Steam

[TheMightyEthan]

Yeah, yesterday was a second chance at their most popular sales from earlier in the week.

[Yantelope]

It seems like the steam sales are underwhelming because the same games keep going on sale. Most of us have bought the games that we were looking to go cheap by now or we have backlogs of cheap steamy goodness.

 

Also, anything good today?

Edited December 27, 2010 by Yantelope

[Mister Jack]

Is Serious Sam HD worth the four bucks?

[TheForgetfulBrain]

Is Serious Sam HD worth the four bucks?

 

If a bunch of old-school, mindless FPS slaughter is your thing, definitely.

 

I loved what I played of the first one when it first came out years back, but it's really a matter of how you like your FPS.

 

I think today's the first day in the sale I haven't bought something for myself or someone else...

 

Although, I need to check and see if one of my friends has played KOTOR.

 

Because if not...

[toxicitizen]

Just bought one of the indie bundle on Steam. Got it mainly for the game Uplink, which I remember loving years ago.

The bundle was the same price as getting the game separately, so yeah. Plus Twin Sector was in it, and I've been curious ever since playing the demo a while back.

 

It's actually the second indie bundle I get so far. I never really paid attention to the indie games selection on Steam, but after buying a few during the treasure hunt sale I was surprised by how good some of them were.

 

I'm also considering Serious Sam Gold. I already have First Encounter HD but not the second one. Plus the bundle is the only way to get the originals and I think I'd have an extra copy of First Encounter to gift.

[Tinkelp]

Is Serious Sam HD worth the four bucks?

If you like your FPS games to be of the shoot-everything-that-moves variety, like Doom, Quake or Painkiller, then you should pick it up plus a few extra copies for friends so you can co-op. Four bucks for the HD and original versions of the Serious Sam 1 games is a steal.

 

If there's a negative point to the games, it that sometimes the arenas can be too big. A few times I've had to make a long trek to the next area because the environments can be huge and I don't think Sam moves fast enough to make crossing them not feel tedious. That's why you should try to stay near the exit of an arena when waves of enemies spawn in so you can cut down on travel time.

[TheForgetfulBrain]

Crysis on sale today. I think Jack or Pheer or someone was asking about that originally.

 

Also, if someone doesn't have them, Platinum Pack for King's Bounty is highly recommended.

 

I'm hoping they put the Stalker games on a daily before the end of the sale.

[Mal]

Crysis... sure why not. I'm sure I can run Crysis. D;

 

And since it is recommended... I might get King's Bounty. Need to study it first...

[Akuam4n]

Crysis on sale today. I think Jack or Pheer or someone was asking about that originally.

 

Also, if someone doesn't have them, Platinum Pack for King's Bounty is highly recommended.

 

I'm hoping they put the Stalker games on a daily before the end of the sale.

 

I was going to ask about Bounty, the gameplay looks good.

 

Is the story good, or is it just bland stuff that you'd expect?

[TheForgetfulBrain]

I was going to ask about Bounty, the gameplay looks good.

 

Is the story good, or is it just bland stuff that you'd expect?

 

The story, while not very original, is surprisingly entertaining.

 

It's one of those games where everything's in the details. The localization is excellent, and I was surprised to find the game is very funny. Through all the quest and NPC dialog, it keeps the world feeling vibrant and fresh, and often the stories behind the quests are quite interesting, even if the main story is whatever.

 

The gameplay is incredibly addictive and the visuals are excellent.

 

It was really some of the most fun I've had with a game in a long time, when I first played it. Then again, it's also one of my favorite genres/game-types (and one that is practically endangered these days).

 

For less than $9 for all three games, I'd say it's more than worth it.

[Akuam4n]

I was going to ask about Bounty, the gameplay looks good.

 

Is the story good, or is it just bland stuff that you'd expect?

 

The story, while not very original, is surprisingly entertaining.

 

It's one of those games where everything's in the details. The localization is excellent, and I was surprised to find the game is very funny. Through all the quest and NPC dialog, it keeps the world feeling vibrant and fresh, and often the stories behind the quests are quite interesting, even if the main story is whatever.

 

The gameplay is incredibly addictive and the visuals are excellent.

 

It was really some of the most fun I've had with a game in a long time, when I first played it. Then again, it's also one of my favorite genres/game-types (and one that is practically endangered these days).

 

For less than $9 for all three games, I'd say it's more than worth it.

Mm, I'll be off to the bank early tomorrow to snag it before the sale ends though. I don't mind if the main story is not original, just entertaining. Nice to know the quests have decent stories too.

 

Thanks.

[deanb]

BTW for those on the fence warhead uses the improved 2.5 engine so runs smoother. Crisis should too that got an update. Any DX10 card should run it okay. Most modern comp shouldn't have an issue. It is over 3 years old after all.

 

Edit: what's bounty? Just basics ie story n genre.

[TheForgetfulBrain]

Edit: what's bounty? Just basics ie story n genre.

 

Turn-based Strategy RPG, like the Heroes of Might and Magic, Warlords or Disciples series.

 

Differences here, are that your hero doesn't take turns while exploring the world - that is in real time, while the battles remain a turn-based affair. You go around the world completing quests, finding items, leveling up and recruiting troops. Combat is based on a hex grid system and turn based.

 

Story is classic fantasy affair - you're a young, promising knight with the job of 'royal treasure seeker.' So you're just off questing for the glory of the (surprisingly laid back) crown. However, things of course get more complicated, your hero gets embroiled in magical affairs and devious, world ending plots are revealed.

 

It's really a wonderful (and extremely deep) game and the best of its genre in years.

 

Highly recommended!

[deanb]

Hmm. Might look into it.

[Mister Jack]

What's it like compared to...I dunno, Final Fantasy Tactics?

[Baguette]

Does anyone know anything about Mount & Blade? I heard it was compared to Rome Total War which I loved.

[deanb]

Bag there's a demo you could try. I've heard of it being good n bad.

I've yet to hit up the demo that's been on my hard drive for months.

Meant to be flexible in what you can do but let down by bad graphics.

[TheForgetfulBrain]

What's it like compared to...I dunno, Final Fantasy Tactics?

 

Really nothing like it.

 

Story - FF Tactics has a story (IMO) that's not topped by many. King's Bounty is nothing that grandiose, but there's a lot of detail in the quests/NPCs and it's great on its own terms.

 

Gameplay, these kind of PC turn-based SRPGs are very, very different from Japanese SPRGs.

 

It's hard to explain - but I guess it would be like comparing a Bethesda RPG to a Square Enix RPG.

 

Just an entirely different beast, even if they do technically carry the same genre label.

 

For those that are curious, here's a gameplay trailer of the latest entry in the series (which is included in the platinum pack). It shows combat and the overworld. Watching it, honestly, has made me to decide the full pack - I don't have Crossworlds and I need to finish the original anyway, and I think it's worth getting a legitimate copy.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UEsPMN37Wo

Edited December 29, 2010 by TheForgetfulBrain

[Tinkelp]

Does anyone know anything about Mount & Blade? I heard it was compared to Rome Total War which I loved.

Never played the game myself but Giant Bomb did a Quick Look video on the Warband expansion.

[Baguette]

Ah ok, I'll give it a look hopefully before the sale ends.

[TheForgetfulBrain]

Shoot. Apparently if you buy a pack of games and you already own one of them, the extra just disappears, instead of being giftable.

 

I didn't realize that you only get a gift copy for like five different titles on Steam, if you buy a pack and already own one of the games.

 

That sucks.

 

I guess I won't buy the pack now, since half the reason was to gift one to my friend and get the others I didn't have.

 

...

 

I sound like someone from the Steam forums. Cool.

[deanb]

Yeah AFAIK only valve games are gift able like that. Was to do with black box being scrapped in favour of Orange box only. So it encouraged folks who already had hl2 to get Orange box.

Other publishers can opt in at their discretion. Just like steam play.

[Yantelope]

I just bought SimCity 4 last night. I never played it and I've been on a real strategy kick lately.

[TheForgetfulBrain]

Coool. I had been wanting the Ball and Greed Corps.

 

Amnesia is on the cheap if anyone hasn't gotten that yet.

[超外人]

Let me know how the Ball is, I may pick it up. I'll have to wait until I'm home before I pick up Greed Corps and Amnesia. +_+