Honerable Mentioning

Since I'm out of a job for now and in a bored streak lately I've set myself to test another set of games and was amazed. I'll share my insights and I can generally say these games are worth buying and replaying from time to time (unless its not your thing so lets run through them shall we...)

Zeno Clash.

This game is unique in every way. I got the review from Escapist Magizine where they said and I quote "this is like when you'd ask Tim Burton to make an action movie about the stoneage" and its true. Thats exactly what it is. With beautiful outlandish landscapes, creatures and a story that is absolutly mindboggling.

Build on the Half-Life 2 source engine this game is a 3d beat'm'up with FPS features. Most of the time you'll be running around barehanded fisting and kicking people in various ways that I thought I'd never see outside a game that wasn't from Bethesda. There's points where you get a weapon, but you notice soon enough your fists are graced with the magical Ouch that hurt enemies much faster then say a speeding rock from your primitive x-bow.

Now what makes this game even more special is this. Its not made by stuck up programmers who only want to see money but actually care about their product. Here's what one of the developers had to say about the download I used.

"I would appreciate you read this if you are about to download this file. Zeno Clash is an independently funded game by a very small and sacrificed group of people. The only way in which we can continue making games like this (or a sequel) is to have good sales.

I am aware that at this moment there is still no demo of the game, but we are working on one which will be available soon. We cannot do anything to stop piracy of the game (and honestly don't intend to do so), but if you are downloading because you wish to try before you buy, I would ask that you purchase the game (and support the independent game development scene) if you enjoy it.

We plan on updating Zeno Clash with DLC and continuing support for the game long after it's release.Thanks for taking the time to read this... hopefully it will make a difference."

Now I can honestly say this touched me deep. Not only cause they understand the Try / Buy factor, but actually intend to build a fanbase around their product and hope they can actually build on that to continue development. I'm 100% for this sort of game production and I will therefor buy this game as soon as I can.

The game can (as far as I know) only be bought on Steam
Mediasite: Zeno Clash

Ghostbusters.
The Game

No the picture isn't an actual game concept thing ... its just something I plucked off the web, but as funny and nostalgic as that picture is, Thats how the game feels.

The first time I saw Ghostbusters I think I was about 8 or something. It was released in 1984 so that should be about the right age when it first came on tv. On belgian tv where they didn't have any commercials between movies. Can we have that back please, I hate the american style 15 min. then break kinda tv we have now and especially the irritating commecials that come during the movie in the top and / or bottom of or ALL OVER the screen. Then a few years later Ghostbusters II and I loved them. I've watched them probably as many times as I watched Labyrinth and Karate Kid I, II and III. And I can tell you ... nothing waxes more on and off then a game sequel / remake of the Ghostbusters.

The reason for the sequel being shared with remake is this. Ghostbusters the game is actually a 2 in one package of the movies. Its kind of like asking the guys to write a script for a game that will be packed with the 10th anniversary edition of the collectors edition of the movie. During the game you'll visit most of the locations the first movie plays in with most of the first movie's ghosts. Although I must say that Zero Punctuation is right about it loosing in the being "original" department, by bringing back ghosts like Stay-Puffed marshmellow man and the gray library lady, it does make for incredible nostalgia.

Ghostbusters has an original story that contains a lot of "hey, I know this" moments. For me it was the first movie game adaption (and there aren't any that are good) that was actually a good. Even though it took them more time to come to a point to make it then it took Duke Nukem Forever to ever see daylight.

Mediasite: Ghostbusters - The Game

The Path.

The Path isn't a game. Its an interactive story book and a horror / thriller story in its kind. For those who are interrested in the sick and twisted mindset of human nature this will be the "game" for you. I can't really say a lot about The Path with a very good reason. Even though its small, its also massive. There's more then 1 way to finish the game and there's no set road to pick. You wonder around the forrest looking for clues to unlock more of the story of the character you play, but the forrest seems endless (its not actually .. its looped .. but you won't know after you walked 500 steps or so and get to see the map for the first time).

You are one of 6 Red Ridinghoods and with each one you play you'll get a different story. Most of the the game leave your mind boggling. For instance the lines that are displayed in the game are suggestive to what the girl thinks, but other then that don't say a lot. Its more a psychological trip. After playing an hour of The Path I felt like I needed to talk to someone about it. You can't play the game and not want to talk about it. You can compare it to Sigmunt Freud having a chocolate milkshake for the first time. He probably can't shut up about that either and how its the medication for any female mental problem.

Ofcourse like in Red Ridinghood there's a Wolf, but even the wolf isn't just a wolf (although in my case it was ... I played as the youngest girl first). I'm looking forward to diving back into this game as soon as I can cause although its a game that will bore the hell out of a lot of people, for me its the most interresting thing I've ever seen in the field of computer entertainment.

Mediasite: The Path

And I almost forgot this one ..... DRUMS PLEASE !!!

Tales of Monkey Island.
Chapter 1 - Launch of the Screaming Narwhal

Now if you think Ghostbusters rings nostalgia bells in my head ... Monkey Island has been a game thats been with me since I first touched my own pc. I was 11 years old and the game industry was just booming with new and exciting new things. Ofcourse back then we didn't have internet but we sure as hell had downloads. I had a lot of friends and family who provided me with new games every time they passed by (mostly cause my computer was always slightly better then theirs). And there it was ... "The Secret of Monkey Island".

I must have played that game at least 25x and the sequels less but about as much. 4 gametitles that are carved in my brain like the childseat of a trolly car once did to my head (don't ask ... long story). To sum it up the Monkey Island series is this:

• Pirates
• Great humor
• Twisted puzzles
• Failure

Its the epic story of a never was or will be pirate Guybrush Threepwood. Its probably been the backbone for most of the content of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. If not then tough luck cause I think it is.

When I first heard of Tales of Monkey Island I was afraid they'd screw it up as much as they did the Sam and Max series. I loved Hit the Road, but I never really got into the series. That doubt pretty soon faded away when I saw my old time friends hit my screen. Guybrush, Marley and LeChuck are all in the intro and stole my heart again as they did so many years ago. Even the voicecast is back (or equally good) which is a huge plus.

The game contains the usual gameplay of point, click, combine items and fiddle till it fits mechanic puzzles and it works. The story is funny, the puzzles are as screwed up as ever and I can't wait for Chapter 2.

Media and sales site: Tell Tale Games

Conclusion:

There's great hope in the pc game industry to my oppinion. Old titles are getting a make-over and are becoming pretty successful titles without having to be an MMO all of a sudden. New games don't all have to be Warcraft, Half-Life or GTA clones and can actually contain original concepts, gameplay and storylines. One that I skipped was Trine, but thats because I can't really say a lot about it except that its fun for a go and I'm doing games with replay value here. Another is Blood Bowl, but thats a game that deserves different attention another time.

Then there's one final thing I'd like to promote. A lady called Rebecca Mayes. She's probably the most original game reviewer in the entire world. I'm not going to waste words to her amazing work. Just go to her site on Game People or at Escapist Magazine. Enjoy!