Recent reviews by Vagabond251

Orcs Must Die! 2 is a spin on the tower defense formula that puts you in the role of either a war mage or a sorceress tasked with defending rifts from waves of orcs. This game maintains the same charm as the first entry but with a significant number of more play options. There are now multiple modes to play on and almost all maps will now give you "bonus skulls" which you can now grind. With these skulls you can now upgrade traps multiple times, making them more deadly than ever before. As I mentioned earlier there are now two characters to play as. I personally went with the war mage just to keep with something that is familiar to me. Both characters have slightly different trap sets and I did try playing as the sorceress for a few levels and although her traps were different, they were very fun to use.

The new modes are really what elevates this game as a sequel. In the original there was pretty much one mode with two difficulties. Now you have modes like Endless and Classic that are definitely worth checking out and are useful for getting extra skulls. You'll be needing to grind a little to take care of the story mode on Nightmare. While it's not overall as hard as the first game, if you're going for five skulls you'll have your work cut out for you. Additionally there is a co-op mode which actually fits in perfectly. Each team member has a slightly limited number of traps they can bring, but with another player on the field things never felt unfair.

In addition to new modes are a number of new traps, weapons, and items called "trinkets" that can do anything from restoring your health to immediately resetting all your traps. Like the traps, weapons and trinkets can be upgraded permanently as well for increased effectiveness and bonus effects. While I didn't find myself using many of the newer traps in the earlier levels I found many of them almost necessary to get that five skull rating.

With a slightly overhauled upgrade system, more maps, and more modes, Orcs Must Die! 2 is a phenomenal sequel to an already great game. There is significantly more to do and DLC, Endless, and Co-Op modes add a significant amount of replayability that the first game somewhat lacked.

9.5/10

Orcs Must Die! is a tower defense game where you are in control of the hero who will be fighting off Orcs and planting traps. The game plays like a 3rd person action game mixed in with the traditional tower defense formula. The player plays an extremely active role and your crossbow will be needed just as much as wall arrow traps. There are numerous traps at your disposal and you unlock more as you go along. By the end of my play through I ended up using just about every single trap. They are all designed very well and most of them work well with each other to produce great kill boxes.

The game features three difficulties but you'll want to start on War Mage as you don't gain many skulls (the currency used to upgrade traps) on Apprentice (the easiest). At the end of each map you are awarded between 1 and 5 skulls based on your performance. Getting 5 skulls will require a significant amount of strategy (especially on Nightmare, although there's no achievement for getting all 5 skulls on all stages on Nightmare, just War Mage). You'll need to pretty much know what is going to come out and during what wave so that you can prepare adequately. YouTube is an excellent reference if you're having trouble and is great for learning new strategies that you may not have figured out on your own.

There's not much more to the game outside of the general story mode but getting all 5 skulls on War Mage and Nightmare will take a while, making the game a great value considering it's already quite cheap. The game features leader boards so you can always go back one you've fully upgraded your traps and go for a better score on the global rankings or among your friends. Overall this is a great tower defense game that is well worth your time if you have any love for the genre.

8/10

Bastion is an isometric action-adventure game set in a beautiful world with a beautiful soundtrack. Although the game is isometric and technically 3D it retains a hand-drawn look that fits the mood of the game perfectly. The voice acting is limited to one character, but it works incredibly well as this character narrates your adventures and says different things depending on how you handle certain situations. The music is also very fitting for the game and one song in particular will have you humming along.

All superficial characteristics aside this is a great action game. It starts out easy but gets tougher and tougher as you go along. Fear not, as you will collect a huge arsenal of different weapons that are almost all fun to use. The action is tight, the controls are great, and the level design is excellent.

While you can go through the game on the easiest difficulty with relative ease, you'll be missing out on some great optional challenges that really help you get to know the game on an intimate level. Going for all the achievements will require a deep understanding of the game's mechanics and which weapons to use and when. In addition to the main story there are challenge levels for each weapon (which give you a reward based on how well you do) and "story" items which are 20 to 30 wave challenges where the narrator provides more backstory for each character. They are all very challenging but well worth playing.

Overall, Bastion is something of a masterpiece. The art style and music shine and the game is fun and challenging with plenty of content. I highly recommend going for all the achievements on this game as they are very fun to collect and will result in a far more challenging experience.

9.5/10

Shank is a 2D side scrolling action game from Klei Studios. This is the first in a series of two games and while the second game is a far more refined experience, the original is still fun in it's own way, even if it is a pretty simple game.

I have to confess I played Shank 2 before the original so I am slightly more negatively biased towards the game as the first is missing a lot of improvements added in the sequel. This doesn't mean the game isn't fun, it just means it's relatively simple and superficial when it comes to mechanics. In Shank 2 you were almost required to have the proper load out to complete certain levels. In the first game, you have the option to switch weapons on the fly, but you probably won't need to as the two starting weapons (chainsaw and double pistols) can get you through the entire game pretty easily (hard mode included). Additionally there are only three enemy types (medium, large, dog) with a few variants. Once you know how to take down one variant, you can take down all of them with relative ease.

I don't mean to say that Shank is a bad game, just one that needed to be fleshed out a little more. In terms of content it's a very short game and I was able to get all the achievements under 10 hours. There is a co-op campaign but it's local only which is very unfortunate because I found it to be pretty fun to double up with a friend and run through some missions. I actually prefer Shank's co-op to Shank 2's co-op (which is a really difficult survival mode). Shank's co-op (although local only) actually fleshes out the story a little more. There is an achievement for completing local co-op so make sure you've got a buddy and an extra controller if you plan on getting all the achievements.

Overall Shank is a great looking 2D beat 'em up/shoot 'em up with a great soundtrack and fun bosses. The game may be relatively easy and simple and could use a little more content but it's still a blast to play.

6.5/10

This is not the Tomb Raider you grew up with. This iteration, or reboot, of Tomb Raider is gritty, violent, and tells a great story with wonderful voice acting.

In the game we find Lara Croft on one of her first big adventures. Things quickly take a turn for the worse and Lara is left alone to survive. As much as this game is at it's heart an action-adventure title (much like the Uncharted series) the characterization of Lara really makes it stand out. You truly see character growth over the course of the game and it's extremely satisfying to see her go from nearly completely helpless to a rugged survivor who can hold her own in a gun fight.

While I mentioned that the game has a great voice cast I neglected to mention that it looks phenomenal as well, even by today's standards. There are loads of graphical options for you to tweak it for performance but on almost any set of settings it is visually impressive. There are massive set pieces and a strong attention to detail on the character models and the environment. For a game released in 2013, I still would say it holds up to some of today's games on a graphical level.

In terms of gameplay you can expect a hefty amount of platforming and climbing along with some terrific gunplay. There's nothing necessarily special about the weapons but the level design makes up for that resulting in some truly hectic firefights. Throughout the game you also earn points which you can use to upgrade each of your skils and weapons which is a nice addition (if not all that common these days).

When it comes to achievements there are a few missable ones that can be a pain but people have put up save files to help out with them. If you do a Google search you'll quickly find it. There is also a save that was floating around that eliminates the need to grind solo multiplayer achievements which was also very helpful. Unfortunately, you'll need a few people to get every single one of them but I didn't have much trouble and I reached 100% completion this year. Most of the other achievements are weapon grind kills, special kills, story related, and one really easy to miss one. As I said though, there is a save file for that.

I have to say, when I picked up Tomb Raider for only $10 on Steam I wasn't expecting the experience that I got. Lara is a very well realized character as are most of the other characters in the story. I found myself in awe of the production values and visuals and was never really bored with any part of the game. Great combat, wonderful controls, and excellent presentation make for one heck of a game. The multiplayer is dead and completely tacked on but not necessary unless you're going for achievements.

9/10

This game was a pleasant surprise for me. I was simply expecting Assassin's Creed in Mordor but this game is so much more than that. In Shadow of Mordor you take on the role of Talion, a ranger who, along with his family, was killed by the Black Hand of Sauron. You eventually come back paired to Celebrimbor's spirit to take vengeance upon those who wronged you.

Game play wise this game plays like a combination of Assassin's Creed and the Batman Arkham games. Climbing objects and moving around will feel familiar to any Assassin's Creed veteran, and the combat will be easy to pick up for those who have played the Batman games. While the influences are clear and direct, they don't make the game any less original overall.

One of the hooks of this game is the nemesis system involved with the Orc warlords. There are a ton of options for how to lure out and dispose of these warlords and while you'll be dealing with most outside of the story there are some that are saved for special story related events. This doesn't take away the feeling of this being an open world game, however, as there is almost always something to collect or a side mission to complete.

From a production standpoint the game shines. The voice acting is great all around and the game looks phenomenal (especially the Orcs). My only complaint is that the color palette is pretty much static throughout the game (although this was likely intentional to make you feel like you are in the hopeless land or Mordor).

Achievement wise this game is pretty easy. There are special kill achievements, achievements related to the nemesis system, and DLC achievements that will truly challenge you. Even though each DLC comes with a super pain in the butt achievement they do flesh out the story a bit more and are worth picking up as well.

Overall, Middle-earth: Shadow or Mordor doesn't fail to entertain and is a great action-adventure game that looks, sounds, and plays great.

9/10

Interestingly enough, I ended up picking up Shank 2 before the original. Don't ask why, I honestly don't remember other than it was somewhat of an impulse buy as I loved the demo. If you've played the original Shank, you know what you're getting into. If you haven't, Shank is a grind house style 2D action game where you shoot, slash, and sometimes shank your way through waves of enemies. The artwork is all 2D in a hand drawn style and looks beautiful. Excellent character animations (especially death animations) really bring the game to life. While the original Shank was relatively bare bones in terms of level presentation Shank 2 has a lot going on in these levels. It's not exactly Rayman Origins but it does look pretty great.

In terms of game play this is a huge step up from the original. There is a much better counter system, the grab system is a little more robust, and the game actually encourages you to try different weapons as there are far more enemy types in this game compared to the original. In the original, I made it through the entire game using the starter weapons, which is not how Shank 2 plays. Shank 2's levels are longer, more challenging, and require you to really think about your load out before each mission as you can't change on the fly like in the original Shank. Whereas in the original Shank the game was divided into bite sized levels (which helps a ton when attempting hard mode by the way), Shank 2's levels are fuller, longer, and always feature a boss battle at the end. While most bosses are actually quite more challenging than the original Shank there are a few that are pretty cheap and winning takes more luck than skill. Fortunately, once you get to a boss you have a checkpoint (even on hard mode) so you really get a chance to learn what you are doing wrong and how to overcome the enemy.

As far as controls go, however, I can't recommend playing this game with a keyboard and mouse. I never even attempted it but as with most 2D, side scrolling games a controller is almost necessary for success. Fortunately, if you have a controller, the game controls beautifully. Actions are very responsive which helps when dealing with swarms.

In addition to the main story mode (which has two difficulties that don't stack with achievements) there is an online co-op survival mode. This is a welcome addition as the original Shank only had local co-op (which was fun, if a bit easy). This mode, however, is VERY difficult. There are a number of different stages and you are dealing with almost every type of enemy in the game. It takes practice, but with another player it's doable.

Regarding achievements there are far more than the first Shank (almost twice as many). Most of these are kill grinds with different weapons or level specific actions in addition to difficulty modes as well. The survival mode achievements are tough, but definitely possible if you have someone else. Trying it solo is not recommended.

Although I hadn't played the original Shank until after the sequel I thoroughly enjoyed this game. The visual style is amazing, the game play is fun and challenging, and even the soundtrack is pretty great. I would highly recommend playing the original Shank (even if it is an inferior game overall) as it will get you used to the play style. Even though it's not as good as the sequel it's still definitely worth playing and if you have a friend and two controllers, you can do the co-op campaign which is short and easy but still fun with two people).

I highly recommend Shank 2 to any action fans out there. The action is fast, fun, and extremely violent. There are a wide variety of enemies to fight (most requiring different strategies or weapon load outs) and some great boss battles.

8.5/10

Call of Juarez Gunslinger is an arcade style western shooter with excellent voice acting and great gun play. The story takes place in a saloon in Kansas where the hero, Silas Greaves, recalls his adventures in the wild west. The part of the game that you play are the stories being told around the table at the saloon. This means sometimes someone makes a comment or a claim that contradicts what is happening which leads to some very interesting story moments. For example, in the first level when you get to a certain point another character starts narrating what he thinks happened and you play it out...only to find out from Silas that things went a different way. This narrative device helps elevate what could have been a simple revenge story into something that is something along the lines of a mystery with some humor thrown in.

As far as game play goes, gun play doesn't get much better than this. You have three gun types but given this is a relatively short and often cheap game (price wise) it doesn't really ever become a problem. There are variants for each of the three guns (rifle, shotgun, pistol) but I honestly never noticed a difference. In addition you can dual wield pistols which is great in certain situations but not most. This is by no means a criticism as all guns are extremely satisfying to use. The action is quick and can be challenging, but is always reasonable. In addition to the relatively linear shooting sections of the games are duels (or essentially showdowns). These stand offs can start out frustrating as you have to keep both hands steady (on a controller it's manipulating both sticks, on keyboard and mouse it's A and D and the mouse). Fortunately you have infinite tries in the story mode as you'll sometimes find yourself facing off against more than one person, which can take awhile to get the hang of.

Visually and aurally the game shines. Gun sounds sound accurate and when the bullets start really flying and richocheting it really shines. The visual style is hard to describe. If you look at it from one way it looks like the game is lightly cel-shaded even though the majority of the 3D objects aren't outlined. It's a subtle effect that contributes to the over the top story being told. No western would be complete without great blood splatter and this game delivers in that area as well. Seeing that huge, spaghetti western style blood splat never really gets old.

In addition to the story mode there is an Arcade mode and a Duels mode. The arcade mode is a series of levels where you go for the highest score possible. Getting three starts requires keeping a combo up for most of the time which isn't too hard considering the volume of enemies but there are parts that do require some practice if you want those achievements. The duels mode is a set of 14, back to back duels in which you have six lives to make it to the end. This was initially quite challenging as you get an achievement for completing all duels "honorably" (meaning you don't draw before the enemy). The duels are taken straight from the story mode and some weren't even in the story mode to begin with which leads to some new encounters.

From an achievements point of view this game is overall very easy to 100%. The only areas where I had trouble were the arcade mode and duels mode but once you get the controls down it'll be a cake walk. There are of course difficulty based achievements, story achievements, and some special action achievements as well that are pretty fun to get (all but one but I won't spoil it).

Overall, Call of Juarez Gunslinger is a great deal. It's usually pretty cheap on Steam or other retailers and packs a great amount of content for what you pay for. I had a great time with it and highly recommend.

8.5/10

Here is a game that got completely overlooked. Partially with good reason as it is NOTHING like the previous titles in the Dungeon Siege franchise. While the game is still a hack and slash at it's heart, there's nowhere near the amount of loot and customization typically associated with games of that nature. That doesn't mean there isn't a great game to be played here, just maybe not the one you expect.

Instead of creating a custom character at the start of your adventure you are given a choice of four different characters. Each has a completely different ability set than the other and a somewhat different adventure in terms of who you meet and when. I've played as all four and with the exception of one they are all a blast to play. I highly recommend trying out all of them whether it be in another play through (you are required to complete certain tasks, like getting to level 20, as each character) or in multiplayer. The game was made by Obsidian as well so the writing for all the characters is very solid and voice acting is pretty good.

When it comes to combat this game doesn't disappoint. It DOES, however, almost completely require a controller. You would think playing with a KB&M would fit a Dungeon Siege game but unfortunately, it doesn't. If you have a controller though, you're in for some great hack and slash combat with a fair amount of strategy (especially on the hardest difficulty).

Visually and audibly this game is pretty darn good. The music, while nothing special, fits the game enough. You won't be humming any of the tunes, but you won't be cursing the game for repetition. On the visual side, this game looks great for an isometric title. Even during cut scenes (where you see your model up close) there is a great amount of detail present and numerous visual effects that add to the level of immersion. The voice acting does Obsidian's script justice as well.

Last but not least, I have to mention multiplayer. I played through the entire game about two times in multiplayer sessions and it is a BLAST if you have people who know how to use each character. It's almost necessary for the highest difficulty in the game to played with other people if you want to stand a chance. While the game can be enjoyed fine solo, it's at it's best in multiplayer sessions. Each player takes a different role and strategy really starts to come into play.

Overall I highly recommend Dungeon Siege III assuming you have a controller. If you have a KB&M I honestly can't recommend it as it is a pain to play that way. If, however, you have a controller and some friends to join you you are in for a treat.

8/10

Dust: An Elysian Tail is a wonderful take on the standard "Metroidvania" formula. You have a large world map that you can openly explore (or travel around with nifty waypoints) much like in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Throughout your adventure you'll visit a variety of different locations, level up your character, and meet a variety of different characters. While the voice acting is satisfactory at best, the combat, graphics, and soundtrack are all phenomenal.

The first item that must be discussed is the art style. While it's not as active and vibrant as other 2D games (like Rayman Origins or Rayman Legends) it still is beautiful enough to hold it's own. Everything has a hand-drawn look to it and the animation is fantastic.

Combat is another area where the game excels. You're given a talking sword as your main weapon but receive several upgrades and combos to fool around with so combat doesn't get stale. Having the option to counter enemies in a 2D game is always a great addition as well.

Getting 100% for this game wasn't particularly difficult. Most are story related and there are a few missable achievements if I recall but nothing too difficult. Overall it was a very fun game to 100% and quite satisfying as well.

I would highly recommend Dust: An Elysian Tail to any Metroidvania fans or 2D side-scrolling fans in general. It's a fun game that looks great and plays very well.

8.5/10