At first glance, this "game" appears to be just a movie broken into parts, with questions in between that mean nothing and do nothing to the movie...but that's where you would be wrong! When you realise that your choices affect the film, it becomes so much more interesting. I'm not exactly sure what is going on, but it seems that the game checks on a handful of your insecurities and shapes the world to fit it... In short, what happens the first time you play this game is you go "Oh...this played out exactly the way I thought it would, what a boring story." But in actual fact, it's been tracking your trust and distrust of the characters throughout and altering the movie to play the way you think it would. All the while, providing psychiatrists notes about you, the player as you make your choices. From what I've now read on TLC, there are as many as six endings and the scenes can change from sedate to downright steamy! Unfortunately, from what I've also read, there is supposed to be a final psychiatric work up given at the end of the story, which I didn't see in this version...which could be because it's pretty damn buggy! In fact, for a point and click game I experienced a game breaking bug which wouldn't let me click on any of the hotspots. In short, the story was interesting and definitely worth a look at, I think TLC would definitely benefit from multiple play-throughs, perhaps with a group of friends, trying to sway the story certain ways. I'd give 3 1/2 stars if it were an option. Grab it if it's on sale, and you're in to interactive novels.
I always wanted to play Full Throttle when it first came out, but never had the means to do so...sadly, I should have left it as the game that never was. Years later I'm presented with the chance to play the new and improved HD version! Luckily you can toggle from the new HD graphics to the original, as the beautiful art and animation of the past has been marred in this conversion. Plagued with palette rotation animation being removed, characters overlapping parts of the backgrounds that they shouldn't, backs of collars sitting in front of characters necks, and computer screen text that goes off the computer screen have all been added for your viewing discomfort. Sadly though, the poor attempt to roll Full Throttle in glitter hasn't changed the fact that it just wasn't that good. ALL of the mini games and a good deal of the puzzles are just plain terrible AND that's before you hit the final act where all of the "puzzles" are clicking through options on a computer trying to find the right option before you run out of time and have to do it again...followed up with ANOTHER click through the options on a computer before you run out of time and have to do it again! Shows they were just plain out of game play ideas by the end...which is sad though, cause the story was great! They threw in a few twists and turns, and kept the whole thing very interesting. In conclusion, the wait was not worth it... there are better point and click games out there, even made by the same company! Full Throttle should have been a movie.
Saints Row 3 tried to be better than 2...but failed miserably. When ownership and programmers change hands, it's the games that suffer. Somewhere along the lines, someone new to Saints development heard that they use dirty words and immature humour in the Saints Row games, so they turned 3 into a fart joke of a game. Swinging dildos at each other and running around collecting blow up dolls while giggling at swear words...In a series that once saw its heroes raising themselves up from nothing and overcoming the trials and losses of gang warfare. The story was weak for sure...BUT the gameplay was a brilliant escalation of the formula from 2. Faster and fancier cars, bigger and more devastating weaponry and maintaining 2 player cooperative play were all ingredients for another knock out sequel. Unfortunately, unmemorable missions and misuse of iconic characters began what was the first in a very steep downward trend for the Saints games... Enjoy SR3 for the gameplay only, definitely not the story...and don't hope for a redemption to the series from SR4. (The reason there wasn't a SR5!)
Saints Row 2, the sequel that was perfect in every way, expanding on the world of Saints Row 1, with new gangs, new vehicles, new weapons, more customisation options, a bigger city, an amazingly satisfying story and best of all, the addition of 2 player CO OP! SR2 is probably one of the best examples of a cooperative sandbox game there is! In a game where players get to complete missions any way they see fit, 2 player only adds to the game! Why not run a muck in the city together? Sample hitting each other with every item you can get your hands on in the game! Race each other to destinations, fly under bridges with helicopter support standing by to revive you after trying something stupid! It's all there! It's all brilliant! Not to mention the story line in SR2 offers some of the most satisfying moments in video game history! (Try and tell me you didn't enjoy every second of the Ronin story!) With Johnny Gat back and as funny as ever! This game has aged surprisingly well given how old it is, the only place it feels a little dated is in the length of the levels...they just kind of cut off right when you think there should be a massive gun fight or something. But that's OK! It's a sandbox! Have the gun fight once you're done!
...And this is definitely one of them. With a baffled look on our faces, my friends and I are thrown into the world of Spelunky, the game where you play as under prepared spelunkers, briefly...before you die, and then spend the rest of the game as seemingly useless ghosts while you wait for your co-op players to die too. I give the game one star for the creativity in the generated levels and at least attempting couch co op...but that's it. The main player leads the way and everyone has to follow...which is a bit rubbish for an exploration game, but don't explore for too long, or a giant ghost will eat you and your team.
The Good: * COUCH CO OP! Games should never be played alone, and Broforce is an excellent example of co-op done right! * Huge line up of varied characters: There is a tonne of different characters, each with their own way to play. This game can be a simple run and gun, but there is also a lot of room to strategize based on the Bro you have. *Frantic bullet hell! A single shot can explode half the map through chain reactions! *Massive campaign with a near perfect learning curve: Starting from very simple levels, enemies and bros...as you continue playing things amp up into the almost ludicrous! *Level editor for unlimited Broforce! The Bad: *The graphics...It wouldn't have killed them to draw some ladder climbing animations, given how many ladders are in the game. Pixel art can be great, but it feels a little lazy in this. (Outside of the character introduction screens.) *The final act is waaaaaay too long! Going from a 3 levels then move on system to about 10 levels in a row, that SOMETIMES save where you're up to if you stop, is not great. *The save games aren't separate to each other: Starting a new campaign in a new save slot will continue unlocking Bros in both games, which is bad for the learning curve of starting with new friends, as you need time to get to know how each Bro works...not just start on level one trying to explain what 50 different characters can do. The Ugly: *Game breaking bug on the ridiculously hard final boss! I nearly gave this game 3 stars because of the final act being too long, too hard and the final boss stuffing up and having to start the last level again... But it was saved by the amazing ending! In conclusion, if you're a fan of a game that is Metal Slug meets Worms (with the graphics quality of the latter), this game is definitely for you! Just don't take it too seriously!
Buy this game, play this game, enjoy this game! Don't accidentally think that the sequel is any good though! Blood is by far the best use of the Build Engine (Duke 3d, Redneck Rampage, Shadow Warrior) with its dark humor, non stop action and by far the best weapons ever! Who doesn't love taking to the streets, mowing down cultists with a tommy gun? No one, that's who! The levels and puzzles are memorable, and the quips Caleb makes will stick with you forever! And what's more? Because it's Build, it has cooperative multiplayer built in! You owe it to yourself if you love first person shooters, buckets of blood, and seeing an engine being used to its fullest this is definitely for you! Most games age terribly, but for a lucky few, they stand the test of time. Blood definitely stands up, as a classic shooter! Now go kick some zombie heads!
Deponia is a beautifully illustrated point and click adventure with quirky puzzles, characters you will love to dislike and a great story that will probably have you experiencing feelings by the end! It was refreshing to play a PnC where the puzzle pieces were all quite find-able and the puzzles themselves made a kind of sense in their own strange way. Only occasionally did I get caught in a "use every item on every other item" situation, as the puzzles got a bit too obtuse towards the end. (I'm looking straight at you... phosphorus.) The background art is amazing throughout and the character voices and animation are good too (though at times looks a bit like it was animated in flash.) The only real fault I can pick with this game is; it is just too short... clearly created with the second one in mind, the ending will leave you wishing you'd bought more of them while they were on sale! at AU$25 a piece, it's a pretty pricey episodic adventure! All in all, I recommend Deponia! But make sure you get the whole series!
And is still poor today. To say that Titus is difficult to control is an understatement, it should have been called "Titus on Ice." A platform game where you watch as the main character slides between baddies being bounced around by them until he inevitably dies, and then try again... And this is just the first level! I can only imagine the game gets harder from there! The thought of trying to navigate Titus through any of the usual suspects of platform gaming makes me glad I never made it further. I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if this game wasn't so expensive! But they want a LOT of money for a terrible take on a popular genre. There are SO many better platform games out there! I suppose I'm a little dirty on this game as it was a $4 random title in the St. Patrick's day promotion... Had I have known I would be getting Titus the Fox, I would have spent the money on ANYTHING else!
