Current Gaming
Lately, I've been playing computer (PC) games:
Rift is a standard fantasy MMORPG that's recently gone free-to-play. It's a pleasant, relaxing experience -- unlike the popular trend of "action-based" MMORPGs -- and I have friends who play. The game has many options for play style, although I wish it had better options for character customization. Two barely differentiated factions, each with three bland racial choices isn't even really trying. Nevertheless, the game play is good enough and the cash store is neither aggressive nor intrusive, so I'll keep playing for a while.
Endless Space is a science-fiction, turn-based strategy game. Build an interstellar civilization, fending off competition and (maybe) gaining allies. As with all such games, it's a development of Master of Orion 2. I want to like this game, but the learning curve is a bit steep...largely because the game isn't well documented (in game or out). The factions seem neat, and support a good variety of play styles (even if they aren't as well designed as one might like), and game play is interesting and entertaining. But the game does have some odd design choices, such as using rendered animations for space battles in which the player has very little interaction (so you watch a slow-moving movie based on your initial tactical choices -- you'll often choose to skip these animations). The game is still sorting out a big revision, so maybe some of the oddities and oversights will soon be improved.
Puzzle Quest 2 is a match-three puzzle game -- you get a grid filled with geometric shapes, you move shapes to align three matching shapes to score points (and adjust the grid contents). The Puzzle Quest games use the match-three game as the core of a fantasy RPG. Players choose one of four classes, and gain class-specific abilities as they level up. For example, you might be able to force your opponent to lose a few turns, transform some puzzle shapes into others, or even directly harm your (virtual) opponent. I enjoy the core puzzle game, and I like the class-based abilities (and monster-based abilities), but the RPG story is really dull. Still, after playing so many MMORPGs, it's refreshing to play a game where the appeal lies with the actual play. :)
These three games are keeping me busy right now, but two others will soon be fighting for my attention. Civilization V has just released a big expansion -- Brave New World -- which develops my preferred play style, and Shadowrun Returns is about to come out. In both cases, I'm waiting to see how the launch goes, what reviews look like, and if the games need any quick patching.
...of course, I'm supposed to return to grad school in August, so I don't know when/if I'll have time to play all of these! :(
Rift is a standard fantasy MMORPG that's recently gone free-to-play. It's a pleasant, relaxing experience -- unlike the popular trend of "action-based" MMORPGs -- and I have friends who play. The game has many options for play style, although I wish it had better options for character customization. Two barely differentiated factions, each with three bland racial choices isn't even really trying. Nevertheless, the game play is good enough and the cash store is neither aggressive nor intrusive, so I'll keep playing for a while.
Endless Space is a science-fiction, turn-based strategy game. Build an interstellar civilization, fending off competition and (maybe) gaining allies. As with all such games, it's a development of Master of Orion 2. I want to like this game, but the learning curve is a bit steep...largely because the game isn't well documented (in game or out). The factions seem neat, and support a good variety of play styles (even if they aren't as well designed as one might like), and game play is interesting and entertaining. But the game does have some odd design choices, such as using rendered animations for space battles in which the player has very little interaction (so you watch a slow-moving movie based on your initial tactical choices -- you'll often choose to skip these animations). The game is still sorting out a big revision, so maybe some of the oddities and oversights will soon be improved.
Puzzle Quest 2 is a match-three puzzle game -- you get a grid filled with geometric shapes, you move shapes to align three matching shapes to score points (and adjust the grid contents). The Puzzle Quest games use the match-three game as the core of a fantasy RPG. Players choose one of four classes, and gain class-specific abilities as they level up. For example, you might be able to force your opponent to lose a few turns, transform some puzzle shapes into others, or even directly harm your (virtual) opponent. I enjoy the core puzzle game, and I like the class-based abilities (and monster-based abilities), but the RPG story is really dull. Still, after playing so many MMORPGs, it's refreshing to play a game where the appeal lies with the actual play. :)
These three games are keeping me busy right now, but two others will soon be fighting for my attention. Civilization V has just released a big expansion -- Brave New World -- which develops my preferred play style, and Shadowrun Returns is about to come out. In both cases, I'm waiting to see how the launch goes, what reviews look like, and if the games need any quick patching.
...of course, I'm supposed to return to grad school in August, so I don't know when/if I'll have time to play all of these! :(