Steam Holiday Sale 2014

Hey there everyone! I know some of you have gotten used to the idea of me covering sales with my recommendations of what to buy. Unfortunately, I will be unavailable throughout much of this sale (10 days out of the 15 the sale is on for). That's a pretty good reason for me not being able to post on a regular basis, so I figure I'll just have to write this one off. Sorry I couldn't be of more help, but you can still look through my list of reviews to see if one I've covered has come up.

I'm hoping to get a regular review or two up in the mean time, as I just completed Crysis last week, and still have XCOM almost ready to go (waiting for the enemy to take his turn). Otherwise, for a full sale review, you'll have to wait until the summer sale.

Steam Exploration Sale 12-1-14

Welcome once again to another day of deals! Well, sort of deals, but more on that below.

48 Hour Deals:

Child of Light - A fantasy platformer rpg that's been on my list for a while (with a combination like that, it's not hard to see way). Unfortunately, at only 60% off, which makes it $5.99, I feel it's worth it to wait.

Crusader Kings - This grand strategy game always catches my eye, but it's pricey, coming in at $9.99 for the base game and $39.99 for the collection (which is after it's 75% off). An alternative would be to go over to the Humble Bundle Flash bundle where you can get the game and 2 expansions for $16, plus 6 other games, including the reviewed War of the Roses.

XCOM - This is actually my next review, which will probably hit sometime next week. In short, it's a good, though longwinded, tactical strategy game where the goal is to make sure you win the war, not just a particular battle. It's $7.49 for the base game, but $12.49 gets you everything, and considering Firaxis' pricing, that's probably the best you'll get unless they release another expansion.

Tomb Raider - This QTE heavy game keeps dropping in price, which is why it's now $3.99 for the base game and $5.99 for the GOTY edition. Come on Square Enix, knock 1 more dollar off and you've got a sale...

Ryse - Does this game look awesome? Yes! Is it affordable? Not at $25.99!

The Forest - Hey, look another survival game, though this one patterned after Rust rather than Day Z. Either way, it's early access, which mean's it's an automatic no go at $10.04.

Skyrim - The massive fantasy game returns for it's recent sale price of $4.99 for the base game and that stubborn $13.59 for the complete edition, which I've been waiting to hit $10 for far too long.

Wasteland 2 - Another one of those games that looks fantastic, but it's $26.79, so well worth it to wait.

Alien Isolation - Survival horror game set in the alien universe. Good or not, one thing is for certain, it's $24.99.

24 Hour Deals:

Dawn of War - This game is actually an RTS, versus the other Dawn of War titles that were more ARPG (and good at that). Kind of a typical Relic RTS, in terms of mechanics like cover, but with the massiveness that is the Warhammer 40,00 universe. A good game if you like RTS, but it's $10.19.

Portal 2 - Reviewed! While I didn't like this game's design as much as the original, it was still a decent game worth your cash. It's $4.99, but you can get the franchise for $6.24.

Killing Floor - I've logged some time in this game as well, and it's an okay survival game that requires other skilled players to survive. It's the kind of title that if you don't have a good group of friends to play with, it's probably not worth your time or money, whihc would be $4.99 for the base game.

Shadow Run - Two different games here, Returns, and the (now standalone) expansion, Dragonfall. What you want to do is buy Returns only. Why? Because it's $1.49. Who could say no to that?!?

Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Platinum! Um, it's $5.99.

Splinter Cell - I've played the earliest titles in the series, and I really liked the stealth in them (though, sometimes in the first one it was a bit too restrictive). Still a solid series worth playing if you want something other than just masacuring everyone. Just be forewarned that the series morphs, starting with conviction it becomes much more action oriented. You can get 4 of the first 5 titles (Pandora Tomorrow isn't on steam for some reason) in a package for $9.99, and get the latest title for $7.49. Not a bad deal on the package, TBH.

Castle Crashers - So this 4 player coop just hit a record low 90% off, making it $1.49. Still not my type of game (see the part about 4 player coop).

Farming Simulator - Having been a farmer, I could discuss the realism aspect, and criticize it for lacking. Or I could just give you the price, because really, no one actually wants to be a farmer. It's $20.09.

Planetary Annihilation - The spiritual seccessor to Total Anihilation and Supreme Commander, this game is finally out of early access and down to a reasonable price. The catch is it's been criticized as being badly bug ridden. That would probably explain why it's $5.99. While I've watched this game for a while, I'm going to have to pass until I hear it gets patch up good.

RPG Maker VX - Perhaps you're a critic and you don't like many of the games out there (pot, meet kettle). In that case, maybe you could try this RPG maker, if you want to go for that genre of games. It's $17.49.

Xtreme Legends Dynasty Warriors 8 Complete Edition - It's $16.99. (sad when you can sum it up in less words than the title)

So that's it for today, and possibly the sale. Not much in the way of good buys, but some decent ones, like XCOM and Portal, with the best deal being Shadow Run hands down. Just in case there is nothing new tomorrow, I'll say I hope you enjoyed these little reviews, and I'll see you again in ~3 weeks!

Steam Exploration Sale 11-30-14

Once again, hello! A lot of good titles on sale today, but, unfortunately, many are still very pricey. Which ones should you invest your hard earned cash on? Read below to find out!

48 Hour Deals

Divinity Original Sin - This looks like a great game, and it's been on my wishlist for a while now. The catch is that even though it's on sale today, this RPG is $26.79, and I'm just not willing to part with that much cash for a hobby/interest/passtime that I'm able to devote less time to than I'd like (read: I already have a big list of unplayed games).

Arma III - The latest version of the military sim series made most popular by Day Z. As with several other games, this one is on sale, but that doesn't mean it's cheap, considering it's $29.99.

Legend of Grimrock II - The first game looked really solid, and is in my library and on my to play list. However, once again it's still pricey, coming in at $17.99.

Train Simulator 2015 - Ah yes, the train sim game. It's $8.24. Not that this includes a couple of different DLCs, making it a good deal (versus paying for everything individually.

Plague Inc. - One of those games that looks cool, but since it's still early access, I'd recommend holding off. It's $10.04.

Saints Row 4 - Now here's a good deal. The fourth entry in the ridiculous sandbox game is now $4.99, with the complete "Game of the Century Edition" coming in at $7.49. Worth it!

Dishonored - This shooter that supposedly contains a lot of choice instead left a lot to be desired, so much so that I gave up on the game after about 20 hours. There are a total of 10 skills, though I'd only ever use 3 of them (I played it stealth style), and generally felt that much of the game was lacking. The main game is $4.99, while the GOTY edition is $10.19. Recommended only if you don't have anything else to play, really.

Gauntlet - Oh man, this one brings back memories of the classic N64/arcade game. Logged so many hours on that action game, just endlessly throwing axes at monsters filing out of a cave... This reboot is $9.99, which puts it up there in price more than I'd like. Maybe I'll just go dust off my 64...

Far Cry - The whole franchise is on sale, ranging from $2.49 for the first two games to $7.49 for the latest one. The real deal is the franchise pack, which, at $9.99, is the same price as the deluxe version of Far Cry 3.

24 Hour Deals

Just Cause - As with Far Cry, the version you want to get (and you do in fact want to get this open world sandbox game), is the collection, which included both games and all DLCs, for $3.79.

Torchlight 2 - Reviewed! Absolutely, 100% recommend this ARPG. It's $4.99 right now, which is it's usual sale price.

The Secret World- This different MMO no longer requires a subscription, but it does still require $11.99.

Grand Theft Auto 4 - Played this sand box game, but it didn't hold my interest. Less engaging that the story for others in the genre, like say Sleeping Dogs. It's $4.99 for the base game, with various other packages available.

Age of Wonders 3 - Uh oh, fantasy oriented 4x strategy game. I could be in trouble here. What's it cost? $13.59? Nope, I'm good now.

Risen 3 - I've not tried this RPG series, but it does look intriguing. It's

Street Fighter 4 - It's $17.19 today.

Transistor - One of several games I've been looking forward to, particularly after the dev's last game (Bastion), but I'm not ready to pick it up at $9.99.

Rocksmith - It's $20.39. Both cable and guitar not included.

Papers Please - A title that I'm currently playing, and would tenatively recommend at today's $2.99 price. You play a border customs agent, with the simple task of admiting or denying people entry into your country. Sounds easy, right? Not so. New rules about what you must look for are added each day, your bills go up, your child needs medicine, and then someone offers you a bribe to let them in. What do you do?

Resident Evil 6 - I've not touched the series since it departed from the classic setup (the two Wii games excluded). I've also heard this game isn't that good. That, plus the $9.99 price tag will keep me away from it.

So that's it for today. As I said, several good games, but many of them still too pricey for my taste. Instead I would recommend Saints Row, Torchlight, and Just Cause for several great games at a price that won't break the bank.

Steam Exploration Sale 11-29-14

Another day, another set of deals. So take a look through the games below, and then leave your comments in the box below that!

48 Hour Deals

7 Days to Die - Early access zombie survival game. Five words that tell you why you should probably avoid this one. It's $12.49.

Fallout - Now here's a deal. Both Fallout 3 and New Vegas are $4.99. I've put a good chuck of time into the former, but never completed it because I lost a harddrive right when I had another quest or 2 to wrap up the main campaign. I like this FPS meets RPG game, and there is tons of stuff to find if you look for it (this is one of those where an actual, physical, guide is recommended). It's now without it's downsides, including various bugs, and it's a big departure from it's predecessors, but worth picking up.

Call of Duty - Reviewed! Everything except Black Ops and Advanced Warfare are $14.99, though most of those titles are lightly discounted at $5 off. Frankly, the last time I played a good entry is this series was COD4, so I highly recommend you skip this all.

The Bindings of Isaac - This is for Rebirth, which is the revamped/expand version of the original, which I played and didn't enjoy. It's got roguelike elements (permadeath, each play through is unique, random items, etc.), but for some reason the game wasn't enjoyable at all. To be honest, I might still be pissed off at it's inclusion as one of the 2011 Christmas sale achievements for free games contest...Anyways, it's a whopping $10.04 right now.

South Park - I've been told this one plays just like an episode of the show, so your interest in it will depend on the actual show itself. I'm not really interested in either, particularly since the game is still $13.59.

The Walking Dead - Reviewed! Got two games here, seasons 1 and 2. I've completed season one and loved it, though the $8.49 is a bit higher than what I got it for, and for that reason maybe worth holding off on. That's actually what I'll be doing with the 2nd season, because it's the same price.

Borderlands - The franchise is on sale for various prices ranging from $4.99 (base game for either 1 or 2), to $39.99 for the most recent title. If you get the first, which I played and greatly enjoyed, even playing it solo and offline, you'll want the GOTY pack. Worth picking up if you've never played the series, but hold off on the latest game until it get's much lower.

Terraria - Reviewed! Fantastic 2D action/adventure/platformer/RPG game that just keeps growing. Dig to hell and back, raid a dungeon, fly to the clouds, craft items of all levels of epicness (Shark gun!). Grow your character, plants, and more. Really a fun game where you can do a ton of different stuff, so a good wiki is highly recommended. It's $1.99, which is as low as I've seen it.

Thief - Now here is a game I've only heard bad things about. It's apparently so restrictive the game feels like one QTE. Can't jump unless prompted to, etc. It's $7.49, which, with that background, sounds like it's still too much.

24 Hour Deals

Dragon Age Origins - I put about 80 hours into this Bioware fantasy RPG. It's a solid game in the typical Bioware style, with the "moral" choices and decision trees that entails. A good game, particularly at $4.99, but you could do better in this genre on today's sale.

Outlast - This survival horror game is usually on sale for today's $4.99, s. don't be in a rush for it.

Octodad - Honestly, when I saw this game in greenlight it just looked so dumb, and I'm not really sure what people saw in it to push it through in the first round of voting. At least it's $3.74 today.

Fable - I never played the fable games, mostly because I didn't have an Xbox (yeah, 2 systems ago...). This anniversary update edition is $17.49, but you'll have to pay more o get some DLC.

NBA2k15 - It's $40.19. Ouch.

Lego Marvel - I was ready to write this title off, but looking at it closer it seems like it could be a bit of fun. It's $4.99 today.

Contagion- This one has been on sale a bunch of the last year or so. Looks like a bland zombie survival game, though it has a smart phone, so there is that. It's $4.99, which I believe is lower than it has been.

Anno 2070 - City building sim that is usually on sale. I've heard good things (aside from the DRM issues when it was released), but haven't gotten a chance to try it yet myself. It's $7.49 for the base game and $12.49 for the complete edition, which is the usual price.

The Witcher - Reviewed! If you look up at Dragon Age and see where I said you could do better, the Witcher is what I'm talking about. I played the first game and loved it, particularly the fact that the decisions mattered much more than a screenshot and blurb of text at the end of the game (that's a direct reference to a "difficult" moral choice in Dragon Age where I sold at a child to demon in return for access to blood magic, but nothing came of it until the very end of the game). Multiple titles on sale here, including the first game for $1.49, the second for $2.99, and the yet to be released third one for $47.99. Absolutely get the first two games, which are the lowest price I've ever seen.

Prison Architect - This is another early access title that I've had gifted to me, but am holding off until it's done. I'll admit, the game looks really interesting with tons of features (really, dogs detect tunneling prisoners? that is awesome!), but I want to play it when it's finished. It's $5.99 for the lowest buy in option, and scales up to $9.99 for the name in the game option.

Rogue Legacy - This roguelike game involves generational gameplay that makes it look really interesting. Also contributing to it's impressiveness is the lower price of $2.99.

So those are the deals today. In general, I'd say it's not as a good of a deal as yesterday, though there are some games worth picking up, such as the Witcher series, Terraria, and the Walking Dead. Now I can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store.

Steam Exploration Sale 11-28-14

Hello again everyone! If you celebrated Thanksgiving the  way I did, you're probably still recovering from a food coma.  Well, what better way to deal with your lethargic state than to pick up a few games and spend some quality time in from of your computer, eh?

48 Hour Deals:

Endless Legend - One of those titles you never hear about until you get to a big sale (thanks Steam recommendations?). It's a 4x fantasy game from the same people that brought us Endless Space (itself a good game, though not with the depth I had hoped, at least when I played it). That is a good thing, I think I'll hold off until the price drops a bit more, because it's $17.49 today.

Dark Souls - I've but several hours into this game, but stopped playing after a while. Yes, it's a difficult game to play, starting with the fact that you'll need a controller and several mods to even get it to function appropriately on the PC. Then you'll have to deal with poor level design ("Oh, I can't roll past a 2 cm tall rock? Awesome, let me just get nailed in the face by an enemy who is able to clip his sword through the wall then!") and other annoying limitations of the game that make it a "challenge." Other than that, it is an RPG with no direction, so invest in a guide (or, you know GameFAQs) and figure out things like the differences in the classes, where all the secrets are (early on in the game there's a dragon, and if you shoot his tail off you can get a sword, but it's one of those things you really need to know about before hand). It's one of those games I should go back and finish some day, but, frankly, I'd rather play an excellent game than a "meh" one any day. It's $4.99, which is the low price.

Batman - We've got 3 Batman games on sale here (Asylum, City, and Origins). Asylum is reviewed, and you'll see that I really enjoyed the stealth action adventure game that plays a lot like Metroid meets Splinter Cell. At just under $5 each, I'd say it's worth it to get the first two games, both of which have GOTY editions. Maybe wait a while long for Origins to come out with a complete version, time you can spend playing the first 2.

State of Decay - It's another post zombie apocalypse survival RPG. My roommate tells me it's a good one, but I'm just board with the theme at this point. Still, it did seem interesting, though, again, not a new idea by any means. It's $4.99, which makes it the lowest I've seen it go for.

Left 4 Dead - While not reviewed, I've logged 115 hours on the first game and 15 hours on the second, which should tell you something right there. I really enjoyed the game in versus mode, and it was a blast with myself and 7 other friends. Solo, or even online with random people, the game isn't as good (people tend to drop out when they are getting beat pretty badly in versus). Each game is $4.99, but you can grab both for $7.49, which is worth it if you meet the proper criteria.

Wreckfest - I'll give this early access title this much - it is a beautiful game. Heard about this one a while back, and while it is cool, it's not the type of thing I go for in my games. Yes, "demolition derby themed racing game with soft-body damage modeling" may make for some excellent videos of destruction, but doesn't fill any voids in my life. It's $14.99 and $22.49 today.

Gary's Mod - This is one of those games that never ceases to amaze. You can use it for a ton of different things, from posing Half Life and related game assets to take screen shots, to making videos for your maps, to playing game modes like prop hunt. Its also one of those that's always on sale at today's price of $2.49.

Europa Universalis IV - This strategy game is another one of those that is on sale often. It's available in various editions from $9.99 all the way up to $24.99.

Assassin's Creed - Reviewed! It's been a long time since I've played any Assassin's Creed titles, and then it was just the first two, both of which I would recommend, but to different extents. The series has continued to grow at the rate of 1 a year, and has stayed well ahead of me.  Worth picking up a couple of games, because the series was heading in the right direction. Most titles are $4.99, though IV is $199, which warrants holding off on a bit longer.

24 Hour Deals

Spore - Played this one years ago, back before it was on Steam. Take a species though 5 stages of evolution (from single celled organism to space faring race). It's an okay game, but not great, and I'm still kind of pissed the DRM in the off the self version broke my last computer. It's $4.99 today.

Democracy 3 - A bit of a different kind of strategy game, one dealing with politics and satisfying people's interest (reminds me of Tropico, but with much more depth in this one area). It's $4.99.

Grid - Racing games of one of those things that just never do it for me, though they are damn pretty. This one is still $13.49.

Darksiders - Reviewed! Played the first one, and I loved the Zelda esque action adventure game, and highly recommend it. The 2nd game is one of those titles in my library that I haven't circled back to yet. The good news for all of you is the franchise is $8.99, which makes it the lowest price I've ever seen by far.

Mortal Kombat - Fighting games have never been my thing, but this one is $4.99.

The Banner Saga - This will be the title I'm picking up today. The game, by every account I've heard, is absolutely fantastic. Plus, I think the makers of Candy Crush can shove their lawsuit somewhere, so I'll support these devs. It's $4.99, which marks an all time low.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 - It's always on sale, and I always fail to understand it. The good news for you is its $3.74 today, which is the lowest I can recall.

Sleeping Dogs - Reviewed! A good open world sandbox game that's GTA like, but creates a compelling story. It's the fluff in between that is less interesting, but kind of essential as you level up. This version of the game is supposed to include some improvements, as well as all the DLC (there were a ton, and, frankly, most of them were useless). It's $10.19.

Styx - I don't know what is about this company, but they put forward some great looking games that people always tell me fail to deliver. Plus, it's $14.99 and only 50% off, which is more than enough to keep me away from it for a while.

Starpoint Gemini - One of those massive space games that always seem way too complex (I'm looking at you Eve and X) to be approachable. Also, it's $17.49.

Chivalry - This one comes up on sale and free weekend a lot. It's a medieval combat game that basically plays like Call of Duty with swords (read: people die quickly and easily). I prefer War of the Roses over it, but it's still a solid game. It's $4.99 today.

Well, that's it for today. There are a couple of good games in there, including ones I've reviewed, that you should pick up (Batman, Sleeping Dogs, Darksiders). There are a couple more that are taste dependent (like Chivalry, Left 4 Dead) where I don't think you can go wrong if that's your thing. As for me, well, I know I said I'd pick up The Banner Saga, but now I'm trying to decide if I should wait for the winter sale, or hope it ends up in a humble bundle. How about you, what are you winners for today?

Steam Exploration Sale 11-27-14

Another day, another (double) set of sales! A bigger mix of games today than yesterday, though many titles in the 48 hour category are still quite expensive. Also, yes, there are two sets with two different timings, as well as some hold overs from yesterday. Makes my life interest, at least.

48 Hour Deals:

Bioshock Infinite - While only $7.49, it's still $14.99 for the game + season pass, which is a shame, because I've been looking forward to playing this game for a while. I enjoyed the first game very much, and the 2nd wasn't bad either, what with the mix of gun play and special abilities like shocking enemies, setting them on fire, putting down a decoy, etc. One of the more innovative series out there right now.

Kerbal Space Program - It's still early access, though some major features have been added lately that distance it from a purely sandbox game where you try and create the best space ship you can. Now there are contract missions that you'll use to build up a space program. I'm still interested in this title (someone actually gifted it to me), but I'm waiting for it to be "finished" before I get into it, which would run you $17.99 today.

Banished - This one has been up for sale a few times, but today's $7.99 is the lowest I can recall. It's a city building sim with a much earlier setting than, say, Sim City. Not my type of game, but maybe you'll want to give it a spin.

Wolfenstein The New Order - In today's world of marketing, this is one of the games where I was inundated by info leading up to it's release, then heard nothing about it since it actually came out, which probably doesn't bode well. It is $20.39, so I'll be waiting a while for this one.

Shadow of Mordor - Speaking of games I'll be waiting a while for, this is another. The game looks fantastic (my roommate has it on his PS4 or some console thingy), and he really likes it. It's $33.49 today, hence the delay on my part, otherwise I'd get it.

Ages of Empires II - Eternally on sale during these things, though the classic RTS is a bit less today at $3.99.

Payday 2 - I've put some time into this 4 player coop heist game with RPG elements (classes, skills, xp, etc.). It's a fun game, but I felt the missions scaled poorly versus abilities, because to really be successful you need skills you can't get until you're a higher level. Also, absolutely terrible without good teammates, so make sure you have some friends for this one. It's $7.49, which is reasonably priced.

Total War Rome II - More RTS goodness, though this one apparently had it's fair share of issues when it came out (if memory serves). While 75% off, it's still $14.98.

Spintires - I had never even heard of this game before today, and it's little wonder why. Strikes me as the off road version of Euro Truck Sim 2, so, there's that. Its $10.19 today.

24 Hour Deals:

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - Played the demo back when the game came out, and I liked what they were trying to do here. Take 3 talent trees (mage, warrior, rogue) and let the player blend them together to make his or her own class. The game itself, what little you get in the hour long demo, feels a lot like playing WoW on an empty server. It's $9.99 for the complete pack, which is less than what I got it for.

Mount and Blade Warband - I tried a Mount and Blade game once, and it definitely felt like one of those where you need to put a lot of time into it, but the result could be incredible. I'm just not into building my army from the ground up, but I still think this would be a good game. If you're into it, you might want to check out some of the mods out there, even if it's for something as  basic as increased visuals. It's $4.99.

Deus Ex - While I would normal recommend Human Revolution, this is the Director's Cut, and I've been told there are some serious flaws in this game from the original (which wasn't issue free either). So get the game, but be wary. It's $4.99.

Shadow Warrior - Here's one of those titles I've been waiting to see at a price below $10, and today's $3.99 is certainly that. The devs (Flying Wild Hog) previously did Hard Reset, and have a tendency to make shooters that are, well, actually satisfying (take that CoD). What I've seen of this remake looks promising enough that I'm getting it.

Sniper Elite 3 - I've put some time into the 2nd game, which is enjoyable, though either the stealth aspect is lacking or I'm just not so good at it, because often this turns into a shooting match. I'd hold off because it's still $24.99.

Naruto - Nothing to say but the price - $7.49.

Tropico 5 - Nothing like being a Caribbean despot. It's a country building sim, where you need to deal with everything from resources to politics. Not specifically sure about the 5th iteration (I have 4 myself), but it does have potential. However, it's $13.99.

Max Payne 3 - A couple of deals with this one, including a complete package of this one and a franchise pack. Ranges in price from $4.99 to $8.24. I'd say it's worth it at that price, plus I doubt you'll ever see it for less.

Might and Magic Heroes VI - I've not touched this series, but it's heavily discounted at $7.49.

Castlevania 2 - Like the previous game, I've not touched this franchise since the days of the N64, but it's $7.99 right now, which isn't bad.

Risk of Rain - Another one of those games I picked up in a bundle somewhere, but haven't played. Plus, I'm not the biggest fan of roguelikes. But this is $2.49 today.

So that's it for now. Not really anything I'd go for today at this price, besides Shadow Warrior, Kindoms of Amalur Reckoning, and, if you have the friends, Payday 2. But still a couple of items to add to my wishlist, so there's that.

Steam Exploration Sale 11-26-14

Hello there! So it's that time of year again, when for a week the best of American values shines through (that would be gluttony followed by reckless consumerism). What that means for us gamers is buying more games that you probably won't be able to get to, but at these outrageously low prices, why not go all in? Due to timing issues on Wednesday, I'm getting this one up later than I'd like, but it looks like this is a straight forward sale, with one set of games being on sale for  48 hours and another up for 24 (presumably at 10 am PST the 48 hour sales will replace the 24 hours items, rather than there being 3 sets of games).

So, in the interest of time, let's take a quick look through what is being called the Exploration Sale (a reference to the personalized recommendations perhaps?)!

For the 48 hour deals:

Company of Heroes 2 - I haven't gotten to this one yet, largely because it's been pretty pricey lately, but the CoH series resets the bar on RTS games. The original was fantastic, incorporating more depth like cover, sending units into buildings, and even RPG elements for multiplayer, than I've ever seen before. I'm going to go ahead and recommend this one, though I'm personally holding off until it's less than today's $9.99.

Lords of the Fallen - I've heard this game referred to as Dark Souls like, which to me isn't actually a good thing. You know what else isn't a good thing? It's $29.99 still.

The Long Dark - It's early access, so that automatically excludes be from buying it. That doesn't mean I'm not interested though, because this non zombie survival game does look like it has potential. Guess I'll wishlist it and see if it's less than today's $9.99 sometime in the future.

The Evil Within - This survival horror game is still too much for my wallet at $20.39. But if it's something that can break back the fear I felt and challenge I experienced when playing the early Resident Evil games, I'm all for it. It's $20.39 today.

Watch Dogs - This game looks like it's an excellent sandbox game where you can use technology to wreck havoc on a digitally integrated Chicago. I haven't gotten around to giving it a shot, partly because it's still $29.99, and partly because you need a DirectX11 compatible video card.

Civilization Beyond Earth - Yes, this game does look interesting, but after the travesty that was Civ 5, I'm not exactly interested in revisiting the series. Maybe I'll get it in 2 years when all 2-3 expansions have been released and it's $12.49, rather than the $34.99 it is today.

Counter Strike - I've never been a fan of the Terrorist/Counterterrorist classic, preferring Team Fortress myself. That being said, starting with the summer sale, this game has increased in price, and I can't see any evidence you get anything more for the $7.49 versus the usual $5 it had been.

Don't Starve - A survival sim game that I've been told is quite fun. Picked it up for myself last sale when it was marked down to $1 in error, but, not surprisingly, I have not gotten around to it yet. It's $3.74 today.

Goat MMO Simulator - An April fool's joke comes full circle and gets an mmo patch...it's $4.99 today. I am tempted to check it out, but think I'll hold off for a lower price or a humble bundle.

The 24 hour deals are:

Age of Mythology - If you're like me, you haven't played the original, but for $7.49 you can give this RTS a go.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter - So here's one that looks interesting, an atmospheric puzzle game that looks to be a cross between Dear Ester and Amnesia, sans combat (and also disregarding that that is exactly what Amnesia A Machine for Pigs was). There's a 12 minute video on the store page that gives you an idea of what you can do in the game, which was enough to put it on my wishlist, because I'll be waiting until it's less than the current $11.99.

Injustice - Fighting games have never been my style, but I've actually played this one before (friend's xbox). Not being a fan of the genre, I was under whelmed, though, visually, it's one of the cooler games I've seen. It's $4.99 today.

FTL Faster Than Light - Reviewed! An excellent rogue like game about fleeing the crushing might of an enemy fleet. You'll deal with everything from space combat, dealing with boarding parties, to making decisions that could make or break your game on the role of a digital dice, such as if you should take in a criminal fleeing from some other ship, who may a) join your crew or b) sabotage your ship. Not it's lowest price at $2.99, but well worth it.

Crypt of the Necro Dancer - First off, it's an Early Access game, so I'm passing because of that. Additionally, while I have been surprised by mashup games before (in particular, Sequence) that include a rhythm component, I don't think the idea of a "hardcore roguelike rhythm game" would work for me. It's $8.99 today.

Dead Island - I'm going to go with "what you want" is the complete collection for $7.49. It's one of those games I've had sitting around forever, that generated so much buzz with it's initial trailer, but that, upon it's delivery, resulted in a situation where the accompanying sound must have been a "whomp, whomp, whoooooomp" of disappointment. I've seen it played once, and, well, that was kind of my impression too.

Wargame - So the wargame series is a much more modern RTS, particularly when compared to other war based RTS games, such as Company of Heroes. I've been told it's a solid game, which is why I bought the original a few years back. Now there are 3 games, and you can have them all for $12.49.

The Wolf Among Us - One of the games that is on my must play list, but that I've been holding off on until it comes down in price and had been fully released. We're there on the second point, but I'm pretty sure I got the fantastic The Walking Dead (which, let's be honest, is my motivation for wanting to try and the next story based game by Telltale) for $6.49, and the $2 difference between that and today's $8.49 could score me another great game, so....yeah.

Stanley Parable - I finally ran through the demo a few months back, and the source mod turned self sustained release didn't appeal to me. The humor is different, and not something that really clicked with me, so I don't see myself getting this game at today's $4.49.

Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion - Word on this one is its an excellent space RTS, because today is apparently RTS day. It's always been on the pricey side, which is why I never picked it up. It's $9.99.

Battleblock Theater - Got this one during the last sale, and I would highly recommend you get it at the ridiculously low price of $1.49. It's a comical platformer where the humor is great (got to love that narrator), the levels are challenging, and some of the time trials are really difficult. Can you find all the gems, yarn, and still come in on time to get that A+?

***

So that's it for today. The only thing I really recommend getting at the current price is Battleblock Theater and FTL. Wolf Among Us would also be a good choice, as would Company of Heroes, but in those cases I'm waiting for a decrease in cost. So what about you? Is there anything you like in today's roundup?

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing

Recently, and for some reason that I can only assume is related to head trauma or another mind altering condition, I decided I should really play an ARPG. While I’ve played a few titles that get lumped into this genre (i.e. Magicka), when it comes to the classical sense I’ve only really tried 4 games in 2 different series – Diablo 1 and 2 and Torchlight 1 and 2. The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing departs from those games and attempts to carve its own path. The question is, just how successful is it?

Some of the enemies are a little bit more unique than most games, but more of that in the next paragraph.

The game opens with the young offspring of the famous Van Helsing receiving a letter addressed to his father. Apparently something has gone terribly wrong in Borgova, an Eastern European city the famous monster hunter had previously set right. After some time (and a bit of trouble along the way), the young Van Helsing arrives near Borgova, accompanied by the lovely Lady Katarina, a ghost of Borgovan nobility. The first part of your quest involves a bit of a detour, after some damn fool blows up the bridge you needed to cross. And so you must slaughter everything from the mundane bandits and wolves, to more mythical creatures like vodyanoi, werewolves, and harpies (pretty much stock fantasy fare), to get into the city and find out just what’s going on. Once there, you’ll make contact with the resistance, largely headquarted in your father’s secret lair underneath the city, and it’s there you’ll learn that one of the scientists left in charge of the city by the original Van Helsing harnessed “elyctrical power” to create machines (like clockwork soldiers and walking cannons) and other abominations (giant electrically controlled wear wolves, gargantuan enemies that can teleport, and lots of things with tentacles) in order to gain control of the city. The story also results in an interesting steam punk/gothic mix setting that’s kind of cool.

Yep, that sounds about right.

An important note: I own the complete version of The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, rather than the base version. That’s important because it means I have access to two additional classes not found in the base game – the Thaumaturge (think mage) and Arcane Mechanic (a ranged character that deploys turrets, mines, airstrikes, etc.), whereas the only class available in the base game is the Hunter, which has two talent trees, and can be leveled as a sword wielding melee character or a rifle/pistol range character. In addition to the wider array of character choices, owning the complete version also unlocks things like class specific loot (with many items going straight into storage at my account shared bank), class specific quests, the inability to complete certain achievements designed around the base game and the need to wield certain weapons, and additional upgrades for Lady Katarina. I actually played the game as the Arcane Mechanic, which struck me as being close to Torchlight 2’s Engineer (which I loved), and thus this review will be from that perspective, rather from the “no classes” viewpoint espoused by the game’s trailer.

Okay, onto the game itself. Van Helsing is a more casual version of the traditional ARPG, closer in style and tone to Diablo than Torchlight (graphically, thematically, etc.). And when I say casual, I really mean it. While the other titles I’ve listed rely on things like randomly generated maps that reset on each playthrough, because you’ll find yourself playing through them 4-5 times on varying difficulties before you grind and grind and grind to max out your character (usually level 99 or 100) and get the best items possible, and will completely repopulate maps that you leave for the aforementioned grinding, Van Helsing doesn’t do any of that. The maps are fixed, respawning enemies can be disabled (a godsend if you want to, say, play for 20 minutes before work, but don’t want to reclear half of a dungeon later in the day), and you’ll hit the level cap of 30 long before you finish the game. You’ll also max out your reputation (gained from killing elite monsters, which functions very much like Torchlight’s system), and hit the level cap for your ghostly companion (again, echoing Torchlight). The game even builds in town portal and item identification functions, includes health/mana potions that scale as you level, and the ability to reset almost all skill/ability points (some reputation earned perks cannot be undone). Again, casual, though also (in most cases) very welcomed improvements to the genre.

The game also has a tower defense section for some reason...

While the setup and much of the game’s core functions support easy access that make the game perfect for players new to the genre or for vets looking for a single play through, the actual nitty gritty of successfully clearing a map full of monsters isn’t so easy. While in Diablo 2 I might turn on a couple of auras on my paladin, or in Torchlight 2 summon bots to fight at my side and then spam flame hammer, I found that I was far more likely die in this game that the others. I attribute that partly to the level of difficulty involved, mostly due to being unable to really outlevel your enemies, and partly to things like a tendency for enemies to be closely spaced together, thus resulting in a large pull, or having summonable companions (some specific to the Arcane Mechanic) that are extremely aggressive. I spent plenty of time running back to where I died (when you die, you can either resurrect in town, at the start of the level, or where you died, but convenience costs you), partly because when it came to picking perks, a reward for reputation I’ll cover later, I favored damage increases rather than one that would allow me to resurrect in place for free once every few minutes. Also, I felt like there was plenty of random BS of some enemy nailing me with a death blow from off screen. My many deaths might also have been due to my experience in other games, we’re its really all about the loot and how you use a few abilities, and thus I didn’t take advantage of a few key features of this game, such as rage, auras, or tricks.

Here’s where this game separates itself from the others I’ve played. First, look at skill points and the way you can spend them. The Hunter class has two skill trees, one geared towards melee and one geared towards range (this is where the “no class, make your own” tagline seems to have come from), while the Thaumaturge and Arcane Mechanic each have one. Each skill has a cost, ranging from 1 to 3 points per level, as well as 3 super charge modifiers (the game calls them powerup combos) that can be purchased for 1 point each. Furthermore, buying 10 abilities within one tree unlocks a bonus (this is different than spending 10 points, which means those 2 or 3 point abilities only count as 1), but it’s those super charge modifies I really want to talk about. The modifiers are not permanent changes to your abilities, but rather ones that can be stacked, up to 3 times, by spending rage, something that builds up as you’re fighting. You can activate multiple modifiers at a time (no more than 3 in any combination) and get some truly potent results that turn so-so abilities into gib generating death beams/rockets/grenades/etc. For example, there were 3 main abilities I’d use on my Arcane Mechanic: a grenade lob (main attack that you start with, uses no mana), a flame thrower, and a rocket barrage. While the basic flame thrower was my highest DPS attack, its short range made it less than idea. However, in dire situations, I could supercharge it with to do 50% more damage (the ability would also burn 30% more mana), as well as increase the range by 2 additional yards (that was the specific combo I used, but others were possible). Great for those “oh, crap!” moments when I was surrounded by enemies. Another example involves that rocket barrage. The normal version would fire off 5 rockets, with each dealing some damage. When the skill was at its lowest ranks, it would maybe break even with my grenade lob ability in terms of damage, but the grenade attack had no cool down, didn’t cost mana, and had greater range. Basically, not really worth using…at least, not until you super charge it. Add two points into one modifier that adds 2 rockets per level, and a final point into one that increases the blast radius by 2 yards (up from 7) and you end up dealing 80% more damage over a 66% larger area. Basically, that means you kill things, lots and lots of things.

This modified rocket swarm did quite a bit of damage.

While supercharging abilities is probably Van Helsing’s most notable departure from other games (also perhaps its most memorable one), you can also spend your skill points on auras and tricks. Tricks function in many ways like abilities, something you deploy on demand for a desired effect, usually with a mana cost or long cool down. These also vary widely based on the class you’re playing, though there is some overlap. So in the case of the Arcane Mechanic, I would have access to the unique Elyctric Sphere ability to make me immune to all damage for a short period of time, restore my health and mana, and reduce the cool downs on all my abilities/tricks. I could also use a common trick to cause Lady Katarina to spawn to illusions with reduced health that could also deal damage. Tricks are largely stylized after each class, so the Arcane Mechanic’s focuses on things like deploying turrets, explosives, and shields, while the Hunter can freeze time or activate auras that increase damage (and benefit friends if you're one of those online gaming types), and the Thaumaturge increases fire damage or can cause all enemies to flee in terror. Some of these may have bonuses if you invest enough points in a particular trick, but they are not something that is affected by rage in the same way your attack abilities are.

Auras are, not surprisingly, passive modifications. While tricks have very little in common across characters, auras are largely the same, though not necessarily for all three characters. For example, both the Thaumaturge and Arcane Mechanic have auras that will increase their fire, frost, and electrical damage, while the Arcane Mechanic is the only one to have a similar aura for poison damage. The Hunter has the most unique ones, such as Hunter's Rejuvenation, which heals you when you land a blow, which makes that character more interesting. As it stands, I avoided aura, not because they couldn’t be beneficial, but because I had limited points and was more interested in obtaining top tier abilities or investing in a few tricks.

To make things easier, you can preload powerup combos, then pop space and hit the ability of your choice.

In the Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, the young Van Hesling isn’t the only one with access to special abilities. There’s also your ghostly companion. The only other ARPG I’ve played where every class has a constant companion is Torchlight, and there it was more of a basic thing you used to sell items when your bags were full or would modify with fish to deal different damage. In that sense, Van Helsing is the hardcore version of Torchlight, because it adds many layers of depth to what Lady Katarina can and cannot do. In addition to functioning as a gofer to vendor trash items or purchase potions, Lady Katarina can be outfitted with items to impact her own health and damage. Furthermore, she has her own attribute and skill point system, so you can invest in one of the four standard ARPG stats (Body, Dexterity, Willpower, and Luck) to make her a damage tank, glass cannon, or whatever you desire. Then you can modify her behavior to defend you, range assist, attack, act as an aura booster, etc. Further, she has her own talent tree, with abilities that range from increasing her health, to increasing her attack speed, to benefiting your character by increasing the damage you can do. One DLC, which is included in the complete version of the game, even adds a second tree filled with tons of options that I found I favored over the base game.

The ability to chance Katarina's behavior is really nice. I made her into a tank that would attempt to defend me, but the result wasn't as potent as I hoped it would be.

The final thing I’d like to cover is the reputation/perk system, which, much like Lady Katarina, reminds me of Torchlight. As you’re out adventuring, you’ll inevitably stumble across elite monsters (sometimes they’re referred to as veteran units or some such, but the point is they are bit and strong and will likely kill you if you’re not careful). Killing these will give you points towards your reputation level, but when you level up, rather than gaining additional skill or attribute points (a la Torchlight), you are allowed to learn a perk. Perks vary from things like dealing 10% more damage when at max rage, dealing more of certain types of elemental damage, improved potion effect, to more skill/attribute points. There are many different perks, though not all of them are available right away. Instead, they are the result of some kind of achievement, like investing enough points into certain attributes, or equipping Lady Katarina with all yellow items. There’s actually enough secret stuff here that you might want to go look up what the requirements are for the perks you want. It’s an interesting system that made reputation for more meaningful that Torchlight’s system.

Perks can have a significant impact on the game, such as bumping fire damage by a large percentage or increasing damage when at max range.

All and all, I’ll say that while Van Helsing is a good game, it’s by no means a great game. Beautiful environments and a generally more casual feel to some of the more annoying features of the genre (i.e. scrolls of identification, the ability to respec) are good, but at the same time other features kill any motivation to replay the game (i.e. changing maps, low level cap). Much of the game feels very solid, though sometimes there seems to be a lack of variety (skills for the Arcane Mechanic, for instance), and other parts of the game feel unnecessary (there is a whole portion of the game that involves leveling up your base so you can play two rounds of tower defense). Yet at other times the game surprises with clever inclusions like finding rare gems if you continue to listen to the town drunk who will hint at where they are, to hidden quests, secret references to pop culture, and plenty of humorous exchanges between Lady Katarina and Van Helsing. There’s also the matter of the (much as is the case with my reviews) anticlimactic ending, though a sequel has already been released, and apparently the devs are going for a full on trilogy. In the end, this is a game worth getting, though I highly recommend the complete version of the game, which can probably be had for $5.00 or so. That will get you about 20 hours of a good ARPG, but by no means the same level of enjoyment as, say, Torchlight 2 – 7 out of 10.

So, the final breakdown:

Score: 7/10

Suggested Price: $5

***

For more Van Helsing, check out this collection of screenshots otherwise  unused in this review. Click on any one for a larger image.