Neue Rezensionen von noibn

I thought I had already recommended this one... guess not. Anyways, I already played this game a few years ago, but bought it again on Steam when it came out because, well, it's just that good. For fans of old-school 2D action-platformers, this game is for you. It has frantic shooting elements similar to action games like Contra and Gunstar Heroes, but it's done in the exploratory 'Metroidvania' style. The gameplay is spot-on fantastic, and it's full of cool characters, maps, puzzles and secrets. It's also a tough challenge, especially if you want to go for the secret "true" ending. For fans of the genre, this game is a must-have. Pick it up, especially on sale. Note: I highly recommend using a gamepad. Think twice if you don't have one.

Dust is a 2D action-exploration game in the famed 'Metroidvania' style, with some pretty cool elements to it. It actually reminds me a lot of "Muramasa: The Demon Blade" (if you've ever played or heard of that). As with Muramasa, the first thing you will notice are the stunning hand-drawn visuals and animation. The look of the characters and backgrounds during gameplay are quite beautiful. Additionally, the characters all have detailed animated portraits that appear on-screen during conversations. It just looks fantastic all around. The characters themselves are all pretty good, assuming you can stomach a cast full of anthropomorphic animals (and a seriously cutesy flying bunny-type-thing sidekick). The voice acting and plot are generally good as well. Gameplay consists of 2D sword combat with light platforming elements. The combat also has a few cool twists - your sidekick has projectile attacks that can be combined with a special sword technique, resulting in some spectacular combos and on-screen fireworks. It all looks and feels really cool once you get the hang of it. Eventually you will become just ridiculously powerful, making the game very easy, but it's still good fun. As with similar games, you progress through various areas that unlock as you gain additional abilities. There's also a ton of extra stuff to do (such as side-quests), if you are into 100%-ing games or completing achievements. If you are a fan of this type of game, this one is well worth your time. Highly recommended. A-

Technical notes: I highly recommend using an Xbox360 controller for this one. Although I haven't actually tried the keyboard controls, I just can't imagine them working well enough to easily pull off the actions required by the game. Plus, these types of games just control better with gamepads anyways. Anyways, just be aware of this... you've officially been warned.

PA'sOtRSPoD4 is the conclusion to the Penny Arcade 16-bit throwback RPG saga. It maintains the same look and gameplay as the previous game in the series. As with the previous game, the battle mechanics are unique and overall decent, plus there are tons of options and strategies to play around with. This time, Instead of having "pins" with special abilities that can be assigned to characters, you now have a zoo's worth of cutesy and/or weird Pokemon-esque monsters to do your bidding. Each monster has its own set of abilities and attacks, so you have no shortage of options to find a play-style and team combination that works for you. The main characters from the previous game all return and the story continues in the same strange and often amusing fashion. All is fine on that front, and the saga comes to a satisfying conclusion. Overall, the game seemed a bit easier than the previous one, but you have the option to change the difficulty at any time, in case you want a steeper challenge or can't get by a particular battle. In summary, this is a worthy conclusion to the series, assuming you have played and enjoyed the previous games. If neither of those things is the case, then I'm not sure I would recommend it unless you are a mega-huge fan of old-school RPGs and Penny Arcade. It's a passable game, but only has niche appeal. For existing fans of the series, I'd give it a solid B or B+, and for non-fans who are into 16-bit RPGs maybe a C or B-.

Gun Monkeys is a multiplayer-only 2D platform-deathmatch game. The premise is really simple - you are a monkey with a gun, locked in a small arena with another player, who (let's all act surprised now)... is also a monkey with a gun! Your goal is to collect "power cubes" that randomly drop into the level and deposit them into your home base. The catch is that the power level in both player's home bases is always going down, so you have to survive long enough and collect enough power (while simultaneously avoiding the attacks of the other monkey) so that the other player runs out of power before you do. It's about as simple as can be. And that's the problem. While the game has the potential to be fun, there's just not all that much to it. There are a few different weapons that spice things up, and the levels are procedurally generated (so the arena is slightly different every time), but essentially it's just the same thing over and over again. While novel in short bursts (especially if you have a friend to play with), the whole experience can get boring pretty quickly. There are also quite a few bugs I came across in my short time playing (though the developers are actively working on fixing things, so that's nice). The problem for me is that there just isn't enough meat on the bones here to justify a $10 price tag. For half that amount, I'd say go ahead and take a chance... but for full price, you're probably better off passing on it, at least for now.

While the bullet points on the box may say this is an adventure game, it really only is in the most technical sense. The puzzles (such that they are) are so incredibly basic, an untrained monkey could probably stumble their way through them. Trust me, you won't ever get stuck in this game. That said, analyzing the "gameplay" here is completely missing the point. The Walking Dead is fundamentally an interactive story built around your choices as a player (a modern day "choose your own adventure", if you will). And believe me, some of those choices can be brutal.

The game is divided into 5 episodes, which each last around and hour or two each. So all told, there is a pretty decent amount of content here. The game is played from the viewpoint of Lee Everett, an escaped convict thrust headfirst into a Zombie Apocalypse, who crosses paths with a little girl named Clementine. On the story front, I will say no more, as the game is best left to just experience for yourself. Just trust me when I say it's a pretty amazing ride from start to finish with lots of twists and turns... the phrase "emotional rollercoaster" comes to mind. As far as gameplay, as mentioned previously, there are some light "puzzle" elements to it (pick up an item, use it somewhere else, etc), but nothing mind-blowing. Occasionally, you will also have to play through an action sequence consisting of quick-time events. However, the thing you will mainly be doing throughout your time with the game is just talking to people and selecting dialogue options. That's the meat of the experience. And it's the choices you make during these sequences that make the game brilliant. Characters remember the actions you take and what you say to them, and it changes the way events unfold later on, be it in the same episode, or 10 hours down the line. Some characters may live or die, or events may transpire in completely different ways, depending on your choices. It's a pretty complex system, and really allows you to make your playthrough your own. Good stuff.

If I have to level one small complaint at this game, it's that they could have potentially done more as far as the ramifications of your choices. Don't get me wrong, what it does do is great, but there is some missed potential. For example, even though you may make a choice that affects someone's fate, oftentimes is just works out that no matter what you did at that juncture essentially didn't matter because you'll eventually get to the same point later on just by a different way. In other words, there are no major branching paths in the story. The storyline is the storyline, and you will hit all the pre-planned major beats, no matter what choices you make. You will just have a slight variation in the way you got there (and with who). But really, that is a minor complaint... more just something that I see potential for improving on in the future.

Additionally, there is one DLC episode available for this game, titled "400 Days". This chapter features 5 all new protagonists, and lasts for approximately 1-2 hours, as with the previous episodes. Gameplay is divided into 15-20 minute segments for each character, though there are some small bits of crossover between the vignettes. The new characters are generally pretty interesting (well, as interesting as you can get within such a small time frame), and the gameplay is pretty much identical to the main game. Basically, it's just more of The Walking Dead, which serves as a bridge between season 1 and 2. Overall, I thought it was a fairly good DLC, though not particularly mind-blowing. So, depending on how much you enjoy the base game, you'll have to decide whether the asking price is fair for another hour or so of content. I think it's maybe a little high at $5, but have no regrets in buying it.

In summary, the Walking Dead is one of the best games of its kind and if you are interested in story-based games with great writing, acting and direction, don't even hesitate. Pick this up ASAP and keep that little girl safe. A+

Sol Survivor is a tower defense game with some interesting twists. The general gameplay is fairly standard - aliens walk down a path trying to steal your stuff, place towers to stop them, yadda yadda yadda... What makes this game unique are the various "commanders" from which you can select before starting a level. Each commander has their own set of turrets (which are placed once and work autonomously) and special abilities (powers that can be used actively by you during the match). This results in a huge variety of playstyles that are available, which encourages experimentation and replay (in order to find the best combination for certain maps, or whatever suits you best). The game has multiple difficulty levels as well as leaderboards, so if you are into competing with your friends for high scores, this is a good game for that. It also features a co-op mode, so you can play with a friend if you prefer working together (though I haven't tried that mode so can't speak to how it is). On the down side, the game is what I would call somewhat "rough around the edges". I mean, it's not bad or anything, just the presentation, interface and controls could be a bit better. But considering the fact that the game was built by a miniscule team of people, it's quite easy to forgive such minor inconveniences. All in all, this is a decent tower defense title with some unique aspects that is worth the asking price if you are a fan of the genre. B-

Guns, more guns, and yet more guns... if you have an insatiable need to shoot things and sift through hundreds upon hundreds of dropped items, in the hopes of finding that one rare gun that's marginally better than the one you already have, then this is most definitely the game for you. Oh, and it's pretty dang fun too.

Borderlands is a sci-fi loot-fest shooter set on an alien planet. You play as one of 4 "Vault Hunters", on a quest to find and open a mythical vault that may or may not hold untold riches. Each of the characters has one unique special skill, plus a set of strengths and weaknesses (better in one weapon type versus another, etc). Unfortunately you can only pick one character at the start of the game, so if you want to try different characters out, you'll have to start multiple games. That kind of sucks, but it's not too big of a deal ultimately, and adds incentive for multiple playthroughs (if you are into making that kind of time investment). The shooting mechanics are pretty good and it's cool how many different types of weapons there are. It allows for tons of experimentation and variety. Gameplay basically consists of discovering a new area, collecting a bunch of quests that need to be fulfilled (though many are optional), completing said quests, getting more loot, leveling up, and proceeding to the next area. Rinse and repeat. Even though that might sound slightly boring on the surface, I assure you it is not. The game mostly stays fresh throughout and the writing is pretty good, bordering on laugh-out-loud funny at times (the game doesn't take itself too seriously). And oh yeah, there's a cute little robot named Claptrap... 'nuff said.

There are a number of DLC campaign add-ons available as well. I believe all of them come with the GOTY edition, but if you don't have that version, I'd say it's worth picking them up after completing the main story (except maybe the Underdome DLC, which I haven't played), assuming you enjoyed the base game.

In summary, if you like games with a cool sense of humor that involve first-person shooting things and/or lots of loot drops and weaponry, pick this up. It has a great style, good mechanics, and enough content to keep you occupied for many, many hours. A-

Before I begin, let's get something out of the way - yes, you have probably heard that the game's designer, Phil Fish, is some kind of egotistical crazy ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ (or something along those lines)... Regardless of whether that is true or not, don't let it deter you from playing this game. All that extraneous stuff aside, FEZ, as a game, is the real deal.

You play as Gomez, a little dude who lives a nice peaceful life in a 2D world. That is, until about 5 minutes into the game, when he is given a gift - the titular fez - which opens up a whole new world to him. Literally. The fez allows Gomez to rotate his 2D world at any time, to reveal the previously unseen 3rd dimension. For example, there may be a platform that is too far away to jump to, but rotating the world 90 degrees shifts the perspective such that the platform appears to be much closer. You can then jump to it and rotate the world back to where it was, or in any of the other 3 directions. This is the most basic example of the gameplay, but it's also just the beginning. The sheer number of cool ways this one simple mechanic alone has an effect on puzzle-solving and exploration is amazing. It's just really fun to explore and figure things out. Your main goal is to collect a series of special cubes, which are scattered throughout a pretty large world. Some cubes are found intact, but others require collecting smaller cube bits first to create a full cube. That's really all there is to the game. But just saying it that way is a disservice. The puzzles you have to solve to find all these cubes range from simple to - forgive the pun - truly outside-the-box. This is because there is more going on in FEZ than appears on the surface. A major part of solving the game's mysteries involves figuring out various codes outside of the game itself (such as deciphering the number system and alphabet, scanning QR codes, and more). So not only will you need a controller to play this game, but a pad and pencil as well. The game can be completed without finding all of the cubes (and actually has to be the first time through), but in order to get the most out of it, a little bit of extra effort is needed... though I suppose you could also just look up the solutions to some of the more effort-intensive puzzles online. I wouldn't blame you. There were only a few things that brought the game down for me a little bit. The big one was the confusing and mostly ineffectual map. The game world is huge, like really huge, and is connected by a crazy number of doors. It was very difficult to keep track of where you are and how to get somewhere else. And while there is a sort of quick-travel system available, it wasn't really implemented well. The map screen is also overly complicated and buggy. Finally, some of the puzzles I felt stepped a little too far in terms of either their obscure solutions or plain tediousness. But aside from these few minor missteps, FEZ is very much worth playing, especially if you are into platformers, retro-looking graphics, solving codes/mysteries, or games that involve collecting things. Oh, and the music is pretty amazing too. All in all, FEZ is a pretty outstanding game, and well-deserving of all the accolades it has received.

Final Grade: A-

Technical notes: You are definitely going to want to play this game using an Xbox360 controller, or equivalent. It was designed to be played with a controller and I can't even imagine how it could even work well otherwise. Some puzzles even require having a controller to figure out. So, just something to keep in mind.

Early on in Antichamber, you will come across a room comprised of large floating letters that state "W T F ?". This pretty much sums up the experience... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's quite refreshing, actually. But let's start at the beginning - what is Antichamber exactly? It's not easy to explain. It's a puzzle game, but the puzzles you solve are not exactly of a traditional nature. The game is set in some sort of nondescript facility, comprised of interconnected hallways and chambers. Visually, the world is quite simple, made up mostly of bright white walls with a spattering of color here and there. You explore in first person and must figure out how to solve each room in order to progress. And that's where it gets even harder to explain. The solutions are far from clear-cut and there is no one main mechanic that is used from start to finish. You just have to think, experiment, and explore. Eventually you will find a tool that is able to manipulate small cubes that are scattered throughout the facility. But unlike in a puzzle game like Portal for instance, the cube "gun" is not the only component of the puzzle-solving experience (though it does become so later on). Rather, at first, you will likely just spend a couple of hours exploring, getting lost, and trying to figure out just what the hell is going on. It takes a little while to adapt to how the game wants you to think, but once you have learned how to solve certain problems, it opens up more of the world for you to explore. I know this explanation sounds very vague, but it's almost impossible not to be when trying to explain this game - it is very... unconventional. That said, I thought the game was really cool, though I can definitely see that it would not be for everyone. If you like games that have a clear goal, explain their mechanics well, and don't require much thinking, then this is most definitely not the game for you. If, on the other hand, you are curious to try something that is vague, never provides anything in the way of explanation, and has some truly "out-there" puzzles to solve, you just might find Antichamber to be a breath of fresh air. All in all, this is a worthy experiment in the puzzle game genre, and unlike anything else I have ever played. Check it out if you think it may interest you - just don't hold me responsible for how much hair you end up pulling out of your head in frustration.

Final Grade: B+

Although it looks like a platformer, The Swapper is really a puzzle game at its core. And a fantastic one at that. You play as a survivor in a desolate space station, trying to find a way to escape. In order to do so, you have to solve a series of puzzles that involve creating clones of yourself. Using the "Swapper" device, you can create up to 4 clones, each of which duplicates your exact movements. Additionally, you can swap your consciousness to any clones that's within your line of sight (i.e. change the clone controlled by the player). But of course, there's a catch - light. Some rooms contain blue and/or red light. In blue light, clones can't be created, but can be swapped into; and in red light, clones can be created, but can't be swapped into. Put all of these elements together, and it's a mighty fine recipe for some mind-bending puzzles. The game starts off simple enough in order to introduce all of the mechanics, but once you've been taught what you need to know, get ready for a challenge. The level/puzzle design is nothing short of brilliant. You will get stuck at some point, but eventually the solution will click and you'll feel a real sense of accomplishment. There is nothing unfair about any of the challenges you'll face. It just comes down to you, patience, and working out the solutions. One cannot ask more from a puzzle game. Gameplay aside, The Swapper also excels in its presentation. The visuals (comprised of clay models) and music (which is minimal but great) combine to create an amazing atmosphere. Think Metroid by way of Alien, except there are no enemies to fight - only puzzles to solve. If you enjoy cerebral puzzle games, The Swapper is a no-brainer. This is absolutely one of the best games of its kind I have ever played, and that it was created by such a small team is extremely impressive. Check it out.

Final grade: A-

Technical notes: I played the game right at launch, and apparently there were some issues for a few people running the game. I encountered no problems myself, but you may just want to take a look at the discussion forum first to see if your PC could be affected (for instance I think Intel graphics don't currently work with it). Secondly, in terms of control method, while this may look like the type of game that would benefit from using a controller, I don't think that is the case. From my experience, mouse and keyboard is the most efficient, ideal control method. And finally, as far as gameplay, one thing to keep in mind is that the final 124 Orb door is a "point of no return". Once you enter the final area, your saved game will not be able to continue where you left off - only restart from scratch. So if you wish to explore the station to find any secrets or collect all the logs, make sure to to do so before opening the final door.