I have Steam on my computer. It's no surprise, considering that I also have Half-Life 2 installed on there. Man, Steam used to be so unreliable, especially back when it first came out. Nowadays, Steam is awesome . . . provided you have a fast, reliable internet connection, which I currently do.
I'm still amazed that I, in theory, could buy and download hundreds of games off of Steam, and the best part is, I wouldn't have to put the CD or DVD in every time I wanted to play a Steam game. However, because I am a cheapskate, (and also since I don't want to use my parents' credit card.) you can download demos of games off Steam for free. So I downloaded some demos. Also note, I would've downloaded the demo of Bioshock, but my PC would fry if I tried to run such a game on it. Oh well. Here's three games I played recently:
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slicked Precipice of Darkness.
I've never been a fan of Penny Arcade, but this game makes up for it. When you're not in combat, it plays like the Diablo games. Basically, you click to do everything: move, crack open boxes, talk to people, and so on. When you enter combat, it's like the combat system from Chrono Trigger, with Final Fantasy 10's overdrives thrown in. You wait too long to attack, and you'll get fucked by the fruit fuckers. Consequently, you can use items and normal attacks, and special attacks which work like the aformentioned overdrives. Also, some characters have, I guess you could say dual techs. For example, Gabe and Tycho have a dual tech that does a lot of damage against one enemy. Lastly, there are no random encounters (or at least there wasn't in the demo.) but some enemies can't be avoided. The graphics are great, and so is the music. And best of all, it doesn't take itself seriously. Like RPGs? Then you'll like On the Rain-Slicked Precipice of Darkness.
Portal.
I was shocked myself when I wrote in my last entry that I've never played Portal. So, even though the demo is only about ten minutes long, I can see where all the hype comes from. This is a puzzle game. A genuine puzzle game. You have to actually think to beat this one. I like how it uses the Source engine from HL2; even has many of the same sound effects. I only have one complaint though, it's not about Portal itself. Rather, it's this. Thanks, Internet. Thanks for not shutting the fuck up about Portal. I already know one plot twist thanks to you. Why did you constantly have to shout, "LOL! THE CAKE IS A LIE! LOL!"? You spoil me.
Audiosurf.
In this game, you guide a hovercar on a trippy one-way race track, collecting blocks. It's a little more complex than that, but you race to get blocks. What's this game's gimmick, then? The track you pick is based on an MP3 on your computer. You select a piece of music, and you race it. Not only do you hear your music, but the track is in sync to it, also. When the music's slow, the track is slow. When the music's fast, then blocks come at you everywhere. I can listen to my music and play. See, this game has the best soundtrack ever; you choose the music! By the way, is Audiosurf one of those so-called 'casual' games I've been hearing so much about? If it is, then I say, bring on the casual games!
These games are all good enough to own. Haven't played any of them, yet? Then go on and do so. The xm commands it.
P.S. You know what a good song to play on Audiosurf is? The extended cut of Hare Hare Yukai. The SOS Brigade has now invaded Audiosurf!
