I’m the crabby old man that doesn’t like anything of MonsterVine. They keep me in a cave and give me what nobody else wants, so now we’re going to talk about weird games and Early Access stuff. AND ORCS!
Biggest Disappointment – Middle-Earth: Shadow of War
Shadow of War is two games that spend most of their time fighting each other. One part of the game is the buddy comedy with Celebrimbor and RANGER wandering around beating the living hell out of orcs. That game is really fun, almost a fantasy GTA where there is a storyline but you don’t really pay attention to it because you’re busy wandering around doing whatever. And the melee combat is incredibly satisfying. I loved coming in after a hard day, going to a random location, and just beating the hell out of a swarm full of orcs or rolling with my hand-picked entourage while Celebrimbor griped because I wasn’t ring-chasing. That game’s a 9/10.
But then you get the Video Game Bullshit. Shelob’s an evil spider lady but SEXY with a little black dress that seems impractical for living in a cold wet cave. Lootboxes. The way it’s possible to screw yourself by losing a fight to the wrong orc and making him basically invincible. The way the fun melee combat system starts piling gimmicks on top of gimmicks. Lootboxes. Pay $2.99 to read the rest of this.
Biggest Surprise – Battle Chef Brigade
From out of nowhere with a steel chair came Battle Chef Brigade, the monster hunting and cooking game you didn’t even know you wanted. Has anyone else noticed that Adult Swim Games is kicking out some of the most interesting games out there? When you get tired of Battle Chef Brigade, check out Rain World, a gorgeous post-apocalyptic platformer.
Biggest Gamestopping Bugs – Endless Space 2
One of those games that comes so close to greatness it’s infuriating. Endless Space 2 has some fantastic ideas, a fun ship builder, and oops you just hit a game breaking bug. I liked it more than Stellaris, because I admire the idea of the Paradox grand strategy game but my fragile little mind can’t cope with real-time. Right up until I hit a bug that meant GAME OVER, MAN, GAME OVER.
Best Game About Managing Your Own Bomber Crew – Bomber Crew
It’s FTL but on a Lancaster bomber and you’re managing your carefully developed crew during World War II. For some people, that sounds nuts. For me, I was pulling out my card just hearing the concept. The difficulty spikes are insane, some of the missions are downright impossible, and you’re going to lose your customized plane and carefully-managed crew. It’s a game that leaves you screaming with rage, but then wanting a cigarette before you go back for more.
Best Game I Wrote About For The Site – Battlechasers: Night War
I’m sure the name makes sense to someone but this is the most laidback fun I’ve had with an RPG in ages. It feels very SNES in its look and feel but there’s a depth to it, a crafting system that’s pretty great, and a story that’s tolerable. One of the few games I gave a good score because I’m a snob.
Best Game That’s Not Really A Game – >Observer_
Okay I am going to put on my black beret and striped shirt for maximum pretense and here it is: This isn’t a great game, but as a work of artistic expression, it’s amazing. In terms of craftsmanship and atmosphere and making you feel things, it’s fantastic. It’s the most interesting-but-flawed game I’ve played since Remember Me, which worked in a similar headspace.
