The occasional rantings of a disgruntled PC gamer

• 12Jan 13

  My 10 most anticipated games of 2013

  Now that we've survived the end of the world and made it to 2013, I figured this would be a good time to go over my own personal wishlist and pick the 10 upcoming games I'm most excited for and can't wait to play. Please note that this list isn't numbered, just arranged by release dates for my convenience. So without further ado - I give you my 10 most anticipated games of 2013.

  The Cave

  

  A game by Tim Shaffer and Ron Gilbert? How can I not get excited about this puzzle-platformer?! I admit I don't know much about this game, but heck... Its about a bunch of quirky characters exploring a talking cave with puzzles, traps and monsters in it - what more do you want?

  Dead Space 3

  

  I'll be the first to admit Dead Space 3 looks a little disappointing. The new focus on action, with universal ammo, human enemies and cover system, doesn't bode well for the game. However, I loved the previous games (even the one on the Wii) and enjoyed the book and movies, so I guess I'm a fan of the franchise. And as a fan I'm still excited for the next big installment in the series, and will probably play it twice (at least) - once in Co-op with a good friend and then alone, in the dark, under a blanket.

  Aliens: Colonial Marines

  

  I like the Alien movies ever since I saw Aliens as a kid (later I had to go back and watch the first movie as an adult), and I like Gearbox ever since I played Opposing Force in 1999. Now Gearbox is making an Aliens game, which looks f'ing fantastic. Need I say more? Well, I probably should, but I'm way too busy day-dreaming about blasting Xenomorphs in the face with a smartgun.

  Crysis 3

  

  Crysis 3 is on this list mainly because I've played the previous games in the franchise. I still don't know if I should get excited about it or not, since there's no way my current PC rig can run it without immediately turning into a pile of ashes and broken dreams. Plus, I'm not that big of a fan of the Crysis 1 and 2 (loved Crysis Warhead though). Still, it's one of the best looking games out there, and playing around in a big and rich environment with a powerful nanosuit is always fun.

  Tomb Raider

  

  My experience so far with the new Tomb Raider hasn't been all that good or exciting. I played a short demo during Gamescom 2012 and it was kinda boring and unfulfilling. BUT I still believe this game can be good, and even great, when played as a whole (a bad demo shouldn't ruin the game for me). Every video I saw just made me more excited about playing it when it comes out, and hopefully I would not be disappointed. And come on - it's Lara Croft we're talking about! I always had fun playing as her, even if it was just to see her crash on the rocks below...

  Bioshock Infinite

  

  Now that's a big one. I absolutely loved the first Bioshock (the second - not so much) and this one looks just as great and as much fun to play. The fast-paced action combined with an original story and fantastic characters (and enemies) are more than enough to create the perfect game of 2013. If this list was numbered - Bioshock Infinite would be floating up high above the rest.

  Grand Theft Auto V

  

  C'mon... It had to be somewhere on this list. It just had to.

  Metro: Last Light

  

  Metro 2033 was a nice game. Not the best shooter out there, but it was still fun and unique enough to stand out in a sea of FPSs. Metro: Last Light seems to be, as far as I've seen, even better - graphically and gameplay-wise. So yeah, it's on the list. I love post-apocalyptic settings, and the fact that this one is set beneath the ruins of Moscow just makes it even more interesting.

  Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs

  

  I love horror games, and Amnesia: The Dark Descent was one good horror game. Since I also love Frictional Games' Penumbra series, I have no reason to suspect Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs will be anything less than the most terrifying experience of 2013. Wandering around dark corridors while unknown monsters hunt you down? Check. Physics-based puzzles? Check. Atmosphere that will make you whimper like a little girl every time a door opens? Check and Check.

  The Last of Us

  

  The Last of Us is on the list not because of Naughty Dog and the Uncharted series. I liked Uncharted 2 & 3, but The Last of Us is way more up my ally than these games ever were. Fungus zombies? A tell of survival at all costs? Close-quarterscombat with pipes and shotguns? I love all of that stuff! At the moment I'm not so sure about the story and the characters, but everything else looks simply amazing.

  ***

  These were my 10 most anticipated games of 2013. Do you agree with me? Have I left some of your favorite games out? Just feel the need to yell at me? I'd really like to hear your thoughts, so give me a shout at the comments.

  • Posted Jan 12, 2013 9:00 am GMT
  • Category: Games
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• 10Nov 12

  My full list of Survival Horror titles (arranged by platform).

  Hello Everybody!

  I would like to share with you all a handy list I made a while back (and updated from time to time) of all Survival Horror titles in existance (probably not) arranged by their platforms!

  Looking for a scary game to play on your PS3? not problem! just look under "PlayStation 3" and you'll find all the horrific goodness available.

  The list was first published on the Everything Survival Horror Unionin 2007, and was last updated in May 2012. Notice there aren't any PS Vita and 3DS on the list. I'll fix that soon (maybe).

  Hope it helps all you Survival Horror fans out there to find more awesome games to play! If you have any suggestions or additions to the list - please post them below in the comments, and I'll consider them. Enjoy!

  SURVIVAL HORROR LIST

  PlayStation2

  Alone in the Dark (2008)
  Clock Tower 3
  Cold Fear
  Echo Night Beyond
  Extermination
  Fatal Frame
  Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterflies
  Fatal Frame 3: The Tormented
  Ghosthunter
  Haunting Ground
  Kuon
  Michigan
  Obscure
  Obscure 2: The Aftermath
  Resident Evil: Code Veronica X
  Resident Evil: Dead aim
  Resident Evil Outbreak
  Resident Evil Outbreak file #2
  Rule of Rose
  Silent Hill: 0rigins
  Silent Hill 2
  Silent Hill 3
  Silent Hill 4: The Room
  Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
  Siren
  Forbidden Siren 2
  The Suffering
  The Suffering: Ties that bind
  The Thing
  X-Files: Resist or Serve

  PlayStation3

  Alone in the Dark (2008)
  AMY
  Condemned: Bloodshot
  Dead Space
  Dead Space 2
  Deadly Premonitions
  Saw
  Saw 2
  Silent Hill: Downpour
  Silent Hill: Homecoming
  Siren: Blood Curse

  PSP
  

  Obscure 2: The Aftermath
  Silent Hill: 0rigins
  Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

  XBOX

  Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
  Cold Fear
  Curse: the Eye of Isis
  Fatal Frame
  Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterflies
  Obscure
  Silent Hill 2
  Silent Hill 4: The Room
  The Suffering
  The Suffering: Ties that bind
  The Thing

  XBOX 360

  Alan Wake
  Alone in the Dark (2008)
  AMY
  Condemned: Criminal Origins
  Condemned: Bloodshot
  Dead Space
  Dead Space 2
  Deadly Premonition
  Saw
  Saw 2
  Silent Hill: Downpour
  Silent Hill: Homecoming

  GameCube

  Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
  Resident Evil (Remake)
  Resident Evil 2
  Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
  Resident Evil 0
  Resident Evil: Code Veronica
  The Suffering

  Wii

  Alone in the Dark (2008)
  Calling
  Cursed Mountain
  Escape from Bug Island
  Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
  Ju-on: The Grudge
  Obscure 2: The Aftermath
  Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
  Resident Evil
  Residnet Evil 0

  DS

  Dementium: The Ward
  Dementium 2
  Resident Evil: Deadly Silence

  PC

  Afterfall: Insanity
  Alan Wake
  Alone in the Dark
  Alone in the Dark 2: One Eyed Jack's Revenge
  Alone in the Dark 3
  Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
  Alone in the Dark (2008)
  Amnesia: The Dark Decsent
  Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs
  Asylum
  Blair Witch Volume 1: Rustin Parr
  Blair Witch Volume 2: The Legend of Coffin Rock
  Blair Witch Volume 3: The Elly Kedward Tale
  Call of Cthulu: Dark Corners of the Earth
  Call of Cthulhu: Shadow of the Comet
  Clive Barker's Undying
  Cold Fear
  Condemned: Criminal Origins
  Cryostasis: The Sleep of Reason
  Curse: the Eye of Isis
  D
  Dark Seed
  Dark Seed 2
  Darkness Within: The Pursuit of Loath Nolder
  Darkness Within 2: The Dark Lineage
  Dead Space
  Dead Space 2
  Dino Crisis
  Dino Crisis 2
  Enemy Zero
  Harvester
  I'm Not Alone
  Lone Survivor
  Martian Gothic: Unification
  Midnight Nowhere
  Nightmare Creatures
  Nocturne
  Nosferatu: The Wrath of Malachi
  Obscure
  Obscure 2: The Aftermath
  Pathologic
  Penumbra: Episode 1: Overture
  Penumbra: Episode 2: Black Plague
  Penumbra: Requiem
  Phantasmagoria
  Phantasmagoria 2
  Realms of the Haunting
  Requiem: Avenging Angel
  Resident Evil
  Resident Evil 2
  Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
  Ripper
  Sanitarium
  Saw
  Shivers
  Shivers 2: Harvest of Souls
  Silent Hill 2
  Silent Hill 3
  Silent Hill 4: The Room
  Silent Hill: Homecoming
  System Shock 2
  The Suffering
  The Suffering: Ties that bind
  The Thing

  ------------------------------------------------------

  PlayStation

  Alone in the Dark: One-Eyed Jack's Revenge
  Alone in the Dark: New Nightmare
  Clock Tower: First fear
  Clock Tower 2: The Struggle Within
  Countdown Vampires
  Dark Seed
  Dark Seed 2
  Dino Crisis
  Dino Crisis 2
  Echo Night
  Echo Night 2
  Fear Effect
  Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix
  Koudelka
  Martian Gothic: Unification
  Nightmare Creatures
  Overblood
  Parasite Eve
  Parasite Eve 2
  Resident Evil
  Resident Evil Director's Cut
  Resident Evil 2
  Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
  Resident Evil: Survivor
  Silent Hill

  DreamCast

  Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
  Carrier
  D2
  Dino Crisis
  Illbleed
  Resident Evil 2
  Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
  Resident Evil: Code Veronica
  Shadow Man
  The Ring Terror's Realm

  Saturn

  Alone in the Dark: One Eyed Jack's Revenge
  D
  Deep Fear
  Enemy Zero
  Resident Evil

  • Posted Nov 10, 2012 10:51 am GMT
  • Category: Games
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• 17Sep 12

  I rekindled my love for adventure games.

  When I was younger I was a huge fan of adventure games. I played every point-and-click game I could find, be every classic Lucasarts games, Simon the Sorcerer, King/Space Quest, Broken Sword, Beneath a Steel Sky and the Gobliiins series (I didnt play a Leisure Suit Larry game till I was at 6th grade). I was absolutely addicted to a good puzzle that forced my then 8 year-old brain to work in twisted by bizarre ways. In fact, since I didnt own a console until I bought my X360 a few years ago, they were the only games I used play back then. Sure, I tried an occasional racing game or a good RTS like C&C or Warcraft, but adventure games (or quests) were my bread and butter.

  But then I grew up and discovered shooters like Duke Nukem 3D and eventually Half Life and Call of Duty 2, and I realized there was a whole other (violent) side to PC gaming. From that point I slowly but surely abandoned my quest buddies and moved on to bigger things with better graphics (returning only to play Grim Fandango and The Longest Journey around the year 2000). Every time I tried getting back to my point-and-click roots, I was mostly disappointed by the lack of innovation and boring stories (with a few exceptions, of course).

  A few years back I picked up a copy of Runaway: A Road Adventure (and its sequels), and was immediately transported back to the adventuring days of my childhood. Unfortunately it didnt last, mainly because I struggled to find other decent adventure games, and the FPSs and survival horror titles (which has some nice adventure elements in them) consumed by gaming habits once again. Dont get me wrong, I still played adventure games from time to time, but mostly to feel a dead period between one action-adventure game to the next, and never with the same enthusiasm I had when I was a little boy.

  And then something incredible has happened I discovered Telltale Games and their episodic format. The new Sam & Max, Tales of Monkey Island and Back to the Future (and even the more recent Walking Dead titles) made me fall in-love with inventory-based puzzles and wacky dialog options all over again.

  So I started digging deeper and found some amazing indie games like Machinarium and Resonance, and after finished the latter, Ive decided its time to go back to my roots and look up some upcoming adventure games worth checking out (those following me on Fuse might have noticed a surge in PC games Im following at the moment).

  Like most of my blog entries, this one doesnt really have a point. Maybe the point is sharing my thoughts, I dont know All Im saying is that while I wont stop playing the action and horror titles I love so much, Im going to actively search for good adventure games to try out and recommend to people (and besides, there are a lot of good horror-adventure games). The fact that I can actually find quests that intrigue me and make me want to combine everything in my inventory gives me hope that the genre isnt dead; at least not to me.

  P.S. I owe a lot of my recent discovering to this blog. If youre an avid PC gamer - check it out.

  • Posted Sep 17, 2012 4:20 pm GMT
  • Category: Games
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