Guess who’s back?! Well, to be honest, I’ve only been gone for three days, so you probably haven’t even noticed, but I apologise for the late publication of this article. I’ve been looking after 15 young people aged 15-16, sleeping in a tent on the top floor of an old bank building. Because, why not? In all honesty, it’s fun, and I get paid to sleep – technically. I say technically, because there’s not a whole lot of sleep to be had.
Anyway, I’m back from the night shifts, and it’s time to pick some interesting titles that I am going to be trying out from this week’s Steam Sale.
Firstly, cyberpunk title Megamagic: Wizards of the Neon Age is down by 15% this week. It’s a culture I am rather big into, especially when the genres of RPG and strategy are thrown in there. I’m always up for some modern set magic, and having lived in a city for only two years, the constant movement of people, echoes of voices in alleyways and hidden shops and clubs inspires the urban fantasy fan in me.
You play as a “neomancer”, which I can only guess is a way of tying the 80s themes and title together, as it would just translate as a manipulator of neon colours or something. What are you supposed to do when fighting monsters, fabulous them to death? Actually, you get to play with an array of spells to fight the enemy and save the world, all to the kicking sounds of Mitch Murder (Hotline Miami 2, Kung Fury). Give it a go for the beautiful settings, which give a nod to FFVII’s art style for sure, and the non stop on screen action. It’s also a local co-op game, so just put yourself in that arcade in your mind, and enjoy.
The Deponia series has a heap of titles on offer, once again, so if you didn’t listen to me last time, you better prick your ears this time. These games are stunning. They are a true representation of what true love and passion can create, and how sometimes having control over your game, and the people who will work on it, is more important than getting that big publishing deal. It pays off if you do it right.
The original Deponia is 85% off this week, and is a point and click adventure with a dystopian, steampunk setting (that’s two sub-genres of punk I have mentioned already. Can I get a third in somewhere?), full of humour and class. It’s for grown-ups though, so don’t let the cartoon art-style fool you too much.
Seduce Me 2: The Demon War was something that caught my attention thanks to the aforementioned love of urban fantasy. However, watching a trailer made on Windows Movie Maker and looking at the screenshots of awful dialogue make even the 50% discount look like I’d rather buy myself a large iced coffee. I thought it might have been a laugh, like Hatoful Boyfriend, but I really don’t think it is. I felt a bit like I’d read a fanfiction.
Why did I pick it? Because I love fanfiction, and I can’t stand iced coffee. Take my money now.
Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden is a puzzle point and click, filled with endless gorgeous hand drawn artwork, and enough emotion to sink a ship, and it’s got 65% off this week. It’s the BioShock I would have preferred to play, in all honesty. Mix the storyline and art style (diesel punk. Bam) with actual fleshed out characters and relationships, and you have Wraiths of Eden. It’s available on hand held devices, and is the perfect puzzle game to download if you seek something with depth (sorry) and story at the same time as casual gameplay. I’m downloading one for me and one for my mum. For when the fishing channel is on, you know.
Overdose on the sugar coated fan service of Saturday Morning RPG if you want to. It’s an adventure RPG, turn-based and full of different settings and enemies. However, if you were born at any point after 1987, don’t bother. The aim is to bring nostalgia to players who would get up earlier on the weekends than on schooldays, just to watch all of the cartoons. There was no catch-up TV, no TiVo, no internet. If you missed an episode of something, you’d have to ask your buddies on the playground Monday morning, but would look totally uncool. That need to sit in front of the telly for at least two hours was like nothing else. My brother and I would refuse to get washed and dressed until we’d seen the end credits of He-Man.
The amount of references is almost sickly, but I’m planning on gorging, especially after the week I’ve had. These kids don’t know they’re born sometimes.
For those of you who fancy some horror, try The Music Machine for half the usual price. I’ve got the flat to myself tomorrow evening, so I’m going to scare myself to sleep by playing it. I’m far more invested in a storyline full of mystery and atmosphere than jump scares, and The Music Machine looks like the one to deliver that. Puzzles to solve in a twisted narrative, all set to White Night style film noir artwork. I got my kilo bag of peanut M&Ms ready for this one.
Lastly, is The Ship: Remastered, which is an online title for those of us who want to enjoy some comedy and stealth mixed to great effect (who doesn’t?). It seems as though this historic presidential race has inspired so many add ons and DLC for games in which we can ridicule and injure/murder the potential candidates, and it seems in this particular instance, we can do the same to other controversial politicians. What could be better than that? Grab it at a third off this week.
