Just Cause 2 expands on everything good about the original, beefs up the graphics, and fixes the vehicle handling. JC2 also seems to take a cue from the Red Faction games with massively destructible structures - given they're enemy strongholds are enemy assets. The even bigger sandbox, variety of weapons and vehicles, grappling hook & parachute, mission variety, and dark satire of geo political reality are all present - and this time with gamepad support! Now there are three factions, each with their own agendas, to do various missions for as well as the regime you're to take down. The graphics hold up well and run at max settings on even entry level GPUs post 2015.
If GTA Vice City were on a tropical island it'd be alot like Just Cause. The sandbox gameplay, gigantic open world, plethora of vehicles and weapons, morally grey protagonist, mission variety, dark satire. All present in Just Cause. My only complaint is the vehicle handling can be iffy. I definitely forgive the graphics given the tech at the time (2006), which was standard for games on the PlayStation 2.
As a guy who enjoyed Descent and still enjoys Forsaken Remastered, Overload drags the six degree FPS genre into the new millennium. The six degrees of freedom, exploration, multi objective stages, ship upgrades, and dystopian deep space setting are all here in fine form. Along for the ride is online multiplayer modes, which will often pit you against old Gen X Descent vets. Like Forsaken Remastered, there's gamepad support (360, XB1, PS3, PS4, Logitech F series). Also like Forsaken, Overload does have enemy spawns which are plus for challenge and a minus for nasty surprises. Throw in Linux (which is my go-to OS) and Mac support and you're looking at a pretty sweet deal for under $30 (US).
Mother Russia Bleeds is Streets of Rage brawling with Mortal Kombat gore and a psychological thriller story. Best played with a buddy. Turn off friendly fire in either co-op or bot mode (options menu during gameplay), to keep from damaging each other as much as your enemies. Graphics and music complete the story's dark and gritty atmosphere. Played on Linux Mint with F310 controller and GT 1030 graphics.
Played on Linux Mint 17, GT 710 graphics, with Logitech F310. Great. Run and gun with some lite platforming and cover mechanics. The usual cyber punk aesthetic in 16 bit looking graphics. Enemy variants look and behave different enough to make you use your noggin. Boss battles make you use your noggin and demand timing. The platforming is just enough to feel fun in multi-tiered single screens. The stuff going on in the environments make Huntdown feel like you're in the middle of a much bigger conflict.
I played Jedi Academy in the early 2000s on my brother's old Xbox and liked it. I now play this PC release from gog.com thru OpenJK for Linux. When using projectiles you snap into first person perspective. When brandishing a Lightsaber you go into third person perspective, which adds a real action movie feel to the melee combat. Platforming and environmental puzzles make you use your noggin. The environments have alotta variety and fit the Star Wars aesthetic. Enemies are recognizable from the original Star Wars trilogy. Multiplayer can be experienced online, thru LAN, or against some very clever bots. Abilities can be leveled up after completing missions. Missions are mostly offered nonlinear. The only weak point is the passable story. Another 6th generation goodie now cheap with no DRM!
I enjoyed Return to Castle Wolfenstein years ago on Windows XP with an old 64MB PCI GPU. Like most Quake 3 engine games, the graphics have aged so-so yet allow much for the modding crowd. Also like some Quake 3 engine games, there are source ports for running RtCW on newer OSes including Linux (iortcw). Enemies are varied in look and attacks. Environments are varied and encourage a bit of strategy. Weapons all have uses, with environments and enemies encouraging you to switch things up. Multiplayer (thru iortcw's "WolfMP" launcher) can connect you to matches against other aging Gen Xers! I'm glad I saw this puppy on gog.com with no DRM and scooped it up!
Shock Troopers plays almost like Mercs (Mega Drive) for the Neo Geo. Or maybe an overhead Contra (NES/SNES). Each character has a special bomb attack. Weapon pickups change the basic attacks and deplete, defaulting to the basic gun. Some stages go into a side scrolling vehicular mode. Boss battles involve weak points and waves of enemies. Single player is fun but two player is a blast. Played on Linux Mint with a Logitech F310.
Yep, you read the title of this review right, Last Blade IS better than Samurai Shodown! Last Blade is a 2D fighting game with a medieval Japanese theme and aesthetic. The controls are tight and fluid. The characters are varied in moves, specials, personalities, and appearance. The backgrounds and music fit the medieval Japanese theme nicely. Kinda like a 2D Bushido Blade (PS1). For two controllers in VS mode, have 2P press COIN (usually the R bumper) then START. Played on Linux Mint with two Logitech F310 controllers very smooth.
