February 2012
1 post
Castle Shikigami 2 (PS2)
Platform: PlayStation 2 Developer: Alfa System Publisher: XS Games Genre: Shoot-em-up Released: November 17, 2004 Metacritic: 67
What is it: Blind idiot translation: the video game.
0:00 – The story of Castle Shikigami 2, from the back of the box. “The time: 2006, the distant future. The Demon Gods have reappeared above the skies of Tokyo City with the goal of continuing the domination and...
January 2012
12 posts
6 tags
Cave Story+
Platform: PC (reviewed), WiiWare, DSiWare, 3DS Developer: Studio Pixel Genre: Metroidvania Released: November 22, 2011 Metacritic: 83
What is it: Talk to bunnies, jump around, shoot stuff, something, something, dragons.
0:00 – A dude with green hair sits at a computer and types some exposition in the form of an IM chat. Apparently he’s escaped and needs help. Eh, not the worst way to launch a...
5 tags
Gradius III & IV (PS2)
Platform: PS2 Developer: KCET Publisher: Konami Genre: Shoot-em-up Released: November 13, 200 Metacritic: 64
What is it: Two old school shoot-em-ups in one masochistic package.
0:00 – I love the Gradius series to almost no end. Gradius V is one of my favorite games on the PS2, Gradius Collection on the PSP, but yet I’ve never played IV and only the poor SNES port of III. Let’s see if this...
5 tags
Osmos (PC)
Platform: PC (reviewed), iPhone/iPad Developer: Hemisphere Games Genre: Other Released: August 18, 2009 Metacritic: 80
What is it: Na naaaa nanana na na NA na primordial soup damacy!
0:00 – Odd music plays while cell-esque objects float by on the screen. The only option is the two intro levels. “Go for it!” the game cheers.
0:01 – I am a cell… type thingy. Movement is controlled by pointing...
5 tags
Hegemony: Phillip of Macedon (PC)
Platform: PC Developer: Longbow Digital Arts Genre: Real-time strategy Released: November 5, 2010 Metacritic: 66
What is it: The blandest RTS ever.
0:00 – The campaign begins with a historical background. I am Phillip of Macedon. The king has been killed in battle, the heir an infant, and I’ve just been elected regent to serve in the king’s stead. The kingdom’s survival is in my hands. No...
6 tags
Limbo (PC)
Platform: PC (played), XBLA, PSN Developer: PLAYDEAD Genre: Platformer/puzzle Released: July 21, 2010 Metacritic: 88
Summary: Face of a super model, heart of a serial killer.
0:00 - Start in a forest lying on the ground. Slowly I wake up, get up, and I’m in control. No ceremony, just gloomy, foreboding atmosphere and an ominous monochromatic color scheme.
0:01 - Odd control scheme for the...
Atom Zombie Smasher (PC)
Atom Zombie Smasher (PC)
Platform: PC Developer: Blendo Games Publisher: Blendo Games Genre: Strategy Released: March 14, 2011 Metacritic: 75
What is it: Command mercenaries and fight zombies a minute at a time.
0:00 – The game begins by awarding you a diploma in the “Master Study of the Recently-Possible,” dated May 5th, 1960 as music straight out of Pulp Fiction plays. Well, that gets my...
5 tags
Steel Storm: Burning Retribution (PC)
Platform: PC Developer: Creative Artel Publisher: Creative Artel Genre: Shoot-em-up Released: May 11, 2011 Metacritic: 55
What is it: Blow up everything in front of you, move to objective, lather, rinse, repeat.
0:00 - No fancy intro stuff, just a menu (with tons of options) and some dramatic wartime music. A bit of customization and I’m off!
0:01 - Okay, so this isn’t a...
5 tags
Solar 2 (PC)
Platform: PC Developer: Murudai Publisher: Murudai Genre: Other? Release date: June 17, 2011 Metacritic: 72
What is it: Explore the galaxy, absorb asteroids and planets, grow into a solar system, and… well, that’s about it.
0:00 - I’m liking this already. How many games start with the big bang, followed by saying “Welcome to the universe”? Not enough.
0:02 - You...
5 tags
Chrome (PC)
Platform: PC Developer: Techland Publisher: Strategyfirst Genre: FPS Release date: October 28, 2003 Metacritic: 69
What is it?: A generic sci-fi FPS loaded with cliches and bad ideas.
0:00 - Two people sitting in the cockpit of a spaceship while ominous music plays. The game was released in 2003, and it certainly shows.
0:01 - Two people (not the same two) sit in a cockpit of a spaceship...
5 tags
Sid Meier's Civilization IV
Platform: PC Developer: Firaxis Publisher: 2K Genre: Empire building strategy Metacritic: 94
What is it: Choose a civilization, grow your empire, and conquer your foes through means both military and peaceful. And wait. A lot.
0:00 - I’ve never played a proper Civilization game before, but I sunk hours into Civilization Revolution, which is supposed to be Civilization with less...
5 tags
Ben There, Dan That
Platform: PC Developer: Size Five Games Genre: Point-and-click adventure
What is it: Indie adventure game that bills itself as a tribute to games like Monkey Island and Sam & Max Hit the Road.
0:00 – Open the game then quit immediately. The option to turn on full screen mode isn’t in the game itself, it’s in the configuration program that Steam has to launch separately. Minor annoyance,...
4 tags
What is the 2012 Gaming Project?
Going over the remnants of 2011, and coming off of the 2011 Steam winter sale, I came to a conclusion: I have too damn many games that I haven’t even played. Exactly 200 games, not counting mobile games. These are games that I’ve never played, barely played (i.e. less than 15 minutes), or haven’t played in so long it might as well be a new game. So I resolved that I would not buy...