlled by mouse. You can imagine it to be like Diablo with guns. Controls feel right and responsive. Graphics are also nicely done, though there is nothing special and feels generic. Most of the game lets you navigate in boring corridors that look the same from start to finish. The action itself is satisfying, and we are provided with a loads of future weaponry.There is also an option to enhance our body with different cybernetics. There is a fair amount of customization available. We can also control a robot that aids you in battle and can be used as a bait aswell as an attack bot. Game takes about 5 to 7 hours to complete. Story is not that engaging and is routine save the humanity from an unknown alien race stereotype. It is not a bad game, infact pretty fun with solid mechanics with loads of loots to collect. It isn't anything special and is fairly repetitive. All in all not a bad buy at all. Recommended for the fans of RPG games.
Action RTSfaraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Order of War - PC
This is the first effort by Square Enix to launch a Strategy game for the PC market. And it is a mixed bag. Order of War is game inspired heavily from another game 'World in Conflict'. While World in conflict features modern setting, Order of War is set in WW2. Game let us control massive battalions of armies to take out enemy forces in a large battlefield reminiscent of Total War games. There is no base building or resource gathering involved and we basically have pre-determined forces given at the start of mission to complete the objective. There are two separate campaigns involving the Allies and the Axis. There is fair amount of strategy and tactics invloved in the game, but eventually it all comes down to the brute force. Graphics are although superb and really capture the feel of a battlefield but at times it is difficult to spot our forces. Controls are great and feel polished. Game presentation is top notch with a great sound design. Unfortunately there isn't enough innovation here and all the fine details are genre standard. Game feels a little shallow. But it is still a decent RTS game with some solid mechanics. If you are new to the genre and still don't fancy complex strategy games, Order of War is the perfect start for you.
Battlestations Ready!!!faraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Battlestations Pacific - PC
Contrary to some of my fellow reviewers i found this game to be amazingly fun. Seamless transition from one genre to another is a treat. In one second we are in a cockpit of a plane, and the very next moment we are in charge of huge battleships. Graphics look amazing and water animations are superbly done. Game is a mixture of Flight Sim and RTS elements. Flying a plane feels amazing and we can engage in dog fights, drop torpedoes and take out enemy vessels. RTS elements are also great where we control number of naval ships all can also be controlled in third person view. Controlling a ship let us maneuver and attack enemy vessels. Controls in all 3 modes are highly polished and transition is always smooth. There is a single player campaign which is pretty solid and has numerous scenarios with loads of variety. Skirmish mode let us set pre-determined goals to achieve. This mode gives an unlimited replay value. There is also a Multiplayer mode, but it is actually dead now. You can always arrange a private match with a friend. An overall great fun game. It is currently available on GMG at a ridiculously low price of $12.75. Buy it and have loads of fun.
Best Mah Jong game on PCfaraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Mah Jong Quest III - PC
Mah Jong Quest III is a huge improvement over its 2 prequels. The improvements are not only cosmetic but now there is immense amount of new content. where original game only had 80 puzzles, Mah Jong Quest III has increased the layouts to more then 500. There are also the addition of 4 new gameplay modes that all play dynamically different and adds a lot of replay value. There is even a quest mode which features detailed storyline. Music is also a highlight of the series and it is beautiful this time around aswell. Game UI is also clean and never hinders in the way of fun. An excellent title and a treat for all Mah Jong fans.
A little improvementfaraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Arctic Quest 2 - PC
Arctic Quest 2 is a sequel with slight improvements but plays largely the same as the first part. There are a tons of new puzzles to complete. Art style is still clean and adorable and has a distinct refreshing icy cool feel. Music is always a highlight of this cute little title.Game is as addicting as ever and If you enjoyed the first part or a newcomer you will definitely like the simplicity and ease of use. Everyone in the family can play it specially the kids will adore the cute hand painted backgrounds. A good family friendly game.
Grab the falling piecesfaraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Arctic Quest 1 - PC
Arctic Quest 1 is a simple puzzle game where you are required to grab falling pieces of jigsaw and place them to make a shape highlighted on the screen as fast as possible. And this is about it. Although there is hardly anything unique or innovative here and challenge is simple, but the 50 or so puzzles are fun and have a nice relaxing feel to them . Music is also tastefully done with soft fun tunes. Game is a little overpriced but due to the nature of the game you will keep coming back to it time and time again. A good time pass.
Red Army's 'Black Coats'faraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Men of War Red Tide - PC
Men of War: Red Tide is a more singleplayer focused expansion pack for MoW. Game introduces a special Soviet faction 'Black Coats' and we exclusively play as them in a long singleplayer campaign. Game has improved alot since the first MoW and Red Tide is the perfect example of how well developed and polished the franchise is. We face off many of the Axis armies in a diverse and engaging scenarios.The AI and interface improvements have all come together wonderfully well. The addition of many support abilities has greatly increased the fun factor of the game.Specially Naval Support abilities are a novel concept, a highlight that shows how 1C is continuously evolving there great franchise. Men of War: Red Tide is more of a evolution of the franchise. If you are a fan of MoW and its rich and deep gameplay, you will definitely love this newest offering. With its long 20 missions long campaign it is worth every penny. Undoubtedly the best MoW experience yet.
Multiplayer Focused Expansionfaraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Men of War Assault Squad - PC
Men of War: Assault Squad is basically a stand alone MoW expansion pack with more focus on multiplayer this time around. Assault Squad support both online and Lan coop this time around. The biggest complaints about MoW was its lack of challenging AI. There were many ways were we can exploit the dumb AI. Men of War: Assault Squad has managed to address most of the issues quite well and now AI is much smarter and reacts to our actions in a more aggressive manner. Game is made on the same engine as the previous title so it is largely the same but still looks remarkably impressive. No. of playable factions or nations have also been increased this time around introducing the Japanese for the first time. All in all it is a huge improvement over the prequel and becomes even more challenging to play this time around, due to improved gameplay balances which provide a more even experience throughout. With a number of friends at your side, Men of War: Assault Squad provides hours and hours of fun and great replay value.
A great Action Strategy gamefaraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Men of War - PC
I got this game from GMG promotion sometime ago, and I must say this is an amazing game. If you are a fan of Company of Heroes or the more recent Dawn of War 2 series which focuses more on action oriented strategy, this is a must have game for all of you. Instead of building bases and gathering resources, we are given a scenario and a prebuilt army which we then use to complete our mission objectives. Game is set in WW2, so the missions range from annihilating enemy strongholds, escorting and small skirmishes. MoW boasts some of the most detailed and amazing graphics ever scene in a strategy game. From large vehicles to small trees are immaculately detailed. Game has minor UI and control bugs but they are perfect most of the time. Destructible environments add another level of depth both visually and gameplay wise. There is also a RPG element where we can pick up loot from fallen soldiers. MoW is undoubtedly 1C studios most polished title. This game stands shoulder to shoulder with Company of Heroes in many ways.Game is a little hard and learning curve is a little steep, but nothing that strategy game veterans cant handle. MoW should be a part of every gamers collection.
Grand Romefaraany3k | Sept. 2, 2011 | Review of Grand Ages Rome - PC
Grand Ages: Rome is a spiritual successor to the great city building series like Caesar and Pharaoh. In Grand Ages: Rome we construct huge roman cities and manage its daily routines. Graphically it is a great looking game both aesthetically and how accurately it depicts a roman city. Although the management and the city building mechanics are not as complex or deep as you might have seen in other city building games like SIMCITY, but in my view Grand Ages: Rome tries to keep things simple deliberately by removing the more deeper aspects like connecting the city and loads of micromanagement in the favor of more accessible gameplay. This results in a more fluid and east to 'pick and play' gaming experience. The BATTLE system of the game is not as proficient as a regular RTS game and this is the case with almost all city building games. So if you are looking for an enjoyable city building experience, Grand Ages: Rome is an appropriate choice.
Gorgeous Graphics!!!faraany3k | Sept. 1, 2011 | Review of Superstars V8 Next Challenge - PC
Superstars V8 Next Challenge is visually amazing looking racer. But its a shame that a game with so much graphical potential, has so little content. Game supports just a handful of cars and even fewer tracks to race on. Fortunately though, everything is stunning to look at, with amazing car detail and gorgeous environments. Game is a mixture of both arcade and simulation racing styles. And can safely be termed as semi-sim game. Car handling is not always accurate and sometimes feel a bit clunky and unfair, but at large is quite serviceable and pretty fun. There is great sense of speed and sound design amply provide the required thrills of a super-fast sportscar. If you are a fan of semi-sim racing games like SHIFT and looking for a gorgeous graphics.Superstars V8 is a game for you. Though I warn you there is very little content to look forward too.
Winter Sportsfaraany3k | Sept. 1, 2011 | Review of Winter Challenge - PC
Winter Challenge is a unique game with the focus on Winter Sports like alpine skiing and ski jumping. This is a fun little game which provides an experience not common for the PC. The skiing and the ski jumping events are really enjoyable when we race against time to set the perfect time. Graphically the game is decent and faithfully create a winter event with great looking snow capped tracks on icy hilltops. There are a number of Gameplay modes and total number of circuits are over 100 which are all fun and challenging and can be competed on multiple difficulties . There are number of national teams which we can play with, that creates a sense of national pride while competing in tournaments. The game also features a number of destinations from all around the world, but mostly all locations look and feel pretty same. Controls are perfect and we can instantly jump into action adn have loads of fun. Game supports both local and online multiplayer. Offline multiplayer plays like a HOTSEAT, as both competitors take turns to set best circuit times one after the another on single PC. All in all a great game for winter sport fans. Now you can enjoy winter sports with your friends in summer.
For the Rally fansfaraany3k | Sept. 1, 2011 | Review of WRC FIA World Rally Championship - PC
It is such a shame that WRC FIA World Rally Championship hasn't received the attention it deserves. While most of the newer rally racing games are too arcady WRC FIA World Rally is true to its sim roots. It is the ultimate Rally racing game out there. Graphics are top notch with immaculately detailed cars, and environments. Game also features pretty slick dirt animations, Game has nice sense of speed with brilliant sound design. We can customize our car completely to adjust its settings for our personal style of play,a vital feature missing in so many modern racers. There are number of gaming modes like the standard Career mode and a Time Trial mode. We earn different sponsors and liveries throughout our career to customize the look of car. We can also compete in 3 support categories like P-WRC, S-WRC, J-WRC. There is so much content here to play with. Ultimate Rally Racer for all the fans of the genre. And at its current price it is frankly a steal. Get it asap.
Generic Genericfaraany3k | Sept. 1, 2011 | Review of Stealth Force 2 - PC
Stealth Force 2 is your ultimate generic arcade shooter. You play as a modern special services solder and you need to take out key terrorist strongholds for hostage rescue, intelligence gathering and standard objectives you have been doing for years. The settings and graphics are pretty decent for there age. Controls get the job done almost right, and there is a huge arsenal of modern weapons to take out hundreds of terrorists. If you haven't had your fair share of modern shooters yet in recent years, Stealth Force 2 will keep your trigger finger happy for number of hours. And with its current price tag you wont regret it.
Alchemistfaraany3k | Sept. 1, 2011 | Review of Skyscraper - PC
Skyscraper is an interesting mix of FPS and RPG genre. Though RPG element only limited to combining chemicals and make bombs to throw at enemies. It is an interesting take on standard FPS genre. Game tried to be different from its rivals like CounterStrike and Half Life by introducing a little RPG stuff into the mix. But fells horribly flat. Story is pretty stupid and gunplay is not very engaging. Perhaps game tried a to be a little too ambitions. Graphics are also pretty old now and its hard to recommend this game now. But if you want to check out one of the more ambitions titles of the yesteryears Skyscraper is one for you . Its cheap and its different.
Airbornefaraany3k | Sept. 1, 2011 | Review of Airborne Troops - PC
The biggest flaw is not with the game design or graphics, they are pretty good for there age. But tons of glitches and bugs that we face while playing. The Third Person camera in a WW2 shooter was a slightly different take on the Shooters of that era like Battlefield 1942 and Medal Of Honor. Game plays just like a standard Third Person Shooter. Hit detection and shooting is fun. Weapons feel and sound just like they should be. But the camera issues are horrendous. There are times when we stuck into environment, camera is clunky and we lose sight of our own character pretty often. Story is your general WW2 affair. But all in all few bugs don't break the game and Airborne Troops feel fun with lots of gunfights and some stealth based sections. A good game with a fair price tag for all WW2 shooter fans.
Virtual Simsfaraany3k | Sept. 1, 2011 | Review of Virtual Families - PC
Virtual Families is a game inspired from SIMS games by MAXIS, but is rather shallow and not as appealing. The good thing is, its cheaper and with a little less options, provide almost the same experience as a SIMS game. Infact it is a more focused game and you will start caring about your character as you spend more and more time with him. The bad thing though, game only lets you chose from pre-build template of character, although there are hundreds of them, still a character creation tool would have given it a much better appeal. Graphics are blocky and not realistic. But the look cute and adorable. There are also some puzzle solving challenges too. But basically we need to manage our Character's life. A great title for SIMS fan.
Same as beforefaraany3k | Sept. 1, 2011 | Review of Virtua Tennis 2009 - PC
The biggest problem with the Virtua Tennis 2009 is lack of innovation. It has brought nothing new to the franchise, and basically a re-released version of Virtua Tennis 3 with improvements that might be done in a free patch. The good thing though, if you haven't played the previous Virtua Tennis games, this is an amazing game. Virtua Tennis is an arcadey take on sport, with semi-realistic game mechanics. Game is great fun both with the AI and Local Coop. You can just boot up your game and start playing right away without any tutorials. This makes Virtua Tennis a great fun game and fans of the Sport will fell in love with the title. But of you have played Virtua Tennis 3 already, you might want t o check out Virtua Tennis 4 instead.
Really Horrifyingfaraany3k | Aug. 31, 2011 | Review of Alter Ego - PC
Alter Ego is one of the rare point and click adventure game, that immediately grips you into its dark mood and ambiance. Whole game is horrifying experience filled with mystery and terror. Story is very well written and scenes depicted in the game immediately sucks you in. NPCs generally in these games are cliched and generic, but Alter ego boast some amazing characters whose dialogues are well written too. There are an abundant of puzzles and mysteries to solve and take about 4 to 5 hours to complete. A great point and click adventure with a horror plot and polished presentation. A must have for the fans of Point and click games.
A decent puzzle/mystery gamefaraany3k | Aug. 31, 2011 | Review of Midnight Mysteries The Edgar Allan Poe Conspiracy - PC
Midnight Mysteries plays just like your standard 'hidden-object games', where you are presented with a image and you need to find out different objects of importance. There are a number of other puzzle mechanics aswell but largely inspired from genre standard. One of the prominent features of the game which i found interesting is the ambiance. Whole mystery is very well directed. Another great feature of the game is its art style, which is amazing and created with a lot of effort. A fun game with over hundred puzzles. Definitely worth a look.
Old School Gamefaraany3k | Aug. 31, 2011 | Review of Post Mortem (1) - PC
Post Mortem was a game i played a few years back. And it didn't impressed me one bit. Mainly the story component is not very strong and is traditional crime investigation. We solve puzzles by collecting evidence and talking to various NPC. NPCs themselves are not very engaging and after a while it all becomes stale and boring. The core mechanics of the game are alright and there are multiple endings. If you are a fan of CSI or other detective/investigation games. Post Mortem might interest you. Fans of the genre will appreciate its current low price.
Indiana 'Hamilton' Jonesfaraany3k | Aug. 31, 2011 | Review of Hamiltons Great Adventure - PC
Hamilton's Great Adventure is one of the more lighthearted and fun puzzle games out there. It is a coop oriented game, where focus is on two players solving puzzles together in a variety of environments. Game makes a very funny mockery of Indiana Jones with funny little characters and cute art style. Puzzles range from action oriented puzzles to traditional 'wait and solve' kind of puzzles. A wonderful art design and lovely graphics make the whole experience a memorable one. A game is a bit short but has immense replay value due to abundance of extra collectibles and unlockables. A great fun game for all the puzzle genre fans.
Epicfaraany3k | Aug. 31, 2011 | Review of Assassins Creed - PC
When Ubisoft first released the trailers for the game, it was an instant hit. After the release, game received critical acclaim from all over industry. Assassin's Creed is the first game to introduce fluid platforming in massive cities with historical accuracy down to the core. The historically accurate cities and breathtaking graphics were the crown jewel. With a memorable storyline and interesting characters inspired from history, set the mood for a gaming experience, never seen before. Platforming was fun as hell and we can virtually scale each and every building in 3 huge cities. This kind of 'vertical gameplay' was rarely seen in any open world games. There is no doubt that basic mechanics and mission structures were all amazing. We play as a Assassin, named Altair. Our missions are based on smaller interrogation mini games where we collect evidence. Which then leads to the second phase where we Assassinate our target. But after a few missions it was apparent that game lacks ambition in mission design. It was such a shame that almost perfect game was ruined by repetitive and ultimately boring game play. Fortunately for the series, the subsequent sequels addressees all the issues faced by the first title and made Assassins Creed the greatest gaming series ever. Assassins Creed itself is a a great game and worth the current price it is selling at. A 'Must Play' series for every gamer.
Chrono WARSfaraany3k | Aug. 31, 2011 | Review of Chrono Rage - PC
While playing Chrono Rage, it is clearly evident that its a Geometry Wars inspired game. The controls are basically same with the use of both analog sticks . Art style is nearly identically. Game mechanics are largely same but differs slightly as Chrono Rage lets you manipulate time by slowing it, which results in higher maneuverability and instead of confining you in a limited space with limited lives, Chrono Rage lets you play the game with time trial challenges. If you run out of time you lose the challenge. The good thing however game is truly enjoyable and is really fun in short bursts. It should be noted that controller is a must . Controls with keyboard and mouse are terrible to say the least. A good indie game with a fair price and loads of fun.
A great building simfaraany3k | Aug. 31, 2011 | Review of Skyscraper Simulator - PC
Skyscraper Simulator is a city-building sim but plays more like an objective based game with time based objectives. Instead of building large cities, game is focused on building towering skyscrapers. The more linear and streamlined approach makes it stand out for all the other sim games which encompass a rather huge city to build with tons of management. Skyscraper Simulator is a nice little diversion from the standard city building sims and if you haven't played any game from this genre, Skyscraper Simulator can be a nice introduction. There are some UI issues and information is not very well presented in most cases, but is serviceable. Seeing your large Sky Scrappers and managing them is a real treat visually. A great sim game that is more focused and a little shallow but nonetheless great fun.
Best Tennis Game on PCfaraany3k | Aug. 31, 2011 | Review of Virtua Tennis 4 - PC
Virtua Tennis 4 is a latest iteration of long running Tennis series by Sega. The series is know for its arcade roots and pick and play approach. Like all sports games, Virtua Tennis 4 is a improvement over its predecessor with few new roster updates, slightly better graphics engine and more gameplay modes. The game adds very little to its previous titles and is more like a expansion pack then a full game. But some of the aspects really make it worthwhile. Specially the new improved and redesigned Career mode is a highlight here. It is much more refined and easier to navigate around and let us plan our tour beforehand. There is also a multiplayer component which is mainly handled by Micorsoft's GFWL. Although I have faced no problems with this service so far, but is generally considered among gamers to be problematic. Specially game invites and ingame chat is 'over-consolified' and cumbersome. Controller options are also limited and mainly supports the XBOX 360 controller. The game is best played with a controller so I suggest you to get one before buying the game. Virtua Tennis 4 is the best Virtua Tennis title yet with all the fast and arcadey gameplay intact. Zany and fun minigames and ever growing player roaster. The best tennis game option on the PC. A must buy for all tennis fans.
Bus Simulatorfaraany3k | Aug. 30, 2011 | Review of Bus Driver - PC
A game for all those sim lovers like Trainz or Cycling Simulators. We are a driver of a bus, and we are to drive our passengers to there destinations that varies from schools to tourist spots. We need to be efficient both in time management and how we drive. The traffic mechanism is dynamically controlled by A.I and becomes challenging as we progress through the game. Graphics are not actually great but they are serviceable with weather and time of day cycles. If you are a fan of transportation sims. This game is actually quite good.A worth a try.
Amazing Indie Gamefaraany3k | Aug. 30, 2011 | Review of World of Goo - PC
World of Goo is a rare indie title that has a polish of a retail title. Art design, music and game mechanics are superbly done. In a world of Goo we are in control of small goo balls. We need to stick them onto each other and create a a web of goo balls to reach a certain point in the level. All this is done by considering laws of physics. There are many types of Goo balls involved which keep the puzzles fresh and engaging. This is one of the most unique indie games in the market with an original idea. All puzzles are superbly laid and become increasingly challenging as you progress, Game is easy enough for anyone to just pick and play. Which makes World of Goo a great family title. A great indie game with fun puzzles and unique gameplay that not available anywhere else. Get it asap, you will not regret it.
Lost its charmfaraany3k | Aug. 30, 2011 | Review of FEAR 3 - PC
Fear 3 is actually the fourth title in the series. Fear 1 was followed by an add on campaign. So technically its the fourth title in the series. And it is unfortunate that game hasn't lived up-to the standard the first game set. The story component of the franchise has severely degraded and lacking in depth. Single player campaign is much shorter then Fear 1 and Fear 2. Graphics are strangely uglier then what we saw in FEAR 2. The sense of eeriness and horror is replaced by more action oriented gunplay. And thus game plays more like a modern shooter then a survival horror title which the title of the game so proudly claims. Shooting mechanics themselves are polished and are a lot of fun with a loads of interesting weapons. Game now features a complete Coop mode. Which frankly is lot of fun. Coop mode actually rely on partners to cooperate and work with each other. Multiplayer mode is quite fun but it is hard to find populated servers. "F***ing Run" is another multiplayer mode that is extremely fun and plays more like a zombie survival mode. All in all a decent shooter title with a really short single player campaign. But Coop and Multiplayer modes give it a reasonable replay value. If you are looking for a fun shooter game FEAR 3 is a decent title. But if you want your survival horror fix. You might look elsewhere.
A cute Rpgfaraany3k | Aug. 27, 2011 | Review of Kings Legacy - PC
Game's premise is as simple as it gets. You are a Prince whose kingdom is under attack from an evil uncle. You are to save your kingdom and protect its people. King's Legacy is a cute RPG adventure game. You are to complete objectives which helps in rebuilding your castle. You acquire new skills and talents by exploration, which can be used then for improving both your kingdom and making you character stronger in battle. There are light RPG elements involved here. With the inclusion of Achievements you can play it many times. Game is generally geared towards younger audience. Graphics are also cute and colorful. At the time of this review game is on sale for 2.95 dollars. And this is a steal at this great price. A fun little game for RPG newcomers.
A great DLCfaraany3k | Aug. 27, 2011 | Review of Total War Shogun 2 DLC Sengoku Jidai Unit Pack - PC
I have to differ with some of my fellow reviews here. Although ultimately DLCs are a little unfair for the gamers and regarded as milking, Sengoku Jidai Unit Pack is a great add on no matter what. Not only is the content varied and fun, it is available across a number of gaming modes. Many DLCs add little value and new content, and that too is limited to specific part of the game, but Jidai Unit Pack can be used almost everywhere you want in the game. New units are diverse and a lot of though was put into them. A great add on for the right price in my view. A must have for Shogun 2 fans.
Total Napoleon Warfaraany3k | Aug. 27, 2011 | Review of Napoleon Total War - PC
Another superb addition to a great series. Napoleon Total War is a cinematic and engrossing life journey of one of the most iconic Generals in history. Unlike the previous TW title Empire, where focus was more on diverse civilizations. Napoleon TW generally covers the life of this great general. Single player is more focused this time around with a lot more character and storyline which was missing in the previous titles. Single player campaign now features episodic campaign featuring many different phases of Napoleon life. Game as a whole isn't much of a improvement over the previous title but still fun as both the RTS and TBS section are still intact with all there might and grandness. Mutiplayer section has also been given a lot of attention this time around and ACHIEVEMENTS have been added that give game an additional layer of replayabailty. If you are a fan of TW series and looking for a much tighter and focused single player campaign with fully realized story, Napoleon: Total War is the best title for you.
Age of Enlightenmentfaraany3k | Aug. 27, 2011 | Review of Empire Total War - PC
Empire: Total War is still a great TW title. But it differs from the previous titles in many different ways. Firstly the game is set in 1700 century, and with the introduction of gun powder, face of battle has changed forever. In 3D RTS battles the action is more brutal now with the range of new unit like cannon and musket. With there range strength the battle strategies that we are familiar in the previous titles have completely been changed. Use of cover and better terrain awareness is now in consideration here. Turn Based elements have also been tweaked and expanded to include more deeper concepts like Diplomacy and Espionage and Trade. Another great enhancement over the previous titles is the inclusion of Naval Warfare. You are no longer limited to land battles. Now we can wage war in seas in beautifully rendered 3D graphics. Ships like rest of the game are superbly detailed. Water is also beautifuly rendered and enhances the graphical quality of the series even further. Empires is a huge improvement over the previous TW games. There is enough new content and innovation that makes this the best game in the series. An instant buy.
TW: Medival Perfectionfaraany3k | Aug. 27, 2011 | Review of Medieval II Total War Gold Edition - PC
Medieval II: Total War is the sequel of Total War Rome. Game improves upon almost every aspect of the game. Graphics are much more refined. Single player campaign now includes more civilizations to play that expands to many continents including America. Further expansion pack increased the number of campaigns even further. RTS elements have been given a bump here too. Real times battles are more epic and provide a more dynamic visual flair. Animations have been greatly improved and give a more moody and gritty overlook. Battles are bigger then ever with almost double number of soldiers now controllable on the battlefield. The TBS section has been greatly improved with a more diverse and proactive AI. UI is greatly enhanced and a big improvement over the prevision TW title making it more accesible. There is also a new Hotseat multiplayer mode which enables the game TBS section to be played in mutiplayer. There are a number of bugs and minor graphical performance issues. But with this grand scale there are bound to be some problems. But all in all this is a great TW title. And like all titles in the series a must have for avid strategy fans.
Not your average Tomb Raiderfaraany3k | Aug. 27, 2011 | Review of Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light - PC
Lara Croft And The Guardian Of Light is a huge step away from ususal titles in the series. The first noticeable difference is the camera. Instead of controlling Lara from the third person view, game is played through isometric camera, top down. This is a huge change and completely alters the way we use to play Tomb Raider. Platforming sequences are all there but game is more geared towards action oriented gun play rather then the usual platforming fun. That is a let down. Another huge new redirection is the addition of Coop. Game is developed around the concept of coop and doesn't feel right when played in single player mode. Secondly the partner which Tomb Raider has is a generic and generally uninspiring character at-least for me. Although Coop gameplay is superbly crafted and there is not something broken, But long time Tomb raider fans will be disappointed with these huge changes. Game is a cheaper and if you are a newcomer you should give it a try. Game also has a huge replaybality value and gun play is generally fun. For old veterans of the series, it might not be the sequel they were looking for.
Best Tomb Raider yetfaraany3k | Aug. 27, 2011 | Review of Tomb Raider Underworld - PC
Tomb Raider: Underworld is a direct sequel of Tomb Raider: Legend. Crystal Dynamic continued to develop the core gameplay of the series, by adding new move-sets and animations and more tighter action oriented platforming. Tomb Raider: Underworld is a combination of all the enhancements from the previous titles like Legend and Anniversary. Tomb Raider Underworld picks up the story from where the Legend ended. This time around storyline is more deep and introduces a lot of new characters that enhances the plot even further. Environments are as varied as Legends, even under water sequences that are amazing to look at. Animations are more fluent this time around. Although puzzles are a little easier but platforming is still top notch. Gun sections have also been tweaked with better handling and more precise controls. Underworld seems more of a evolution of the series. It covers all the best aspects of Crystal Dynamic previous games and provide the ultimate Tomb Raider experience. Undoubtedly the best platforming game available on the PC. A must buy.
Reboot a great Seriesfaraany3k | Aug. 27, 2011 | Review of Tomb Raider Legend - PC
Tomb Raider was initially developed by Core and Eidos Studios. There were number of titles released. Although most of them were great but suffered from many technical problems, that in turn never made Tomb Raider a great series. But in 2005, Crystal Dynamic got hold of this franchise and they developed a stellar title worthy of Tomb Raider's name. Tomb Raider: Legend is a great game in its own right. With an emotional storyline, great new graphics engine. Visually stunning looking environments and animations that are fluid and responsive this time around. The whole title has great production values and each and every aspect shows hardwork from developers. They faithfully captured all the good aspects of the series. Lara Croft herself is the shinning jewel here. Her graceful moves and stunning platforming skills make every minute of this game memorable. Gun sections and platforming section are both superbly done. There are also some 'on rail' sections. A great fun game that every gamer must play.
Happy Anniversaryfaraany3k | Aug. 27, 2011 | Review of Tomb Raider Anniversary - PC
Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a reboot of the classic Tomb Raider Title that started this great franchise. Although the older Tomb Raider Titles were great but were mostly littered with problematic controls and camera problems due to the tech limitations. Crystal Dynamic has created a faithful reboot for the original game. The fans of the series will love this glorious HD remake with a lots of gameplay tweaks. Game doesn't suffer from major camera and control issues. Game level design is reminiscent of the older title.There is an exclusive art section where you can see how franchise has developed over the years, and you can compare side by side how the new graphics engine is with the old one. This time animations are much smoother and fluid. Even the newcomers will find a lot of good old platforming fun. So if you missed or avoided the previous gen Tomb Raider titles because of there problems, Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a great place to start over.
Great Idea, poor executionfaraany3k | Aug. 26, 2011 | Review of Dark Sector - PC
Dark Sector when I first saw its trailers, really blew me off. It was one of the first games this gen to use the UNREAL 3 engine. Game had some great looking graphics and interesting gameplay mechanics. But eventually when I had the chance of playing it myself. It was a big big disappointment. Dark Sector is a cover based third person shooter where instead of using traditional weapons, game had an interesting mechanic of Boomerang, a glaive. Glaive is like a giant cutter that is controllable in flight. We are suppose to throw it at enemies from afar while controlling its speed and trajectory. There are many different types of glaive modifications aswell which gave it additional abilities. This new mechanic introduced an interesting twist into the generic TPS genre. But the whole idea fell flat rather quickly. While using glaive is fun for opening minutes or so, it becomes apparent really quickly that whole game is nothing but an uninspiring effort. Level design is bland as it gets. All we see are rectangular halls with little or no change. We are fighting the same old enemies from the start till finish with slightly different colored jumpsuits. A story that appeared to be interesting at the start just doesn't live up to the standards and become a generic 'defeating the evil enemy' plot. Boss fights are a joke. A game that had so much potential, its a shame it disappoints a lot. Its a decent TPS with serviceable cover mechanics. The game is no way broken, but after your play you might end up being disappointed. At its current low price, do check it out for boomerang mechanic alone.
A modern Tetrisfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Tumble Jumble - PC
Tumble Jumble is much like Tetris but with a modern twist. We need to match the shapes in slots with physics based gameplay. Artstyle and music is both catchy and colorful. There are tons and tons of fun to be had here. We can additionally download more user generated content that increases the game's longevity.A leaderborad lets us compare our scores against the community and built in Facebook integration gives it a social aspect. A fun polished indie game.
Better Then Everfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Total War Shogun 2 - PC
If you are reading this, there is a strong chance that you are already familiar with on of the finest strategy game series to grace the PC gaming. TW is a mix of turn base and real time strategy. Both aspecys of the game are treated with AAA quality and unmatched polish. Turn Base gameplay lets you control your game on a strategic battle with shrewed diplomacy, trade and sheer firepower. With the real time battles are epic historically accurate battles with thousands of soliders on the battlefield detail right down to there swords. This is the finest that PC strategy genre has to offer and TW Shogun 2 is no different. Shogun 2 is set in fuedal Japan a dramatic change from some of the previous Total War's sttings featured in Napoleon and Rome.. This time the game features a lot more tighter experience, sacrificing some of the depth of continental proportions of Rome and Napoleon. Shogun 2 also boasts a much more improved AI in battle. AI now uses the terrain to its advantage more affectivle and explot your weaknesses. Graphics are absolutely gorgeous and looks even more amazing at higher DX levels. UI is also superbly designed and brings a distinct Japanese flavor. Game is exceptionally polished and a must have for any gamer who has even passing interest in the genre. TW Shogun 2 is the most refined TW yet. And a must have.
Bebutterflyfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Fluttabyes - PC
Game is basically a Bejeweled clone with more cute graphics. There is nothing new here except instead of a minimum of 3 you need to match a minimum of 4 butterflies of the same color to claim a match. There are also combo multiplier which rewards you with quick and accurate gameplay. And if you already own any part of Bejeweled you will hard pressed finding anything worthwhile, unless you don't like matching jewels and prefer pixel butterflies. Game might interest kids a little more and you can introduce them to gaming with this cute and lovely looking title. But for the veterans of Bejeweled. I think they should reconsider buying this game.
Just another GOLF gamefaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Leaderboard Golf - PC
Leaderboard Golf is your standard golf game. Game features a standard set of gameplay mechanics which every golder is familiar with. Holes are not exact replica of real ones but are interesting and offer a passable experience. Graphics are also nothing special to write home about. Gameplay is a little shallow with little clunky animations and hit detection. The golfer roster is very small too. A game strictly for golf fans. And there are better alternates available for free as well.
An Improved Sequelfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Hitman 2 Silent Assassin - PC
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin improves upon almost every aspect that made the sequel a cult classic.Graphics, gunplay and sound design is greatly improved compared to the first title. The learning curve is a little more steeper but reward you with more perfect assassinations. There is alot more action compared to the first one. Game features a more engaging storyline and missions take you to remote places from Europe to India. Action is more persistent now and you carry over your weapons and notoriety from earlier missions throughout the campaign hence providing a more balanced experience. There is a huge selection of weapons which gives a more personal touch to you style of play. A great game and a must buy.
Begining of agreat seriesfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Hitman Codename 47 - PC
Hitman Series is always known as the most famous stealth-based titles ever created. Featuring an instant iconic protagonist Agent 47. A genetically enhanced super assassin . Instead of traditional shooting games or stealth games which focuses heavily on, hiding under the cover of dark and remain passive. Hitman is a more direct and action oriented stealth. We can blend in among our enemies and hunt our targets where they are least expecting. Hitman: Codename 47 was the first title in the series and establishes a lot of fundamental elements that set this franchise apart. Game itself is far from perfect. Animations are buggy and some of the missions are broken and spankingly tough. Soundtrack of the game sets a dark and gritty tone for a great game. Graphics were great at the time of release but with time they look dated now, but still are acceptable. Shooting and movement mechanics are not upto modern standards as the game is very old now. But if you are a Hitman fan and still don't own the first title, Its really a shame. A must have for all stealth loving gamers.
Biggest Sandbox ever Createdfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Just Cause - PC
Just Cause was revolutionary in many ways. Instead of going pseudo-realistic like GTA titles, Just Cause tried to remain true to one formula, FUN. Game sacrifices a lot of realism in the favor of some crazy addictive fun. It feels like a Hollywood stunt ride with all crazy stunts going on. You can jump from cars to cars, skydiving, basejumping all seamlessly integrated into the main game. Although game features a rather weak story and chraterization, but this never really is the concern as game focuses more on action then establishing any storyline. Singleplayer campaign span over hundred missions. You can tackle them anyway you want with a free form gameplay that dosn't restrict you in any way. Game features a tons of vehicles. You can even travel by air and explore this wonderful and huge enviroment all done in beautiful and fluid grahics. Gunplay and movement are not always precise and feels a litle clunky but they are serviceable. One of the outstanding features where game shines is its huge sandbox map. There are hundreds of miles of land for you to roam freely.Infact its the biggest in any game that came before. All without any sort of loading, as there is a revolutionary new tech called Procedueral Loading. Altjough game is fun and has a lot of replayabilty this game is now replaced by its great sequel Just Cause 2. So if you are planning on playing Just Cause try playing its sequel first. But if you have already played Just Cause 2 you can alaways try its prequel. Its a fun game on its own, and you will get hours and hours of addictive fun.
Another way to kill zombiesfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Zombie Driver - PC
In recent years we have seen all sorts of zombie games. Some of the greatest games this gen like Resident Evil and Left4Dead have there own versions of zombies and zombie smashing. Zombie Driver is another one of those games which let you kill those poor things with a twist. Instead of machine guns and rocket launchers, your car is your weapon. Of course with the traditional road kills by driving over zombies you can upgrade your cars with all sort of mounted weapons. Game offer a single player campaign and a free roam option aswell. There are number of cars that you can drive which have there own feel and speed while you clear out the city from huge zombie infestation. After you clear out the STORY mode you can unlock different weapons and items to make your car more lethal. Game is reminiscent of the old GTA titles like GTA 1 and 2 where we control our car from isometric camera. I must add game is fun and features highly satisfying action. Game gives a lot of value for its price and a must have for the fans of zombie games. The camera and gameplay might put some players off but i personally suggest you to give this game a try. You wont regret it.
Failed Second Attemptfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Kane and Lynch 2 Dog Days - PC
They say if you fail, then try try again. I think Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days is following the same formula. First game was a forgettable third person shooter with mildly engaging storyline and decent shooting mechanics that got old, pretty fast. Sadly Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days is no exception. The most horrible thing that the kept from the prequel is the same old inspiring cast. I as a gamer can never relate to uninspiring protagonists of Kane and Lynch 2. The story is your standard criminal mafia affair. Shooting mechanics are replica of the prequel aswell. Game also feels to be a poorly ported game as mouse movements feel sluggish. Although a coop mode extends the life of the game but still 5 to 6 hours single player is way less even considering the modern standards of short campaigns. There is a visual effect called 'Raw, Real & Uncut' introduced in this game. I must admit it looks cool and novel but isn't anything dramatically innovative and cant hide the poor graphical quality of the game. Famous multiplayer mode of the prequel also makes a return here. And is fun as long as it lasts. But all in all an uninspired effort once again by a talented bunch of developers who brought us the legendary series of Hitman. Its a shame that game doesn't improved anything over the prequel. If you are interested in mildly fun 3rd person shooting action you might try it, just don't expect anything exceptional.
A helicopter Sim gone wrongfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Whirlwind Over Vietnam - PC
Just like the Vietnam war. This game goes horribly wrong. Although premise is exciting and fresh. But the game fells flat on almost all fronts. Firstly graphics are really poor. Although helicopters are really well detailed the rest of the environment seems really dull. Game doesn't teach you to fly the HELI instead it puts you in the battlefield right at the start.While a determined gamer can learn the ropes and eventually drive the HELI with perfection, for a causal HELI Sim fan who has no experience of flying HELIS in another game felt horribly wrong. And controlling the thing was a daunting task. It is a shame that a game with som much potential doesn't feature a tutorial for a newbie. Adding to the injury are the performance issues. Game is littered with unexpected crashes, uneven frame rates and generally poor performance. I don't see myself playing this game often. If you are interested in a HELI sim there aren't enough choices though. Try it if you can get past the performance issues and steep learning curve.
A great Fligh Simfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Air Conflicts Secret Wars - PC
There aren't enough good Flight games on the PC. But I must admit I am surprised by the quality of Air Conflicts: Secret Wars. It is a WW2 inspired Flight Sim where we don some of the most iconic fighter planes of WW2 era and embark on missions ranging from deserts of africa to green fields of Europe. Single player campaign is richly detailed with historical accuracy Campaign missions take you to the secret missions of the WW2 era where you need to dog fight your way out of dangerous situations. Graphics are really nice and we can view the interior of the fighters aswell. Sound design is also really engaging.Games controls are also responsive and feel just right. It also has the option to use a gamepad. Multiplayer portion is also worthwhile and you can fly against your firnds and have a great time in engaging and thrilling dog fights. Air Conflicts is worth the price and I must recommend it to all Flight genre fans.
Off road madnessfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of UAZ Racing 4x4 - PC
If you are a fan of off-road racing, UAZ Racing 4x4 provides an immaculate experience. It features a ton of content suitable for off-road fanatics. Game is not confined to linear tracks and it lets you roam in a free world which gives an added challenge that how you will handle your vehicle and drive through a tough terrain. UAZ Racing sadly features only 4 vehicles which handle more or less the same. So this is really a disappointment that a game about driving feature such a short list of jeeps. Graphics and music of the game is average at best. There is also an element of environmental effects on car. Driving night time specially amps up the difficulty as it is more challenging to navigate. In rain, track feels more slippery and you have to drive more cautiously . Sometime the animations are a little clunky but are generally good. A good off-road racing game.
Best retro racer on GMGfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of RC Cars - PC
I have played quite a few retro racing games available on GMG store. And RC Cars is undoubtedly the most fun in my opinion. Game features an interesting twist on the genre. Instead of traditional racing cars, game features toy cars which we have to race in a number of interesting real life settings like a road with all the giant traffic cars and huge canyons. RC cars are all off road and really captures the off road feel with its capable physics engine. Game also features lots of unlockables and a gradual progression of unlocks that keeps the game feel fresh. You can also race with your ghosts for best lap times. Really a good retro arcade racer for everyone.
Too expensivefaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Street Racer Europe - PC
If you are a fan of retro arcade racers, Street Racer Europe is quite a good game. Graphics looks dated and haven't aged well. The amount of content , tracks, locations and cars is abundant here. And make any retro racer fan proud. There is even a slew of customization options mainly concerned with the visual modifications. Car handling is tight and arcade fans feel right at home. My only concern is its price. Game is way overpriced to warrant a purchase. Maybe 10 dollars feel right. I recommend it to all the retro racing games collector. If you are on egde on this one, wait for a price cut or sale.
Play your Music, Literallyfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Beat Hazard - PC
Beat Hazard is a rhythm based shooter. Using rhythm as a source for the entire gameplay. Rhythm is powered by your own music. You are in control of a spaceship's fire power, and lets you shoot enemies built by the intensity of the music. By picking up many different kinds of power-ups, you can amplify your music which acts as combo multiplier and let you score more points. This makes the game a little more cerebral experience and not just mindless shooting frenzy in space.This Reward system is indefinitely fun and gives a lot of replaybilty . Enemies in beat hazard are of different sizes and shapes, with different weapons and there are even some boss fights, which make for some exciting encounters.Controls are a bit sluggish and controlling your ships seems a bit off. But all in all a great game that can make your music a lot more fun. Game also supports iTunes, mp4 and other formats. There is an ULTRA version available too. Game gets repetitive rather quickly but every track that you play makes the gameplay unique everytime. A must buy for the lovers of music and some shooting fun.
Little Big Wierd Planetfaraany3k | Aug. 24, 2011 | Review of Cargo The Quest for Gravity - PC
The premise is simple, you are given nearly an unlimited amount of items and a sandbox editor to create all sorts of races. Race tracks are not limited to land. You can create them underwater and even air. There are also a single player story component with prebuilt tracks and exploration elements. Game has nice cartoony visuals and at first you will be attracted to them, But eventually you will find out that game has some bizarre looking stuff. I don't know if the developers were trying to be funny but who wants to attach absolutely horrendous looking man-babies to there creations. That too completely naked. We can even kick them. Game's creative elements are a lot of fun and looks amazing when you are flying through beautiful floating Islands or traveling underwater in your own creations.Although game is a little weird and crazy with its artsytle, it provides a lot of value to those who like to be a bit creative.
Fun but not for longfaraany3k | Aug. 19, 2011 | Review of CrimeCraft Bleedout - PC
I tried the MMO as it is cheap compared to others, and mostly because I wanted something different from usual Fantasy genre. Game has a huge amount of customization options. It offers both PvE and PvP options available There is a guild system aswell called gangs. But unfortunately the gunplay and action here is boring, repetitive and lose its charm rather quickly. I must add this is a good modern themed MMO, and with hardly any good MMO shooters around. This is a must try.
Biggest Online Racerfaraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of Trackmania United Forever - PC
Trackmania is one crazy racer. Instead of driving in realistic tracks and perfecting corners, Trackmania offers something completely unique. This is like a roller coaster ride where we move and jump from huge ramps to cross huge distances and do a flips in midair. Reality is not the concern here, fun is. Game has a single player portion aswell, but mostly its a online title. It must be noted that there is afree version of this game aslo available. Which is called Trackmania Nations. Millions of players play it everyday. Trackmania United Forever is actually a payed version of that game taht features many enhancements like different car models and 3 unique themes to chose from. And then you can play with all the paying as well as freee2play players and enjoy an unparalleled multiplayer experience yet to be seen in a online racing game. Game also has a built in track editor. you can not only play your own tracks, but you can share it with the comminty aswell. User generated content is huge. And you will have hundreds of hours of gameplay value. A must buy addon for Trackmania Nations fans.
While you wait for Heores VIfaraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of Kings Bounty The Legend - PC
Obviously the inspiration here is Heores of Might and Magic. Game's core gameplay borrows heavily from its well known big brother. But this fact by no means suggest that King Bounty is a cheap copy. Infact production values, graphics and sound design is in most cases are at par with Heroes. The game is a turn based strategy game where we move on the map in turns and then do our actions. During the course of single player camping known as Adventure mode we play as a part of fantasy hero who from humble beginnings become more powerful by acquiring lots of forces and magical abilities. Gameplay is divided into two parts. Firstly is the campaign map , where we journey in search for quests and objectives. The other portion is the more exciting one, where our forces are represented on a chess like battlefield. We move in a turn based fashion and the one with better forces and tactics win this chess like game. Many factors involve which determine win or a defeat. Mastering all these mechanics are a lot of fun and give a huge longevity to this wonderful game.I must point out that due to the nature of genre game might only interest players which have a history of turn based games like Heroes or Civilization Series. But if you like the genre, you will not be disappointed by this wonderful game.
Cricket Sim ofr all fansfaraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of Cricket Coach 2007 - PC
There are a very few worthy Cricket Sims in the market. Cricket Couch 2007 is one of them. The content here is staggering (though most of it outdated by now) and can satisfy any eager cricket fan who loves to manage his virtual cricket team. It is a shame though that game doesn't feature a graphical representation of matches like Football Manager. And we spend most of the time tinkering with spreadsheets with lots of stats. Still a must have game for a cricket fan as there are very few choices in the market.
Fun little ridefaraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of City Bus - PC
With its cartoony graphics and fun design. City Bus offers a unique and adrenaline filled gaming experience. You are a bus driver and your goal is to ... well guess... deliver your passengers to there destination in shortest time possible. There is a lot of environmental destruction and with fun art style, game never gets old. Camera is from a top down perspective. This game is somewhat similar to 'Crazy Taxi' but none the less very entertaining.
Golden Retro Revisitedfaraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of Golden Axe II - PC
Golden Axe 1 was an instant classic. Sega knew it and made another title for the fans. Golden Axe 2 is very similar to Golden Axe 1. Infact its a direct sequel. We still play as one of the 3 warriors from the original title. Golden Axe 2 expands over the prequel with the inclusion of many new enemies, boss fights and 6 new levels. Game is still played as a left to right side scroller. This game is noticeably harder then the first one. So if you are a fan of the first. Golden Axe 2 is a must have to play by yourself or enjoy with a friend in local coop.
Decent but uninspiring RTSfaraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of RUSE - PC
This is a fast paced RTS game mostly influence by groundbreaking title like 'WORLD IN CONFLICT'. Games graphics are pretty amazing and in my view the only saving grace for the game. They effectively create a sense of scale and bring to life the WW2 era battles. Games single player campaign is also boring, with generic missions really destroys all the fun. Voice acting and the quality of cutscenes are also very poor and suck the life out of the minimal plot there is. Game-play itself feels clunky and unpolished. As with all the recent UBISOFT games lately, RUSE feels as it is a console port with poor optimization and controls. There is a noticeable delay when we move camera and select our troops. Game is not worth the full price. Although it is currently on sale and you can try it out if you want something unique in RTS genre.
Fun little racer!!faraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of GTR 400 - PC
Its an old fun racing game. Just don't expect the realism of today's racing games. At a cheap price game is definitely worth it . Game has a great range of GT cars and loads of tracks to experience the thrills of speed. Graphics are pretty dated so it will run on your notebook just fine. Cheap racing game with loads of value. Game also has multiplayer available over Lan. If you are a racing fan and out of cash. This game is for you.
Graphically impressive 'Open world' shooterfaraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of Just Cause 2 - PC
Just cause 2 in my view is the best Open World title available out there. It might not have the realism of GTA 4 but when it comes down to accessibility, fun and action. There is no challenge. First thing that will truly amaze you is its graphics quality. Game boasts one of the most amazing visuals rarely seen in a game of this much scope. Just Cause 2 is set in a tropical paradise with miles and miles of open space, incredibly crafted down to small trees and flowers. And it looks absolutely gorgeous. Adds to the icing is how easy it is to travel from place to place in this open play ground. You can drive cars, bikes, boats and even fly in a number of aircraft ranging from helicopters to jumbo jets. But the greatest tool of all is a grappling hook. Rather silly and amusing to look at but highly fun to use and adds a unique twist, You shoot the grapple hook over a small distance and then hurl yourself forward and deploy a parachute and you start flying. There is not a single portion of the world that fails to disappoint and is visually stunning. Environments range from Icy mountain tops to lush jungles to barren deserts. Adds to this stunning visual splendor is the quality of action here. At our disposal are tons of weapons, even tanks and fighter jets. Controls are robust and highly responsive and we feel highly powerful as RICO the protagonist of the game. One rather disappointing thing about the game is its silly and non existense storyline. We are a specail agent send out to clear out the Island paradise from its evil ruler. We are to collaborate with the number of factions present on the Island to help remove the president. But thats about it. It is rather unfortunate that a title of this quality doesn't have a decent storyline. Otherwise it is a perfect titles in all other aspects. If you want to spend hundreds of hours in a beautiful open world game, Just Cause 2 is the must have title for you.
Ambitious but not perfectfaraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of Partisan - PC
From the looks of it, you might confuse it with a strategy game. But infact it is actually a top down shooter. The game lets you control a lone solider, fighting his way out of Nazi occupation. We need to shoot our way through, with a variety of WW2 era weapons in varied environments. Partisan also features a set of 'SKILLS' mechanic that adds an element of RPG into the mix. But mostly game is shallow and soon gets boring and repetitive. Graphics are average at best. I don't think game offer the right bang for your buck as the gameplay isn't engaging and interesting. Still if you want to kill some free time. This game might interest you.
Forgotten Gemfaraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of Earth 2160 - PC
Earth Series have always remained somewhat overshadowed by the likes of Command and Conquers and Starcrafts. This is a shame since Earth series has always remained graphically ahead of all those titles. Earth 2160 like its predecessors is a full 3D take on traditional RTS formula. Instead od a 2D game world, EARTH is fully realized 3D world where we can see our units from 360 degree and zoom in and out all we want. Game is a traditional RTS with four races each with abundant unit types, special units and other NPCs. Graphics are also top notch for there time. Game has a fast robust multiplayer portion with tons of maps and 4 distinct game modes. And at its current cheap price. You will not be disappointed for the amount of quality and content it offers.
Classic retro platformer you never played!!faraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of Comix Zone - PC
This is a game that has an unfortunate luck of not attracting much of a following. The comic look stylized graphics were the most innovative of its time. You are a hero trapped in your own creation, on a quest to remove evil from the city. You travel in a comic book from page to page, eradicating every enemy that stands in your way. Sound design is also great. Game is a little short but more then make up for the shortcoming with its steep difficulty. Game becomes increasingly challenging and requires a lot of trial and error. One wrong move and you have to start over. If you are fan of retro classics this game is sure to make you happy.
Best DLC by farfaraany3k | Aug. 18, 2011 | Review of Magicka Vietnam DLC - PC
This is really the first fully realized DLC for MAGICKA. Instead of adding some robes and PvP maps like previous Dlcs, VIETNAM Dlc is a full blown expansion pack with its unique flavor and content. Primarily mocking VIETNAM DLC that came out a while ago for Bad Company 2 in a funny way. Game offers a complete new campaign with Vietnam era inspired weapons, enemies and napalm strikes. DLC is rich with personality and adds a lot of value to an already brilliant game. Although campaign is a little short but still is fun enough for all Magicka fans to give it a try. I highly recommend it.
Retro Funfaraany3k | Aug. 17, 2011 | Review of VVVVVV - PC
VVVVV is a retro classic. And it doesn't even shy away to show it. First thing you ll notice are the looks that will look dated at first but if you get past this early barrier, you'll come to appreciate how beautiful the art style is. VVVVV offer a unique twist on tradition platforming formula. Instead of jumping and dodging in the game world. You manipulate the game world around you by reversing the laws of gravity. Result is a pure challenging and cerebral experience. I strongly recommend this game to all 'platform genre' lovers.
Best Indie Game. Periodfaraany3k | Aug. 17, 2011 | Review of Super Meat Boy - PC
Most of you have heard that Limbo and Braid are great platformers this gen. Although I do admit they are amazing games, but they are mostly about carefully crafted atmospheric experience rather then good old platforming fun. While these games are mostly focused on puzzle solving and collecting jigsaw pieces, Super Meat boy offers something completely different. It is fast and brutal. You are Super meat boy who is to save here bandage girl from an evil villain. Gameplay is based on retro platforming and is true to its roots. You have to jump, dodge and leap over huge distances,endless pits, moving chainsaw cutters, missiles and several other hurdles. Game is as tough as it gets. But it never feels unfair. As you start adapting to the difficulty game increases its difficulty even further with more challenging platforming. Result is a satisfying and ever increasing challenge. Game offers more then 300 levels. Mostly will take hundreds of attempts until you perfect every jump. One mistake and you will have to start over. Game also features built in leaderboards so you can compare your times with the community. Art style is stylized retro and music is fast and soothing reminiscent of old game-boy games. Controls are tight and responsive but you actually need a controller to have maximum fun though Keyboard feels right aswell In my humble view, best Indie game by far, when it comes to pure platforming fun.
Sim: Tour de Francefaraany3k | Aug. 17, 2011 | Review of Pro Cycling Manager 2006 - PC
Game is actually a sim game which allows you to manage all aspects related to Pro Cycling. We are to manage our rider, our bikes and each and every nity gritty involved related to cycling. Game offers a host of events to participate in. Graphics i must add are very well done. Both tracks and riders are tastefully and richly animated. A race comes to life with colorful and cheering crowd which adds tro the atmosphere of the game. I must admit, game is not for everyone. Primarily because we don't actually race in game. If you are a fan of simulator games like FIFA MANAGER, or Train sims, you should give this game a try. Players who are intrusted in a little more action should look elsewhere.
Most Refined Assasin Creed title Yetfaraany3k | Aug. 17, 2011 | Review of Assassins Creed Brotherhood - PC
Assassin's Creed 2 was widely lauded as one best title in years. It was unique, innovative and improved each and everything that the original Assassin Creed was missing. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood is a direct sequel to |Assassin Creed 2. We still play as a young Assassin named Ezio Auditore, who finds himself in a political power struggle of between two historical factions, Templars and Assassins. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood improves each and every aspect of Assassin's series even further. Attention to detail in each and every aspect of game is groundbreaking and never to be seen in a video game before. Storyline, historical accuracy, voice overs are done with Hollywood standard perfection. The game fundamentally plays same like AC2, but it mainly differs in small ways that add to overall enjoyment factor. Side-quests now are actually fun, varied and there are a ton of them. There is also an economy system in place aswell. We are to buy certain types of weapon shops, Armour shops and banks in the game, which then earn us profit overtime during our gameplay. Another brand new feature and a prominent one is new Brotherhood system. In order to increase our influence over the city, we recruit new Assassins which then work for us both in game, and we can give them contracts which they do outside game world. These contract work like a probability game. For example if the contract is easy and we send enough Assassins we end up completing the contract, which then rewards with in-game money.They can be also called in game. We can call them in game aswell to help us clear a guard post. They clear the path and then vanish and can be recalled for a fight after a limited cool-down. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood is first in the series which has introduced a multiplayer portion aswell. Multiplayer mode has a innovative game mode where we need to freely roam in the city and hunt and assassinate other Assassins while keeping our self safe. This Cat and Mouse encounters provide an intense and exhilarating experience. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood is essentially the best in the series. And if you are already a fan of Assassin's Creed franchise. You cant miss this one.
Not worth it anymore.faraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Virtua Fighter 2 - PC
This was a good 3D fighting game overshadowed by the great Tekken series of that era. Still it was a perfect beat em up for PC fans. But I think its a little too late for this title to hold any interest for me. Fighting movements doesn't feel right anymore. The game should only be bought for nostalgia. And one more thing Graphics are a sore sight after 17 years.
Feeeling Generous???faraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Magicka Nippon DLC - PC
Paradox and Arrowhead were generous enough to make a DLC exclusive for Japan tsunami hit victims. And all the funds generated by this DLC will be donated to japan affected areas. Its an amazing gesture by a small indie studio. DLC itself lets you play with 3 exclusive Japanese inspired items. I must say 'Kimono robe' looks really awesome. If you are planning on buying MAGICKA DLCs, please buy this one first.
This is not Splinter Cellfaraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Tom Clancys Splinter Cell Conviction - PC
Seriously I am disappointed with this game. Splinter Cell used to be the AAA 3rd person stealth shooter. It single-highhandedly rivaled the mighty MGS franchise on Playstation. Each and every step we use to take had serious consequences. We use to carefully lay traps and took enemies one by one all from the cover of dark. Unfortunately all those mechanics have been removed for the sake of accessibility and attracting wider audience to the series. The SPLINTER CELL CONVICTION is a complete reboot. Gone are the elements of stealth. Game now focuses heavily on taking enemies head on with firearms in broad daylight and has a cover mechanic like all modern 3rd person shooters. Stealth is minimum consideration here. With regeneration health, frankly why would anyone want to stay in the shadows. Game is significantly easier now with 'mark and execute' mechanic which lets you automatically kill enemies just by tagging them. With all these shortcomings I must admit its not a bad game. Its not good but not bad either. Shooting is still fun and cover mechanic works like a charm. My only problem is its not SPLINTER CELL anymore. The game has robust and fun 2player Coop mode. Also has a versus mode which is also fun and let you use all the modern tools of stealth and recon. It must be noted that you need to face UBISOFT DRM here, which is an annoyance and hinders your fun if you are not online only player. Action is fast here and whatever it presents is polished and interesting. Just don't went into the game thinking its your SPLINTER CELL title. Its just a good covered base shooter with minimal stealth elements.
What if "Plant vs Zombies" was a FPS???faraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Sanctum - PC
We seldom see a fusion of 2 genres. There are few attempts to combine RTS and FPS genres together but most of them doesn't end up well. But SANCTUM cares to differ. Its an expertly crafted game which combines elements of 'Tower Defense' with that of a traditional FPS genre. The result is a fun and engaging experience which captures best of both worlds. Action here is fast and frantic while you vigorously try to protect your base 'CORE' from a swarm of enemy minions by placing several different type of towers. You also carry guns so you can help your towers aswell. You also upgrade your primary weapon you are carrying. All in all alot of customization. Game is developed on UNREAL engine and it shows in colorful and expertly crafted maps, although they are very few in number that is one of the complains about the game. Sanctum is coop enabled and it is highly recommended that you play it in Coop to maximize your fun.
Cute little platformer form my childhoodfaraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle - PC
I use to love this game back when i was a Kid. This was the first game which introduced elements of RPG to traditional MARIO formula. Game is now two decades old but somehow graphics still feel fresh and attractive. I don't know if it has the same charming effect on an adult who is playing it for the first time as it had on me when I was a kid. Nonetheless if you have kids at home who like games, or a Girlfriend who hates you for playing shooting games all the time. Just let them try this game. I am sure they will enjoy it a lot.
Platforming gone wrongfaraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Heracles Battle with the Gods - PC
The first thing that will shock you, are terrible graphics and art style. And I am not talking about some stellar graphics, Mario is better compared to this uninspiring and ugly mess. Platforming is average at best, nothing revolutionary here. I highly encourage you to try some of the more brilliant platformers available these days instead of this overpriced game.
A great western shooter, with a great storylinefaraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Call of Juarez Bound in Blood - PC
I must admit I love WILD WEST. Its openness its craziness always intrigues me. Unfortunately this awesome feeling has never been faithfully recaptured in a video game until I played Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood. The game is brilliant not only as a shooter or by its artistic use of graphics, not only by its amazing sound design. The thing that really shines and set this apart from average shooters is its deep and heart touching storyline. You may say that story line is cliched and all, but the way it is presented really makes me feel for the 2 main characters. As a western shooter you will experience it all, you will ride horses, clear the bandits towns, protect a carriage from native attacks visit ghost towns and experience an epic story line of friendship, love and betrayal. With a brilliant single player camping, game also features a fun multiplayer experience. Multiplayer is frantic and fun. It also lets you use crossbows and other era specific weapons in addition of rifles and other firearms. With its current price, I highly recommend this game to anyone who wants a solid Western shooter on PC.
A faithful expansion pack!!faraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Commandos Beyond the Call of Duty - PC
This is how you do an expansion pack right. Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty builds upon the foundations of its original game with amazing amount of new content and gameplay tweaks. Firstly this expansion pack features a whole new single player campaign with a huge amount of varied and challenging missions. You still control the 6 man elite squad with 2 newcomers, squad is now sexed up with more war gear to take out enemies, handcuff them, club them or even fist them to there fate.In addition to new tools, several new mechanics have also been introduced which make the whole gameplay more precise and smoother then ever. If you are a fan of the original you might not want to miss this essential expansion pack.
The start of a revoultionary franchise!!faraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Commandos Behind Enemy Lines - PC
This franchise is revolutionary in many ways. Strategy games in those days were primarily focused on base-building and harvesting precious resources. Commandos on the other hand was the first series to completely abandon all those elements in the favor of more focused, tactical and action oriented gameplay. Instead of building large forces to take out the enemy bases. We were given command of a squad of 6 elite commandos each with there unique abilities and weapons, who were enough to take out greatest of enemy strongholds with the use of careful planning, stealth and brute force. All in all a great series that is must for all RTS lovers who like something different and challenging. I must add that game is pretty old and graphics haven't aged very well. But the art style is still unique and beautiful. WW2 era locations have been faithfully recreated and sets the tone for intense and exhilarating gaming experience. A must have for all the strategy fans.
Smaller, Shorter, Much less Badass!!!faraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Commandos 3 Destination Berlin - PC
While Commandos 1 and 2 focused primarily on stealth and tactics, Commandos 3 shifted its focus on more faster action oriented gameplay. Although this is by no means a broken approach. Its just not true to the old mechanics, series veterans have come to love about. Still action here is stronger and bigger then ever. You have a smaller squad to control and maps are noticeably smaller compared to older games in the series, this game is still good enough for anyone to try it out. But i must suggest you to play earlier Commandos first if you are a new player, to really appreciate a revolutionary gaming series on PC.
A must have sequel!!faraany3k | Aug. 16, 2011 | Review of Commandos 2 Men of Courage - PC
Commandos is one of the best action RTS of the yesteryear. You are to control elite British commando squad in a variety of fabulously created WW2 battlefields. Combining elements of tactics and split second actions make it an instant classic. For a strategy game graphics are also top notch. If you are new to the series or a returning player, game has a loads of interesting and new stuff to offer. This part is true to its roots and has all the elements that made part 1 such unique and exhilarating experience. Another thing that a series veteran might notice is this game is actually easier then its previous parts. But easy in not a bad way. They have actually removed the elements that made first 2 parts spanking difficult.I suggest to get this game asap, as this is the benchmark rts game, the best this PC genre has to offer.
Best for Coopfaraany3k | Aug. 15, 2011 | Review of Alien Breed Impact - PC
I see alot of hate about this franchise, But when we kep in mind the low price I think this game has a lot to offer in terms of fun specially in Coop. Game has a variety of weapons with gorgeous looking levels made on Unreal 3 engine. Lots of aliens to shoot with all sorts of machine-guns and shotguns. Controls are also sleek and responsive. If you want a good Coop game with your buddy. This game is one for you.
Not worth itfaraany3k | Aug. 15, 2011 | Review of Alien Shooter - PC
Even with its extremely low price, seriously this game is not worth it. Primarily because of how horrendous it looks. I am not usually the one who fancy graphics alot, but gameplay is equally bad. 3 words some it all Repetitive, clunky and boring. Game has no story or purpose. There are quite a few free2play games that you can try instead of wasting money on this game.
A worthwhile DLCfaraany3k | Aug. 15, 2011 | Review of Magicka Final Frontier DLC - PC
If you are planning on buying DLCs for Magicka, this one is the strong contender for the 'must buy' category. Not only it is providing additional maps for both PvP and challenger modes, it is also bringing in lots of cool new stuff and weapon. A must have for all Magicka fans.
Overpricedfaraany3k | Aug. 15, 2011 | Review of Magicka Frozen Lake DLC - PC
Its another DLC that is only suited for competitive Magicka players. Since most of the PvP games are between friends, There is a strong chance that if you are a gamer with no friends to play, you might end up never playing it. Map although is unique and fun. I think all PvP maps should be bundled and sold for 2 dollars. 1 map for 2 dollars is not worth it.
Your Average Shooterfaraany3k | Aug. 15, 2011 | Review of Commandos Strike Force - PC
This was a interesting take on the series. Instead of traditional squad based RTS, Eidos decided to make it a FPS influenced by Call of Dutys of that era. The up close and personnel approach in my view didn't turned out to be good. It was not as much fun as it was use to be when it was an isometric rts. There are number of reasons this FPS change doesn't end up well. Firstly the older commando games use to have a huge and diverse squad of special commandos which the series fans started caring about. On the other hand this game only features 3 commandos of that squad. The Heavy guy, the sniper and the spy. All in all this shrink-ed squad although diverse in ways doesn't have the same effect as the older games. FPS elements were solid enough and we can play as a straight shooter or as sniper or as a spy class. Graphics were decent for its age. Story and missions were your standard WW2 affair. In the end it wasn't a bad game. But in the WW2 heavy era of 2005 and before. Commandos Strike force doesn't stand out as a unique title.
Masterpiece!!faraany3k | Aug. 15, 2011 | Review of Hitman Blood Money - PC
Hitman franchise is considered to be the first, which implemented stealth quite successfully. No need to sneak in the dark to get your kills anymore. You can all do that in broad daylight now Hitman lets you don a bald super assassin known only as 47. 47 has a slew of deadly but effective weaponry at his disposal, like his infamous piano wire or a sniper gun for all those sneaky kills. You are hired by a mysterious organization which sends you to all the remote places to get the job done. Game's graphics are superb and some of the scenes really make you feel like a part of the game world. Music and sound effects are top notch. HITMAN is rare breed of games that actually makes you feel powerful and deadly. By no means game is perfect. It has its shortcomings in some AI behavior and collision detection. But those minor announces will not stop you from enjoying one of the best stealth based games to date. Buy it asap.
Decent Fun Indie Gamefaraany3k | Aug. 15, 2011 | Review of Tower Bloxx - PC
So premise is as simple as it gets. You are to place blocks of buildings over one another to construct a huge building. And that's about it. You press left mouse button to timely drop a piece of building on to the other, make sure that you do it accurately so the building remains constant. Whole gameplay revolves around this basic idea. The game then expands to more complex mechanics by adding different building types and like how many time you placed a block perfectly and give you bonuses. In this way you are to creat a huge city with a mix of different type of buildings. Art style is really fun and neat. Although I don't find the game to be worth the price it is actually selling at. But you can get it for sale for 3$ and it seems a fair price for this shallow yet fun indie game.
For the collectorsfaraany3k | Aug. 14, 2011 | Review of Magicka Wizards Survival Kit DLC - PC
With a number of DLCs released simultaneously for Magicka, Wizards Survival Kit mostly concerns with the visuals customization options available in-game. Another one of the highlights of this DLC is newest Meteor Shower ability. It is a strong AOE magick and it looks pretty cool too. But ultimately it is up to you, a few random skins and a new magick is worth your 1 dollar. But if you are a Magicka fanatic. Just don't miss this at any cost.
Strictly for Fanboysfaraany3k | Aug. 14, 2011 | Review of Aliens vs Predator Requiem - PC
I must admit AvP has a lot of potential. The game is actually pretty polished and both shooting and stealth mechanics are pretty solid. Multiplayer focuses on all the three Races. So if you like to sneak in like predator or go all guns blazing like a Marine. You will all find it here. Graphics are brilliant and art style is true to the franchise, But ultimately where this game disappoints is its inconsistency. Although Single player campaign is fun for the Human part, it is not so much for aliens and predators. All the focus is on Human campaign and there is the most part where the fun lies. Singleplayer has also very low replaytability value. Multiplayer also feels imbalanced at times. With all the 3 races playable it sometimes feel OP to be HUMAN. While Aliens are toughest to play. These inconsistencies though seem pretty minor, but ultimately has a much stronger influence on how you play. If you are looking for fun shooter/melee action this game is a must have. Just don't expect AAA stuff here.
A Brilliant Remakefaraany3k | Aug. 12, 2011 | Review of Worms Reloaded - PC
This is basically a HD remake of a classic from yesteryear. Game itself is true to its roots. WORMS is a turn based tactical strategy game. Although at first little cute worms give an impression of shallow adn cuddly gameplay. It is entirely another beast when you get into the thick and thin. The game is as deep as chess with dynamic environments. Each and every turn feels different and unique. A small mistake can turn the tide of whole match. This is the best, action turn based genre has to offer. The HD remake is not only about pretty graphics. The game now has multiple game modes. 35 single player maps, Local and online multiplayer, a special survival mode called' Bodycount mode', a highly accessible 'pick and create' Creation mode gives this unique game an unlimited re-playability value. Whether you are a old WORMS veteran or a newcomer. You will definitely find this title fun and challenging. Personally I think game this unique should be a part of every gamers catalog.
Innovating the RPG Genre, One step at a timefaraany3k | Aug. 7, 2011 | Review of Magicka - PC
Its a very interesting take on traditional RPG genre. Because of its Indie heart, game had the levrage of experimenting with the traditional norms of genre and I think they have done superbly well. One of the two things that make this a remarkably fresh and innovative experience is how it handles combat. Instead of traditional Hack and Slash like Diablo or a more cerebral approach like Oblivion with managing complex inventory and Mana requirements, Magicka offers a fast rythmic experience. We are provide with 8 elemental powers which include FIRE,WATER,ICE,ARCANE,LIGHTNING,EARTH,HEALING,SHEILD. These powers when used with the comibnations of others make a devastating and surreal experience. For example combining earth and fire will give you abilty to throw Fire Rocks at enemies. Or why not try combining Water and lightning. You know what will happen? You will hurt yourself. All this combining has a realistic approach where different combinations can prove to be lethal for the enemy but they can be lethal for the caster aswell. Another great feature that is still missing in most of the modern RPGs is the abilty to go Co-op or multiplayer. But you will be amazed to see that MAGICKA is built around the concept of Co-op. There is a whole campaign which is designed for 4 player co-op mode. And is an absolute blast when there are 4 mages doing there crazy magic combinations. They are bound to be fun, hilarious and absolutely outrageous. Magicka even has a multiplayer mode with arena style Versus and Challenge. The game at the time of release was pretty buggy, but now they have patched it and bugs have reduced significantly. And with the release of 8 brilliant DLCs (I recommend getting VIETNAM DLC) you are sure that developers will support the game long after you make this essential purchase. Game is both controller and Keyboard/Mouse enabled. Its just 10 dollars come on. Go buy it asap and have a blast while playing with your friends. Its an experience you are not likely to get any where else. I have given it a 90, only because it needs to be played with friends to have maximum fun. Otherwise it is a solid 9.5 experience with price to fun ratio.
Old School PC Shooter, from the makers of BULLETSTORMfaraany3k | Aug. 7, 2011 | Review of Painkiller Black Edition - PC
Shooters of today tend to be pseudo-realistic with accurate recoil, cover and timely kills. But FPS as a genre on PC started as more of an arcadish take on shooting. We dont need to stay in cover or reload all the time. Sometimes its best to just run around and shoot as many baddies as you want. And have fun while doing it. But make no mistake. Arcade shooters are not just about standing still and simply shooting. Painkiller features a slew of deadly enemies which can attack you in many ways, Some try to take you down with speed, some with stealth and some with there pure brute force or heavy weapons. The whole experience is surreal and makes you feel all powerful. And with a ploethra of enviroemnts cool and unique weaponary, this game is a blast for as long as it lasts. And how they have designed the whole game you will have hours and hours of replayabality. Tired of modern shooters, try out this brilliant Old school shooter. And with current price drop its a must have for any FPS enthusiast.