King’s Quest : Episodes 1 and 2 – Sierra – The Odd Gentlemen – PC/PS4/PS3/Xbox One/Xbox 360 – 12.16.2015 – $39.99
Sierra has allowed The Odd Gentlemen to release one of their trademark adventures not only with a gorgeous face lift, but with a new story as well. Playing as Graham, a knight hopeful working his way up in Daventry (told by an old man who clearly has some status now) this game allows you to not only view the relationship between a knight and his kingdom, but also a grandfather and his family.
Episode 2 has some heart-wrenching decisions to be made.
The tie of Graham to his granddaughter is one of my favorite mechanics. As you make decisions throughout King Graham’s story you will see her use those “lessons” that you teach her to make her own decisions. While many games are focused on having your choices impact the outcome of the story, it was exceedingly interesting to see how my choices were directly impacting Gwendolyn while she dealt with small pieces of her day-to-day life. This mechanic which has been prevalent through Episode 1 and 2 is the first instance of what The Odd Gentlemen did absolutely right. The next instance is the heart rending decisions required in Episode 2. As you find a way to escape the hold of the goblins, seeing your decisions cause suffering to your peers is not only frustrating but emotionally jarring. Each time I found myself dreading heading back to my cell knowing that the following day would bring disappointment for one of my co-prisoners. The way the game handles the Goblins is also a lot of fun. While not being your usual group of sword-wielding baddies they are, in fact, fun to interact with. Many of the puzzles in this episode had me smiling while I tried to remember clues from childhood fairy tales to solve the labyrinth piece-by-piece.
Never Trust Goblins….EVAR
While episode 1 had quite a few unique landscapes (at least enough that the short run time didn’t feel repetitive too much) episode 2 is definitely set with a singular tone. Instead of jumping between an underground dragon’s lair, dark forests, cliff tops and fields, you are, 100% committed to hanging out underground in a blue/grey rock cave. This is, by far the worst part of episode 2. While the character interactions and voice acting helps cover it, you do feel at times to be stuck in a cyclical nightmare, which only motivates you to want to escape the caves that much more.
As a whole, episode 2 would definitely be considered a 7/10
Shorter than it’s predecessor Episode 2 feels positioned as a bridging chapter in this story and Episode 3 or 4 are hopefully poised to move the story of Graham forward more aggressively. While the second installment wasn’t quite as long or enthralling as episode 1 it wasn’t spending as much time introducing me to the colorful world of Daventry as much as solidifying your love for the elderly king There is also a lot of fun to be had solving the puzzles tied to the Goblins love of fairy tales. The fact that many of these are tied to my first gut instinct as I remembered some childhood favorites was also exceptionally rewarding.
As a whole, episode 2 would definitely be considered a 7/10, but when combined with Episode 1 the two combine an experience that thus far I would rate an 8/10. The next episode will definitely have to be pivotal in this series to keep the masses, but this fella, is excited to see it hit.
Catching up on my email from the Holiday break, i’m disappointed that I am only now seeing this. This 2D shooter brought to us by Awfully Nice Studios only allows you to shoot up, and of course, it’s cooperative. Your protagonist Harry is a laser junky, gluten addict, and exterminator extraordinaire. When a refrigerator-sized mass of slime and teeth is wriggling out of your drain, Harry is the best there is.
This looks like a great homage to one of my favorite XBL shooter/platformer “Alien Hominid”. This will hit Mac/WIndows/Linux on January 19th, 2016. Which is still a game I break out every few months to chew on. You can catch the trailer below, and feel free to sound off, will your PC be jamming this?
Tired of reading ‘Game of the Year 2015’ lists rife with the same AAA titles that, although well-made, might not be your favorites? Fear not, readers, for I do not rank my games by the same metric as those “revenue-driven” sites (AKA: AAA Graphic Enhancement + Recycled Gameplay Mechanics + That Same Character Whose Butt You Have Viewed for 100’s of Hours = Profit). Since Big Shiny Robot is independent, we are free to choose the games that entertained, challenged, and inspired us. As a game dev, my judgements admittedly may account for things like team size, budget, and execution of a cohesive vision, but above all else I rank games by the experience they crafted! You get the point, though; enough blabbering and on with the list! (No spoilers below.)
Miss Mecha’s Games of 2015
#10 – “Batman: Arkham Knight”
What’s that? The writer of this list is a fucking hypocrite? Okay, hear me out. The Arkham series gives us an incredible finale with some of the best interwoven story and use of the DC IP that I’ve experienced in a video game. Damn, this writing and design team actually knew what they were doing with the Batman Universe! Batman’s final arc in the series will challenge you at times, but it also forces you to come to terms with what it really means to be Bruce Wayne/Batman. The combat feels fun and satisfying even when it’s over-the-top, and the brain-tickling Riddler trophies are ever amazing.
Editor’s Note: This game almost didn’t make the list, because Warner Bros made the horrible decision to ship the game when it wasn’t ready on all their platforms and then further punished that group of players by taking their sweet-ass time to fix the issues. This is NOT how to ship a game BUT the dev team probably didn’t make the decision to ship so I think they deserve praise for making a great game. Publishers with their priorities in order will allow their development studios / teams (just enough ;)) time to equally test ALL of their versions before shipping them to the public, and then ensure that their player base receives an equal experience across the board. But hey, some publishers push their dev teams until they cry and fear-poop out an unfinished title, y’know?
#9 – “Rocket League”
So, so very fun. It’s like indoor soccer with a domed court and the players replaced by rocket-powered cars akin to the ‘Micro-Machines’ my brother and I used to huck down sidewalks in the 80’s. There’s not much to be said other than I think you should play this game with your friends. Couch gaming lives on in titles like this! I am probably one of the few that remembers ‘Rocket League,’ by another name. Does ‘Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars’ ring a bell to you? No? That’s probably because ‘Rocket League’s predecessor didn’t sell very well and the old name probably had something to do with it (But, shit, it had the most METAL theme song ever!)
#8 – “Life is Strange”
One of two games on this list that feature a great use of Butterfly-Effect story systems, “Life is Strange” takes the idea one step further and bases its design around a character that can rewind time in an attempt to change future outcomes. Since the game was developed and released as episodes rather than all at once, it actually got better with subsequent episodes (and took player feedback into account). Your protagonist is a fairly realistic teenage girl and the setting evokes the (realness) frustrations of adolescence (though a bit heavy handed at times).
#7 – “Until Dawn”
This game is a B Movie Horror wrapped in entertaining-for-once quicktime events and the opportunity to wildly aim whilst having a mild panic attack, but the predictable stereotypes, cheese and underlying themes are exactly what make this game so fun to play. Furthermore, it features one of the best Butterfly Effect story systems out there. It is supremely satisfying to see how your seemingly unrelated choices might unfold much further into the game, and the results are rarely obvious. If you have a group of friends nearby to root for you or help you make terrible decisions while you play, even better. This is a fantastic game to enjoy fireside with your friends… with the lights off… and surround sound. 😉
#6 – “Bloodborne”
It’s not ‘Dark Souls I,’ but damn I love this designer and have yet again followed him into the rising flames of his bonfires. ‘Bloodborne’ is more of what you wanted (but didn’t really get) from Dark Souls II, but this time it’s shrouded bleak, post-apocalyptic, alternate-Victorian Yharnam. It provides a challenging experience with deeply satisfying rewards to those who know the path to mastery (hint: study your enemies’ movements before striking). Although the exploration element isn’t as deep or well-stitched as ‘DS I,’ I still found the experience to be much more cohesive and satisfying than the one I had in ‘DS II.’
#5 – “Ori and the Blind Forest”
Platforming and story that broke my heart, then put it back together again, and then… well… NO I CAN’T. SPOILERS. This game is incredible and the painterly art will have you gazing into the screen while you float and fly through awe-inspiring Platforming sequences. A wonderfully designed Platformer with a new IP that resonates with my soul? Sign me up for more in 2016!
Rhythm Combat and Monsters in a Dungeon Rogue-like. Wait, maybe you didn’t understand me… CONTROLLER DDR WHILST FIGHTING MONSTERS! In a world where Rhythm Games have been almost entirely relegated to our sadly dusty arcades, it’s a tremendous joy to find someone designing something new that incorporates rhythm mechanics, rogue-like dungeon exploration, and a seriously jammin’ soundtrack. I love this game, and I have the limited edition dance pads to prove it (note that the dance pads aren’t required, and that they’re only usable on a specific mode).
#3 – “SOMA”
Frictional Games seems to love giving its players nightmares, and I honestly can’t stop coming back for more. This time, they delve into a more Sci-Fi-driven Survival Horror title, but they yet again deliver expertly crafted environments and an immersive story that will give you feelings of suspense, suspicion, and dread. Where does humanity begin and end? This game challenges you to find the answer within, and for that I give it my #3 spot.
#2 – “The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt”
Alright, so I have a bias for well-written RPGs. I admit it. ‘The Witcher 3’ features the most well-crafted story, side quests, and surrounding world to date, but it doesn’t suffer from less-than-desirable combat mechanics I had to slog through in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Yes, it’s another AAA RPG that pushes the envelope a bit further, but it’s also a game that’s been lovingly crafted by CD Projekt Red in Europe by an incredibly passionate team that brought a series of books into the new medium with incredible success. I don’t put AAA games on my list lightly – ‘The Wild Hunt’ has earned its place in RPG Asgard.
#1 – “Undertale”
Don’t look up anything about this game. To read about it is to spoil both the story and one of the few precious things a video game can still do for you – let you experience a story where your will think carefully about your decisions and where you must trust your instincts. Find yourself in this charming world full of unique characters. This game comes pre-packaged with All The Feels. All of them.
And no, it’s not overrated. Although I’ve heard much argument over this little game in both extremes of for and against, no-one can deny that the vision assembled by Toby Fox is nothing short of spectacular. Sit down at your PC and open a Notepad+ window. Now imagine filling that window to the brim with custom code, switching over to photoshop to make your own assets and then, oh, that’s right, writing all your own music and sound effects. This labor of love speaks volumes about what is possible when you put your heart and soul into painstakingly creating a cohesive experience for your players. Whether Fox made the game for himself, for us, or both, I simply cannot imagine another title taking the number one spot on my list.
Honorable Mentions (AKA Amazing Games I Haven’t Finished):
Yeah, I love this game. What of it? It doesn’t make me OCD if I love to painstakingly scrub every bit of blood and gut from the durasteel walls! How many severed heads can YOU balance in your Biohazard bin?! Hmmm! Well, as a janitor cleaning up after what must have been the most gruesome shoot-em-up levels ever, you’ll get your chance to find out! Seriously, grab a friend and play this game. It’s hilarious and remarkably fun. They even have a Santa version!
‘Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’ – Thank the gaming gods Hideo Kojima has found a new home at Sony Studios, because a world without more games with him at the helm is a sad world indeed.
‘Aviary Attorney’
What’s that you say? You love Phoenix Wright games AND Bird Puns!?! This is the game you have been searching for your whole life, my friend.
‘Earth Defence Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair’
Defend Japan from giant, radioactive bugs. Yes, this third person shooter continues the tradition of not taking itself too seriously and thankfully shipping here in North America.
‘Neko Atsume’ (‘Cat Collector’ from Japan) – Who am I kidding? I will never be finished with this game. I wish I had designed it myself, because it’s brilliant, and it probably took a week to make. After spending $35 on golden sardines in this game, you think I’d be done with it…AHHH WHY CAN’T I QUIT YOU?!?
Microsoft announced more titles that will be backwards compatible on Xbox One starting today. While touting another “Halo” title with Reach hitting the list it is definitely, an interesting list. While I’m sure they are saving the blockbuster BC titles for some form of launch, it’s really tickling to see them making games like “Doritos Crash Course” and “Zuma’s Revenge” ready to rock when there are clearly, many games we would rather see. However, this is a great start in getting our 360s cleared out and our console stack reduced. If you have yet to play Braid, this is a great opportunity to play an incredibly influential and brilliant title. “Portal: Still Alive” (the 360 Port of Valve’s genius game) is also well worth revisiting or visiting for the first time. You can see the full list of newly BC games below.
Braid
DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION
Doritos Crash Course
Fable III
Halo: Reach
Hydro Thunder
Iron Brigade
Kane & Lynch 2
Motocross Madness
MS.PAC-MAN
Peggle
Portal: Still Alive
Spelunky
Splosion Man
Ticket to Ride™
Zuma’s Revenge!
Bo Rai Cho, Leatherface, the Xenomorph and, a Cyborg Headed to MKX
WB Games will be announcing new characters later tonight, but, according to Shoryuken.com WB Games Australia dropped the reveal trailer in what is now a private YouTube video. The video shows Leatherface from “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” a Xenomorph from “Alien”, Bo Rai Cho from earlier “Mortal Kombat” games, and a cyborg hybrid of Sektor, Cyrax and Smoke which will join the cast next year.
The exact dates haven’t been mentioned yet but this will be part of the second Kombat Pack released periodically throughout next year.
Ready for some more horror icons?!
‘Shaq-Fu’ Announcement Happening at Video Game Awards
By the end of their Indiegogo campaign in May of 2015. Big Deez Productions and Shaq raised just over $458,000 which was their funding goal for “Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn”. After the funding hit, there has been little-to-no information on what we can expect, until Shaq dropped some news on twitter. During tomorrow’s Game Awards in Los Angeles, there is an announcement coming. As one who played the original SNES game, they definitely have nowhere to go but up. The Indiegogo trailer also mentions a pretty diverse dev team. Could they be building an odd and successful video game? Could what they’re doing be groundbreaking?
You will be able to watch The Game Awards 2015 on “any device screen” tomorrow, December 3, 2015 at 6PM Pacific Time. Aside from the variety of awards and accolades, you now have one more thing to look forward to.
I’m not sure if irony is the only thing that fueled this team gaining their funding goal, but an announcement around the sequel to what could arguably the worst fighting game of all time means a great show tomorrow night. Sound off in the comments below, are you ready?
The largest DRM Free game store has started their 2015 winter sale this morning. GOG.com, is running deals up to 90% off thousands of games, all containing 0 DRM. Of the biggest deals, you can find “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” at 50% off (this game is well worth double that price), There are also discounts on classic “Star Wars” games and Lucasfilm classics including “Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis”, “Secret of Monkey Island”, “Sam and Max Hit the Road” and more.
GOG also does free games with specific purchase amounts, and for the first time, they are featuring the $3.00 mystery game. The name pretty accurately describes the promotion. For $3.00 you’ll receive a mystery game valued from $9.99-$34.99. You can grab discounts on PC games from GOG until December 13.
Deep Silver Games have released a new trailer for their Kickstarter success “Mighty No. 9”, coming to PS4, Xbox One, WiiU and, PC on February 9, 2016. This game which is clearly not “Mega Man” (sarcastic giggle) looks absolutely phenomenal. The trailer released showcases the game modes including Boss Rush Mode, Competitive and Cooperative Multi-Player. The game will also ship with a challenge mode and a one-hit death hard mode. The trailer, also includes an epic montage. So not all is lost. Hope you’re ready for some “Mega-Man” hat tips!
‘King’s Quest: Rubble Without a Cause’ Release Date
Sierra and The Odd Gentlemen announced this morning that “King’s Quest: Rubble Without a Cause” will be hitting all Platforms on December 16, 2015. If you haven’t played the first chapter of the King’s Quest franchise and happen to be a Playstation owner, you can snag it free with your PS Plus subscription starting today. Similar to other episodic releases (mostly popularized by Telltale Games) you can buy this one episode at a time, or grab the entire series with the season pass.
Games with Gold and PlayStation Plus offer their subscribers free games each month just for being members. Sometimes those free games are awesome and othertimes they are lack luster at best. However we are here to help. Each month we will let you know what those games are and even provide the trailers and links so you can decide if you want to download them in the first place. Happy Gaming!
That’s it for this month, what do you think of the free games for Games with Gold and PlayStation Plus? Sound off in the comments and check back next month for a new list!
Never Trust Goblins….EVAR
