Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Game: Portal

Man, what a surprise this game was!

This is a great puzzle game, which you should also play multiple times (once with the commentaries).

You're a woman who wakes up in a cell inside a lab and presented with a portal that lets you walk out of the room and into another. With this gun you must solve lots of puzzles which get gradually harder.

Along the way, GlaDOS, an AI with a computerized female voice, guides you. GlaDOS is incredibly funny, and gets even funnier at the end. The whole game is actually hilarious, in a good way! The scripts and characters are wonderfully designed. The game is minimalistic in nature and all these little extras are just the topping of the... cake.

GlaDOS will lie to you, cute turrets who'll say "Where are you?" everytime you go into hiding, an amazing weighted companion cube, and cake. This game is full of little surprises. You just have to play it and experience its awesomeness!

"Cake, and grief counseling will be available at the conclusion of the test.
Thank you for helping us help you help us all."

Pros:
  • FPS puzzle game, with portals!
  • Great ending song.
  • Hilarious humor.
  • Unforgettable characters.
  • Minimalistic and focused nature, without ever becoming boring.
  • Where's my sequel?

Cons:
  • A tad short.

Now only Company Of Heroes: Opposing Fronts and Quake Wars remain on my list of games-to-play. But that's for later.

Game: Half Life 2 - Episode 2

Wow.

Half Life blew me away, again. I finished the game in one big long marathon session. Twice. The second time with the developers' commentary enabled - which I still love.

I'm not going to spoil anything, but I found the ending completely unexpected and fantastic. Also, Merle Dandridge's voice acting (Alyx) was incredible. When the credits rolled over my screen I just wanted to play Ep. 3 immediately. The game itself was great, with the return of old friends, and the introduction of new friends - and new enemies.

Just like episode 1, the game provides you with a companion (either Alyx or a Vortigaunt) most of the time.

Maybe I'll play Half Life 2, Ep. 1 and Ep. 2 in one big sitting soon...

Pros:
  • Story is great!
  • Characters to love.
  • Great voice acting.
  • Graphics are enhanced and still look amazing.
  • Cinematic physics - so cool.
  • Longer than the first episode.
  • Great sound track.

Cons:
  • Err, none?
  • Okay, maybe still too short ;).
  • Also: no new real weapons, I would love to handle a sniper myself (instead of the crossbow).
  • You might lose some sleep.

Game: The Settlers: Rise Of An Empire

Another quick review for this one. Not much to say about this game, I mean: it's Settlers. It's back, and it's 3d and cuter than ever :).

Pros:
  • Settler's back!
  • Game looks very nice.
  • Long and entertaining missions.
  • Happy atmosphere.

Cons:
  • Few bugs still around.
  • Needs quite a bit of system resources.

Game: Medal Of Honor: Airborne

I've been playing some games last weekend, Medal Of Honor: Airborne being one of them.

Basically it's just another WW2 FPS with nothing special. The drops at the beginning of each mission are pretty nice, and the levels aren't badly designed either.

The graphics look nice but were somewhat sluggish, how come this game needs so much resources when Half Life runs so nice in all its glory without a peep?

So quickly: pros:
  • The WW2 hype is almost over, so this game is nice if you just can't get enough WW-action.
  • Graphics look fine.
  • Level design.
  • Airborne-theme.
  • Non-linear misions.

Cons:
  • High system requirements.
  • Your weapons are difficult to handle, while the AI has no problems hitting you.
  • Gets boring quickly.
  • Not a real story.