Rise of Legends

I don’t know what it is about the beginning of the year that spurs me to buy a bunch of games, mainly PC games. I guess I don’t want to see PC gaming die. However, I would like for it to evolve. PC games for me anymore have to be extremely accessible and not have a need for me to tweak my system in order to play. Oh, and I’ve got to try before buying as well. Here’s some short mini-reviews of what I’ve been doing since January 1 (in no particular order):

Burnout Paradise [360]: This has been our go to game almost every night. For the first time in a long time, both my son and I got the “you’ve been playing a little too much speech.” Essentially, it’s like riding bikes with your friends and playing Hot Wheels in the dirt at the same time. (I don’t take credit for that analogy).

Endless Ocean [Wii]: Scuba diving in a digital ocean should be incredibly boring. However, this title stands on the premise of discovery alone. Relaxing as well.

World in Conflict [PC]: This game has taken all the conventions of real time strategy games and thrown them out the window. I love the idea of no resource management. I just want to fight. The atmosphere of the game, another plus, is just a little to real and creepy for me.

Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends [PC]: Another RTS from a year or two ago I missed. It’s predecessor is my favorite. This game gets a bonus for a steampunk setting and a mark against it for being steampunk. It’s basically the first game with a few tweaks.

Puzzle Quest [PC]: At $10 I could not pass it up. I was easily reminded; however, that early on the game is stacked in favor of the enemy AI.

Fairway Solitaire [PC]: At $10 and the fact I’ve heard so much about this game, I’d thought I’d give it a try. I hate golf and I’m not much of a fan of solitaire. Barring all that, this game is an addictive blast! I don’t think I’ve ever put so much time into a card game.The game mechanics implore you to just play one more round, and then another, and then another…

I’m curious. Has anyone else played any PC games lately?

I’ll never buy a PC game again.

The following quote was from a Google Talk chat that I had with Tony a couple of weeks ago. I guess it was a lie. I don’t know what it is about January, but I always become weak this time of year for PC games. It’s like I have to catch up for the year before. Many times I’ll purchase a game in January and not play it until late December or early January (Hello, Civilization IV this year!).

I guess this year was no exception. This silly trend of mine started almost four or five years ago with Far Cry. Then it was Unreal Tournament 2004 (loved it!), Galactic Civilizations (learn..ing curve!), Guild Wars (2500+ hours!), Command and Conquer 3 (meh to good), Galactic Civilizations II (strategy perfection), and Civilization IV. In the last week, I’ve purchased four titles that I’ve had in the back of my mind to play: Unreal Anthology, Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, World in Conflict, and Rail Simulator.

The Unreal package is kind of a weird misnomer this year. When we moved this last August, we ended up losing one box, just one. This was a box that had some computer games in it. Of course, they were some of the games I played once in a while. The anthology replaces some of those games.

I don’t know where this weakness comes from. I think it has to do with a man needing to have a cave. Our consoles are out in the open in the living room, but the PC pretty much has a room to itself. I find it enjoyable and comforting to go in there from time to time and just veg on a good game. It might even be to that I’m coming down of the holiday high and I want to replace that with something different. RTS usually seems to be the preferred flavor, but I may go all out crazy on some action as well.

I’m wondering if I am alone in this? Do any of you guys have a weakness when it comes to games, console or PC? Do you have a cave as well?

Rise of Legends

Keeping It Alive: Gaming Quickies

January Cabin Fever