Why Steam Deserves To Be Your New Console!

Do you know that romantic comedy cliche where the young twenty something chick has to choose between the good looking jerk or the wealthy foreign dude?  Then in a sudden twist she finds out that her best friend, Todd, has been the one the whole time.  That is your relationship with Steam.  While we were fretting over which Xbox or Playstation to get, Steam sat quietly promising to console you in your darkest hour.  Not once did it charge you for online capabilities and it doesn't get jealous if you use its Netflix.

5.  Backwards Compatible In Its Truest Sense

Steam did something smart.  It stuck to one media format for all its games-The digital download.  And because you have that one media format you never have to worry about your games becoming obsolete.  Your system can still play Max Payne, Serious Sam and Doom 3 like it was the day you first bought it.  No system can ever promise that longevity.  And Steam has cloud saves, which means you can still keep your progress in a game even though you switch computers.

The CD or the game cartridge are no longer the golden standard that sits above the PC.  Now that next gen systems have to find updates, install data, use up gigs and store to the hard drive it doesn't make it much more of an advantage.

Toaster not included.

4.  The Perfect Balance of Internet Capability

Did we mention that Steam is 1 of 2 game networks on the market that does not require 60 bucks a year?  The other system has an Italian plumber as its mascot.  Steam could also be a real jerk about being an online digital company and make some rule like, "your computer must be online at all times in order to play."  But Valve has a heart and a love for the Tiny Tim in us all.

3. The Thin Line Between Console and PC is Closing

It used to be clear as day to whether you were a PC gamer or a console gamer.  If you wanted 2D adventures, fighters and beatem' ups you went with console, if you wanted games that would make Star Trek engineers cry you went with computer.  That is no longer the case as more and more varieties of games are being ported to Steam.  Don't want to use your mouse?  Fine, be that way!  But also remember that a startling amount of Steam games are becoming gamepad compatible.  The Steam Box is also coming out with a controller that will take the place of your keyboard and mouse.  As mentioned earlier, the disc drive media is not convenient, fast or easy as it once was so Steam has the advantage.

2. The Issue With Upgrading

You may think to yourself, "Aha, computers must be constantly upgraded and consoles last about 8 years."  But you also have to remember that Steam is not asking you to get a whole new $600 system every 3 years. A strong PC can last 3-4 years before becoming irrelevant.  After those 4 years you can switch out any technical hardware to make the system better.

The mascot...a blue collar engineer with a degree in miming

1.  And Those Prices...

It's Christmas Eve and you turn on your warm and lonely computer to find out that Batman Arkham City is only $5, while the newest indie games are selling for $2.  Who has this power and authority?  It isn't Sony or Microsoft.  It is Valve.

Steam Ops: Dino D-Day

Dino D-Day
800 North and Digital Ranch

Dino D-Day was released for the weekend on Steam and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to give my 1 hour impression.  This is by no means a proper review, but I am always looking to give impressions on upcoming Steam titles.

I imagine the premise was all that made the developers fall for this game.  Some guy from 800 North studios and Digital Ranch jumping up and down excitedly and saying, "And then the dinosaurs can shoot the Nazi's, while the raptors slash away the bad guys...rawr...slash...pew!"

The game features different classes of soldiers and dinosaurs.  Some dinosaurs have melee combat, while other characters have WWII guns.  Each character has a singular perk and special ability.  The raptors can do super jumps while the diplo can headbutt its enemies.

Fighting in a deathmatch arena felt like a mix of Team Fortress mixed with old Call of Duty gameplay.  Apart from the thrill of actually manning a dinosaur, it felt very primitive and linear to play multiplayer.  If you were a melee fighter you could easily get owned by a projectile, while snipers were pretty much the king of the arena.

The game had glitches when I tried to create a room for multiplayer and it kept crashing and going back to the title screen.  I also could not get my Xbox gamepad to work with it.  It was not responding.

Graphics looked like old Counter Strike mods and clipping was a bit prevalent in the textures.  Overall, the premise of dinosaurs and machine guns was not enough to get me wanting to play. It is only $2 on the Steam catalog, but lots of mods are free if you own Half-Life multiplayer.  800 North and Digital Ranch should learn to tighten the gameplay and add some depth outside of the dinosaur selection.

Cool concept, bro.

Review: Rogue Legacy (Steam)

Rogue Legacy
Publisher: Cellar Door Games
System: Steam PC

Castlegrindia?

Wave based games and level grinding randomized adventures have been gaining momentum in 2013 with games like Rogue Legacy and Risk of Rain.  They have the addiction power of a mobile app, the playability of a console game and the graphics of an indie art masterpiece.  With that said, Rogue Legacy is easiest the perfect time killer.

Rogue Legacy is a large dungeon crawler where you never play the same map twice.  You take your choice of Paladin, Barbarian or Mage through a 16-bit retro castle and see how much gold you can collect.  Then when you die (and you will die...a lot) your character gets added to the family memorial room and you must choose an heir to replace you.  Like members of my family, each heir has a quirk or a disability about them that affects gameplay.  Your next heir might be bald, near-sighted, have vertigo, be gay or have OCD.  The nearsighted player sees things blurry from far away, while the warrior with vertigo plays the game upside down.  Each death results in the player having to choose another heir, but before the game starts you can use the last heir's money to upgrade stats, unlock new items and equip new armor.  You cannot save money in this game so you must spend all your money in each round.

Your character moves swiftly and controls smoothly as you jump, slash and cast spells.  It is absolutely crucial that you invest in a Xbox wired gamepad to play this because of the tons of slashing and jumping cannot be handled by the keyboard.  The game rakes up the difficulty as each randomization of the map is filled with baddies.  You will constantly die Dark Souls style until your character is strong enough to last the dungeon.  Eventually the goal of the game is to defeat the 5 bosses and reclaim the castle, but that is a goal you won't hit until hour 5 of the game.

What makes this game such a joy to play is that it combines fun and tight Castlevania mechanics with a trial and error system that is highly addicting.  You never play the same game twice and each play through makes you a bit stronger with each level up.    Since the main goal of the game is to unlock items and get gold, you are not bogged down by some complex stat system.  The quirks of each heir are funny and occasionally helpful, but I noticed that they served more to brighten the humor of the game.  I also learned that the average human being can have some pretty messed up problems (fear of chickens).

The only thing I would like to see changed in the sequel is that as you level up your stats with gold the prices are higher and higher.  If you do a crappy run through the castle and only net a little gold it feels like a waste of a play if you cannot afford anything for the next heir.  Maybe in the future the game should offer a mini store with low priced items so that you can at least get something for your efforts.

Rogue Legacy is charming as it is witty and the tight gameplay ensures that you will be saying, "just one more time." The game will cost you $15 dollars, which can seem kind of steep for a game that is only 400mb and has such simple play mechanics.  I would argue that if you love level up adventures and you need a game that is as funny as it is functional then Rogue Legacy is right up your alley.

Buy It 1/5

+ Tight controls and fun combat
+ No play through is the same twice
+ Hilarious and charming
- $15 might be too steep for a 400 MB game

15 Games That Need A Reboot

2013 is the Summer of game reboots.  We are seeing reboots of Duck Tales, Ninja Turtles and Killer Instinct.  These games give us hope that some of the more creative retro games will get their chance as well.  Here's 15 games that would make awesome reboots (but probably won't get it).

15.  Bloody Roar

Published: 1998
Publisher: Hudson
Reason:  This franchise lost most of its audience after the 4th sequel tanked hard.  It was an arcade fighter that lived off the mechanic that your fighter can transform into a vicious animal.  The idea behind the game is fundamentally sound, but it has been ruined by companies that could not compete with  Tekken or Virtua Fighter.


Re-envisioned:  This game could look beautiful in HD.  Maybe it would be better as a party fighter.


14. Maniac Mansion


Published: 1987
Publisher:  Lucasfilm
Reason: This game was genius in its heyday.  Being an adventure point-and-click with whacky blue alien humor and multiple endings, this game has a story that can charm even the pickiest gamer.

Re-Envisioned:  Add a few horror survival elements, keep the whacky story and make it a digital download.

13. Bart Vs. The  Space Mutants

Published: 1991
Publisher: Acclaim
Reason:  The Simpsons' first game was a bit obscure.  You played Bart Simpson who had to fight space mutants by getting rid of things colored red.  By all respects, it had nothing to do with the sitcom cartoon, but merely an action cash in for the younger boys who watched it (similar to every horrible game Family Guy releases).

Re-Envisioned: Today, the game would be considered hip and innovative.  Imagine an updated version of this game where you have to use modern puzzles to turn a town a different color.  It would be an indie masterpiece that belongs right next to the De Blob.

12. Desert Falcon

Published:1984
Publisher: Atari
Reason:  This was a flight shooter that put forth a good effort to be mission based.  Following in the tradition of Warhawk, Desert Falcon could have easily been the top war game of the Atari.

Re-Envisioned:  Add a stellar war story about desert warfare, update the missions and tack on a multiplayer component and you could have a flight arcade game that all the college kids are buying.

11.  Metal Storm

 Published: 1990
 Publisher: Irem
 Reason: Metal Storm still ranks as my favorite sci-fi Nintendo   game.  Why?  Because you are a huge war mech that uses gravity to solve puzzles and destroy your enemies.  Gravity manipulation is still a gameplay mechanic that many games are afraid to use.  Mechwarrior ain't got nothing on this.

Re-Envisioned:  Make it a 3rd person, over the shoulder combat game.  Add a post apocalyptic war zone with anime inspired weapons.  Keep the gravity puzzles and play mechanics to give the game a Half-Life appeal.

10. BlackThorne

Published: 1994
Publisher: Interplay

Reason: BlackThorne was the Patrick Swayze of video game bad dudes.  He carried around a shotgun in the coal mines of a mutant infested area and blew away anything that moved.  This game was also famous for having the first duck and cover system for battle.  BlackThorne would be a welcome member of The Gears of War band and probably kick the living junk out of Duke Nukem.

Re-Envisioned:  Either 2D or 3D, keep the shotgun toting hero of the mines in the game and you will have a great throwback. 

9. Beyond Oasis

Published: 1994
Publisher:  Sega
Reason:  Style and comic book graphics put this game into a class that I truly believe had Zelda beaten.  Your hero, Ali, could combo with sword attacks, collect different spirits to fight and the boss battles were huge.  Carrying huge potential in Sega's golden age there is no reason why this game should have ended after the Sega Saturn.

Re-Envisioned:  All it really needs is an HD spitshine, a new story and a whole slew of dungeons and the game could fit in with any action role-playing game today.

8. Eternal Champions

Published: 1993
Publisher: Sega

Reason:  It is Mortal Kombat with a lot more class and style.  The only problem was that the game was too hard and moves were almost impossible to master.  This game was breakthrough because it had a gritty noir/sci fi design in its levels.  It also had fatalities that would have made 90's Nintendo cry.

Re-Envisioned:  If Killer Instinct can be rebooted then there is definitely room for this game.  Just make the difficulty and moves way easier.

7. Killing Time

Published:1995
Publisher: 3D0

Reason:  It might seem like a huge Doom clone, but Killing Time had 2 things going for it.  1) It had FMV story telling that gave it real characters. 2) It had one huge adventure level like Half-Life.  If the 3D0 was not so obscure and expensive, this could have been the Bioshock Infinite of the 90's.

Re-Envisioned:  An open world adventure FPS that involves 1920's weapons, ghosts and killer horrors?  I think there is room in today's market for that.

6. Geist

Published:  2005
Publisher: Nintendo

Reason:  I miss the Gamecube.  This was back when Nintendo was trusted by 3rd party companies and other companies wanted to try out new franchises.  You did not have to go to Halo to get a good shooter and you did not have to go to Final Fantasy to get a good RPG.  Geist was Nintendo's personal sci-fi shooter.  It was your average point and shoot, but the kicker was that you had to inhabit the body of npc's in order to solve puzzles and beat bosses.  This game is the first shooter where puzzle solving was actually more fun than the shooting levels.  It wasn't a Halo killer, but it had potential to be its own trilogy.

Re-Envisioned:  This game could have been a success and today's better understanding of the FPS genre ensures that Nintendo would get it right.  Add some tight shooting mechanics, deeper warfare elements, keep the innovative puzzle layout and upgrade the multiplayer to today's standards.  It would at least be better than Blacklight: Tango Down.

5. Spider-Man: The Video Game:

Published: 1991
Publisher: Sega

Reason:  If you sat down some developers and gave them the mission of making the Spider-Man franchise character rich, graphically appealing and fun to play they would come out with this game.  You played as Black Cat, Namor, Hawk Eye or Spider-Man and performed beat'em up combos on thugs.  The second half of the game turned into a 2D shooter where your character had to jump from building to building shooting bad guys.  This game put the X-Men arcade game to shame.

Re-Envisioned:  Make it a 3D beat'em up with great voice acting from heroes.  Then add some of the most epic villains in the game.  Keep all the rest and you will have a way better game than Spider-Man: Friend or Foe.

4. Brutal: Paws of Fury

Published: 1994
Publisher: Gametek

Reason:  I still prefer to live in a world where this game got all the sequels that Street Fighter got.  You have some bad astronaut cartoon animals that have "don't mess with me" written all over their kung-fu.  Unfortunately, this game was made before developers understood how thumbs worked.  The moves were too hard to complete.  I don't see any scenario where making MMA type urban animals fight each other with Street Fighter moves is a bad idea.

Re-Envisioned:  Make an HD version of the game, tweak the gameplay for today's standards, add a few fighters, simplify the moves a ton and make it a $10 download for XBLA.  Sold!

3. The Immortal

Published: 1990
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Reason:  I was afraid of this game as a child because of the way the wizard cut open demon enemies.  Now I see this game as a Skyrim/Survival Horror hybrid.  You played an unnamed wizard who walks around a punishing dungeon, looking for goblins to chop open.

Re-Envisioned:  If you were to add a First Person view, add a dash of some skill building and customization, I could see the idea of playing a violent wizard in a dark dungeon as a highly playable game.

2. Power Move Pro Wrestling

Published:  1996
Publisher: Activision

Reason:  Before the WWE scared away all competition in wrestling games, there were some creative fiction wrestling games that were highly playable.  Power Move had horrible graphics, limited moves and your player never got up after they were knocked down...but the ambitious style and the faithfulness to pro wrestling lore made it a ton of fun to experience (as long as you were winning).  In 1996 most wrestling games were arcade beat'em ups, but Power Move was a full 3D adventure with real wrestling thematics.  It was too ahead of its time. 

Re-Envisioned:  If the game industry isn't petrified to make a non WWE wrestling game than I suggest making this game over from head to toe.  You could restart that rematch between Egyptian Conniption or Malibu Mike.

1.  Clayfighter

Published: 1993
Publisher: Interplay

Reason:  In 1993 there was a game made entirely out of clay (the cel-shading alternative).  It promised humor, killer moves, a talking snow man and a blob that could turn into a saw blade.  Even the intro to the game had a theme song.  There was never a game with so much humor and off-the-wall zaniness like Clayfighter.  Even though it was not well received on the N64, it definitely has value now that we have games that can handle humor and theatrics.

Re-Envisioned:  Keep it 2D, keep it funny and make it beautiful.  That is all you really need to do.