Well, this will be the first video game post of 2016. I'm sorry for the readers who like games, I've just been too involved with wrestling to do an actual post on anything else. That changes today! Recently, I finally purchased a gaming capable laptop. It's not anything real special but it will run games that I wasn't able to play previously. Obviously, the main reason I did this was to play many of the Steam games that I've been missing out on. I had Steam on my old laptop but I wasn't really able to enjoy it due to the limitations. I played Fist Puncher, Rouge Legacy and the game that defined my Steam experience, The Binding of Issac. I remember playing that entire day before I got engaged. They rogue-like features and fun and challenging gameplay kept me coming back for more. I eventually bought it again on my Vita to play on the go. While I was able to beat Rouge Legacy, the game was so slow on my corny little laptop and it eventually gave out last year. I finally bit the bullet and bought a budget gaming laptop last week for a little under $500. I couldn't be happier with the purchase.
I immediately got Steam again and starting to look through the many recommendations that I had. The last game I bought was Valdis Story and that didn't run to well on the old laptop either. That was in 2012? I got about 12 games and dropped $110 on them. I've since spent more money for other games and I now have a grand total of 23 GAMES. Yes, 23 games. I'm an addict and I need help. I've played bits and pieces of each of the games, except one because I'm too much of a chump, and here's some of the few that stand out.
Evoland is an interesting adventure game. It's basically a celebration of adventure games for the past 30 years.You start off as pixels and continue to go through various forms of gaming. You go through 2D, 3D, RPG, it's all very interesting and very well done. There's humor done in all of it as well and it's a fun game. There's apparently a sequel so once I get through it, I'm definitely on board to play through a second entry.
Exile's End is a fantastic action adventure game. The description says the game is not based on any Metroidvania style gameplay, but it really does have a lot in common with Metroid more than anything else. Story is basic, you're trapped on a planet and are trying to find your way off of it. It's nothing new in terms of gameplay but it has the winning formula for me and that makes it addicting. I don't know what it is about these types of games that I like but I enjoy having to trek all over to find new items to open my path. Anyway, great game!
Dex is another Metroidvania-esque game set in cyberpunk backdrop. It's very similar to Exile's End in terms of gameplay but I love the hand to hand combat in it. There's something that's so satisfying about beating up someone with the character's bare hands. It's so visceral and amazing in this game. There's also going to be gunplay as well but I haven't made it that far just yet to experience that. It's another keeper for my library!
Oceanhorn is probably my 2nd favorite game that I bought. I got it apart of a Humble Bundle and only paid $8 for it and a couple other games I haven't played but I mainly did it to get this. It was described as a Zelda game so I instantly found a way to purchase it. You know how I feel about my Zelda. Yeah, it's definitely heavily influenced by the series. It has a Wind Waker vibe to it, mainly because you sail from island to island when you travel. The gameplay is similar to A Link Between Worlds. You fight monsters with your sword and shield, solve puzzles, blow things up with bombs, it's everything that has made Zelda a fan favorite series in the past 30 years. I got about a good 2 hours in of this game and it's definitely looking like it will only get better as time continues on. While it may have taken just a few too many pages from Zelda's book, it's still an amazing adventure in its own right. Think of it like Zelda's biggest fan.
The best game I've played on Steam? Odallus: The Dark Call. This game is a love letter to all fans of the classic Castlevania format and not much to the newer model of gameplay that Symphony of the Night brought about. It features 2D graphics that fit right onto a Super Nintendo and the challenging gameplay to boot. The game also features multiple paths and there's plenty of backtracking to be done as there are places you can't access your first time through. Like on the first level, there are these very heavy blocks that the protagonist can't move just yet. Once you advance onto a further level, you find these gauntlets which will then allow you to push the blocks. I got a heart piece for going back to push the block but this definitely isn't a requirement to finish the game. The boss battles are fun and frantic and everything about the game just screams Castlevania. It's actually the best Castlevania game to be releases since the DS Metroidvania games. (Portrait of Ruin was my jam!) If you have any love for the amazing series that is Castlevania, you owe it to yourself to check this game out. Also, get Oniken from the same people who did Odallus. If you like your games like the old NES style, with look and difficulty, you won't find a better tribute than Oniken.
There are plenty others but these are just some that I've been playing the most. I also bought and love Grim Dawn, Momodora III and They Bleed Pixels but haven't played them too much. This purchase has been the best decision I've made this year. So many games that will never get beaten but I will definitely try my best to get through as many as possible.
I'll keep you updated!
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