I swear, Neon Chrome is one of those game I find myself coming back. Sure, it's not that ground breaking. A little bit junky, perhaps. But out of all the similar games 10tons has developed, and even among its genre peers, Neon chrome is... well, a really and utterly compact (without too much tiresome grind) and enjoyable experience. One I'm sure I'll come back again.
Yup, I hate to say it... and I tried to play for the second time... but unless you are an afficionado for this very, very, VERY particular kind of game (with abysmal combat, a level design that either gives you TOO much information or none at all, and a general really bad design pace - not even slow... just... bad overall) then... stay away. Even if it is free... it's generally not worth it.
Strafe: Gold edition is just that: a nice Roguelike(actually, more like lite) Fps wanna-be throw back in the 90's... or, as steam FINALLY decided to call them, BOOMER SHOOTER... .... buuuuuuut! Although the game has multiple, nicely implemented features of the 90's doom-like (actually, in this case is quake-like, which are strangely more rare) like strafing (... I mean, it's in the name), nice level design (yes, not every part of a level will change), boxy graphics, fre****g good music (I must admit, I really liked it) and gun feeling... it has just that. I'm not talking about story, of course (which is non-existent - like the classics - but still it has this ''dark humor'' energy) but about the wanna-be 90's part: the game makes references and everything in the surface level, but the gameplay is something else completely: yes, it does have some feature of it, and the game proclaims itself to be ''old school'', but it really isn't in its gameplay, which is more like a modern shooter (which is not even bad, but not great). Again, the game is ok, and really good if you need to blast something, but gets repetitive after a while, which is what actually kills a rogue-like (lite) game, if you ask me. Another thing that I realize is that there aren't much health pick ups, which it shouldn't be that much of a problem, but it clashes tremendously with the other ''90's-ish'' features, making it an endurance test all the way, and also it makes only some gun choice the only actually viable for completing a run. Still, I wanna recommend this game: finishing the run turn out to be a little of a chore, but a fun one!
.... but devoided of all the story, amazing design and whatnot. Care though, FATE is not a bad game, and if you like mindless grinding in an Arpg, man, disregard the 3 star rating: for you, it's a full 5 star! However, as a gamer without any former nostalgia for the game, I can say this: there's one mechanic that it is worth of noting, and for which I'm giving the three star rating, and that's the core gameplay. Basically, you can build your character with multiple skill unrestricted by class, and can mix'n'match any skill you want (which, at the time, and maybe even for today standard, is pretty interesting). Still, at least for me, this game didn't give me enough reason to go through it's unending layers of dungeon (but again, in my RPG I'd like to follow some sort of story, even in an oriented-action one), even with that mechanics. And yet again, this game has left quite an impression on the gamer community at the time (although pretty niche), so I won't say it's masterpiece, but perhaps something worth it for you, you just ought to have... FATE! (YUS, manage to insert my pun quote for this short review).
...but it still good! (although, personally, the horror genre truly isn't my favourite) Doom 3 (and Doom BFG Edition, which changes the game completely) was supposed to be the 'new' direction of the Doom franchise, after Doom 64, into the Horror genre, switching the frantic gameplay with... something still frantic (to be honest, the 'scary' part and the over used I-got-no-ideas-so-let's-use-them Jumpscares only last, for like, less than half of the game.) but with some... undecisive design choices. Man, this is confusing. Let's start from the beginning. Doom 3 (or, better yet, Doom remake) is a Horror/''survival'' FPS with a weird paced gameplay (but utterly solid gun-play. After all folks, it IS still ID software) and a strange case I-wanna-do-like-system shock game kind of narrative. And, for its time, Doom 3 actually brought, beside the new big graphic, also an innovative light and dark system, perfectly fused with the gameplay (I mean, the torch system is fundamentally what separated Doom from its peers, at the time). Now, if it WEREN'T Doom (and I'm reviewing it like it wasn't Doom) that would fine and dandy... However, since it is Doom, and Doom means killing demons and extremely fast-paced gameplay, the choice of making it slow (from character movement to the pace of story) but then adding features that truly doesn't add well from the old franchise... welp, it isn't great (and yet it is still fun, just not like previous instalments). This issue was apparently so obvious that they try to mend it (and to show something out of a refined game theory, that is changing entirely a game by changing only two of its mechanics) by releasing the BFG edition, which removes the need of a separate torch (now you can always see where you are shooting) and let's you find way more ammo... and makes the game even worse, since it removes the need of survival. Anyway, is worth it? YES! Doom 3 (even BFG) is still an ID game, and that means marvellous!
I consider this game one of the best ''Zen'' example in videogaming (and only reason I'm giving three stars. If not, It'd be worth 2 at best). Absolute drift is all about... drifting. no embellishments, no strange mechanics. Just drifting, and it does an acceptable job at that (provided that you play with a controller). But above all, it's all about mastering the curve, so to speak. Nothing else matters, that was clearly the intention of the devs. So, If you are looking for something exciting... this isn't the game for you. If you're looking for an enlightenment sense of fulfilment after finally landing that particular difficult drift.. welp, you just found your game.
As the first instalment of an obscenely obscure and yet astonishing cult classic saga, Blood omen: Legacy of Kain is even more obscure (at least, for me. I started directly from Soul Reaver) and a true example of masterful storytelling. To be clear, the gameplay is good (actually, on my personal opinion, is even better than the rest of the saga, which I believe was developed by others) but what truly sells it is the atmosphere, designed choices and the amazing way the game was written and acted: it is a delight to hear the protagonist voice narrating in such a decadent and uneasy fashion the event of his quest, and the plot's game is even more twisted and interesting. So, absolutely YES! Such grandeur of gothic and narrative experience should be played by even those not truly interested in all the saga (but you'd be missing a lot)
...and still, I don't believe anyone should waste time playing Flashout 3D (enhanced edition or not). As a dull clone of wipeout, Flashout 3D doesn't manage to even convey the same feeling of the game it tries to emulate: barebone gameplay, weak tracks (and weaker soundtracks) and even the graphics are incapable of giving you that feeling of nostalgia of a 90's game ( even less so for wipeout). So, no. There are way more worthy free titles on GOG. Play those. Unless your need for cubic spaceship running around (actually, only forward) utterly linear tracks is that great.
... but the execution is... far from remarkable. I mean, the game manages to actually render its own story... like... boring. The idea is good, but there's no mystery, nor adventures, nor funny jokes. As for the gameplay, it 's a top down hack n slash without any sort of intricacies, and its 'puzzle' are basically 'put this here and this section move'. There's, however, something interesting in the audio department, such as song implemented o the gameplay, but nothing exceptional. To be perfectly frank, this game could still be fun, or interesting for anyone interested into different representation of the mind, but other than that, there isn't much to talk about.
... clearly inspired by warcraft 3, which unfortunately don't manage to surpass, or equal...just emulate at the barest level. Still, it is a decent and enjoyable game. Not that much difficult, or frustrating, but it does become repetitive after a while (just two faction, and the units are few and half them are just an upgraded version of the first half). As for the rest, sound is the most on point of all the feature, while graphics and story are suited for the genre, but don't give anything worth writing home. Now, I may appear harsh on this game, but I recommended (plus, it's free!) for anyone, especially if you are a 90's RTS enthusiast. You'll feel like home again.
