Friday, April 29, 2011

Duke Nukem 3D

Currently everybody is waiting for Duke Nukem Forever to be released. Some people (like me) wait for this since 1997.. you ask why? Because Duke Nukem 3D showed us what it means to kick some alien asses.

Duke Nukem 3D is a FPS developed by 3D Realms and was released 1996. There exist Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem II, but they were pretty lame 2D Jump&Run games.

In Duke Nukem 3D you play the American "Duke Nukem", who just came back to Earth from Duke Nukem II, when faced with an alien invasion in Los Angeles. In the original Duke Nukem 3D there exist 3 Chapters. First one is LA, second one in space and the third one again in LA.

You have a great repertory of weapons including some futuristic weapons like the Shrinker or Freezing Cannon.




What made Duke Nukem 3D so great weren't only very good graphics (we're talking about 1996 here) compared to Doom, Hexen and other FPS these times, but the quotes Duke speaks out from time to time and other funny possibilities (e.g. Having strippers open the bra for money, lighten yourself at the toilet, etc.)

I would recommend everyone who is going to play "Duke Nukem Forever" to take a look in it's previous alien-ass-kicking-fps. You won't regret it.

PS: I'm currently playing the Atomic Version of Duke Nukem 3D, which also works on Windows 7 and has an additional Chapter :D

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Broken Sword

One of the best Point&Click adventure games ever created is called Broken Sword. ("Baphomets Fluch" as in the german version)

You start as George Stobbart who is on vacation in Paris, when suddenly a bomb placed by a clown detonates. George decides to investigate in this murder case and gets caught up in a dangerous story including attractive photo journalist Nico Collard, a mysterious cult and conspiracies about the Knights Templar.

While progressing in this game, George travals all around the world to find the murderer. Later in the game there are many possibilities to die, which are hardly avoidable when playing for the first time.

Although i like nearly all Point&Click adventures, this one is a special. You are not in a fantasy world and don't want to become a pirate (:>). You are just a normal person and want to find a murderer. It feels like you're right in a crime thriller. Additionally the researches in history facts reminds one of movies like "The Da Vinci Code" or "National Treasure".

Meanwhile there exist 4 official games. The first 2 are controlled by traditional Point&Click mechanism. Part 3 was the first with 3D graphics and is controlled either with a gamepad or keyboard. Part 4 has also 3D graphics but Point&Click control were used again.
Other than these 4 there was a fanproject called "Broken Sword 2.5" created by MindFactory.

I recommend to play at least part 1 and part 2, those were definitely the best of the series.
Thanks for reading :)

Monday, April 18, 2011

Loco Roco

Loco Roco is a platformer for the PSP.

Its specials aren't only the "childish" graphics or the crazy mind-eating music, but also a very funny idea how the control works. The main goal in every stage is to navigate the LocoRoco through the level, eat special berries to grow and avoid enemies called Moja. But instead of controling the LocoRoco to move you have to tilt the world by using the shoulder buttons of the PSP. And that are the main things to tell about this game.

You expect photorealistic graphics? Negative. You expect a complicated and twisted plot? Negative.
You expect one of the most addictive games ever created? Hell yes.


And a very well-intentioned advice: Don't have the music on too loud when anybody is around. They are going to kill you for sure.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Fable

Today i'm writing a short review of a video game my girlfriend currently plays. I went through it a few years ago. It's a good action RPG developed by Lionhead Studios (remember Black&White?) with a lot of fights, decisions, different skills and a straight-line plot.

You start as a little boy in your hometown on the birthday of your sister. Just when you gave her your birthday present, the whole town is raided by bandits. Youself get rescued by a mighty wizard called Maze. He takes you to the Heroes' Guild, where you start to practice swordplay, archery and your willpower (for casting spells) to avenge your family.
I don't want to spoil any more of the plot. The battle system is mostly free, so you can attack nearly anybody and can change between melee weapon, ranged weapon and spells in one second. This allows you to be both archer, warrior and mage in one person. You get general experience for killing enemies and quests and additionally experience in the three categories (strength, skill, will) that is based on the method you damaged the enemy/skill you used. There is also the good/evil component in this game. Every decision you make, turns your character more good or evil, which also changes your appearance and the behaviour of NPCs towards you.

There are also funny RPG elements in this game. You can buy houses, extinguish whole towns, marry women, gamble, show around your trophies, fish, dig for treasures and get new hair styles/beard styles and tattoos.

I can hardly find anything that's not beautiful in this game, so it's definitely worth a recommendation. Due to the fact that there are already part 2 and 3 released, this game isn't expensive. Too bad i haven't got a XBOX360, i need to play 2 and 3 as well.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Silver

Another classic game for the PC. It's long time ago i went through this game, but i'm always looking back to it, because it was one of the most entertaining games i've ever played.

You start as David, who lives with wife and grandfather. One day his wife Jennifer is kidnapped by Fuge, the son of Lord Silver, who rules over the island Jerrah. Silver ordered to bring all women in the age of giving birth to him. But David isn't going to watch over this, and decides to fight this injustice. But before he can defeat Silver he has to collect 8 magic orbs with different powers (e.g. Fire, Time, ...) that allows the user to cast spells.





You play a party of 3 people, where 2 are controlled by the AI. One of the greatest things in this game is the combat control. You move by clicking on the point where you want the character to go, but when a fight is engaged, you have to hold the CTRL button and use mouse gestures to defeat your enemies. Additionally there are special-moves, spells and food to regain health.

It was the first game i've played that used this kind of control, and i was amazed by it. Think i have to replay it sometime again.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Morrowind

Today i'm presenting you a milestone in the RPG genre. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. It's the predecessor to TES IV: Oblivion, which is very popular as well. Morrwind is a 3D-Action-RPG with mostly used first person view. (3rd person is available too, but not very playable) 2 Addons and a lot of user created mods are released.

The game starts in the cargo hold of a slave ship. You get released in a small town called "Seyda Neen" with the mission to deliver a packet to an Imperial officer in Balmora. From this point in the game you have full control over your destiny. You don't have to deliver this packet, you don't have to go to Balmora, you don't have to do anything. But you have a lot of options to do. You can join diffent guilds, you can just go and kill everyone in sight, you can run through the woods to collect plants/flowers to mix some potions, and many more possibilities.



As soon the ship arrives in Seyda Neen, you have to answer different questions to create your character. There is also an "What would you do in this situation"-Q&A game integrated, that chooses the class that fits you best. One of the greatest things in character creation is the possibility to mix different skills, so you don't have to choose a "pure warrior". You can create a polearm-wielding, cloth-wearing rogue with the ability to sneak around and pick some locks. Even if you chose the wrong abilities, you just can train other abilities - by using them or by paying a trainer - to improve your character.

The great island of Morrowind with lots of dungeons and places to explore, the many NPCs and quests, the huge pile of items to collect, the possibilities to create your own potions, spells, enchants and even build a stronghold makes Morrowind not only a game with a massive amount of freedom, but a place where you can spend days and hours.