Recent reviews by Parker Free

Good luck getting this game to run.

Honestly? I've played Civ 5 for hours on end, but I still prefer Civ 4. There, I said it.

Still a good game though!

So. I don't consider this to be a "game". It's interactive to an extent, as you can manipulate it's time (spin speed) and play melodies via the keyboard (I admit to playing Christmas tumes. But that doesn't equal game to me. HOWEVER.

I really like it! I used a suggestion found on the forums to turn it into my screensaver, and sitting down to my computer to see the changes that have taken place while I was away are cool. I like the little thoughts my mountain has from time to time. I am a dork, but I enjoy comparing the items that litter it's slopes to my own life....OK, that's really embarrassing! But true.

Honestly? I recommend this to everyone to check out, given it's only a buck. I especially recommend as a gift for your mom or girlfriend, it'll earn you points in "sensitivity". I'm a woman, I know these things.

My first review of a game here on Steam, woohoo!
Recommending Banished is a no-brainer, as anyone who likes City Builders, survival-type games, and sims should have fun playing. It's not the "zombie-horde out to eat your brains" kind of survival game though. Think more along the lines of "why are all my citizens starving with all this food around?" kind of thing. Hint: there is always a reason for the apparent mass-suicide, but you gotta figure it out based on your tiny little people's ways. I think the phrase "easy to learn, hard to master" fits this game well. OK, enough cliches.

One unexpected bonus is the soundtrack. It's really simple, lovely, and relaxing. I totally admit to turning on the game and letting a town fend for itself while I use the music to fall asleep to. Yep, I'm a user that way. Seriously though, if you are easily lulled by relaxing music, turn the soundtrack down and the effects up or you'll find yourself sitting in front of your computer screen in a stupor. It's not that the gameplay is boring though! It's a bit addictive, actually, and I always fall prey to the one-more-turn syndrome.

There are quite a few mods that add new flavors to the original game. I've been playing around with lots of fun additions to the vanilla game, and aside from the occasional graphical hiccup, having a great time. Most recently, I've been concentrating on seeing how far I can get in the original, unmodded state. Fun times.