Someone else shared this on a forum, and it is just too awesome/sad to not pass along.

Awesome because it is a really early look at a game that most everyone remembers fondly, sad because we see what happens when Microsoft gets your hands on your product.

Currently Playing

Currently Playing
Half-Life 2
Steam Mac/PC

Half-Life 2 celebrated the move to Mac with a decent discount, but honestly, I was buying this discount or not.  I am about 5 hours in, having just started the Ravenholm part.  I actually just got the Shotgun.

So far, the game is amazing.  Seriously, I am really, really enjoying it.  The environments are awesome, in my opinion, although at times a little lifeless.  The NPCs are very well done.  The weapons are fun, and I like that so far there are only 5.  The story is well told.  Also, the enemies are really cool.  I think the way the headcrabs and Civil Protection. React when getting shot and dying adds a lot.

So far, only one crash on my computer.  I am pretty excited to play more.  Currently, my only gripe is that a lot of the achievements aren't necessarily hard, they just require multiple playthroughs, since some require a choice and are mutually exclusive, while others you really have to know what you are looking for.  Nonetheless, I am currently playing on easy, but will go back for a normal, and possible hard, playthrough.

Currently Playing

Currently Playing
Madballs in...Babo:Invasion
PC/Mac/Xbox 360


I have been playing this game pretty regularly, after picking it up on sale, lured by the claims of strong multiplayer.  I have played through the first half of the campaign (it is divided into two factions) and found it to be passable, but nothing to write home about.  The AI is pretty boring, although the variety of weapons and character classes mean you can approach it however you want.

The multiplayer is a lot better, but still hampered by some major problems.  The first is the lack of support.  It is almost impossible to find, I kid you not, more than 12 people online at any one time.  If that server is in Europe, your ping will probably be too high to play, and you are out of luck.

The co-op, which was another selling point for me, is equally disappointing.  The only mode is to play through the ENTIRE CAMPAIGN in one sitting, ALWAYS STARTING FROM THE BEGINNING.  Why? This makes no sense, since the first two or three levels hardly have enemies.  It really is no fun rolling through a level with your friends without anyone to kill.  The only level I really want co-op for is the last one, but I don't want to have to spend a few hours clearing the game to play it.

Other issues include terrible design and balance choices.  For example, the speedy characters have so little health that they take one or two hits from ANY weapon.  The heavy characters can take damage all day, but struggle to roll up even the tiniest hill.  Also, the special abilities are not balanced at all.  They range from instant one hit kill to completely worthless.

Having said all that, the game does have some major redeeming qualities.  The persistent unlocking/level up system is nicely done.  It is shared across multiplayer and single player, so really you should spend some time unlocking in single player before jumping online, or you can just jump online at any time and play around.  Also, some of the unlocks appear for using specific abilities, some for using a specific character, some just for playing the game.   This system works well, the only problem is that you do need to spend time unlocking things before having a chance at playing online.  This is a small problem, as you can unlock most of what you need in about an hour.

My only hope is that I can continue playing this online, since I am enjoying the multiplayer.  I forgot to mention that the 4 player co-op survival is really fun, at least the two games I have played.  Maybe I can convince my brother to download the 360 version, as I am almost positive it supports cross platform multiplayer.

If you play this game, let me know your Steam ID or whatever other name you are registered under, I want to play with you.

Currently Playing

Torchlight
PC/Mac
View My Steam Achievements



Ah, Torchlight.  This game has been generating quite a buzz in the gaming community recently, or at least I feel I have been hearing a lot about it.  I picked it up on sale recently, as I do most of my Steam purchases.

First of all, a confession:  I never played, even once, Diablo or Diablo II. So I have little nostalgia for either game, or even really this genre.  The closest I have come to a real dungeon crawler loot fest is Dark Cloud for the PS2.  I enjoyed that game, but never really got into the deep grinding that was required just to clear the game, let along max characters and weapons.

But Torchlight was highly recommended, and it advertised a netbook mode settings, so I knew my computer would run it.  Needless to say, I have been devoting some serious time to this game as of late.

I have started off playing as a Vanquisher, which is basically a ranger.  There are only three classes, Melee, Caster, and Ranger, as it is.  There is some paper-thin story, that somehow I believe is unique to each class, but it really is no matter.  Fortunately, while the story is thin, it isn't annoying, awkward or childish.  It is just simple.  Personally, I think that is fine, the story is there but it never bothers you.

The gameplay is very similar to Diablo, you click enemies to attack them, but Torchlight allows for the holding down of the attack button to spare mice.  So far the gameplay is pretty good, I find the killing satisfying, the character movement fluid, and the spells and special abilities easy enough to access.  My only gripes here would be minor difficulties getting the running correct over elevation changes, and the way nothing is explained to you.  These game has almost no tutorial, which is fine, but is also lacking in in-game manuals.  To review the manual, you must exit out of the game, and then open the pdf file.

So far the loot gathering is fun as well, but again I don't always understand what I am looking for in the items.  They may be standard, have magical enchantments (like crit rate +2%), have slots for ember (which in turn gives stat boosts or added effects, like life drain), or they may be part of a set, (the more matching pieces, the bigger the bonuses) or they may be unique (haven't grabbed any yet).  My problem is that I do not yet fully understand the ember crafting system, whereby attaching gems is permanent, but later you can either destroy the item and get the gem, or destroy the gem and get the item.  So I am unsure if I should attach gems, and when I find a better item just destroy my current one to retain the rare ember, or if I should only use the lowest level gems, so that I could hopefully save better gems for end game items.

Anyone else playing this?  Let me know if you have any thoughts.

Currently Playing

And Yet It Moves
PC/Mac
View My Steam Achievements

I picked up this in the Steam Indie Games Pack that was available deeply discounted on the Mac steam release.  All the games are the play anywhere type, where you can purchase them once, and then play on PC or Mac.  I am pretty sure the entire pack was $20, although the total value was listed at $60.  It had World of Goo, however, which I have been dying to play for a long time, and Machinarium, which I had seen a quick look of on GiantBomb, and Vinny was pretty adamant that it was a good game, so I figured why not, I'll take the other three as freebies.

AYIM is so far, the most disappointing of all the games.  Although the art style is, quite simply, amazing, the rest of the game is so far lackluster.  The mechanics are cool, but there is a ton of trial and error, and the level design is uninspired.  There is a lot of guessing where to turn next (pun intended), although I will concede the checkpoints are very cool, and do provide some direction.

My real problem, at least early on, is that there are times when it makes more sense to reset the level because you hit a checkpoint, only to find out you need to go back four checkpoints earlier to grab a rock or bat you need for the next challenge.  In a game where moving through the level is the challenge, backtracking is an exercise in frustration.

I'll probably continue playing, however, as I only put in about a half hour, and the art is really something, plus there are steam achievements, but this is my early feedback.