Okay, I admit it. Another week has gone by where I have pretty much only played Mass Effect 3 and Borderlands 2. So without further ado we’ll quickly move on to what the boss-man has been playing.
Unfortunately Peter freely admits that he hasn’t “had much time to play anything so far this week” either. He did find time for an hour or so of The Unfinished Swan and doesn’t think the game’s marketing did it justice. “I have to say that I think they really made a mistake by not showing what that game becomes after the fairly aimless pure white section. When shadow is introduced, it’s much more interesting and visually arresting.”
More and more we seem to be looking outside the mainstream for our gaming and Steam’s community-supported Greenlight system, intended to help fast-track the release of Indie titles was the source (pun intended) for the other game Peter’s found a reasonable amount of time for this week.
One of the first Greenlight games, Towns, “has an interesting premise” he tells me. “You basically run the town that’s above the dungeon from a traditional dungeon-running RPG. So your job is to build and maintain a thriving town that a hero can visit in his quest below ground.” While the game is “extremely basic, to the point of seeming quite unfinished, I love the idea” and he looks forward to spending more time with the game.
Gamoc took a look at a very early version of Towns for our Cheap PC Gaming series late last year and you can read his thoughts about the game here.
Tuffcub has finished off Asura’s Wrath and “even though there is not much game I enjoyed every single second”. So if you’re looking for something a little different to satiate your gaming appetite this could be one that’s worth a look. Last week he suggested there wasn’t much gaming to be had but he now adds “to be fair the amount of playtime does ramp up towards the end”. An end “which is the most ridiculously over the top thing I have ever seen”. [Spoiler warning for the next paragraph.]
The game is structured particularly well, Asura goes nuts (or more precisely even more nuts than usual) at the end of act II and for the first part of act III you are playing another character for a few episodes. Talking of characters, every single one of them is wonderfully portrayed, most notably the camp-as-tits Sergei. The final battle is just bonkers, a tentacled snake thing half the size of planet Earth (and indeed, buried in planet Earth) is your first boss battle. What could they do to beat that? What would be the most ridiculous and yet awesome thing to have as boss? Oh yes, the molten core of our own frickin planet. Obvious.
He thoroughly recommends it if you are fan of bonkers Japanese cartoons, especially as you can find the game for about £12 at online retailers. Aside from Asura’s Wrath he’s tried the yawn-worthy Crysis 2 and “played a bit more MUD” on his PS Vita.
[drop2]Finishing off Dishonored this week Aran found it increasingly difficult to keep his per-level kill count down. “Guard corpses everywhere is all I’m saying thanks to my Blink and Dark Vision abilities.” Nonetheless he says it’s a “great game” looks forward to revisiting it in the future for a more “careful” playthrough.
FIFA 13 Ultimate Team has been getting more screen time and he’s now made it to “Division 2 on the Online Season mode”. He’s also picked up a cheap copy of Shadows Of The Damned. His two word review; it’s awesome. By way of a lengthier description he offers that it’s “a comedic, third person B-movie type shooter”. Aran says the game offers a good challenge and is so bizarre that you should “buy it, because I want more of this”.
Last up this week is Dan who has played, and completed, Halo 4. He came away impressed too. “It’s one of the best looking console games I’ve ever seen. Gameplay wise I’m disappointed 343 didn’t mix things up and deviate from the Halo formula, but it’s still a good game.”
His Xbox 360 got no break after that as no sooner had he laid down his plasma rifle he jumped back behind the wheel in Forza Horizon. A game which has made its way into his top 5 list for 2012.
Have you found time for anything other than Call of Duty: Black Ops II this week?
Sitorimon
I cannot give enough love to Shadows of the Damned & Asura’s Wrath – 2 of my fav games this gen. I’ve been busy with LPBK which I’m loving a lot more than the demo so Im mega pleased I got it. Lights Camera Party which is grossly overpriced but actually a nice mini game collection (if a bit too quick), UFC Personal Trainer which I’ve now injured myself on so its back on the shelf and Pid for the PS3 aside from F1 2012. On the PC I’ve got Thomas Was Alone and I LOVE IT!!! Towns is on my to get list but I’ve spent sooo much on games this month, it depends on my budget.
yogdog
Finished grinding the German Tank Destroyer tree on World of Tanks, unlocked the tier 10 Jagdpanzer-E100, and finished Black Ops 2 on Veteran Difficulty in less than 24 hours of having the game (about 8 hours it took me, of which an hour was a break). Short but enjoyable campaign.
As well as that I’ve completed the Generals Challenge on hard difficulty as the USA Air Force general and continued forwards with Dishonoured. All in all, a good fun week of gaming :)