100 Word Review - #T18 - Alien Swarm

Nothing extraordinary, but it does the job.

Alien Swarm

Genre - Action

Metascore - 77%

Developer - Valve

Other Games by Developer - Left 4 Dead 2, Half-Life 2

My Playtime - 5.0 hours

As a Valve title, you probably know where this review is heading. Alien Swarm is a top-down 4-player co-op shooter which pits your team against grotesque aliens with a number of objectives. The game is relatively nicely balanced as long as you have a few friends along for the ride, and given that its absolutely free, there's no excuse not to. The standard campaign is only a few levels long but there are some fantastic community maps which add to the lifespan significantly. While probably not as good as TF2, Alien Swarm is still par-for-the-course from Valve.

My Score - 7/10

100 Word Review - #K2 - Portal 2

The multiplayer is good too

Portal 2

Genre - Action, Adventure


Metascore - 95%


Developer - Valve


Other Games by Developer - Portal,  Left 4 Dead 2,


Kris' Current Playtime - 16.1 hours

It is a bit obvious but this is my favourite game of last year. It was the perfect sequel to an amazing game. I like that there were new game constructs such as the gels but not too much to take away from the portaling heart. The story and comedy definitely need a big mention as they elevate a clever puzzle game into a true fan favourite. Everytime I see or hear Steve Merchant, I now think of Wheatley. GLaDOS is as funny as ever and I loved the idea of Cave Johnson. A truly modern classic in every respect.

Kris' Score - 10/10

100 Word Review - #8 - Payday: The Heist

Take a hostage or kill a man, both valid options

Payday: The Heist

Genre - Action

Metascore - 76%

Developer - OVERKILL Software

Other Games by Developer - N/A

My Current Playtime - 17.8 hours

I was interested in this game from the first time I saw it, with its ‘L4D2’-style co-op gameplay and RPG elements. I was waiting for the inevitable price drop when some nice person bought it for me. ‘Payday’ is a hard game, especially during your early levels. The difficulty has been tweaked recently to make the higher difficulties more forgiving, but there’s still a grind before you can enjoy it properly. The game consists of 6 heists, each lasting around an hour and is varied enough for occasional play, but can become stale, especially if playing alone, so bring friends.

My Score - 7/10

100 Word Review - #6 - Team Fortress 2

TF2 - More than just a hat simulator

Team Fortress 2

Genre - Action, Free to Play

Metascore - 92%

Developer - Valve

Other Games by Developer -Half-Life 2, Left 4 Dead 2

My Current Playtime - 371.2 hours

That’s right; I’ve spent over 15 days playing this game. This alone should tell you how I feel about it. ‘TF2’ is a class-based FPS set in the 1960s and is definitely one of the most enjoyable games I’ve ever played. The gameplay stays varied and fresh due to the number of classes and customisation options available and the cartoon art style looks fantastic (even if slightly disturbed by the recent laser weapons). Valve updates the game with new features and items every month and best of all; it’s free(ish), with just the in-game store to sap those hard-earned pennies.

My Score - 10/10