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 - #34 - Half-Life 2

Bin or face? - The eternal question.

Half-Life 2

Genre - Action

Metascore - 96%

Developer - Valve

Other Games by Developer - Alien Swarm, Portal 2

My Playtime - 21.4 hours

I only downloaded HL2 again to get that screenshot, but testament to just how good it is, I stayed and played for another 2 hours. The opening few chapters are especially engrossing, and set the mood perfectly. The characters are brilliant, and the atmosphere is kept consistently tense, with some battles being gut-wrenchingly difficult. From G-Man’s creepy opening monologue, through the much copied physics puzzles all the way to the action-packed climax, HL2 is quite simply the best game I have ever played. If you by some miracle haven’t played HL2, its dirt cheap – buy it and play it now.

My Score - 10/10

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 - #12 - Left 4 Dead 2

Some useful advice here

Left 4 Dead 2

Genre - Action

Metascore - 89%

Developer - Valve

Other Games by Developer - Left 4 Dead, Portal 2

My Current Playtime - 76.6 hours

‘L4D2’ is another one of these great games to play with a couple of friends, and with the campaigns normally lasting around an hour; you don’t need to dedicate much time to each survival attempt. The AI is some of the most intelligent I have ever seen, and has a way of turning the game on its head. This game was a great improvement over ‘L4D’ and now that they’ve added the maps from the original, it’s even better. Valve rotate game modes every couple of weeks and there is a plethora of custom campaigns, which keeps the game fresh.

My Score - 10/10

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