100 Word Review - #T25 - Stacking

In the land of the tall, the tiny little child is king, apparently.

Stacking

Genre - Adventure, Indie

Metascore - 80%

Developer - Double Fine Productions

Other Games by Developer - Psychonauts, Costume Quest

Tom's Playtime -  7.0 hours

After the first 15 minutes or so, I was unimpressed by Stacking but it didn't take much longer to win me over. Beyond the adventure game overlay lies an intricate puzzle game in which you take control of various dolls, each with their own unique abilities, and attempt to find a solution to the numerous objectives in each level. Every objective has multiple solutions and while only one is strictly necessary, finding them all is where the game finds its challenge. While not especially long, Stacking is a fun game with a charming sense of humour and comes highly recommended.

Tom's Score - 9/10

100 Word Review - E6 - Mirror's Edge

DONT. LOOK. DOWN.

Mirror's Edge

Genre - Action, Adventure

Metascore - 81%

Developer - DICE

Other Games by Developer- Battlefield 2, Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Edgar's Playtime - 9 hours

Mirror's Edge is a kind of negation of the first person shooter genre. It is first person alright, but you are advised to shoot as little as possible when you get a gun, while you try to navigate through a highly detailed and exquisitely designed skyscraper city, unveiling an assassination plot by running - a LOT - and using and exceptional set of parkour skills to avoid obstacles and enemies. It's an amazing, different, immersive and engaging twist to the first person theme that pleads to be lived and is only marred by the long loading times in the elevator rides.

Edgar's Score - 9/10

100 Word Review - #45 - Bioshock

Would you kindly bash that nonce round the head?

Bioshock

Genre - Action, RPG

Metascore - 96%

Developer - 2K Australia

Other Games by Developer - Bioshock 2

My Playtime - 6.2 hours

I don’t know of many gamer folk who haven’t played Bioshock, and there’s no real reason not to. Set in Rapture, a fallen underwater utopia, you play a survivor of a plane crash who is drawn deeper into the city and the stories of the people who are left there. Bioshock is one of the most atmospheric games I’ve ever played, with fear and dread being the most played upon feelings throughout. You are able to tailor your character with certain ammunitions and gene-altering ‘plasmids’ that will encourage multiple playthroughs with different set-ups. Without doubt in my all-time top 10.

My Score - 9/10

100 Word Review - #J2 - Evil Genius

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here...
This is the control room!

Evil Genius

Genre - Strategy

Metascore - 75%

Developer - Elixir Studios

Other Games by Developer - N/A

James's Playtime - 3.1 hours





Evil Genius is unlike any strategy game you have ever played. But let’s be honest, you’ve been playing it in your dreams since you first saw a James Bond film. Taking inspiration from the spytech of the past, its graphics still amaze me even to this day. I’ll be honest; world domination was a career path I was very fond of as I was growing up. Planning your volcano island base, setting traps for snooping agents, committing heists and other crimes around the world, even henchmen are covered! Gaming doesn’t get much better than this hidden gem.

James's Score - 9/10

100 Word Review - #E4 - World of Goo

Meet the frog who spits scaffolding

World of Goo

Genre - Indie, Family

Metascore - 90%

Developer - 2D Boy

Other Games by Developer - N/A

Edgar's Playtime - 12 hours

After playing something as great, exotic and amazing as this, I think I have brain damage. Such constant, enticing and original brain-teasing led me to a couple of sleepless nights figuring out the solution for that devious level. Nothing here is random and no puzzle is solved by sheer luck or by a single solution, and that kind of achievement gives the player a feeling of absolute bliss. A "9" that nears a "10" for one of the most compelling puzzlers that I've ever played.

Edgar's Score - 9/10

100 Word Review - #35 - Peggle Nights

Oh shit, I have to be in work in 10 minutes...

Peggle Nights

Genre - Casual, Family

Metascore - 76%

Developer - PopCap Games Inc

Other Games by Developer - Plants Vs. Zombies, Bejewled 3

My Playtime - 2.9 hours

You can take my playtime here with a pinch of salt. I have played Peggle Nights and its predecessor for at least 50 hours, and have loved every single minute. Peggle has a simple premise - use some balls to try and clear some pegs. Each level is set out like a Pachinko board, and the balls bounce from peg to peg, building up a bigger score. It can get exasperatingly difficult at some times, especially towards the end of the challenges, but as you load it up to pass an hour you will wonder where all your time went.

My Score - 9/10

100 Word Review - #E2 - LIMBO

"The itsy bitsy spider....."

LIMBO

Genre - Indie, Puzzle

Metascore - 88%

Developer - Playdead

Other Games by Developer - N/A

Edgar's Playtime - 6.7 hours

Why do we always have to save the girl? And why does she needs to be saved in limbo? It doesn't matter. In fact, the lack of answers to our questions in such a grisly and unforgiving world is part of the exquisite appeal of LIMBO. It is a ultra-atmospheric experience, lacking in music but full of important audio cues and cleverly designed puzzles that do not frustrate the player once. It's a black and white masterpiece and the most clear example that "art noire" and "videogame" can be merged in one sentence. Although it can be finished in only 4/5 hours, it does it just right, hitting all the right notes. What a ride!

Edgar's Score - 9/10

100 Word Review - #E1 - Bastion

I hope she digs guys with hammers and grisly hair....

Bastion

Genre - Indie, Action, RPG

Metascore - 86%

Developer - Supergiant Games

Other Games by Developer - N/A

Edgar's Playtime - 6 hours

Bastion is the kind of game I dream of making. This amazing action/RPG game is a true work of craftsmanship by a highly talented team and a hell of a premiere for them. A story about the end of the world never had such a well-chosen palette of colors and such a variety of sceneries to visit and things to do. And the narrator's gravel voice, describing every action of the Kid is something unseen and works like a charm. This is gaming at its purest, made with love and extreme good taste. Unmissable.

Edgar's Score - 9/10

100 Word Review - #T15 - Psychonauts

I'm not sure any game will ever top
Psychonauts' level design

Psychonauts

Genre – Action

Metascore – 87%

Developer – Double Fine Productions

Other Games by Developer – Stacking, Costume Quest

Tom's Current Playtime – 15.8 hours

As a fan of the original “Monkey Island” games, I always like it when one of the old team impresses me with their newer work. “Psychonauts” is an action platformer set in a summer camp for psychics with a fantastically dark comedic plot, well designed characters and highly memorable levels. A few years old now, “Psychonauts” holds up quite well despite a few control issues, a few dodgy design choices and some outdated animation but with some of the greatest fun to be had in a platformer, “Psychonauts” manages to still receive a hearty recommendation .

Tom's Score – 9/10

100 Word Review - #T12 - Sid Meier's Civilization V

Could do with a few more tanks.

Sid Meier's Civilization V

Genre – Strategy

Metascore – 90%

Developer – Firaxis Games

Other Games by Developer – Sid Meier's Pirates!, Sid Meier'sCivilization IV

Tom's Current Playtime – 33.7 hours

The fifth installation of a series which has seen much evolution, “Civ5” benefits from many of the plus points of previous games with few of the cons. With numerous victory possibilities, from killing everyone else to sending the first shuttle into space, and many civilizations with unique traits, you'd be hard pressed to find two identical games. One of the few games around where every decision genuinely does have some impact, the game encourages you to play your cards carefully, lest one of your opponents take advantage. Is this the best “Civilization”? Maybe. Regardless, a damn fine game.

Tom's score – 9/10

100 Word Review - #15 - Plants vs. Zombies

I would say that it can get a bit hectic,
but apparantly I'm not allowed.

Plants vs. Zombies

Genre - Strategy

Metascore - 87%

Developer - Popcap Games Inc.

Other Games by Developer - Peggle Deluxe, Insaniquarium Deluxe

My Current Playtime - 45.1 hours

Popcap has a wealth of turds in its catalogue, but it also contains some gems. ‘PvZ’ is an example of the latter. It’s a spin on tower defence, where your towers are plants, and the attackers are zombies (shock). The main story leads you on a journey around your house, trying to defend the different entrances. The different factors added in each level (water, night, etc.) make you adapt the way you play, bringing in different plants to develop a winning strategy. It’s a very addictive game, and the puzzle and survival modes you unlock later keep you coming back.

My Score - 9/10

100 Word Review - #T7 - Borderlands

Do I really need all these guns? Not really.

Borderlands

Genre – Action, RPG

Metascore – 81%

Developer – Gearbox Software

Other Games by Developer – Duke Nukem Forever, Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30

Tom's Current Playtime – 146.9 hours

I've not played a game which captivated me equally playing alone or with friends to this extent without it involving plastic instruments. 'Borderlands' is one of the most enjoyable shooters I've played in a long time. If you take time to play through the sidequests, it's length can only be described as Titanic with so many variables in place that even playing with 3 friends is unlikely to produce the exact same character build. Stunningly designed, 'Borderlands' successfully delivers fantastic gameplay, a delightful art style and razor sharp wit which completely negates any bad points I could pick with it.

Tom's Score – 9/10

100 Word Review - #T5 - King's Bounty: Armored Princess

Believe it or not but there are units other than humans and dragons.

King's Bounty: Armored Princess

Genre – RPG

Metascore – 82%

Developer – Katauri Interactive

Other Games by Developer – King's Bounty: The Legend, King's Bounty: Crossworlds

Tom's Current Playtime – 36.7 hours

When I first heard that a new 'King's Bounty' was being made 18 years after the Amiga classic, I was overjoyed. 'King's Bounty: The Legend' didn't disappoint so naturally, a sequel was only a matter of time. In 'King's Bounty: Armored Princess', you lead an army of your creation with every standard fantasy creature represented. Gameplay follows grid-bound turn-based strategy with magic and pet dragons bolstering attacking options in a game with a nicely-mapped difficulty curve. While 'Armored Princess' adds little new to the formula, its sheer depth and replayability make it stand out as a spectacle of the genre.

Tom's Score – 9/10

100 Word Review - #10 - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

What would you do if you turned around to see this?

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Genre - RPG

Metascore - 94%

Developer - Bethesda Game Studios

Other Games by Developer - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Fallout 3

My Current Playtime - 46.2 hours

You can’t help but notice the visuals in ‘Skyrim’- they are spectacular. The gameplay is a well-executed version of the standard fantasy RPG formula (magic, dragons, etc.) and the series has been improved upon with addition of features from the ‘Fallout’ series, like perks. It does however, like all Bethesda fare, contain a few bugs. I love messing around when playing games and this is facilitated quite well - I spent far too much time messing around with NPCs. As good as ‘Skyrim’ is, I just didn’t feel like playing it anymore after completing the main quest, which is sad. 

My Score - 9/10

100 Word Review - #1 - The Binding of Isaac

This character's single heart adds an extra challenge

The Binding of Isaac

Genre - Action, Adventure, RPG, Indie

Metascore – 83%

Developer – Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl

Other Games by Developer – Gish (as Cryptic Sea), Super Meat Boy (as Team Meat)

My Current Playtime – 42.5 hours

‘TBoI’ is a randomly generated adventure game which at first glance reminds me of ‘The Legend of Zelda’ on the NES. You have six (later eight) increasingly difficult levels to complete, each with items to collect, enemies to kill and bosses to overcome.  It seems criminally short at around an hour, but it has massive replay value as you unlock new characters and new items that freshen up the whole experience. It can be horrendously difficult at times, but then you find that combination of items that lets you breeze through. Until you get killed cheaply by a fly. Fuck.

My score – 9/10