Good games that won’t get your goat
Posted on Mar 07, 2013 in Features
Go ahead and indulge yourself. You’re half way through with the semester. You’ve earned it.
Two Worlds Two
Two Worlds Two
Even if the Action RPG genre is dominated by the likes of Fable, Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and Fallout, the Two Worlds series has managed to carve out a significant albeit small space in the genre. Released in early 2011 in the United States, it did not make a large splash; however, the franchise was successful enough to merit a sequel. The story here isn’t great. It almost seems like an excuse for TopWare interactive can have another go with the franchise, but to me, that’s fine. The gameplay here is pretty polished and will have you interested for hours. The main problem with the gameplay is that there is virtually no learning curve. Essentially, as you progress through the game, you become introduced to foes that are impossible to defeat, and after you reach a certain threshold of ability, they suddenly become fodder for you melee and magic attacks. The bliss of being the mightiest warrior in the land does not last long however, for the next wave of unbeatable enemies will soon be introduced. Even so, the game is worth a look at only about $20.
Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament
The Unreal Tournament franchise is one of the few gaming franchises that has held my heart so dearly. Ever since my first forays in PC gaming years ago when I torrented my first cracked copy of the game, blasting people with the Link Gun has always been a pleasure. In Unreal Tournament 3, that style of play returns. The guys at Epic Games released this one for the American market in 2007 and 2008 and definitely decided to stay true to the old style of play and aesthetic feel of the game. Classic weapons like the Bio Rifle and Stinger Minigun are back, and so is the fast paced run and gun style gameplay. Although the lobbies are sure to be empty at this point, there is also a robust multiplayer element to the game, but considerable fun can be had battling bots with a friend locally. At only about 15 dollars, it would be a shame if you passed this one up.
Trials HD
Trails HD
For those of you with Xbox 360s and no Trials HD, you are seriously missing out. This game is dirt cheap especially if you buy it in a triple pack along with Limbo and ‘Splosion Man for about 15 dollars on google’s shopping site. Please fellow gamers, if these titles haven’t graced your Xbox, then it’s time. Trials is deceptively simple. As a next-gen take on the classic tilty bike principle, the game is more about having a skilled an nuanced approach to playing than memorizing a bunch of combos or having killer reflexes. The learning curve for this title is forgiving, but does climb to the heights of impossibility. Also, there is a slew of challenge types to tickle your fancy such as a game in which the motorcycle is placed inside of a giant metal ball, and you must navigate a stage like a hamster in a hamster ball. This is a seriously wacky but fun game.
Babi Baruani
Features Editor
baruani@uab.edu