“Monopoly” games are commonplace nowadays, but back in 2001, it was rare to see a “Monopoly” game that also had a business side to it. By business side, I mean managing properties, constructing particular businesses, adjusting prices and inventory counts, leasing city blocks and utilities, and etc. “Monopoly Tycoon” lets you do all of those things and more. Due to its age, I’m not going to bother with a full review. I will say however that if you can get the game to work on your PC, it’s a blast to play. Some of you may receive a “this program is attempting to crash gracefully” when starting up the game, but you can click the “No Music” box in the configure menu before you hit that play button and it should work. You won’t have music, but at least the game will get you past the opening cutscene. All in all, it’s a fun business tycoon game that everyone should experience at least once.
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“Endless Space” received a 9/10 from yours truly, and with good reason. It is one of my favorite 4x games ever to have crossed my path since the “Galactic Civilizations” series. Since my review of “Endless Space” back on July 5, 2012 (almost exactly one year earlier, ironically), four free add-ons and an official expansion have made their way onto those next turn buttons everywhere. For the purposes of this review, I’m going to assume that you have read the review of the core game (link above). If you haven’t, I highly recommend that you do, as I’ll be skipping over some of the game’s core features so as not to repeat myself. Before we take a look at what the expansion has to offer, I’d like to thank Mayke Griffioen from Iceberg Interactive for reaching out and providing me with a free review copy.
The number of games I’ve seen on Steam’s new “Early Access” section has increased over these past few months, bringing more Alpha and Beta goodness to gamers everywhere. I really like the idea of pitching in and helping games still in development, as players usually receive some sort of discount or bonus for being avid supporters. It’s a win-win for everyone, and such is the case with “Infested Planet”. In this particular strategy game, players will be fending off waves of nasty aliens that improve and mutate as you attempt to wipe them out. It’s an interesting tower defense / real-time strategy / squad management mix that will keep players engaged from start to finish. Before we take a sneak peek at the Beta, I’d like to thank Alex Vostrov (the game’s creator) for providing me with a free press copy.
So, not much has happened since my last post. Created a website on Zenfolio, scheduled my very first appointment for a photo shoot, drafted up price lists and customer FAQs, you know…the usual. You can’t see me right now, but I’m jumping up and down like a little school boy who bagged his very first rare Pokémon. Okay, obligatory update over.
How many puzzle games would you estimate to be out on the gaming market currently? Thousands? Tens of thousands? Millions? Frankly, I lost count. There comes a point though where one or two puzzle games stick out in your mind every time the genre is mentioned. “Storm”, I discovered, is one such game. In this particular puzzle game, you’ll be tasked with guiding a seed to fertile soil so that it can grow and prosper into something grand. It sounds simple, but the gameplay elements and ambience will reel you back in, making you hunger for more. Before we get started with the review, I’d like to thank Benjamin Cestac from Neko Entertainment for providing me with a free review copy.
The year is 1941. For those of you who remember your history, you’ll know the significance of that date. It was the year that Germany broke the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and begun its invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. “Company of Heroes 2” puts you in the shoes of a commander from the Soviet Red Army and tasks you with fighting back the German invasion RTS style via a single player campaign. Alternatively, players will be able to participate in multiplayer skirmishes online. Before we get started taking a look at this game in further detail, I’d like to thank Simon Watt from SEGA and Melissa Chan from Wonacott Communications for providing me with a free review copy.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know who Slenderman is and why he’s boosted underwear sales across the globe. For that reason, I really enjoyed reviewing “Slender: The Eight Pages”, the precursor and field test for the recently released “Slender: The Arrival”. In case you aren’t familiar with either game, “Slender: The Eight Pages” tasks you with collecting eight pages scattered around a forest, in the dark. Slenderman, a faceless something-or-other in a suit, eventually shows up and attempts to hunt you down. With your only weapon being a flashlight (I use the term “weapon” loosely), you’ll be racing to collect the eight pages before it catches up with you. “Slender: The Arrival” is the official sequel, promising to bring more scares and more Slender goodness to the table. Before we get into specifics, I’d like to thank the folks at Blue Isle Studios for providing me with a free review copy.
Go on, admit it…you played with blocks as a kid. There’s no sense in denying it. We, as educated and mature adults (ha!), often refine our tastes as we get older…yet there are occasions where the simplest things can grant us the most enjoyment. “Convert” is one such item, tasking players with stacking blocks in such a way that would earn them the most points. It’s a very simple, yet elegant abstract game for two players that you won’t want to play just once. Before we get started, I’d like to thank Ian Reed from Yodeo Games for providing me with a free press copy. It’s important to note that the copy I received was a prototype, meaning that it may look a bit different from those created during production. The box and the scorecards, for example, will look much better in the final version than in the pictures below. Because my copy was close enough in quality to the final product however, I opted to do a full review.
Glory. Everyone wants it, but few end up acquiring it. This is especially the case with this quote unquote “little” card game that will soon be punching and kicking its way onto Kickstarter. In “IncrediBrawl”, players will be given their own set of cards and must duke it out with others in an attempt to earn the most glory (victory) points. Before we take a sneak peek at this particular card game, I’d like to thank Jake Leeman from Vision 3 for reaching out to me and providing me with a prototype copy. It’s important to note that the prototype copy is not representative of the final components, so the pictures and content you’ll see in this article are subject to change.
No one really knows where the legendary Lost Dutchman Gold Mine is, but that won’t stop people from looking for it. There’s still some speculation as to whether or not the legend is actually true, but those who do believe estimate the mine to lie somewhere in the southwestern parts of the United States. The mine itself is named after one Jacob Waltz (a German immigrant) who reportedly found the mine but kept its location secret. In, “The Lost Dutchman”, players will be taking on the role of prospectors in search of this legend. Not only will they be competing against one another, but they’ll be braving the elements and trying to overcome various dangers. Before we begin checking out the game in further detail, I’d like to thank the folks at Game Salute for providing me with a free review copy.
“TrackMania² Canyon” was a blast to play, especially on the levels that involved loops and jumps. Even though I tended to flip upside down and skid off the road into deep, menacing crevices, I found myself coming back for more abuse regardless of what my insurance agent said. “TrackMania² Stadium” is the second game in the TrackMania series, this time allowing players the ability to test their reflexes on stadium tracks inspired by the “TrackMania Nations Forever” game. Before we take a look at our newest member of the TrackMania collection, I’d like to thank Edouard Beauchemin from Nadeo for providing me with a free review copy.
I rarely get to be a dungeon master, but when I do, I feel right at home. There’s nothing like being in complete control of someone else’s destiny…on pen and paper, that is. “Ohhhh, sorry…looks like you stepped on a pile of troll droppings…minus three thousand dexterity.” Needless to say, no one likes it when I’m the dungeon master. “Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition” is an expanded version of “Knights of Pen and Paper”, which was released back in 2012. The latter was designed for iPhone/iPad/iPod and Android devices, but the newer version will allow us PC and Mac users a chance to flex our creative muscles a bit. In short, this game allows the player to take on the role of both the dungeon master AND the characters…something I did way back when in my “Hero Quest” days. Before we get started with the review, I’d like to thank Veronica Gunlycke and David Martinez from Paradox Interactive for providing me with a free press copy.
Kirk: “Bones, did you ever hear of a doomsday machine?”
McCoy: “No. I’m a doctor, not a mechanic.”
Kirk: “It’s a weapon built primarily as a bluff. It’s never meant to be used. So strong, it could destroy both sides in a war. Something like the old H-Bomb was supposed to be. That’s what I think this is. A doomsday machine that somebody used in a war uncounted years ago. They don’t exist anymore, but the machine is still destroying.”
-Star Trek, “The Doomsday Machine”, Airdate: Oct. 20, 1967
(Sorry, I couldn’t resist)
“Doomworks”, put simply, is a card game that tasks players with building a doomsday device. Each player will be endeavouring to complete their machine before everyone else while attempting to earn the most victory points in the process. This Kickstarter success nearly doubled its funding goal and just recently hit the virtual shelves with an Earth-shattering kaboom. Before I get into all of that however, I’d like to thank Daniel Schroeder from One Man Act Games for providing me with a free review copy.
It’s been one heck of a ride thus far…that is, in terms of photography. Since my last article, I’ve shot and edited many a photo. I came up with a name for my photography quote unquote “business”, went out and bought Adobe Photoshop Elements 11, and have now begun seriously considering expanding on my lens collection.
How many of you enjoy card collecting games like “Magic: The Gathering?” How many of you play “Defense Grid” and “Sol Survivor” religiously like your life depended on it? If you raised your hand to both of those questions, then there’s no doubt in my mind that you’ll take a liking to “Prime World: Defenders”. This game reminds me a bit of “BattleForge”, a card collecting real-time strategy game that I was heavily invested in for quite some time. In this case however, you’ll be collecting cards that will form your tower defense arsenal and be tasked with slaying mutants and baddies by the thousands. Before we take a look at this game in further detail, I’d like to thank Troy Goodfellow from Evolve PR for providing me with a free review copy.
“Folk Tale” recently appeared on Steam’s Early Access section, which is something that I was very grateful to see. There aren’t enough fantasy sandbox city-builders out there for my liking and from what I’ve been able to play so far, “Folk Tale” is aiming to fill that void. In this particular game, you’ll be tasked with leading a group of peasants to riches and prosperity through various means. You’ll start with a small settlement and with a little work, that settlement will turn into something grand and wonderous. Before I share my experiences with the Alpha build of this game, I’d like to thank Simon Dean, the Project Lead at Games Foundry Limited, for providing me with a free press copy. Like with all Alphas and Beta, it’s important to remember that the content featured in the game and in articles like these are subject to change.