If you like this, track down Carpenter Brut. I'd never heard of them until I bought this game, n ow it blasts out of the car on long trips.
Don't let the title of my review put you off. I got hooked on this game when a friend showed it to me and then made the mistake of going to order pizza. By the time he was off the phone I was hooked and wouldn't stop playing it. He got to eat 2 pizzas though. The soundtrack to the game is chilled and relaxing, the graphics beautifully rendered and serene. I can sometimes just fire up the game and wander around the ruins listening to the music. Elohim is superbly voiced and has a timbre that really gets to you when he speaks, explaining the who, what, why through the game. I've not tried the Serious Sam DLC replacement yet, even though I nabbed the Gold edition whilst it was on sale here. I do and I don't want to, I just love the original voice so much I'm worried it might ruin it for me. The soundtrack has been transferred to my music centre it is so beautiful and chilled. As for the game, it is something you can dip in and out of without fear of losing what you are doing. This is where the frustrating and annoying part of my review title comes in. I adore the puzzles, you're not on a timer, you can sit and watch the screen, plot your solution out, retry it if you get it wrong, and don't have to solve everything if you don't wish to. Some of the puzzles can seem annoying, wondering what on earth the solution is, others the solution stares you in the face. Annoyingly, you can struggle with a puzzle only to play the game another time and see immediately how it is achieved. And frustrating is not the word once you solve a particularly tough puzzle only to realise how incredibly logical and simple the solution actually was. I never get tired of playing this, and have to admit I have bought it for every platform I own that supports it, from console to desktop. I honestly can't recommend this game enough. Try it, you won't be regret it, even if you think puzzle games are not your thing.
I cut my teeth on Elite way back in the good old days of the Commodore 64 (yes, I am that old), and I dread to think how many hours I clocked up (or how many times I was woken up at 4am with a friend hammering on my flat door begging me to dock because his docking computer had been shot out - you listening Cactus Kid?) After the, i settled back into other genres of games, but kept trying to find a good space game to play, only to get lost with the controls, helplessly lost in space, and pathetically blown up within the first hour. For someone who just wanted to hop into a spaceship, get out there and run missions without panicking about what key I need to press next, they were all a bit beyond me. Then I got this as a freebie as part of a sale, and thought, what the hell, give it a go. Needless to say, the game I bought has been shelved and I'm hooked. The music!!! Wow the music! So different to any other game, and really fits in with the game too, wish there was a soundtrack i could pinch. The controls are sinle, and yes, you're stuck on an X-Axis, but that doesn't detract from it, in fact, it makes the game just that bit more playable as far as i'm concerned, as i can concentrate on speed, targeting, missions, staying alive. If you want strategy, I'd guess you need to look elsewhere, but as an immersive, fun to play game with great graphics, brilliant voice active, engaging story, I don't think you could go wrong. Seriously, give it a try
About half way through the expansion at the moment and loving all the new aspects of this. If you enjoyed HackNet, then this is a great expansion for it, and the music is just as good as before. If you've played UpLink or any other hacker style games, but not tried HackNet yet, then you're missing out. Hope this isn't the last expansion, would love to see this game grow and develop.
I saw this come available on GOG and the trailer intrigued me. I grew up with text adventures; Lurking Horror and Hound of Shadow just to mention a couple of good horror ones, but I couldn't make my mind up. I'm not a far of walking simulator games, and whilst this does have some game elements, you are being guided through a story where you are an interactive party. But it was after watching one YouTuber playing The House Abandon that persuaded me, especially as I do tend to get engrossed in a game with a good story and lose myself, to the point that anything out of the ordinary either makes me jump or sets my heart racing. I still have fond(?) memories of standing on one side of a door in Realms of the Haunting, and a path in Silent Hill actually nervous to go any further ("it's just a game, it's just a game"). If you're of that disposition, or like well told stories, then this is definitely one for your collection. The intro captures the late 70s and early 80s TV show intros beautifully, and regardless of how hard your heart is pounding, you just have to push on to see where this is going. The games are quite short, the puzzles non too intricate, although there does appear to be a minor bug in the second game where a code is supposed to be revealed that never showed on my computers (YouTube to the rescue), but that isn't enough to down vote this. If you're looking for something a bit different, want something not too taxing but utterly engaging, and can downright creep you out at times (Do I really want to follow this next set of instructions? Is it right?) and want to lose yourself, then get it. I, for one, would love to see more like these.
When this appeared on GOG I nearly didn't buy it after reading the reviews, but as I still have the original on the Amiga and from GOG, and it was so cheap, I took the plunge. I'm glad I did as well. Regardless of what people say, the controls and speed are no different from the original. The zooming doesn't interfere with the game as it is only when he makes high jumps so you can judge the screen better - in fact I find this aspect more playable than the original. I love the new graphics as well, it really has spruced the game up. If you have played the original on any format and loved the game, then don't hesitate to add this to your collection - it really is well worth it.
I downloaded this as I fancied trying something new. It is an incredibly simple game to learn and play. You can plan your strategy out beforehand, or pause the game and move people around (or do it realtime). I love the fact that as you get more people, you can go back to old battles and try the harder level to see whether you can complete it. It is one of those games where you just have to play the next level, I have trouble putting it down.
I bought this game way back when it first came out and I still go back to it again and again. It is a first person shooter/horror/puzzle game with a fantastic storyline. If you are looking for an immersive game, then this one is worth your consideration. It still has me jumping out of my seat at times as a demon rips from the ground behind me, and one room I still stand at the doorway trying to compose myself before I go in. The FMV cut scenes are good too, really advancing the storyline, which is not the run of the mill shoot and get to the end, but is full of twists and plots, and just when you think you've got a handle on what is happening, can just as easily turn your world around. Sure, the graphics look dated compared to some games today. But if you're like me an want a good solid game play, something that makes me think as well as challenging my reflexes, then sincerely give this a try - you won't be disappointed.
I actually bought this game twice! When it first came out direct from the publishers and was pretty much an unknown, and I have bought it again here to make sure I have a good backup. The concept is extremely simple. You choose, or are given, missions which involve you hacking into computers, stealing, deleting or changing their data, removing all traces that you were ever there and then getting out as fast as you can - for this you get paid. With the proceeds you can upgrade your hardware, get better and faster software, etc. Sounds simple, but it isn't always, sometimes it can be quite a challenge, especially as if you get caught, you could end up having to start from scratch again. You don't get multiple saves, you don't get to go back and try something again, you wouldn't in the real world, so why would you here. If you want to be a hacker, you take those risks. The interface is scarily simple and very easy to master, the tutorial really does teach you everything there is in just a few short minutes - after that it is all up to you, how far do you push it, what risks do you take, do you play safe or edgy. When I bought it, the game bible could only be accessed if you could crack the password - you guys have it easy here. Can't wait to get back into this and seeing if some of the fun easter eggs are still there, such as hacking into the Secret Service database and looking at the files in there. If you've never played this, get it, especially whilst it is so cheap. You won't regret it.
You can't just call this game a time killer, it will ruin your life, cause your pets to divorce you, and grow a sporty beard (you, not the game). I love puzzle games, and although I had never heard of the game, wondered what on earth it was, I bought it anyway. Bang goes my life! If you ever liked pipeline where you had to complete a pipe before the water flowed, you are going to adore this. It does require a bit more thought (a lot more actually) and the instructions are a little fuzzy to start with, but you soon get the idea. Build a path for the Waldo to follow and give it instructions along the way to pick up, make, break and drop molecules. the trick is never letting two molecules crash, and never allowing timing of the Waldos to stray too much. This is one of those games you keep having "just one more go", and revisitng levels to see if you can do better. I am really pleased I took the plunge on this one and seriously recommend it to anyone looking for something different.
