Tower 57 isn't a terrible game, but it has a lot of faults. The basic game design is sound, but the extreme difficulty (even on easy) often feels unfair and very unforgiving. There are also plenty of in-game bugs, such as your character's special ability firing without your input. This did come in handy once, but most of the time it's an annoyance because it uses it up when you'd probably rather save. Add in that ammo and health packs are used immediately (even if you have full health or ammo) and only save points are used, and you have a game that almost seems like it strives to be difficult over fun. I know some people will love the idea of a game that's hard and punishing, and that's fine; however, if you're on easy, you don't expect it to be as difficult as many other games' hard modes. So what's good about Tower 57? Well, it's a lot of fun in co-op (both online and local) so long as you expect an extreme challenge. Tower 57 also offers numerous characters to play — three male and three female — each with their own weapons, tools, and special abilities. An interesting game dynamic is the ability to replace and upgrade body parts, each doing something different. You'll need that too, as certain enemies can tear off limbs, and even the tutorial goes so far as to force it on you. All in all, Tower 57 is a decent co-op title, but I'd only recommend getting it while on sale, and I'd suggest staying away if you're planning on playing single player. Something else to note is that Tower 57 is truly DRM-free, so you don't need Galaxy to play online co-op. I have no idea if the GOG version of Tower 57 plays nice with the Steam version, but I imagine it probably would. You might want to check the Steam boards for that; unfortunately, the boards for this game are sparsely population on GOG, so you're not likely to receive an answer.
I play a LOT of stealth-based games and Ronin has to be one of the worst I've ever experienced. It's sad too, because there's the framework here for a really good game, but it's destroyed by hideous controls and poor game mechanics. What's so bad? Well, the controls are extremely wonky, in particular the grappling hook. Using it (and having it actually work properly) seems to be based more on haphazard clicking and luck. You'll experience a lot of misses and deaths due to the controls themselves. The game gives very little indication when you're about to be killed. Sometimes the red reticle focused on you means you'll be killed or it simply means you're being targeted. The game makes more differentiation between the two, which is really, really annoying. You'll only earn a skill point (something that's necessary to get new abilities) if you complete ALL the tasks in each level. This isn't bad in and of itself, but sometimes this makes for a no-win (or rather, no-earn) scenario where you need to choose between killing civilians or letting them ring the alarm. And no, sometimes it's impossible to avoid detection. There's also relatively very little stealth in the game. It's more of a "kill-while-looking-cool" title, so if you want stealth, you might find this game lacking. Perhaps the biggest sin of all is a complete absence of manual and quicksaves. You have to rely on (very poorly placed) auto-saves and checkpoints. This can be incredibly frustrating when you need to redo a bunch of stuff you did right in order to get to where you messed up. So what's good? Well, the art style is neat and the game's requirements are extremely low, so any machine can run it. That's really all I can say that's positive. In a nutshell, I'd strongly recommend staying away from Ronin unless you're a masochist. This game is unbelievably annoying and frustrating, not due to innate difficultly, but terrible game mechanics and controls.
Shadwen is a billed as a stealth game where time moves only when you do and you can rewind time to fix mistakes. This is all true, but is it fun? Well... yes and no. Here's my take on this game divided into two sections: pros and cons. PROS: + Good looking graphics. + Decent voice acting, sound effects, and music. + You can fix mistakes or try something different using their rewind system. + Interesting game thief/assassin game mechanics (imagine Zoya, from the Trine series, using her grappling hook, but instead of wielding a bow, she only has a dagger). + Despite escorting Lily (a little girl who tags along with you), the game doesn't turn into an extended "escort mission" where the AI's failings cause you to lose. CONS: - The rewind system is basically there because the developer couldn't figure out how to properly implement manual saving (aka "save when and where you want") which has been a core feature of PC gaming since the 1980s. - If you get caught for any reason, you immediately need to either rewind or start from the lack checkpoint. - Checkpoint saves are rarely made, usually at the beginning of an area and that's it. So if you mess up or need to quit for whatever reason, you can expect to replay anything you've done up to that point. For me, this has meant redoing 30-60 minutes worth of game time at different points in the game. - The grappling hook is a bit awkward and will sometimes get the game's physics confused. I've seen it grab Shadwen at a 90 degree angle and then kill her. - There doesn't seem to be any in-game difference between choosing to avoid the guards and straight out assassinating them. - Although it's great Lily doesn't get you caught, the fact that the guards NEVER notice her at all is weird. I've seen her stop right in front of them and wait for them to move, after which she runs to hide in a haystack. Verdict: Get Shadwen on a sale. It's a decent stealth game, but not on par with Thief, Splinter Cell, Hitman, or Death to Spies.
This is a turn-based exploration/strategy game, where you play a pilot who's one of many professions (trader, bounty hunter, pirate, etc) and belongs to one of four factions. That sounds neat, but in the end it means nothing as everything you do is the same. The only difference between any of these choices is which faction you fly for and a few missions here and there, but in the end, all you end up doing is fighting waves upon waves of enemies. The reason for that is the game doesn't end. I've conquered every system (except the other factions' home systems, which you can't take over) and now all I have are never-ending invasion attempts I have to fight back. Also, the game says you can marry the governor's daughter, but you can't. I've played this game to completion (or at least, as complete as it'll let me) and gotten the governor's approval to 90+, been rich, and have the rank of admiral, yet I've never been introduced to any governor's daughter. Overall, I'd recommend staying away unless you're dying to play this and you can get it extremely cheap, as it's not worth paying much for unless you like broken, buggy messes that don't function as they're supposed to do so.
GRID is a lesson in flash over substance. In other words, the graphics are absolutely beautiful and there are nice little touches everywhere (such as the announcer using your name or the crowd reacting to what you do). That said, the game falls flat where it really counts and that's in gameplay, specifically vehicle handling. No matter what settings I chose, the cars always handled the same way: uncontrollably. Make the slightest adjustment and you'll spin out, crashing into a wall. Even trying to go in a straight line is nearly impossible, as the cars constantly swing left and right. I felt like I was playing pinball instead of racing. The only mode I could possibly recommend is the destruction derby course, mostly because you don't really need to steer accurately. In every other mode you'll spend most of your time crashing into objects and cars anyway, so you might as well play the mode that rewards it. Maybe it's possible to enjoy this game if you own a dedicated control setup (like a steering wheel, whereas I used an Xbox 360 controller; I can't even imagine attempting this game with a keyboard) and you're willing to put in months or years of training, but I don't want a second job. To sum this up: GRID is a game that looks amazing, but plays like crap. Only buy it if you can get it 80% off the normal price, if not more. It's not worth spending more than that unless you're willing to spend all of your recreation time training or you've got a steering wheel.
Writing a review for this game is difficult without giving away major plot points. Much of the game is about the story and interpersonal relationships between characters. There is some combat, but it's minor and most can be avoided if you pursue more diplomatic means. The bulk of the game is walking around a giant airliner (no, it's not a spaceship) where you become part of the crew. You'll help out people with tasks and personal issues, and they'll form opinions about you, both good and bad. The story can diverge greatly depending on your choices. Side with one person over another or choose to talk your way through a confrontation instead of going in guns blazing can alter everything. I do, however, have FOUR issues with the game: 1. The voice acting could be better. It's not terrible, but it's not professional either. Maybe that's unfair considering this is an indie game with a relatively low budget. 2. The graphics suffer in some places, particularly the shadows which appear very blocky. 3. Interactivity with objects is limited. Half the time screens and objects are there just for looks. 4. At one part in the game, they tell you to hurry. Unlike other sections in this game (and most other titles), they really do mena it. If you take too long, the entire plane is shot out of the sky. You wouldn't know to take this seriously, however, until it's too late. Make sure you save early, and save often.
