Steam Summer Sale 6-26-14

Alright, so it's the end of the sale. A total of 40 titles have come back for an encore, with the quality and type covering the whole spectrum. If you want early access titles or just released, they are there. RTS, action, RPG, or shooter? Yep, got those too. Basically, any of the best selling items that you could want are back, so if you missed it, here's your chance. I'm not going to cover them all, because that would take  huge amount of time (even copy/pasting from past days would take a good chunk of time), but there are several in there I can recommend or have reviewed, like The Witcher, The Walking Dead, and Terraria,. There are some titles I'd avoid as well, either because they are still in early access, still too expensive, or just aren't as enjoyable as they should be.

And in case you missed it: FTL for $3.99, Strike Vector for $2.99, The Last Federation for $11.99, The Swapper for $2.99, Broken Swrd 5 for $8.49,  Divinity Dragon Commander for $9.99, Dust An Elysian Tail for $2.99, Orcs Must Die! 2 for $2.99, Grim Dawn for $12.49, Fez for $2.49, Killer Is Dead for $13.39, Kingdoms Rise for $7.49, Deadlight for $2.99, State of Decay for $4.99, Organ Trail for $1.99, Call of Duty Black Ops II for $29.99.

***

So that's the end of this one. Stay tuned for more reviews in the future (I just not to put the finishing touches on XCOM and Surgeon Simulator, then those can go up). I've generally been getting back into other games and out of Warframe, so I should have more for you before the next sale. I even picked up a 3 new titles during this sale, and have a bunch more that should *finally* get cheap enough for me to pick them up during the next sale (I'm looking at you Skyrim). How about you? Did you find anything that you liked? Was there something you were hoping would go on sale that never did? Tell me about it below!

Steam Summer Sale 6-28-14

We now reach the point in the sale where I'm unsure if any more new titles will come up, or if this is the last full set, and tomorrows will be a best of type deal that will last for 24 hours, with the whole sale wrapping up at 10 PST on Monday. There are a few titles I still haven't seen for sale that I'd like a crack at, as well as several that I've only seen during the shorter flash and community choice sales. Either way, you can be sure I'll be here tomorrow.

Main Sale

Goat Simulator - When is a joke not a joke? Apparently when enough people take it seriously enough to pay money for it. Basically that's the story of how Goat Simulator came to be. It's $5.99 today.

Portal - Reviewed! I've played both games, and while the production value on the 2nd was much higher, I felt the puzzles were lacking in a way that the original delivered, mostly in that they were narrowly crafted. Still, I would recommend both games to anyone, regardless of if spatial puzzles are your thing or not. The original is $2.49 and the sequel is $4.99, but both games are in a package for $6.24.

Football Manager 2014 - This seems appropriate given the current status of the World Cup. It's $12.49.

Garry's Mod - Calling it a sandbox game isn't entirely accurate, because the images that brings to mind aren't enough. While playing around with Half Life props and models to make interesting scenes is one option, plenty of other modes exist. One called prop hunt, in which teams alternate between hunters and hidden props, is one popular with a friend of mine. It's on sale often, so if you're not quite to the point of wanting to give it a try, don't worry, it'll be back for the same $2.49 a couple more times this year.

Thief - This is a pretty recent title, so I haven't gotten around to it. Frankly the first time I tried a thief game I was so you I hadn't mastered the concept of stealth yet, and this one does look a bit more actiony, which may not be a good thing for fans of the series. It's $14.00 today.

Wolfenstein - Another title that is still too new for me to try it, and expensive, given that it's $29.99.

Chivalry -Like Portal and Garry's Mod, this one has been on sale several times. There have even been free weekends. A while back I gave it a try during one of those, around the same time I was playing the reviewed War of the Roses, and I found that both games filled different niches. Chivalry is more like Call of Duty, with huge kills and quickly clearing out enemies. It seems like a solid game, but I'm not interested in the instakill or 1-2 shot kill style of this one. What's worth noting is it hitting an all time low of $4.99 for the base game and $2.99 for the DLC, which can be purchased in a package for $6.99.

Shadowrun - I had previously commented on this when it was on sale earlier, but basically this RPG looks like it should be a good time, especially now that it hits a new low at $3.74.

Baldur's Gate II - The second in an update to the classic series. I know the last update was plagued with issues that turned be off of buying it, but I cannot speak about this one. It's $6.24 today.


Flash Sales

Among the Sleep - An atomspheric horror title where you take on the role of a child. I found out about it a year or two ago, right around the time I was playing Amnesia, and I thought it could be an interesting game. However, it's $16.99, so it'll be a little while before I find out.

Broken Age - Similiar to the previous, in that it's still a bit much for me to want to jump on at $8.49.

Max Payne 3 - Ugh, yet another title that I own, after I picked it up last winter, but haven't played. I've heard is a solid game, but again, haven't gotten around to trying it yet. It's $4.99 for the game, or $6.99 for the complete pack. Overall, a better deal than 6 months ago.

Watch Dogs - Heck yes I want this game, but there are a couple of problems with it that are preventing me from doing it. First, it's $47.99, because the game is brand new. Second, the minimum standards require a video card that supports Direct X 11, and my card was the last of the nvidias to be 10 only. That means I won't get around to this one for a couple of years, whenever I decide to build a new computer.


Community Choice

Edge of Space - So this game is very similar to Terraria (Reviewed!). If I recall correctly, some of the people that made Terraria moved over to this. However, it is an early access game, so while I believe this has a ton of potential, I'll hold back at $6.49.

Cloudbuilt - Oh boy. I've had issues with every parkour game I've ever played, so trying one that's based around quickly navigating a maze like battlefield sounds like a recipe for disaster. It's $2.99.

Mercenary Kings  - It looks like Metal Slug with RPG elements (in the weapon side of things). It could be a fun little throw back to to the days of the 2D platformer. It's a bit high at $9.99 today.

TowerFall Ascension - Here's another one I've never heard of. It doesn't look like anything that would interest me, especially at $10.04.


And in case you missed it: Battlefield Bad Company 2 for $4.99, L.A. Noire for $4.99, Space Base DF 9 for $8.49, The Typing of the Dead Overkill for $6.79, Alan Wake for $4.49, Amnesia for $4.99, Dead Space for $4.99, Outlast for $4.99, Broforce for $10.04, Call of Duty Ghosts for $29.99, Injustice for $7.49, Men of War 2 for $27.99, Quickteam Fussion for $24.99, Fuse Universal Character Creator for $19.99, Ray Supreme for $9.99, Substance Indie Pack for $124.99.

***

So that's today's sale.There are a couple of games on that list that I'd like, but for most of them, the issue is price (Thief, Wolfenstein, and Watch Dogs). I'd have to say your best bets are Portal, and then risking it with Max Paybe or Shadow Run (I'm waiting for a more complete version of the latter to go on sale). But other than that, I can't see anything I'm super excited about today.

Steam Summer Sale 6-27-14

Another day where I wasn't able to get anything done ahead of time, so I'll have to pound this out. The good news is there aren't too many days left, so I'll have less rushing home to post the sales. Maybe in the future I'll just post the main items, and have a running list of everything else. Food for thought.

Main Sale

Deus Ex - One of those games I've been told, and keep telling everyone, you should get. I bought it a while back, but just haven't had the time. Note that all three games in the series are on sale, from $1.74 to $4.99. Frankly, the $4.99 for the Director's Cut of HR is a great deal, though I don't know if it's worth it if you have the regular edition with all the DLCs.

Assetto Corsa - It's $19.99.

Space Engineers - Today's sandbox early access game. This one has come up on sale during the last few events. It's $13.39 today.

Grand Theft Auto 4 - I put several hours into the game, but found it couldn't hold my interest for long. It's not the game type or anything (I've finished a few others similar to this, most recently Sleeping Dogs) but just more that the game felt kind of "meh." However, if you are inclined to pick it up, I would note that today's $5.99 with the more complete pack is a heck of a deal.

Age of Mythology - The updated version of this RTS is $17.99.



Wargame - Assuming you'd rather your RTS playing is a bit more rooted in reality than the previous title, this series is on sale today, ranging from $3.39 to $23.99. That does mark a low point for the first game, one that I've been meaning to play for quite a while now.




Payday 2 - Like GTA4, I put a couple of hours into this game until it lost my interest. While it's an interesting blend of 4 player coop games (i.e., Left 4 Dead) with 4 different classes and interesting RPG like progression, I felt that a) the game sucks without 4 people (we would use 3, and we were always short because the AI is terribad) b) while certain missions, particularly a 3 day mission that has you break into a Senator's vault completely undetected to grab millions in gold are awesome, the majority were simple missions that weren't enjoyable, and c) it felt like the only way to really succeed was to already have max level skills, because picking the locks on 100 safe deposit boxes while trying to convince the cops that everything is good at the bank you're stealing from just takes too damn long. Again, one of those games where it's only worth it with a few other players of comparable skill and dedication. It's $5.99.


Tropico 4 - This his an all time low at $2.99 today. The bundle is a bit more at $5.99.

Transitor - A game I've been waiting for a while, because it's from the makers of Bastion and it looks pretty cool. Also, it sounds like it'll have an awesome soundtrack. Unfortunately it's a bit much as $14.99.


Flash Sale

Alan Wake - Reviewed! I've played the first one, and found it was an okay game at best. Certainly a case of one of those games where you can play it if you have nothing else to do. I'd also point out the price tag, $5.99 for the franchise, is more than it has been in the past.

F1 2013 - More raching today at $12.49.

Octodad Dadliest Catch - When I originally saw this on Greenlight, I thought "WTF?". I've heard it's supposed to be good, but I'll wait until it's in a humble bundle or something, because it just looks too much like the whole thing is a joke. It's $5.09.

Reus - An interesting strategy that I just started playing a few nights back. You get to control 4 giants who can do things like plant trees, make mineral mines, create oceans and mountains, etc. Towns pop up, and you need to guide the towns by carefully controlling what they have access too. Most of the game is spent carefully balancing what resources you make available, upgrading them by combining them with the abilities from other giants, and taking advantage of adjacency bonuses. As you complete major projects you'll again access to ambassadors, which are equiped by giants to unlock more abilities. The game blocks your progress by locking away access to more potent resource upgrades until you complete a set number of challenges. It's an interesting game that I feel like I need to spend a lot of time in a wiki to full understand how everything plays together, but can recommend it at $2.49.


*And right about now I'm running out of time, oh my.*


Community Choice

Age of Empires II - $4.99

FEAR - $2.49

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2 - $3.39

System Shock 2 - All time low of $1.49.

I swear Long Live the Queen was in there earlier today too.


And in case you missed it: Crusader Kings II for $7.99, Trine 2 for $1.99, Alice Madness Returns for $4.99, Strike Vector for $2.99, Borderlands 2 for $6.59, Farcry 3 Blood Dragon for $3.74, Saints Row IV for $9.99, Goat Simulator for $5.99, Ace of Spades for $2.99, Watch_Dogs for $47.99, Prototype 2 for $9.99, Long Live the Queen for $2.49, Sleeping Dogs for $3.99. L.A. Noire for $4.99, Skyrim for $4.99, Kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning for $4.99.

***

Alright, so that's all I've got for you today. I'd only really recommend Reus, System Shock 2 and Deus Ex. The other games I've played are all the kind that you can get (they are good deals), but I'd advise that only if you don't have something more interesting to play.

Steam Summer Sale 6-26-14

I didn't get around to this one until pretty late today (I've been sneaky and usually have managed to write at least a portion earlier in the day), so I'll *try* and  be brief.

Main Sale

Civilization V - Reviewed! Frankly, I felt like this 4X strategy game was lacking in several aspects back when I played it. Since then a few expansion packs have come out that look like they added some further depth to the game, but I was so burned by the base that I'm not interested in going back. The base game is $7.49, but you'd really want the complete pack for $16.49. That is, assuming you really wanted Civ 5.

Train Simulator 2014 - Every time this game comes up I wonder who buys it. I mean, I totally find model trains cool and everything (yeah, I'm that kind of nerd), but buying the game for $8.24 - $15.99 and then shelling out up to $1698.39 for the 174 pieces of DLC strikes me as a bit much.

Assassin's Creed - Reviewed! This is one of those series that just keeps going. I've played the first and second, and reviewed both, as well as the multiplayer in Brotherhood. I can recommend the 2nd, but wasn't really a fan of the first. Most titles in the 8 titlte series are $4.99 - $7.49, while the latest is $19.99.

Banished - This one was previously a short term sale item, and while it looks like an interesting game, taking city building to the past, I'm holding off at $9.99.

Left 4 Dead - I was a big fan of the original, but not so much the second (there is about a 100 hour play time difference between the titles for me). What made the game shine so much for me isn't the single player (that's bad), or the coop modes, but the 4 vs. 4 mode where two teams take turns trying to survive and trying to kill the survivors. Yeah, it's actually a fun game, but it's the people you play with that make it fun, which is why I stopped playing when everyone else I knew did too. It's $4.99 for each game individual or $7.49 for the pack. Not a bad buy, but not somehting I'd kill myself over, especially since it's up for this price every sale.

Total War - Most Total War titles are on sale for 50% off (there are far too many to list), and come in one of several packages. The bigger discount is for Total War Rome II, which is 66% off, making it still $20.37 today.

Europa Universalis IV - Just in case the Total War series of strategy doesn't do it for you, you can go this route instead. It's either $9.99 or $11.24, depending on the version you buy.

Dishonored - I've put several hours into this game, but never got around to finishing it, mostly because it's pretty meh and much narrow in options than it would lead you to believe. Yes, you can choose to go all out, possessing soldiers, freezing time, moving people in front of bullets, etc. Or you can go for a stealthy route, stopping time to blinking around quickly, moving among high ledges, possessing fish to sneak in a different route. All and all it's not a bad game, but not great, and it's something I got bored with. I still plan on going back and finishing it up as I transition out of Warframe and try and boost my review count, and I think you'd do alright at $10.19 (TBH, that's a little high, $7.50 would be better), but its one of those games that I'd recommend you get only after you get that stuff you really want.

Resident Evil 4 HD - It's been a while since I've seen this one in action, which was back on the Gamecube when it was originally released. Frankly, I'm more a fan of the tradiational RE, like RE2, rather than the more actiony route they went with later on. It's a bit high at only 40% off and $11.99.


Flash Sales

SteamWorld Dig - Reviewed! Absolutely recommend this fun Metroid-meets-Digdug tittle at $2.49.

Castle Story - While it looks like this building strategy game could be interested, it is an early access title, and I shun those. Note that there is a disclaimer for you to read before buying the game (you see why I might be apprehensive about paying for an incomplete game?). It's $13.39.

Fallen Encantress - Another strategy game today. This one is $7.99.

You Need A Budget - Oddly enough, I think I've managed okay with an excel worksheet :) Anyways, it's $14.99.


Community Choice

Dark Souls - Just in case you missed it before, it's back for the same $4.99. I still recommend against it, but at least it's cheap.

Star Wars Battle Front II - Another title that has been up for sale already. It's back for $3.39.

Beat Hazard - A 2D arcade like shooter fueled by your music. I've tried it a couple of times, but never really got into it, and frankly, I can't really recommend it. It's $1.99.

Blockland - Yeah, I thought the picture looked familiar, then I read the description. It's Legos. Also, it's $1.99.


And in case you missed it: Dragon Age Origins Ultimate for $7.49, The Walking Dead for $12.49, Gone Home for $2.99, Mass Effect for $4.99, Mars War Logs for $3.74, Metal Slug 3 for $2.71, How to Survive for $2.24, The Sims 3 for $6.79, Maia for $16.74, Remember Me for $9.89, Car Mechanic Simulator 2014 for $6.59, The King of Fighters XIII for $10.19, Farcry 3 for $7.49, Space  Engineers for $13.39, Grand Theft Auto 4 for $5.99, and Terraria for $1.99.


***

Wow, I did better time wise than I thought I would have, so I managed to come up with something decently long to fill in for each game. Anyways, the winners for today are...not really anything, unless you can catch SteamWorld Dig on the flash sale, in which case you're good. Otherwise the titles I've played that are on that list are 5-6, and while you could get them, you could also play some games that were much better. Sigh. Well, only a few more days left, so let's hope they step it up.

Steam Summer Sale 6-25-14

While I haven’t talked about it before, except to lament the fact that I didn’t benefit from it, there has been a contest of sorts going on for the duration of this sale. You probably know this by now, how however is divided into teams, and completing badges grants your team points, with 30 people from the winning team for each day awarded the top 3 games on their wishlist.  It’s nice to see Valve finally doing something fun again, sine that was back in 2011 when they had the massive achievement contest where you might win games, coupons, or coal (each piece of coal was an entry into a drawing to win every game on Steam), even if I do have issues with it. Anyways, the big news is that now it’s not just a single team that wins. If your team is in the top 3, you could potentially get some free games. Specifically, 30 people from the first place team get lucky, followed by 20 from the 2^nd place team, and 10 from the 3^rd place team. Considering there are something like 5 million concurrent users signed in, I doubt you should get your hopes up (I know I’m not, but that might be because my team is in dead last), but it’s nice to think that your odds, as terrible as they might be, have just doubled. So, yay silver linings?

Main Sale

Bioshock – I’ve played 2/3rds of the series. The first game was fantastic, partly because of the newness of it, but also because it’s got some really interesting gameplay, memorable moments, and yes, a fun story, even if people do have issues with the twist. The second game isn’t as good as the first, but still worth playing. There were major improvements to abilities and weapons, such as being able to have both an ability (such as dropping a decoy, setting someone on fire, shocking them with lightning, attacking them with bees, etc.) equipped at the same time as a weapon, which really opened up a much smoother experience. I haven’t yet gotten around to the third one, but undoubtedly will when it drops just a little lower. You see, while the third title is $7.49 today, it’s season pass content , which includes 2 massive DLCs set in the environment of the first game, bring the complete pack to $14.99. Yes, I know I’ll love the game, but yes, I am a cheap jerk with enough games to tide me over until it hits $9.99, maybe this fall. Also, the previous games are available for $4.99 each (if you really want them, I have some extra Steam keys to trade :) )

Kerbel Space Program – An early access space sim title. You build spacecraft, carefully constructing them from different parts. Will you make a multistage rocket, or attempt to do it all in one go? Are you looking to achieve orbit, or just make it into space? It is one of those games that has an incredible amount of depth to it, and a surprising amount of educational value. I haven’t done too much, as a fried picked it up for me a while back, but I definitely like the way it’s going, and think this is one I’ll really enjoy “when it’s done.” It’s $16.19 to get in it today.

Child of Light – Alright, so this looks kind of awesome. Somewhat a cross between Braid and Dust visually. While I would like to give it a try (there is at least a demo for that much), the 25% off and $11.24 is more of a bitter pill to swallow.

Company of Heroes – The whole franchise is on sale, but the biggest discounts are for the latest title. I played the originals, and quickly fell in love with Relic’s take on this WWII RTS. Moving troops around the ruined streets of France, only to be attacked by some German swine machine gunners or snipers hiding in buildings (since that is something you can actually do), is terrifying. However, destroying the building with your enemies still inside it because, you know, tanks aren’t as vulnerable to gunfire, is satisfying. Similarly, dropping in on an anti tank group, stealing their cannon, and then moving that to the road , and then using that to take out incoming cavalry made for a surprisingly good time. Basically, if you like RTS games and you haven’t tried one of these yet, you absolutely must get it. Unfortunately, you’d be paying $4.99 or $9.99 for the older titles, and $9.99 for the new one, which is the only reason I’ll be waiting.

Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn – This is that FF MMO that was so unpopular they had to shut it down and reboot it. In addition to that, it’s a game I want to stay away from because of my tendency to get addicted to these types of titles. It’s $14.99 today.

Counter Strike GO – Honestly, I’m a bit baffled by this one. No, not the game (everyone should know about the basic principles of CS, what with the 1 life per round, using cash to buy weapons and the whole terrorist vs. counter terrorist thing), but rather the price and terrible discount. It’s only 50% off, making it $7.49, when in the past it has been much less.

Batman Arkham – Reviewed! The three titles in this series are $4.99, $4.99, and $7.49, respectively. So far I’ve only gotten around to the first one, which is a solid action/stealth game that I think you should pick up at this price, no questions asked. The only one I have any concerns about, actually, is the third title, which I’ve heard isn’t quite so good, so I’ll probably wait until it’s lower and I get around to beating the second one.

Endless Space – It’s been quite a long time since I last played this one, and I believe they’ve added enough content that my experiences are no longer the most relevant. However, it’s a massive space based 4X strategy game, similar to Civ, though, frankly, it’s better. Partly that’s due to the talent tree that determines how your people evolve, and things like terraforming planets to create resources and other things. I’d say it’s a good game if you’re in to 4X titles, and that the $7.49 isn’t a bad amount to pay for it.

The Banner Saga – Will I get this game? Absolutely. However, that’s one of those “in time” purchases, since it’s still $12.49.

**Sorry, got back from work late and I'm up against the clock, so in the interest of getting this published before all the following games expire, here are your choices, sans details. **

Flash Sales

Next Car Game – It’s $17,99

The Testament of Sherlock Holmes – This one is $3.99

The Secret World – It’s $11.99

Infested Planet – This one is $7.49

Community Choice

They Bleed Pixels – Today it hits a $1.99 low.

Tomb Raider – Just in case you missed it the other day, it’s back for the same $4.99 for the base version. Everything still applies from the last time I covered it.

Mirror’s Edge – Another title comes back up. Also $4.99 today.

Giana Sisters Twisted Dreams – Another game that I picked up, because this platformer does look so good, but haven’t gotten around to it. It’s a record low $2.99 today.

And in case you missed it: Star Wars Battlefront II for $3.39, Call of Juarez Gunslinger for $3.74, Serious Sam The Complete Pack for $14.99, Killing Floor for $4.99, Bastion for $2.24, World of Goo for $0.99, Rayman Legends for $9.99, Awesomenauts for $0.99, Kingdom Rush for $2.49, Castle Crashers for $1.49, King Arthur's gold for $4.99, Magicka for $2.49, Super Amazing Wagon Adventure for $1.01, Noir Syndrome for $2.37, Pixel Piracy for $7.49, Delver for $2.39.

Steam Summer Sale 6-24-14

Well, for me the good news was that my “team” won today, which accounts for nothing since I wasn’t one of the 30 people that received the top 3 games on my wishlist. Darn, I had some good, high priced titles on there. Anyways…

Main Sale

Torchlight – Reviewed! While I’ve only played a handful of ARPGs in my life, this one is hands down my favorite. The cartooniness and stunning visuals combine to make a highly enjoyable experience. The gameplay is fun, largely because smashing out a ring of fire with your monkey wrench hammer while your gun bot protects you is really, really, cool. There are also all kinds of mods available through Steam, if you want to go that route. The original is $3.74, while the second game is $4.99.

Metro – I still haven’t gotten around to playing the original, but can definitely approve of the second being only $6.79. I may hold off just to see if it hits $5 even later this year, but it sounds like this would be a solid buy.

Brothers – The thing about this game is you control two characters separately, which is why you are required to use a controller. It’s supposed to be this kind of heart wrenching journey where you play the bond that keeps the two brothers together. I was convinced enough to pick it up during the winter sale, which is somewhat of a shame, considering I didn’t even get around to installing it until last night. Still, a much better buy at $2.99 today than what I paid for it.

Age of Wonders III – This one wasn't even on my radar before today, which is a shame, because it seems like a massive fantasy strategy game that's akin to 4X titles like Civ and Endless Space, but with far more depth due to the RPG elements. Yeah, I think I'll be keeping a close eye on this one. It's $19.99 today.

Splinter Cell – While each title in the series that Steam has (the second, Pandora Tomorrow, isn’t available) is on sale, it’s the latest, Blacklist, which received the biggest discount. While I’m currently partway through the series, I do know enough about this game to know it ruffled a few feathers. One reason is the change in voice actors, as the original guy (Michael Ironsides, I do believe), had become a pretty iconic voice. Another issue is the pursuit of the more actiony game play, rather than the traditional stealth, which started with the previous title. Probably not a bad game, but not something you should kill yourself getting. It’s $7.49.

Blackguards – Another title that I hadn't been aware of. This fantasy strategy game is available in several packs ranging from $13.59 to $35.99.

Call of Duty Ghosts – I’ve gone on rants about the quality and cost of CoD titles before, as in during every sale. I could speak at length about how bad they are now (and sound like an elitist jerk in the process). However, I’ll just point out that the game is $29.99 after 6 months of release, and that that is probably the best price you’ll see for it on Steam for another year or two, and even then it’ll be $20.

Murdered Soul Suspect – I've been aware of this game for some time, though I've not seriously looked into it. It could be an interesting game, kind of a dark detective game (Alan Wake meets The Dresden Files Ghost Story, perhaps?), but at $33.49, it'll be a while before I find out

Flash Sales

Nidhogg – This is just one of those games where you watch the trailer, say "huh?" and either move along or buy it. It's $5.09 today.

Shadow Warrior – A recent remake/reboot of a classic game, Shadow Warrior is a bit of an over the top FPS, though not in the same way as, say, Serious Sam. I do like what Flying Hog did with Hard Reset, which was the most challeging and fast paced shooter I've played since the dawn of the Modern Combat Field games with their annualized releases. I see myself picking this up, but probably not for today's $7.99 or $9.99.

Darksiders – Reviewed! It just went away, and now it’s back again. A recommended buy at $11.99 for the franchise.

Space Hulk – This one might be a bit interesting, but then again, I’ve recently had my interest in turn based tactical games peaked by titles like Frozen Synapse and XCOM. Will this be at good as those? Well, since it's $2.50, I figure it's worth a shot.

Community Choice

The Blackwell Legacy – No idea on this one, but at $0.49, it’s really not much of  gamble.

Kentucky Route Zero – So this is one I’ve seen a lot of lately, and that certainly is something I’ll pick up in time. However, I have a general prohibition on episodic games, so it’ll be a while. It’s $12.49 right now.

realMYST – No idea on this, because I didn't get into PC gaming in time to try the Myst games (yes, I am aware that technically I could get those older games up and running, but there is so much stuff that I have that I won't get around to it). $8.99 today.

Syberia – Another low invest risk game at $1.49.

And in case you missed it, Scribblenauts Unlimited for $4.99, Gone Home for $2.99, Spec Ops The Line for $5.99, Rising Storm for $4.99, Rise Franchise Pack for $9.99, Just Cause 2 for $2.99, Wasteland 2 for $40.19, Planet Explorers for $14.99, Guacamelee! for $2.99, Starforge for $4.99, Sonic All Starts Racing for $4.99, Dirt 3 for $6.24, Kerbel Space Program for $16.19, Sim City 4 for $4.99, Game Dev Tycoon for $3.99, and Garry's Mod for $2.49.

***

Okay, so that's today's sale. The clear winner is Torchlight, but I'd consider giving Brother sand Metro a shot as well. The rest are either too much or something that might be too risky.

Steam Summer Sale 6-23-14

Another day, another sale. Yesterday’s offerings were probably the best I’ve seen so far, and while today’s aren’t nearly as good, they aren’t quite too bad either.

Main Sale

ARMA III – For those of you that want the military sim experience, this is the game you’ll want. Now, we all know what made ARMA II so popular was the existence of the Day Z mod, but it’ll be interesting to see how this one fares on its own. It’s $29.99 today.

Dark Souls – In the past, as this game has come up for sale multiple times, I’ve talked about how this game is nowhere near as good as the hype. Some of that is due to the terrible quality of the port, while much of it is due to the terrible quality of the game. While I highly advise against this one, unless you’re an absolute masochist or you want to become best friends with GameFAQs, it is $4.99, which marks the lowest price for it I’ve seen.

FTL – Reviewed! I highly recommend this awesome rogue like take on space exploration, where each play through is entirely different. The last version contains several updates and features not initially found in the game, which should add a ton more variety that I was able to experience. I also highly recommend the soundtrack, which is an additional $1.59. The game itself is $3.99, which isn’t the lowest price it’s been, probably due to the recent updates.

Nether – So it's still post apocalyptic survival horror, but at least its not zombies. It’s $2.99 today.

Rogue Legacy – A roguelike game that has popped up on sale multiple times. Today it's $3.74.

Saints Row – The over the top GTA like game comes in a variety of packages (that’s probably an unintentional Saints Row joke right there) today, ranging for the newest title for $9.99, to the franchise pack for $18.74. It’s actually cheaper to get the franchise pack than it is to by the base game and then shell out the $19.75 for all of the DLC for the 4^th game. Food for thought.

Surgeon Simulator 2013 – Just in case you missed it yesterday, the highly enjoyable-yet-frustrating QWOP like game is back. At $2.49, I highly recommend it, because this game is a blast, despite all logic to the contrary.

The Lego Movie Video Game – Alright, this one gets way too meta for me, because it’s a game based on a movie based on a toy. It’s $7.49.

Insurgency – I remember this game from the winter sale. Basically a generic modern shooter. It’s $6.74 today.

Flash Sales

Forced – Arena coop game that seems to always be on sale. It’s $5.09 for a limited time.

Magic 2014 – Various prices from $2.49 to $8.74.

Hitman – There's been a price drop on this one since winter. Now you can get the base game for $3.99 and the collection for only $1 more (I think it was like $6.75 when I bought it, so more power to you if you waited).

Awesomenauts – This one has been on sale quite a few times before, but the $0.99 price tag on it right now is the lowest I can recall.

Community Choice

Risk of Rain - Really bizarre looking 2d plaformer/roguelike. It's $2.49.

Castle Crashers - One that seems to pop up on sale a lot. This 4 player game is $1.49.

Dungeon Defenders – Reviewed! This one was just on sale earlier, so everything before still applies, including the $3.74/$12.49 price tag.

Magicka – Reviewed! I highly recommend this game as well, and would direct you to the written and video reviews. It’s $2.49 for the base game, but you’ll want to spend $9.99 for the collection. Most of the stuff included are just characters (called robes), but there are a couple of good campaigns in there as well.

And in case you missed it, Sanctum 2 for $2.99, Mortal Kombat for $4.99, Mass Effect Collection for $8.74, Farmin Simulator 2013 for $6.99, Fallout New Vegas for $6.79, Dead Island for $4.99, Deus Ex for $4.99, Nether for $2.99.

***

Alright, so kind of slim pickings again today, but at least it's not a morass of early access titles. I'd do FTL and Surgeon Simulator, then probably pick up Magicka. Not bad, and you won't brake the bank either.

Steam Summer Sale 6-22-14

Wow, this one is coming late today. Apparently the things I thought I could wrap up early I in fact could not. In the interest of time, I'm going to keep this one really brief.


Main Sale

Battle Block Theater - One of those games I've never even heard of before, let alone played. This platformer, where one of the user-defined tags is cats, is $3.74 today.

Borderlands - I put a lot of time into the original, which made for an interesting combination of FPS with traditional ARPG elements, like loot for days. The original is not discounted the same (it's $9.89), but a solid game. I haven't gotten around to picking up the sequel because it has been pretty expensive, especially once you factor in the cost to buy some of the more substantial DLCs. Thankfully the Game of the Year edition, which isn't actually everything, is $9.99, while the base game is $4.99. I'm considering it at that price, though still curious if there will ever be a true complete verison.

Kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning - Holy crap it's on sale! This game's claim to fame, besides being published by a now defunct studio and the Steam distribution rights moving to the State of Rhode Island, which is why it's been on sale ~3 times since they got the rights, is the way you customize your character in this open world RPG that feels a lot like you're playing on an empty World of Warcraft server. Anyways, that claim to fame. That would be a system that allows you to pull between 3 different classes to make your unique character. Dump points into Rogue, Warrior, or Mage, or any combination of the 3, to do as you see fit. I played the demo and really liked the game, but didn't want to spend the $75 it was going to take to get the game and the DLCs. Thankfully the complete edition is now $9.99. Go Rhode Island.

Outlast - A first person horror game that seems to be atmospheric heavy, a la Amnesia. It's $4.99 today.


Planetary Annihilation - This one is an early access title, but it has at least dropped substantially in price (it used to be ~$90). A massive RTS that builds on it's Total Anihilation and Supreme Commander roots, where you build armies the likes of which would make other games cry. Add to it the whole space aspect, where you can build bases on moons and attack from the high ground or even turn them into weapons in their own right, and you've got one of my most watched early access games. $16.99 today.

South Park The Stick of Truth - Yeah, I'm not really a fan of the show. Anyways, this one is $40.19.

The Wolf Among Us - Another episode game from Telltale, the same folks that brought us The Walking Dead. In it you play as the Big Bad Wolf in a world of other storybook characters. Currently episodes 1-4 are out, with 5 due this summer. A game that I know I will pick up, but I'm holding off until it's done and I can gorge myself on the full course. $8.49 today.

Tomb Raider - There are mutliple versions of the QTE heavy, somewhat short, reboot of the Lara Croft franchise, ranging from $4.99 for the base version, to $7.49 for the GOTY.

Metal Gear Rising - Not terriblly discounted at 50% off (it's $14.99). I've heard it's okay, but a very short game (~6 hours).


Flash Sale

Lost Planet - Massive discount on this. Oddly, the 75% off only applies to game 3 and the original., which are $12.49 and $3.75, respectively. If you want to round out the triligoy, you'll need an additional $19.99 for that middle game.

Orin Dino Horde - Returns again today for the same $1.49 it was just 2 days ago.

Spelunky - An interesting take of the whole roguelike genre, set in a 2D exploratory environment that can catch the unware off guard. I've put some time into it, but I didn't make it very far in the tutorial without dieing. It's a tie at its lowest price of $3.74 today.

X Rebirth 2.0 - I've tried 1 other X series game, and it seemed so massively complex that there was no way I could advance. This one looks to be the same in function, if not form (it is damn pretty). It's $24.99 today.


Community Choice

Brutal Legend - All time low at $2.99.

Darksiders - Reviewed! Played the first one, a solid game that really feels like Zelda grew up a bit. That one is $3.99.  You can get the second for $5.99 and spend $13.66 for the DLCs, or pay $11.99 for the franchise pack and get everything. Not as good of a deal as back during December 2012, but THQ was still around back then, so this seems to be as good as it gets now.

Mount & Blade - Returns again today for the same price as before.

Titan Quest - An interesting take on the ARPG, though I still favor Torchlight as the best, it's $3.99.


And in case you missed it: Darkfall Unholy Wars for $3.73, Jazzpunk for $7.40, Monaco for $1.49, NBA 2K14 for $7.49, Batman Arkham Origins for $7.49, Hitman Absolution for $3.99, Sniper Elite V2 for $7.49, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 for $29.99,Overgrowth for $22.49, Craft the World for $8.99, The Swapper for $2.99, Skullgirls for $3.74, Epic Battle Fantasy 4 for $2.99, Age of Mythology for $17.99, Final Fantasy VII for $4.07, Unepic for $2.49, Fable The lost Chapters for $1.99, Natural Selection for $3.74, Sleeping Dogs for $3.99, Transformers Fall of Cybertron for $14.99, Betrayer for $3.99, Lone Survivor for $3.74, Metro Last Light Complete Edition for $6.79, Slender The Arrival for $2.49.


***

Yes, in case you're wondering, for me, that is being brief.  No pick ups for me today, due in part to already having some of the games, and in part to waiting for the price to drop on some others. Still, if money wasn't an issue, I'd hit Borderlands, Kingdoms of Amalur, Planetary Annihilation, The Wolf Among Us, Tomb Raider, Spelunky, Darksiders, and Brutal Legend.

Alright, see you all again tomorrow!

Steam Summer Sale 6-21-14

Another day, another set of deals. Like the previous two, this one also heavily features zombie games. Perhaps I can use that as an excuse for not reviewing as many games lately - the only thing being developed are zombie survival games. Anyways, back to the sale

Main Sale

Skyrim - Alright, so over 2 years after it came out, the Legendary Edition, which features all the DLC, has dropped to an acceptable $13.59. That's...not bad. The base game is only $4.99, but then you'd have to shell out another $22.47 for the DLC packs. Must suck if you already bought the base game and only need the DLC.

7 Days to Die - Early access, survival, zombies, etc. $13.74.

Dragon Age Origins - A solid fantasy RPG by the folks over at Bioware. If you're familiar with the way their other games, like Mass Effect, work, then you've got the idea of how this one plays. Assemble a party of followers, try and keep them all happy enough to keep fighting for you,  all the while the moral choices you make change the outcome, usually by pissing people off. One of my favorite is the choice to unlock blood magic, which involves bartering away a child's life to a demon. I distinctly remember telling a friend about how I was upset about making that decision, and then he pointed out it must not have been that bad, because I was pretty happy with my blood magic abilities. Anyways,  it's $7.49 for the ultimate edition, which includes an expansion pack. I had put over 80 hours into the base game, so I say that's more than worth it.

Contagion - Hey, look, it's another coop zombie survival horror game. This one is $4.99.

Terraria - Reviewed! This one I 100% recommend, especially since it's at an all time low of $1.99. Really hard to beat that in such a massive, yet deceptively simple game.

Project Zomboid - Hey, look, it's a zombie survival game. Actually, this one I'm a but more interested in, largely because it seems to consist of a bit more depth than the standard game, plus, I've been reading about it for a year or so now. It's still early access though, which means it's too early, and too much, for me to take a look into it. $10.04 today.

Wasteland 2 - Turn based strategy game in the vein of XCOM, though the RPG aspect of things looks to be a lot deeper. Potentially an interesting game, but, unfortunately, it's early access and $40.19.

Age of Empires II -  A classic RTS that's been revamped. You'll probably see some of the other Age of Empires up for sale as well. This one is $4.99.

The Stanley Parable - I still haven't gotten around to trying this one, but have heard good things, including from those that played the original mod. More a commentary then a typical game, it does come with a demo to give you a taste. It's $5.99 today.


Flash Sales

Duck Tales - Another classic game that's been updated for the modern age. Actually, it's kind of funny how many memories the theme music brings up. Anyways, it's $5.09.

Rocksmith - A guitar teaching game/software. Yeah, not really sure how to classify this one. You'll also need a guitar and a special cable. So...good luck with that. It's $14.99.

Van Helsing II - I've played a bit of the first one (just the demo, bought the full game, then warframe happened). Seems like a fun ARPG game in the more serious fashion of Diablo. The sequel is $10.04, while the original is $7.49.

Nosgoth - Hadn't ever heard of this one before, but it's an asymmetrical multiplayer combat game, with humans fighting vampires. Also, it's early access and  ranges from $4.99 to $149.99.


Community Choice

Papers, Please - Just in case you missed it yesterday, it's back today for $2.99.

Banished -An intriguing city building game that's focused on a time prior to the agricultural revolution. While things like Sim City and Anno 2070 may have the current or future locked down, this one locks backwards. Possibly a good game. It's $9.99.

The Sims - Everyone knows about this game, so I won't waste your time. Available for $6.79, with 19 DLCs that will cost you another $146.01 to get.

Surgeon Simulator - A surprisingly fun and frustrating game where you control a single hand (individual fingers, raise/lower, etc.). I got pretty far in this game, but got stumped during the space surgeries, mostly because I'd have the heart I need to transplant into the patient slowly float of screen. Anyways, I highly recommend this at $2.49.


And in case you missed it, Halo Spartan Assault for $2.49, Planet Explorers for $14.99, Papers, Please for $2.99, Risk of Rain for $2.49, Master Reboot for $2.99, Frozen Synapse for $4.99, Shadowrun Returns for $3.74, Eye Divine Cybermancy for $0.99, Killing Floor for $4.99, Payday 2 for $5.99, Painkiller Hell & Damnation for $4.99, Metal Slug 3 for $2.71, Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag for $19.99, Bioshock Infinite for $7.49, Grid 2 for $7.49, and Warlock II The Exiled for $14.99.


***

So, those are the choices today. Much better than yesterday, though that one had set the bar rather low. I would still like to see fewer zombie games, cause, you know, having seen 7 or so in 2 days seems a little excessive. Winners today would be Skyrim, Dragon Age, and Terraria, though I'd go into the flash/community choices to grab Surgeon Simulator and possibly Papers, Please.

Until tomorrow! 

Steam Summer Sale 6-20-14

It’s day 2 of the Steam Summer Sale, and I feel like we’ve already ventured into questionable games. I don’t see any AAA level games on this sale, and instead find early access games, ports, and a game maker. Also, more zombies, because apparently society hasn’t grown tired of those yet. Oh boy.

Main Sale:

Game Dev Tycoon – A game wherein you’re a game developer tasked with managing a studio and keeping it successful. Probably the most noteworthy thing about it is the part where pirated versions are programed to, as you go along, eventually bankrupt the studio due to piracy. The most ironic part of that is where the pirates would complain on the game’s forums, even clamoring for the ability to add some kind of DRM. Anyways, the legit version of the game is $3.99 today.

Bound by Flame – So I’d never heard of this RPG before, but after reading up on it, it sounds like it’s claiming to be a mix of Kingdoms of Amalur and Witcher, which would be fantastic if pulled of right. I’ll go on my wish list, but at $23.99, it’s just not a game I can afford right now.

Plague Inc. Evolved – Another early access title. This one has you control an evolving virus in an attempt to infect the entire world. Your enemies in this one are actually medical science. Who knew? So, interesting concept, but in violation of my blanket ban on early access titles. It’s $10.04 today.

Amnesia – Reviewed! I covered the original Amnesia with both a written and video review, and at $3.99, highly recommend that game. I’ve heard the same can’t be said about the sequel, A Machine for Pigs, though since today is the lowest I’ve seen it at $4.99, maybe I’ll give it a shot and let you know for the next sale. Both games can be had in a pack for $6.99.

The Walking Dead – Also reviewed! Though again, only the first 1. The point and click choose your own adventure game makes for a very enjoyable time, and focuses more on the characters and developing an emotional attachment than, say, zombie slaying. The original is $6.24, with the DLC for that one $2.49. The current “season” is both more expensive ($12.49) and incomplete. I’ll say this much about the episodic releases though. In the first game, since I waited until everything was released, I could play the entire game nonstop, which, frankly, is the only way I’d want to play in, considering that the first one was so good. So I’m going to hold off until everything is wrapped up, which should hopefully correspond with when it’s a little cheaper too.

RPG Maker VX Ace – Some version or another of this is a pretty regular sale item. While some of the RPGs I’ve seen created with this are quite impressive, I’m in the business of playing games, not making them (that is, after all, if you consider this a business). It’s $17.49 today.

Xtreme Legends Dynasty Warriors 8 Complete Edition – Yeah…just, yeah. It’s $24.99.

State of Decay – Zombie Survival RPG ported over from consoles. Watched my roommate play it, and he loved it, but honestly it didn’t look like this game did anything special compared to the other horde (get it, cause zombies travel in hordes?!?) of other zombie games out there. It’s an all-time low at $4.99 today.

Prison Architect – This early access prison sim has come a long way since it started going on sale. However, it does do that often, so today’s $10.19 for the base game may not be the best deal you’ll see this year.

Flash Sales:

Dungeon Defenders – Reviewed! One of a series of action tower defense games I played a few years back, this class based one made for an interesting time. Really geared for multiplayer, I found that the game was okay, but not something I would want to spend a large amount of time on. There are multiple buying options, from the base game for $3.74, to the collection for $12.49. You’d probably want the latter if you’re serious about this one.

Mount and Blade – The whole series seems to have developed into something of a cult classic. I gave it a try once and was immediately kidnapped by a band of thieves when I was knocked out in a battle. It’s also a series that is heavily modded, so you can upgrade visuals and the like. Titles range from $1.99 to $3.99, with a package deal for $6.99.

Pixel Piracy – Yet another early access game, this one is $7.49.

Spore – I played this one back when it came out, but the DRM the disk version used roasted my computer. No, I swear I’m still not bitter at EA for that. Anyways, the Steam version doesn’t have that. It’s a creature build em game with 5 different stages of evolution, and at each stage the game type is a bit different, such as open world adventure, rts, and space exploration. The way you behave, friendly, aggressive, religious, herbivore or carnivore, influences how your species will evolve, and what gameplay options you will have. An interesting game that you can dump hours into if you’re the right type of person. Packages range from $9.99 to $14.99, which strikes me as pricy.

Community Choice:

Rage – Reviewed! Okay, I was really not a fan of this game and greatly caution anyone against purchasing it. I also heavily disagree with this being featured in the “Underrated” community choice pack. Hey, maybe your game would do better if it actually ran decently and had some real content. Oh, and you weren’t an asshole about launch issues too! Sorry, just not really a fan of John Carmack after this game came out. It’s $4.99 for the base game today.

Call of Juarez – The big sale is for Gunslinger, though the other titles in the series are on sale as well, just for drastically less. I played Bound in Blood, which was the prequel to the original game. An acceptable western shooter with a few RPG elements, such as side quests, currency, upgradeable weapons, etc. Not great, but something to play if you don’t have a lot going on. Gunslinger is $3.74, though it is in a bundle with Far Cry Blood Dragon for some reason, so if you want both, you can save yourself some money that way.

Bulletstorm – Another shooter. This one’s claim to fame are skill shots, basically chaining different actions together to pull off some kind of tricky shot, usually involving a certain amount of vulgarity. For example, use the laser whip thing to slam an enemy up in the air, and then shoot him in his manhood, and you’ll get points. Never figured out what the points were for, mostly because I don’t think I ever finished the demo level. Still, I *might* pick it up just because it hasn’t been on sale for a while, and it looked like it might get pulled from Steam because EA is busy being EA. It’s $4.99 today.

Orin Dino Horde – I’ve seen this game on sale before, and it never really caught my interest. It’s 90% off today, at $1.49. That’s probably due to its 36/100 metacritic score, lack of any information on the store page, and having the only reviews that have been posted about the game consist of community reviews. Sorry, when I see titles like this, it seems that the best thing to do is back away very, very slowly.

And in case you missed it:

7 Days to Die for $13.74, South Park The Stick of Truth for $40.19, Torchlight 2 for $4.99, Van Helsing 2 for $10.04,  Half Life 2 for $2.49, Castlevania 2 for $44.99, Anno 2070 for $7.49, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst (dead God that is a long title) for $9.99,Euro Truck Simulator 2 for $3.74, Red Alert 3 for $4.99, Agarest Generations of War for $4.49, Super Meat Boy for $3.44, Monaco for $1.49, The Cave for $3.74, Forced for $5.09, and OctoDad Dadliest Catch for $5.09.

***

Alright, so that’s it for today. There are only two games out of the whole sale I can honestly recommend you even consider, Amnesia and The Walking Dead. Beyond that, and even with the respective sequels, I think you should tread lightly. Ugh, this does not bode well for the rest of the sale.

Steam Summer Sale 6-19-14

Well well well, it seems it's sale time again. I swear that came sooner than last year, which, admittedly, came about a month later than usual. I'm going to be doing the same old, same old on my end, despite not having played very much in the way of new games lately, large in part to my most recently reviewed game, Warframe, which also launched a special event today that I imagine will take up a good chuck of my time.

So, this sale is pretty much the format that we've come to expect, what with the main sale, flash sales, and a community choice, as well as cards and badges because it's something Valve can make  money off of. One little twist is the change to the community choice, which now has you selecting a group of games, rather than a single title. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

Main Sale

Day Z - This is the stand alone game that is currently in early access, which explains why it's only 15% off today, at $25.49. I'm not a fan of these survivalist multiplayer titles, where all of your progress can be undone by some jerk that gets more kicks out of using a helicopter to terrorize new players. Yes, yes, hell is other people, I get it. Still, not one for me.

Dead Rising 3 - I've actually had the chance to see this game in action, though it was on Xbox One. Just kind of an over the top zombie survival game, that feels like its Saints Row meets Dead Island. It may be interesting to build some of the crazy weapons (there is one that uses a megaphone for AoE blast back, and other, less mature, options), but the preorder price tag of $37.49 is a little much.

Don't Starve - Because we're seeing a trend of games where you must survive some horrible situation. I've been told this one is quite good, which is why I picked it up during the winter sale when a glitch had it at $1. It's $3.74, today, and I can't say more because, well, Warframe.

The Witcher - Reviewed! Well, for the first one anyway, which is $1.99. The sequel is $3.99 today. I highly recommend both games, for the massive RPG with "choices that matter" (TM). Seriously, go watch my 20 minute video review of the first to see what I loved about it, and then pick it up at this all time low price.

XCOM Enemy Unknown - A solid game that I've been meaning to review for about a year now. The game does have issues (the camera is bad, it gets to be a bit repetative as you're grinding away upgrades, there is a distinct lack of level diversity, etc.) but even with them I can recommend the base game. Purchasing options come in several flavors, from the stand alone game ($7.49), to including The Bureau: Declassified ($8.49), to a pack that has the recent expansion ($16.49).

Farcry - I never really liked the original, and couldn't get more than 2 minutes in the second game, so I've not played this one (though a friend does owe me $9.99, which is the price of the deluxe edition, so maybe I'll give it a shot shortly). The base game is $7.49, and you can pick up the franchise for $14.79.  You can also get the stand alone sci fi blood dragon for $3.74.

Democracy 3 - That one would be $8.49 today. Sorry, I'm not a simulation gamer, so I haven't touched this one.

Sins of  a Solar Empire Rebellion - From what I hear, it's a pretty massive RTS. What I do know though, is that the $7.99 price tag is the lowest I've seen for it.

Divinity: Original Sin - Today's other early access game. This one comes in a variety of packs that range from $31.99 to $55.99. I will say that charging for a DLC pack for an early access game is an interesting marketing ploy though.


Flash Sales

 Dead Island Riptide - Note that the 75% discount applies to the whole franchise, so you can get both the original and this for $4.99 each. Or, go with the pack for $8.74. I can't really recommend it though, mostly because I've seen too many people I know start this game thinking it was going to be great, only for it to greatly disappoint them shortly thereafter.

DMC Devil May Cry - $12.49 today.

Hotline Miami - Reviewed! This is the lowest I've seen it at $1.49. If you don't have it, I'd say the retro rampage game where you turn killing into an interesting ballet is well worth it.

Mirror's Edge - A game I played years ago, but haven't gone back to review. It's an okay game centered around parkour and only a bit of hand to hand combat (you can disarm people and use their weapon, but that's not really the point). It's an interesting, and frankly quite different, game that you should probably play. $4.99 is the lowest I've ever seen it, so it's not a bad deal.

Community Choice

Because I'm actually on top of things, there aren't any right now!


***

Okay, that's it for now. I for one am trying to cut back on my spending over all / make more money, so I'm not sure how much I'll actually buy this sale. Frankly, I've been doing less during the last few sales anyways. Still, if you gave me unlimited funds, I'd a) love you, and b) pick up a handful of today's choices. Both Witcher games are a must (I'm actually reading the series now), as well as Hotline Miami. XCOM would be third, and after that I'd consider Don't Starve, Farcry (especially Blood Dragon), and maybe Mirror's Edge.

Alright, until tomorrow!

Warframe

My initial draft of a review for Warframe was written in mid-December, roughly a month after I began playing the game. I never got around to publishing that version for a couple of reasons, such as focusing on a few other reviews first, generally being busy with the holidays, and the fact that I never seemed to finish playing the game, adding a couple hundred hours to my total time. I made a second attempt a few months later, and saw plenty of changes with the game – two new warframes (characters), a couple dozen weapons, a massive UI overhaul that included 3D portraits and generally sent the feeling of production value in the game through the roof, brand new structures and research for the game’s clan housing, three events, two new game modes, two brand new tile sets (the environmental pieces that get put together to create a level), several new bosses, the introduction of an invasion process where one of the game’s factions can attempt to conquer the various levels, and more general gameplay balancing changes than I can count. This actually marks my third (final?) attempt, which is good because I’ve seen plenty of additional changes in the last few months, including another new character, another revamped boss, another dozen weapons, and the introduction of player controlled maps that can be fought over. Clearly this is a game that the devs are putting a lot of work in to, and it is obvious that no review I produce will remain accurate for long. That being said (i.e., disclaimer covered), I’d like to point out that the current version of the game is 13.5.3. (though much of this review was originally written and subsequently updated prior to that, because it's hard to stay up to date when there is a patch or 3 a week) and that even though Warframe is a game that violates soooo many of my rules (it’s multiplayer, technically in beta, and free to play), you should take a long look at this game, because you just might find that it satisfies a craving you never realized you had.

Plus, you can get a group of brightly colored characters together in what feels like a meeting of the Power Rangers.

Warframe is a Free-to-Play title currently in “Open Beta.” You play as one of several different classes of ninja in this third person shooter/parkour/RPG blend of gameplay that is surprisingly enthralling, particularly if you’re the type that tends to get sucked into experiences where you always have more to do to improve your character – one new item drop, a few more stat upgrades, etc. In this sense, it’s very much like a traditional MMO, and the time, if not the financial resources, required is roughly the same. Basically, view this paragraph as the second disclaimer, because if you have been sucked into MMOs before and regretted the hundreds of hours spent, then it may be a good idea to go try something else.

With the status of the game, you’ll find that there is not much in the way of explanation about what’s going on. All I know, from the single in game trailer that launches the tutorial, is that you’re some kind of space ninja, known as a Tenno. Apparently you’re a humanoid (maybe a regular human?) that suffered the effects of too much exposure to a certain part of space, which apparently made you the perfect candidate to put into a ninja suit known as a warframe. This was all done during some previous period of unrest and war, followed by cryosleep. Apparently now the solar system is in turmoil, with the clone army of the Grineer ruling much of it, though the corporate robotic centric Corpus aren't doing too badly either. Oh, and there is also that zerg/flood like mutant race that seems to bring all organic matter into its fold, the Infested. Unfortunately, that's about as much background as the game gives you. Sure, there is a little bit more about a previous technologically enhanced race called the Orokin, which may have created the Tenno 1000 years ago, and some weird space between space called the void. Basically, think of a combination of Mass Effect/Halo/Starcraft for the ancient race and crazy universe threatening life forms, seasoned with something like Dawn of War for the in between space areas, and garnished with a healthy dose of typical Sci-Fi universal power conflicts, in a farming centric game that reminds me of Phantasy Star Online (for the Dreamcast, Xbox, or Gamecube) or Diablo. I don’t know, the whole damn thing is too vague and tucked away in places like the official website or an in game codex. What really matters is you’re a space ninja!

Actually, the Ash warframe was original simply called Ninja, making him the most ninja like ninja in a game of ninjas. Here you can see him use his Bladestorm ability to teleport to and stab enemies.

Before I get into the specifics on space ninjas, I think it’d behoove you to know a bit more about the general game structure. Warframe can be played either solo or online, either open to the general public, people on your friends list, or people you invite, with up to four players in any game. The game itself consists of a variety of missions (more on that later) that can last anywhere from a few minutes to a theoretically infinite amount of time. Games are hosted by one of the four people playing, rather than having a dedicated server, so a good internet connection on everyone’s part is key. There is no open world or central hub, though there are chat channels that reach all players. There are clans and clan housing, which can be used for everything from a very basic trading system, to a place to practice your parkour skills, to a place to research new items for use during the rest of the game. Crafting is something you’ll be doing plenty of as you look for new and more powerful items, which does mean a fair amount of farming for some of the rarest materials. Spending money is beneficial, but not at all necessary, as this game is certainly not a pay-to-win type title. Alright, got all that? Good.

First up, ninjas! Or, in the common gaming use of the word, classes. Or, being this game specific, warframes. Warframes are, as you might have guess from the previous sentences which have all tripped up Microsoft Office’s grammatical checking tool, the various ninja like classes in the game. There are, as of this writing, 19 different classes. However, that number seems to be rising fairly quickly, as I have seen 3 brand new warframes added since I started playing, as well as two Prime warframes, which is a slight variation of the standard ones. Classes come in a variety of flavors, from high damage low health types, to more robust characters, to a few with healing abilities, to those focused on crowd control or other support type characters. Every class has 4 abilities, a health pool, a regenerating shield pool, an energy pool, armor, and stamina for stats, though the exact values for each, or the combination of what’s low and what’s high, depends on the warframe you’re currently playing.

I like the Rhino warframe beacause it's one of the earlier ones you can get, and it's a very hardy character, which is great when you're farming things by yourself.

Initially you’re allowed a choice between three different warframes: Excalibur, Mag, and Loki. Excalibur is considered a balanced warframe ideal for new players, with average health/shields/armor, with some decent damaging abilities, and with some crowd control, but no category where the character truly shines. His Slash and Dash ability is great if enemies are all lined up, while Blind stuns and disorients enemies for a limited time, and Radial Javelin is a pretty solid AoE move. Mag is a great class for crowd control and support, and has pretty high shields. Pull, which grabs nearby enemies in cone and pulls them towards the character, knocking them down and dealing damage in the process, is useful when getting overwhelmed or finding the point you’re defending occupied by too many bad guys, while Bullet Attractor makes it easier to hit a target, particularly behind cover, Shield Polarize does AoE damage to enemies with shields, while also topping off your allies. Loki is really a support character, and can be pretty nice to have with abilities like Decoy to distract enemies, Radial Disarm to force them to melee, Invisibility, and Switch Teleport to confuse enemies, he’s a nice warframe to have when you need some help that doesn’t require lots of damage very quickly.

After those three initial characters, of which you only pick one, you’ll either have to buy the remaining characters with an in game currency you can buy for real world money or trade other players for or find the three blueprints necessary for crafting the components (systems, chassis, and helmet) that drop off of bosses, are researched in a clan’s lab, or are the rewards for select missions, buy the actual character blueprint, and then build the character. The whole process can take a good amount of time (building a warframe, not the parts, alone takes 3 days), especially if the warframe you want can only be found on temporary bosses or drops form special alert missions (limited duration missions with a bonus, usually active for under an hour or so). Still, you might get lucky. In my case, the next three characters I wanted to make – Rhino (a high health and crowd controlling tank), Ember (a glass cannon character without the proper upgrades), and Trinity (a support class that can heal, reduce incoming damage, and restore energy) all dropped off of earlier bosses, so I was able to get them within a few weeks of starting the game. The characters my friends were going for are found much deeper into the game, so it’ll be a while before they could find what they want.

Vauban is perhaps the hardest warframe to obtain, since the blueprints only come up rarely as alert rewards. Yet he's a great support character. As seen here he's built to create a small stasis field around a defensive target, which is the perfect size for that grenade launcher he's holding.

The key with Warframe is to find a warframe that suits your style. If you want stealth, go with Loki, Ash, or Banshee. If you want high DPS, try Ember, Nova, Nyx, Hydroid, or Saryn. Tanking will be done with Rhino or Frost. Healing will come from Trinity, Oberon, or a certain Neckros’ ability. That barely covers half the warframes that are out there. Even then, you get into questions about how you build your character. Every warframe has 10 equipment slots and one aura slot that you can use to hold mods that customize your character. I’ll cover mods in more detail after I talk about weapons, since they impact both things, but they range from increases to your shields, health, armor (in other words, basic stats), to your abilities, to altering your ability efficiency, duration, power, and range, to miscellaneous bonuses that do things like make you take less damage while airborne or deal massive impact damage when you hit the ground. The first Rhino you see may have 1100 shields and near as much health, but he only uses his Iron Skin shield and Rhino Stop AoE stun/slow abilities because he’s opted to not include the damage dealing Rhino Charge or group damage buffing Roar, which could be a completely different build from every other Rhino you ever run into.

Just a “quick” extra bit here. I’ve managed to build and level all of the available warframes. Some I’ve even leveled multiple times as I’ve tweaked the character to my exact play style. While I could go into detail about each warframe, giving you the pros and cons and generally trying to be extremely thorough, with 19 characters to cover that would take up a bit too much space. Instead, I’ll just cover things a bit more generally here. I’ve found that different warframes are better in different scenarios, depending on mission and enemy type. For example, the Mag warframe is fantastic against shielded enemies, which limits her to Corpus, as they are the only ones with shields. Vauban, which has two excellent crowd control abilities provided enemies enter the area, is great on defense missions with melee only enemies, such as the Infested, while Frost with his (now sadly nerfed) area shield ability is a better choice the rest of the time. If you’re farming materials or want to do a long duration survival mission, it be best to bring a Nekros for his ability to reroll the drop table on enemies. Others, mostly DPS, quickly become useless at higher levels, where enemies’ health outstrips damaging abilities. Your best bet in this game are utility characters or ones that provide some type of crowd control. Rhino (AoE stun, high damage resistance), Loki (Invisibility, a Radial Disarm, and a Decoy), Nova (AoE ability that slows movement speed and increases damage taken by 200%, followed by an explosion on death that can chain), Valkyr (ability to go invincible for a long duration, though limited to melee in this state) and Nekros (the aforementioned ability to reroll the loot table) stand out in my mind as some of the best all-rounders, though in every case, I’m picking characters for ~2 of their 4 abilities. The closest I’ve gotten to a character with 4 acceptable abilities is Loki. However, your results may vary.

In this Loki build it's all about duration and speed. Invisibility will last 30.8 seconds (default 12) and Decoy will last 64.3 seconds (default 25), make stealth runs quite literal.

While warframes impact your survivability and unique ability loadout, your weapon choice is going to impact how well you actually kill things. Weapons break down into three categories: Primary, Secondary, and Melee. Everything functions pretty much as you expect it would, with primary weapons covering rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, flame throwers, lasers, rocket launchers, etc. Secondary weapons are all the smaller firearms and thrown weapons, from throwing knives to pocket shotguns and weapons that are strangely akin to modern day .357 magnums or .50 Desert Eagles. Since this is an RPG you’ll find several stats on each weapon, from predictable categories like fire rate or reload time, to nitty gritty damage types that cover puncture, impact, and slash damage. Those last three categories are all part of the recently revamped damage system for this game, known as Damage 2.0. It’s a bit complicated, having to deal with effective damage versus armor, shields, flesh, robotics, and infested, and includes things like elemental damage or elemental combinations (i.e. fire, ice, or blast (fire+ice)), but then again, most RPGs are a bit complicated when it comes to this sort of thing. The key is picking the right weapon for both your style and the enemies you’re fighting.

The weapons themselves are much like the warframes – there are certain ones you’ll want to skip altogether, while there are others that can be a blast to play with. Most of the generic rifles are pretty “meh,” but things like mini guns, rocket launchers, a couple of different grenade launcher weapons, jet powered hammers, thrown explosives, and bows are pretty fun. Again, it’s all a matter of finding something that suits your style, and with the number of options, there’s sure to be something there for you.

The Soma is one of my favorite, with it's rapid fire rate and 100 round clip. While it's pretty low damage by itself, properly moding it turns into a beast with a high crit chance and a huge critical multiplier.

Earlier I mentioned mods as a way of customizing your warframe. The same thing applies to weapons and sentinels (companion pets that deal damage and have unique abilities). Mods are incredibly powerful, and having the right ones upgraded the right ways can often make or break your warframe in terms of the damage you do or can survive. A maxed level warframe/weapon/sentinel has 30 power points (1 per level), though an item can be utilized to double that, and, in the case of a warframe or melee weapon, an aura mod or stance mod can add additional power points. Those power points matter because each mod, abilities included, has a cost associated with it. The most potent ability every warframe has requires 10 power minimum, and an additional power point every time you upgrade that mod (from rank 0 to rank 3 in this case), which is done by fusing mods together, choosing one to upgrade and others, including Fusion Cores designed specifically to do this, to be destroyed. The best mods seem to always have a high cost, such as ones that add a high multishot chance, which are particularly good given that no additional ammo is consumed. For example, the rifle multishot mod gives a 90% chance of firing double at max rank, but requires 15 points, half of a basic weapon’s max points. In this way power management becomes a very important part of the balance that goes into crafting the warframe and weapon you ultimately want. Polarities on mod slots can either halve the cost of a mod if the type of mod (offensive, defensive, tactical, or ability) matches the polarized slot, or increase it if it doesn’t, allowing you to fine tune things a bit more. These can be added/changed on max level items, but doing so resets the item's rank to 0, meaning you'll have to level it all over again.

By utilizing Formas, you can properly polarize an item and subsequently fit in more powerful mods.

Man, this is a big game. I’ve gone on for pages already and not even covered anything as basic as the mission types. There are several of those, ranging from exterminating all enemies on a ship/asteroid/base/etc. (Extermination), to capturing a VIP (Capture), to rescuing a target (Rescue), to securing information (Spy), to planting false information (Deception), to destroying a reactor (Sabotage), to defending multiple points as you take an object to that point (Mobile Defense),  to a king of the hill style game mode (Interception), to a mode where you escort a payload that depletes your shields to move (Hijack), to defending a stationary point from waves of enemies where you are only allowed to quit every 5 waves (think carefully there, about if you want the reward offered or you think you can survive another 5 waves of increasingly difficult enemies) which can be either endless or a set number (Defense/Endless Defense), to killing bosses (Assassination), to Survival, which is a mode where your goal is to live as long as possible, but that task is made a bit more difficult since the life support has been shut off and the only way to keep going is to find periodic drops or life support or obtain occasional drops off of enemies, all the while more and tougher enemies keep flooding you. That last one is probably my favorite, as it’s worth it to see if you can last as long as possible, given that every 5 minutes you gain a reward. Sometimes you’ll be in the middle of a mission, about to complete your objective, when things change and suddenly you’re given a second objective. At other times you'll gain a second object after completing first, which was quite funny when once I was told to resucue a target, who happened to be located in the next room over. There are enough options that it keeps things interesting, though there is a consensus among the people I play with that Capture really sucks, though I’m no fan of Spy/Deception (both have you carrying an item that limits you to your pistol), while Endless Defense or Survival are great for farming mods and materials.

Speaking of materials, and because it’s an excellent means of segueing to the next topic, this game involves a lot of crafting. The solar map in this game is a slightly different version of our solar system (same planets are there, plus a few more), and each planet drops four different crafting materials. Materials are common, uncommon, or rare, and you’ll generally only find yourself lacking the rare ones when it comes to making things. To make an item, you must first obtain that item’s blueprint, which can either be awarded for completing a mission or purchased using an in game (not real money) currency called credits. Then it’s simply a matter of going to your crafting screen, scrolling through the list of all the things you can make, confirming you can make the item you want (it will have a red X by it if you’re missing materials), and clicking build. You’ll have to confirm you’re willing to spend additional credits and wait for your new item to be ready, which ranges from1 minute for a group healing item to 3 days for a warframe. Crafting is simple, aside from needing a few specific rare mats, but takes enough time that you might be tempted to speed up the process by spending a bit of platinum.

Warframes take the longest to craft, though they aren't necessarily the hardest things to craft. A recently added rare material disappears from you inventory after a day, making any item that requires it a pain.

Usually with Free-to-Play games there is a catch. Sometimes it’s reduced access to the game, such as only being allowed two characters in an MMO, or leveling limits. Sometimes game become Pay-to-Win, and only those willing to shell out boatloads of real money will have access to the best items, which they usually use to devastate the competition. I’ve heard this game referred to in an entirely differently manner: Pay-to-Rush. There seems to be nothing in this game that you cannot acquire through time, dedication, and patience. However, waiting three days for the warframe you just started to build, after waiting 12 hours for each part to build, after farming the materials, after farming the blueprints, might make you a bit anxious to be done with everything, and that bit about spending platinum to rush completion could become awful tempting. Each account currently comes with 50 starter platinum, but anything beyond that must either be awarded from a competition, traded for, or purchased with real money. In addition to rushing the building of items, you can purchase materials, such as those rare materials you’ll really want, purchase complete weapons, purchase complete warframes, or get your hands on cosmetic goodies. Purchasing completed weapons and warframes comes with certain advantages, besides just saving time waiting. The first is that the items usually come upgraded already, meaning they’ll have more energy for mods to begin with, but not more than any other player could get. The second is that they’ll come with additional weapon or warframe slots in your inventory. This is where the game got me, as I’ve found there are just too many warframes and weapons I’d like to keep on hand, rather than training one, deleting it, and buying another. The default is 8 weapon slots and 2 warframe slots, but you can buy new warframe slots at 20 plat each, and 2 weapon slots at 12 plat for the pair. The smallest increment you can buy is 75 plat for $5, though sometimes you’ll be granted a discount through login rewards (1 reward every day, with better rewards the longer you’ve been on) that can go up to 75% off (in 7 months I’ve received several 20% discounts and 1 50% discount). It’s not at all necessary to pay to play this game, but at least a token amount unlocks some basic things you may want. Even if you do pay to get certain things faster, that doesn’t impact your mods, which are in many ways the heart of the game.

The final thing I’d like to touch on is the mastery system. Mastery is a form of XP, which, as your level increases, grants you access to special weapons and blueprints. The thing about mastery is that you don’t level it up by simply killing enemies. Rather, you level it up by leveling up your items. Every time you level up a warframe you gain 200 master points (so 6000 for a full warframe), while you gain 100 points per weapon level (or 3000 points when maxed out). That means to gain the levels that matter, you’ll constantly be making new items and giving them a try. I suppose this is all an elaborate attempt to convince you to spend more money. It’s kind of a cool system, since it does force you to try new items out, rather than simply going for the godmode rifle and being done with it.

When you're ready to rank up you must pass some sort of test. They range from using stealth to eliminte a number of enemies (seen here), to parkour challenges, to weapon challenges. Failure locks you out of the test for 24 hours.

Nearly 6 full pages in and I've only covered the game without criticizing its content. In general I've found the game very addicting (563 hours so far), but a lot of that might be my tendency to strive for completion, and the inability to ever really accomplish that in a game like this. It's the same reason I've invested so much time in MMOs in the past, or a particular game that fits this one's repetitive-yet-always-more-to-do feel: Phantasy Star Online. Running levels over and over again can get boring, and there is no question that there is a farming component to this game that makes it a huge time sink. The addition of new title sets (i.e. maps) and game modes help, but it doesn't carry you to 500 hours alone. There is the issue of this being a terrible game to try in most single player scenarios, from some of the game modes punishing you, such as any of the ones the force you to pick up a datamass (Spy, Deception, and Moblie Defense), because running a level of endlessly spawning enemies with just your pistol and a distinct lack of ammo is not a good idea. There are certainly issues with some warframes feeling useless, but that's part of the ongoing balancing challenge. Likewise, many weapons seem like something you only keep long enough to contribute to your mastery, then you junk them for the slots. The game also has it's share of bugs, some of which you can write off due it's beta status, but include things that I've seen fixed in one patch and broken in a following, and another that wiped certain achievements, including two where you had to perform an action like hacking a console or reviving another player 1000 times. I've spawned outside of maps, found holes in maps where you fall for eternity, and have had the game freeze or crash in plenty of cases. There is one bug during invasion missions, where you complete it by eliminating all of a specific faction, where not enough enemies spawn (eventually they will, but it takes another minute or two of sitting around at the exit to kick it in). The codex, which provides you information about vulnerabilities and mod drops, requires you to scan enemies, which wasn't too bad when I started, but now requires an equal number of scans for an enemy's rare counterpart. Scanning 30 rare versions of a rare spawn is kind of a dumb idea. One of the 3 special bosses that stalk you after you complete certain prerequisites gives no hint about who they have targeted when they spawn in, meaning you can't be sure if they are still targeting you until you go run 5 more invasion missions and support their enemy. Bonus objects, which award some extra XP if you complete the randomly selected one you got for that mission, all to often seem to land on something impossible to complete in that mission type, such as getting stealth kills in Survival or Defense missions, or hacking a console during an invasion. The parkour can be buggy, such as your character refusing to run up a wall, or running up a wall so hard you completely jump over the air vent you were supposed to enter. There is no option to kick someone from a game, which would be really nice when someone is AFK and you're waiting at a door that requires 2 people to unlock. So yes, the game has plenty of issues, but myself, being the completionist I am, am willing to give Warframe the benefit of the doubt as it makes it's way through the development process.

The game is a certain kind of beautiful though, particularly the newer, much more open environments.

Okay, so that’s Warframe as it stands at the writing/publishing of this review. So far I’ve had a pretty good time in the game, helped by the fact that I’ve had some friends playing, though they only lasted a month or so. Yes, it gets repetitive and very grindy, but in a way I oddly enjoy, perhaps because new items add just enough freshness to keep things going. Since it is Free-to-Play, I can’t really put a price on it, but only recommend you at least give it a try. If it turns out you’d rather not play it, you’re really out nothing more than a bit of your time, because it is pretty fun once you’ve found some good gear, mods, and warframes that compliment your natural playstyle. Also, space ninjas – 8 out of 10.

So, the final breakdown:
Score: 8/10
Suggested Price: Free! (But expect to kick in $5-10 minimum if you really get into the game)




*****

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