(no subject)
Caylus
I had a chance to try the board game Caylus recently. Short form is that the game is damn fun. It has a fairly crunchy mechanic that flows easily once you get the hang of it. The only randomization in the game comes from the actions of other players, so predicting their moves and having a backup plan become key. It's a game of resource management where resources are scarce, but if you're flexible you shouldn't get stuck without something useful to do. Don't sit down for your first game without a couple hours and some patience, though, as the first game will most likely take a couple hours as everyone agonizes over their options.
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3)
A while back I downloaded a trailer for the game Uncharted. It looked like something I might be interested in, as I'm always up for some pulpy goodness. However, the video was mostly a developer talking about the game and at some point I decided he was a jackass and had probably produced a piece of crap that just happened to look pretty. When I spotted the demo online a few days ago I found myself downloading it anyway, I think mostly to prove myself right. Color me surprised when I played it and found myself having fun. Now, I should mention that one of my favorite game types is the stealth shooter and that the first Metal Gear Solid is a solid candidate for my favorite game ever. So when I discovered while wandering through the demo that yes, the game is largely about big ass gunfights but the enemies don't automatically trigger because you entered their 'zone', instead having to spot you before opening fire... well that was a big plus. Basically though, the gameplay was just fun and in the end, I'm a sucker for pulp.
Assassin's Creed (PS3)
I received my first PS3 game as a Hanukkah gift (the PS3 being mostly for work purposes). It was on my wish list mostly because it looked to be a stealth game, thus right up my alley, plus the theme sounded cool. Unfortunately, the developers wrapped it up in some wacky nonsensical meta-plot that really detracts from the game. Diving in to what I expected to be a medieval setting and getting a sci-fi game instead was a big disappointment. Granted, I probably could have spent more time reading up on the game, but I really didn't see that coming. The gameplay is largely unaffected by the wrapper, but it's totally unnecessary as far as I can tell. Fun overall, but possibly worth saving your money for Metal Gear Solid 4 instead.
I had a chance to try the board game Caylus recently. Short form is that the game is damn fun. It has a fairly crunchy mechanic that flows easily once you get the hang of it. The only randomization in the game comes from the actions of other players, so predicting their moves and having a backup plan become key. It's a game of resource management where resources are scarce, but if you're flexible you shouldn't get stuck without something useful to do. Don't sit down for your first game without a couple hours and some patience, though, as the first game will most likely take a couple hours as everyone agonizes over their options.
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3)
A while back I downloaded a trailer for the game Uncharted. It looked like something I might be interested in, as I'm always up for some pulpy goodness. However, the video was mostly a developer talking about the game and at some point I decided he was a jackass and had probably produced a piece of crap that just happened to look pretty. When I spotted the demo online a few days ago I found myself downloading it anyway, I think mostly to prove myself right. Color me surprised when I played it and found myself having fun. Now, I should mention that one of my favorite game types is the stealth shooter and that the first Metal Gear Solid is a solid candidate for my favorite game ever. So when I discovered while wandering through the demo that yes, the game is largely about big ass gunfights but the enemies don't automatically trigger because you entered their 'zone', instead having to spot you before opening fire... well that was a big plus. Basically though, the gameplay was just fun and in the end, I'm a sucker for pulp.
Assassin's Creed (PS3)
I received my first PS3 game as a Hanukkah gift (the PS3 being mostly for work purposes). It was on my wish list mostly because it looked to be a stealth game, thus right up my alley, plus the theme sounded cool. Unfortunately, the developers wrapped it up in some wacky nonsensical meta-plot that really detracts from the game. Diving in to what I expected to be a medieval setting and getting a sci-fi game instead was a big disappointment. Granted, I probably could have spent more time reading up on the game, but I really didn't see that coming. The gameplay is largely unaffected by the wrapper, but it's totally unnecessary as far as I can tell. Fun overall, but possibly worth saving your money for Metal Gear Solid 4 instead.