Precursors (2009)

What other game has you running around in FPS view, able to use multiple vehicles, flying to other planets/space station while fighting land and space enemies? Probably out there, but rare, since its hard to mix so many different genres into 1 game. Really felt like Morrowind but in space.

Played the Russian version (1.1 patch) with fan patch (Wesp5 v1.3). I really enjoyed it even if parts of it lacked. Not the best FPS, nor best Space Sim but mixing them into 1 game made them better then if alone (though maybe other parts would have been better if not trying to do so much..but I like devs going for the ultimate game). What also kept me interested was the art style. Devs seemed to really put a lot into the game even if they couldnt quite get it all to work great.

I liked how open the maps where (in general), the different vehicles you could drive (buggy, plane, spaceship, mech) even if I mainly used the same weapons over and over. Quests were average but something about them being in Russian (with English text) made it more acceptable and helped in feeling foreign/alien [Not sure if it was cultural or translation that made some things read funny]

While not worth a full game price, it was worth the $10 or so I paid. Would really like to see a AAA dev try something like this. Really another gem that the devs couldnt quite get perfect. I still prefer that to just new paint on old game that other devs just pump out yearly.

Going excessive on screens since its a mix of FPS and Space sim with funny dialog. Mostly have 1st planet and last planet as I didn't realize screen shots weren't working at some point in time. :) :(

First city on a desert planet:






Random combat shots:







Random space shots:





Random dialog shots





Couple forums for the game: Deep Shadows (Game Dev), RPG Watch and Space Sim Central

Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason (2009)

Bought this ubercheap but finally got a video card that could run it with out uberchugging. Loves me some euro/russian developers and this delivered, though I did cheat mode after losing some fights way too much. Worthy of a play through just for the story.

Singularity (2010)

Fun enough game. Enjoyed the switch between current and past times. Very linear but sometimes its a good break from open worlds. Also helps I got it for $10 and not full price. I still liked the linear TimeShift more but this was still an enjoyable playthrough.

Braid (2009)

Fun side scroller. Nice riff on Mario and other platformers. Enjoyed the rewind/nonDeath aspect to the games, yet even then struggled with some puzzles (yeah! youtube). Makes you wonder why the princess WAS in the OTHER castle.

Trine (2009)

Fun Indie side scroller. Nice graphics and liked switching between characters. Decent length and difficulty.

Dead Space (2008)

Wasn't sure what to expect but enjoyed this horror FPS game. Sort of a streamlined System Shock 2 (1 was before my time) w/ some Alien(s) thrown in. Even though it was 3rd person control was easy & good. Digged the HUD and other effects and only had 1 major bug (walls were missing in 1 room and I had to stay on the floor area or I fell off the edges)

Ghostbusters (2009)

Fun if you liked the movies (1st one!) but crappy mouse control saved by loose targeting in the options. I remember the C64 game and while I find its odd they waited this long to release it, the tech has finally come around to make a good GB game. Worth a play through if you like the movies and find it cheap (as I did).

Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)

My 1st time playing a Tomb Raider beyond a demo of TR1 many years ago. Actually enjoyed it, 3rd person and all. Fun exploration and fighting wasn't bad. Story a bit more unworldly (even beyond Indiana Jones style) than I expected. Makes me want to try the other more recent TR games but will probably wait until the Castaway style reboot I've read about.