Steam - Flash Reviews

[EternalGamer]

So I saw this thread over at GAF and thought it was a good idea.

The Concept:

Pick a game in your Steam Library that you have never played. Play it for a brief period of time (10-30 minutes, for example) and write up a short impression/review of your experience.

This is a way to get people to try games they have never played before and maybe discover some hidden gems.

The Goal:

To play every game in your Steam library even if for only 10-30 min each.


The Format:

Include the title of the game, the amount of time you played it and a brief reflection (as little as a couple of sentences) on the experience. And whether or not you would play it again. For fun, I'm also going to include the arbitrary "rating" system on a 5 point scale.

Example:

Game: Samorost 2
Playtime: 25 minutes

Micro Review:

I never heard of this game before. I don't know how I got it and didn't even know what type of game was. I just installed it blind. It's a point and click adventure game on a strange alien planet, apparently. Very nice art and some clever alien design. However, I played for 25 minutes and only made it 5 screens in. The pixel hunt is pretty annoying. I got stuck on the second screen because I couldn't see the exact spot to click to go down a path. Similar problems of not noticing interactive objects on screens 3 and 4. A bummer because the production values seem nice.

Rating: 2.5/5

Will Play Again?: Maybe. It's a cool world but a tough sell due to the tedious pixel hunt. If interactive objects were highlighted somehow it would be be a huge improvement.

[Spigot]

Oh lord. Great idea but I think it would take a year of non-stop playing to do this with my library. *shudder*

[EternalGamer]

Game: Night Sky
Playtime: 20 minutes

Micro Review:

Again, went in knowing nothing about this game or even where I got it from. So, it's a 2D physics puzzle where you play as an 8 ball. Has a nice silhouette based artstyle. And fairly fast moving. In the first 20 minutes, I was able to complete 3 of 12 areas.

I'm not sure when this game came out, I imagine well before Limbo, but it reminds me a lot of that game in terms of the look and the physics puzzles, but more primitive. One thing the game could really benfit from is grouping similar levels together since it gives you powers and then removes whenever it is convenient for a particular puzzle. The only clue you are given that you don't have a power any more is the little text pop ups at the bottom of the screen.

Still, nice aesthetic, relaxing game.

3/5

Will Play Again?: Maybe. Certainly nothing here really addictive, but it could kill an afternoon.

[EternalGamer]

Originally Posted by Spigot

Oh lord. Great idea but I think it would take a year of non-stop playing to do this with my library. *shudder*

Well, don't worry about getting through your entire library. Just play something for 10 minutes and post a reply! Anything! At random!

[Spigot]

No worries. I'll try something new tomorrow

Night Sky. For some reason, I always lump it in my brain with Windosill.

[MagGnome]

I have 399 games on Steam. If I spent half an hour with each of them, it would take me 8.31 full days to play them all.

Count me in!

[Gorvi]

I love this idea, I'm going to do my best to participate.

[MagGnome]

Originally Posted by Spigot

Oh lord. Great idea but I think it would take a year of non-stop playing to do this with my library. *shudder*

I think you are over-exaggerating just a bit there.


EternalGamer - Samarost 2 is, obviously, the sequel to Samarost. The first game is free online. Samarost is from Amanita Design, the same developer that did Machinarium and the newly released Botanicula. Samarost was one of their first titles, so it is a little rough around the edges. Machinarium, however, is spectacular and doesn't take long to play through. There are a few puzzles that are somewhat obtuse, but I found it to be pretty easy overall, and very enjoyable.

I can't wait to get my hands on Botanicula. It looks wonderful.

[EternalGamer]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

I think you are over-exaggerating just a bit there.


EternalGamer - Samarost 2 is, obviously, the sequel to Samarost. The first game is free online. Samarost is from Amanita Design, the same developer that did Machinarium and the newly released Botanicula. Samarost was one of their first titles, so it is a little rough around the edges. Machinarium, however, is spectacular and doesn't take long to play through. There are a few puzzles that are somewhat obtuse, but I found it to be pretty easy overall, and very enjoyable.

I can't wait to get my hands on Botanicula. It looks wonderful.

You may know about them, but I'm going to bet my 20 minute play time in Samarost 2 means that I have played more than any of their games than you or at least come close.

[Ravenlock]

Cubemen: Indie 3D Tower Defense Game w/Multiplayer

Time Played: ~20 Minutes
Content Played: Tutorial, a couple Single Player levels, no Multiplayer

Impressions: Pretty standard tower defense in terms of structure, though the 3D map does take elevation and line of sight into account, so parts of the enemy route will go behind cover, negating your fire if you haven't placed your towers correctly. The art style is simple but slick, reminding me a little of Frozen Synapse. Your "towers" are mobile units, too, which means re-positioning them as the level progresses is an added layer to the gameplay. They might be in the right spot for Wave 1 but need to move for Wave 2.

I have a feeling that if anything will set this apart it's the Multiplayer, which apparently you can play cross-platform with iOS against an iPad player. I have no iPad and I'm not enough of a tower defense buff to really want to play a lot of it against people, but this is a unique feature for those who would want it.

Quick Unfair Verdict: It's only $5, so while I didn't enjoy it as much as super-polished TD like Defense Grid or FPS TD hybrid Sanctum, I bet it would still be worth checking out for TD fans. Not sure whether I'll go back to it.

This is a good thread idea. I approve.

[Vandabo]

Wasn't Jpublic doing something like this a while ago?

I might try one or two of these for the more indie style games that are on my list. Unfortunately most of what I have are developer packs of games that I've either played before or know enough about to not have any interest in (damn christmas sales). I'm sure I can find something to try though.

Also, I'll have to take a look at that Cubemen. I loves me some Tower Defense.

[PathMaster]

Night Sky is okay for me, the controls and powers are where I have issues.

[Spigot]

jpublic's was more indepth and he actually tried to finish the games he played.

[AntonThaGreat]

Game: World In Conflict
Playtime: 45 minutes

Micro Review:

It's beautiful, runs flawlessly, the controls are perfect. One of the best modern military RTS games out there. The first mission was going swimmingly, killing lots of enemy units. The first mission has you playing as the USSR agressor force, so I killed a few of (well a battalion or more really but who's counting) virtual American's, which I obviously felt terrible about.

Rating: 5/5 until it crashed, then 0/5.

Will Play Again?: If I find some more time, I'll try to play it again, after I research the crashing issue.

[Ink Asylum]

I have a ton of games left over from recent sales that I've yet to try. This is a good reason to at least get some value out of them even if I don't complete them all. Count me in.

[TheKeck]

I try not to buy games I'm never going to play.

[Ink Asylum]

I never intend not to play them at the point of purchase.

[roboninja]

Originally Posted by Ink Asylum

I never intend not to play them at the point of purchase.

Double negatives are not not fun.

[MagGnome]

Originally Posted by EternalGamer

You may know about them, but I'm going to bet my 20 minute play time in Samarost 2 means that I have played more than any of their games than you or at least come close.

Um...

Originally Posted by MagGnome

Samarost is from Amanita Design, the same developer that did Machinarium and the newly released Botanicula. Samarost was one of their first titles, so it is a little rough around the edges. Machinarium, however, is spectacular and doesn't take long to play through. There are a few puzzles that are somewhat obtuse, but I found it to be pretty easy overall, and very enjoyable.

Reading comprehension fail! Aren't you an English professor?

I finished Machinarium. It took me six hours.

[EternalGamer]

It was a joke!