PC Reviews

To the Moon was released November 2011 on Freebird Games website, then it came to Steam in September 2012, and now I’m finally playing it now in January 2013. I think it’s safe to say that I’m a bit late to the party but, better late than never right?

To the Moon is an Action RPG that puts you in the shoes of Dr. Neil Watts and Dr. Eva Rosalene who are employed by the Sigmund Corporation. Their job is to travel into the memories of dying clients and alter them so that they can achieve their dream before they die.

Dr. Watts and Rosalene’s newest client is Johnny. Johnny lives in a gorgeous house overlooking the ocean, with a stereotypical light house near it. When you arrive at the house you meet Johnny’s caretaker Lily, her children Sarah and Tommy, and Johnny’s doctor. You learn from Lily that Johnny’s last wish is to go to the moon. When you initially enter his memory he doesn’t remember why. It’s up to your sleuthing skills to piece the mystery together.

In order to travel back through Johnny’s memory you must first find mementos’ of his that link his memories together. Most mementos are trapped behind a force field. The only way to destroy the force field and access the memento is to establish five memory links. You receive memory links from items that have significant meaning in Johnny’s life. They’re typically found in the current memory you’re inhabiting. When you do break through the force field and are able to access the memento you also have to prepare it through a small mini-game.

As you go back farther and farther into Johnny’s memory you find out more about his about his wife, friends and ,believe it or not, what seems to be a hidden past. Every story element serves a specific purpose and the designer, Kan Gao, did a magnificent job making sure it did.

What kept me going to the end was the story and the secrets. I wanted answers so bad that I kept playing nonstop, and in the end when everything came together so well I was glad I finished in one continuous session. Despite the games short length the story more than makes up for it, and is worth checking out. It has won several awards and if you experience To the Moon too you will see why.

I wish I could go more in depth with the storyline but I’m afraid I can only tell you so much about this game without spoiling most of the plot twists and secrets. As I said the secrecy and finding out the truth is what makes the game.

+Great musical score

+Superb story

+Funny characters

Review Score: 9/10

Author: DoubleZ

392 total views, 74 views today

I just started playing Ten Million a few days ago and the throwback graphics, surprising customization, and addicting Platformer style game play had me coming back for more.

In Ten Million you control a man imprisoned within a castle. His only means of escape is to secure a score of…you guessed it, Ten Million points. How do you earn these ten million points you ask? Naturally the only way one can earn points while stuck in a castle. Proceed with the dungeon crawling and monster hunting!

In the beginning there are multiple rooms, but the only one available to travel through is the dungeon door. When you enter it is an immediate race against time to fend off the monsters that are dead set to kill you. Along the way you will also encounter treasure chests and doors you must unlock to progress farther.

Now here’s the twist, gameplay is puzzle based. At first it took me a little while to get used to it but once I did, I found myself in a groove. You must match tiles, of three or greater, together in order to fight monsters, unlock doors and treasure chests. Matching multiple tiles together and getting longer chains increases the effectiveness of the tiles.

There are seven different tiles you can match. First, there are the combat tiles which give one the option of sword or staff. The sword deals physical damage and the staff does magic damage. Learning what vulnerabilities the monsters have is the key to successful combat. Here’s a short list of the other tile types:

- The stone and wood tiles are materials you collect to fix and upgrade rooms.

- The key tiles are used to unlock treasure chests and doors while dungeon running.

- The chest tiles are used to gain gold. Gold is used to upgrade weapons and armor.

- The shield tiles are for protecting yourself from monster attacks.

- Last but not least is the star tile. The star tile is the wild card which can be used with any other tile to make matches.

As you progress farther and travel through more trying dungeons you might find it hard to advance, but fear not as there is a solution to your problems. Enter our aforementioned rooms that weren’t available to you earlier. All the materials you have collected during your runs aren’t just for display. Materials you’ve amassed are used for rebuilding said rooms. All six rooms in total contain something to upgrade your gear or train your skills.

Now I haven’t quite made it to ten million points so I don’t know what’s going to happen when the task is complete. But if you want to find out you’ll just have to earn your own Ten Million.

+Interesting game concept.

+Old school graphics and music.

+Fast and addicting gameplay.

Review Score: 8/10

Author: DoubleZ

393 total views, 75 views today

I just finished tromping across the galaxy in Space Pirates and Zombies (SPAZ for short), and I have to say I am thoroughly impressed. I typically enjoy games about space and exploration so Space Pirates and Zombies was a no brainer.

In SPAZ you and the quirky crew of the pirate ship “The Clockwork” are in search of the galactic core. The core which is located at the center of the galaxy holds a fortune in “rez” (the games currency). You’ll need this in order to bring the crews ship back to its former glory.

Your role in all of this is to pilot a fleet, small at first, of spaceships into the great unknown in search of the galactic core. Along the way you meet odd and unique characters that ask for your help and vice versa.

Some people say size doesn’t matter but when it comes to the size of the galaxy the bigger the better. This game takes place in a galaxy where you decide how big it is. You can choose from a minimum of 150 stars all the way up to the maximum of 300. Each star has multiple planets for you to explore and take on quests from different factions to gain experience, money, and loot.

The galaxy generator is not the only thing that’s great about SPAZ. The ship customization is great and is easy to negotiate. Each ship has its own class, size, and weapon slots. Acquiring new ships a long the way is also tons of fun. Instead of grinding quests and mining ore for rez to purchase new ships, you have to recover black boxes from ships you destroy, and reverse engineer them to make them your own. You may also refit your ships at anytime even during combat.

Space Pirates and Zombies is a top down shooter but it also has an RTS and RPG aspect to it. Normally I’m really bad at RTS but in SPAZ combat doesn’t solely rely on it, so if your like me don’t shy away based on being weaksauce at RTS.

In order to use certain gear you buy and earn through quests, you have to have enough points in the corresponding skill. Skills range from the offensive beams and cannons, to the defensive shields and hull upgrades along with other passive skills.

Last but not least I have to mention the quality. This game was made by only two people. TWO PEOPLE. I can only imagine the time and effort they must have put into it and shows. Don’t shy away from this title because of the RTS elements. It’s an enjoyable and off beat experience.

+ Vast universe to explore

+ Lots of customization

+ Funny dialogue

+ Easy controls and UI

Review score 8/10

Author: DoubleZ

394 total views, 76 views today

I was skeptical at first about buying this game. I hadn’t heard much about it, but when I looked at some game play it piqued my interest enough to purchase via steam. The promoted sale also helped Hotline Miami’s cause.

In Hotline Miami you receive mysterious messages on your answering machine requesting that dole out justice to criminals or, complete other assigned tasks. It’s pretty cut and dry. You spend your time after missions going to different spots around Miami like the video rental store, the corner store, or bar. Each location seems to have the same person working the counter which I found amusing.

I have to say I liked this game from the very first level. They start you off simple with some bad guys armed with only melee weapons which you are easily dispatched. Your subesquent enemies are upgraded with shotguns, assault rifles, and even attack dogs. Don’t be discouraged in the face of adversity. While your enemies may get stronger, so do you. With each kill you earn points which add up for new weapon unlocks. Doing well during missions and getting longer combos off will award you with additional points.

Another bonus you receive to help you in your fight against injustice are different animal masks, and they’re not just for show. Each mask has its own power to help you survive. Some masks will start you off with a weapon while some will increase a physical attribute. Attribute augmentations include being able to walk faster or having the ability to instantly kill someone with a melee attack. Some masks are granted to you after certain missions, but some can be found during missions so keep your eyes peeled.

Speaking of masks, every once and a while you will encounter three people touting a different mask that you obtain in the game. They are more or less how the storyline progresses. With each meeting you receive small amounts of information. Questions like who are you, and who is leaving the messages on your answering machine? All you can do though is push on till the end to find out.

And finally I have to mention the musical score. Jasper Byrne did a phenomenal job. If not for the great music it would not have left such a strong impression on me. I have to admit that I have never listened to ’80s retro electro but it fits so well with game that it grew on me and it probably would for you. I would suggest that everyone give it a good listening.

+Easy controls

+Fast paced madness

+Fantastic soundtrack

+Interesting storyline

Review score 10/10

Author: DoubleZ

395 total views, 77 views today

Telltale Games has crafted an amazing and engrossing experience with Season 1 of The Walking Dead. They managed to really hit their stride as far as modern day adventure games are considered. Telltale also crafted one of the more emotional and touching stories ever told in a video game. I’m completely comfortable saying that with confidence. The adaptable story line holds you accountable for the decisions you make in some capacity. In other words we all end up in the same place at the end, but the experience of how we get there will differ greatly based on the decisions made at critical points. I will do my utmost to provide you with key tantalizing details without ruining any plot points for you.

Telltale’s Season 1 of The Walking Dead included five “monthly” episodes that averaged anywhere from 2-3 hours in length. The one and only gripe I have with the entire experience was the promise of monthly episodes that wasn’t kept. As I personally made the Season 1 purchase as a bundle I was constantly playing the waiting game for the next installment.

Episode 1 A New Day starts your walking dead experience out properly. In the opening moments of episode 1 our protagonist Lee Everett is on his way to prison (sad face). When suddenly the world around him and the overly talkative correctional officer you’re forced to converse with goes all reanimated corpselike. Shortly later you meet the heroine of Season 1 Clementine. Lee promises to watch after Clementine and get her back to her parents at all costs. Fans of The Walking Dead comic book series and the AMC adaptation alike will be happy with your early visit to the farm house of Hershel Greene. He’s not the only other regular of both the ongoing comic and television series to fall into the fray in Episode 1. Glenn also makes an appearance running his usual life threatening supply runs. Some very tough decisions have to be made right out of the gate that will hold precedence throughout your five episode experience. Episode 1 does a fantastic job of introducing you to the characters, controls, and mood of the ongoing Season.

Episode 2 Starved For Help picks up shortly after the events of the first. This episode delves deep into the survival aspect of a post apocalyptic society. There’s a strong theme of deception rearing it’s ugly head during Episode 2 that is the driving force of the events that eventually unfold. Lee is pushed to further break the rules that governed his previous way of life to survive. The themes that are introduced into the overall story are much darker this time around. Episode 2 does well to acclimate you to the survival of the fittest mentality that is The Walking Dead. A decision during this episode will weight very heavily on events towards the end of your experience of Season 1 so keep that in mind.

Episode 3 Long Road Ahead starts up just weeks after the events of the previous episode. Things are worse for our rag tag group of survivors after the recent events have taken effect. Their sanctuary is threatened and they are forced to hit the road to escape a grisly fate. The traitor of the group is accused and what eventually occurs is just another example of the hardships that face Lee and his group of survivors. Just after this turn of events another even more heart breaking realization is made. Eventually your path is blocked and you find another suitable mode of transportation. After getting your new transport up and running the group makes a bee line elsewhere. Another group altercation causes our progress to stop and Lee is forced to make the most emotional decision of the entire series (this moment I’m referring to elicited the most emotion I’ve ever felt while playing any video game in my life). At the end of episode 3 Lee has to make some decisions about how to protect Clementine in the future and make her less vulnerable. Three new characters are added to the group during this episode and will join you going forward in your quest to protect Clementine and find her parents.

Episode 4 Around Every Corner lands you in a new location. Clementine’s parents may be in the area and the overall sense of urgency is definitely heightened out of the gate. Since early on in the story one member of your group has been convinced your groups salvation lies at sea. The new location in Episode 4 offers the opportunity for Lee and the group to become sea faring survivors and the search is on for a boat so the group can make their escape. However, someone out in the shadows definitely isn’t a fan of the group and does their utmost to make life hard for them. Further hardships ensue and eventually we have another addition to our group and also stumble upon another group of survivors. A third group is referred to and later encountered that’s described as a bit right wing and homicidal. The events of Episode 4 are abundant and would require a lot of real estate to cover. The finale is set by the disappearance of Clementine at the end of the episode and a posse is made based on the in game decisions you’ve made up to this point. Lee’s quest to protect Clementine at all costs is coming to an end and the grim future of Lee and his group is more evident than ever.

Episode 5 No Time Left is the perfect cap to a hugely emotional, masterfully written experience. Lee will slice, smash, and claw his way back to Clementine at all costs. Your journey ends in a humble yet spectacular fashion as you complete your goal of protecting Clementine with all of your being. Lee takes steps prepare her to survive on her own in the new world around her. The torch is passed in what I believe the most meaningful way possible. Episode 5 closes the book on what I believe was 2012′s game of the year.

So head out and grab The Walking Dead via digital download on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC. It’s also now available via retail disc on the above systems.

Telltale hit the nail on the head when it comes to The Walking Dead. The characters and story present throughout are some of the best realized ideas in gaming history. I also didn’t experience any of the technical hiccups that many others referred to as their only complaint of the title. With that in mind it’s hard to really take anything away from The Walking Dead besides a bit of fragmentation in the story during Episode 4.

+ Some of the best writing in video games.

+ Characters that you care about.

+ The mood and themes of the source material are fully respected.

- Episode 4 had some pacing issues but still set up the finale suitably.

- Delayed episode releases.

Review Score: 9.5/10

396 total views, 78 views today