Still, there are a number of games on the list that appeal to me, and
- if I didn't own it already - "Callisto Protocol" alone would have
made this month's Choice worth it. Well, I'll just have to make do
with "Victoria 3" and "Hobs Barrow". It's not a great month of games,
but not a bad one either; HumbleChoice is holding steady.
Another month, another chance to grab eight more games on the cheap.
But are they games worth adding to the library, or just filler to make
The Number go up? Let's find out.
* Victoria 3
https://store.steampowered.com/app/529340/Victoria_3/
You rarely can go wrong with a Paradox Interactive
strategy game... assuming you like their style of
game, of course. I'm somewhat on the fence about
their games. However, V3 is a bit of a departure
from the earlier games in the franchise, as the
developers simplified a number of mechanics (most
notably combat), and fans of the older games aren't
happy. But if you've never played any of the
"Victoria" games before, you might enjoy this
one more because these changes make it easier for
newbies to get a handle on things. My biggest
complaint is that - like so many Paradox
Interactive games - there is a lot of content
locked behind paid DLC.
* Callisto Protocol, The https://store.steampowered.com/app/1544020/The_Callisto_Protocol/
<grumble> I wish this game had been added to
HumbleChoice two months ago, before I bought it
on Steam. Oh well, I'm sure I'll find some use
for this second copy. "Callisto" is basically
a "Dead Space" clone, and a pretty good one too.
Not as good as the game its emulating, but
still pretty good. Definitely worth a play if
you like this style of game.
* Humankind (Definitive Edition) https://store.steampowered.com/app/1124300/HUMANKIND/
A classic 4X strategy game in the style of
"Civilization". Oh, you can tell how much this
game wants to be the next "Civilization". But it's
not. Sure, it emulates those games, and fans of
the genre can get some enjoyment out of it because
of that, but it lacks the polish and balancing
that made the Microprose (and later Firaxis)
games so compelling. It's an above-average 4X,
but it lacks the spark and genius that make
the "Civilization" games so riveting.
* Fashion Police Squad https://store.steampowered.com/app/1319460/Fashion_Police_Squad/
At first glance, you might assume this tongue-in-
cheek game is a 'boomer shooter', but I'm not sure
that really fits. Yes, it's an FPS with retro
graphics, but it lacks the intensity of a true
boomshoot. It's just a mediocre FPS with old-school
graphics and try-hard humor that's hoping its
visual style will mask its deficiencies.
* Terraformers
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1244800/Terraformers/
The game describes itself as a "A turn-based
colony builder", which pretty much tells you all
you need to know about it. Well, mostly; that
description implies a certain sandbox elements,
whereas this game is almost board-game like, with
random events and powers (sadly, using a deck-
building motif) adding pressure to the gameplay.
The actual colony building aspect is actually
fairly simplistic; its more about scrambling for
resources than construction. In some respects, it
feels a bit like a mobile game; something you
play in short bursts rather than long sessions
where you watch your creation grow.
Conceptually, it looks interesting but I'm not
sure it's the sort of game I would enjoy.
* Excavation of Hob's Barrow, The https://store.steampowered.com/app/1182310/The_Excavation_of_Hobs_Barrow/
Golly! A traditional, side-view retro-graphic'd
adventure game in the style of the old Sierra
classics. Not, perhaps, the most challenging
game but it plays fairly true to those oldies,
and has strong story and interesting characters.
A definite throwback to the old times, which is
great if you like that style (I certainly do)
but more modern gamers might find it a bit slow.
* Coromon
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1218210/Coromon/
"Palworld" might have gotten a lot of flak for
being a Pokemon clone, but "Coromon" is a lot
closer to the original Gameboy classics. Heck,
its motto is "Capture monsters, train, farm!"
and if that's not enough, one look at its
screenshots will immediately tell you what
this game is aping. If you love Pokemon but
for some reason don't want to PLAY Pokemon, I
guess this game is for you. Myself, I never got
into the Pokeman craze so I'm not at all
excited about this clone.
* Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga https://store.steampowered.com/app/1488200/Symphony_of_War_The_Nephilim_Saga/
An old-school JRPG in the style of those old
SNES classics. Again, this is a game whose
appeal depends heavily on your fondness of a
certain genre of old-timey games. If you weren't
a huge fan of the classic "Zeldas" and "Final
Fantasy" and "DragonQuest" games, then I doubt
this one will convince you otherwise. But it's
a solidly made game (although its close emulation
of the old-time style can sometimes make the
game feel... well, old!) and old-school JRPG
fans will probably love this one.
So... it looks like the theme of this month's selection is "games that
remind you of other, better games", e.g., "Callisto Protocol->Dead
Space", "Humankind->Civilization", ""Symphony of War->Final Fantasy", "Coromon->Pokemon". That doesn't mean all of the clones are bad games,
but - as they're aping the classics - they lake the novelty and charm
of the originals.
Still, there are a number of games on the list that appeal to me, and
- if I didn't own it already - "Callisto Protocol" alone would have
made this month's Choice worth it. Well, I'll just have to make do
with "Victoria 3" and "Hobs Barrow". It's not a great month of games,
but not a bad one either; HumbleChoice is holding steady.
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