A Year In Review - PC Gamer Edition
2010 has been a great year for PC gaming. Whether it’s storming the Bolivian jungles of Bad Company 2 or exploring the derelict Mojave wasteland of Fallout: New Vegas; I’ll give you a pick of my most favourite PC games of 2010.
Before you start reading, to prevent any disappointment I’ll tell you now: Minecraft and Black Ops aren’t going to be here. Why? Because they’re both over hyped, God-awful games. Playing them was like dropping the soap in a prison shower; after it’s finished it you just keep trying to suppress the memory of it ever happening. It’s my list, so fuck you.
So anyway in no particular order, here is my pick of PC games from 2010:
Before you start reading, to prevent any disappointment I’ll tell you now: Minecraft and Black Ops aren’t going to be here. Why? Because they’re both over hyped, God-awful games. Playing them was like dropping the soap in a prison shower; after it’s finished it you just keep trying to suppress the memory of it ever happening. It’s my list, so fuck you.
So anyway in no particular order, here is my pick of PC games from 2010:
Fallout: New Vegas
I’ve always been a big fan of the Fallout series. Personally, I didn’t think Fallout 3 captured the charm of the original game and fortunately, my issues have been addressed with Fallout: New Vegas. In the game you play a Courier who was shot delivering a package on the way to New Vegas. He awakes in the small town of Goodsprings, a good few miles away from The Strip.
This time round you can really ally yourself with factions. Who you pick to be friends and enemies with makes a change to the entire game. This gives much more non-linearity which wasn’t present in Bethesda’s shot at the series. The game also maintains a lot of the original game’s charm and wit; so whether it’s trying to kill a cross dressing super mutant or convincing a gang of Elvis Presley impersonators to give you access into the New Vegas strip, you’re in for an enjoyable experience.
Super Meat Boy
2D platformers have always been a favourite genre of mine and Super Meat Boy is now ranking in my top 5 favourites. In the game you play as Meat Boy, a small square skinless blob who is trying to rescue his girlfriend: Bandage Girl from the evil Doctor Fetus. Meat boy has no attacks and must rely on his wall clinging abilities and small size to guide him through the game.
The Game maintains a fast pace which requires dexterity, thinking and split second timing; don’t expect an easy ride, you will die a lot of times. This gives a much more rewarding victory once you’ve completed a particularly difficult level; with all your attempts then replayed simultaneously at the end; think of a fairer IWBTG. Overall, with approximately 350 levels and challenging gameplay- any platformer masochist will be in for a treat.
Metro 2033
As you probably have guessed from me being a big fan of the Fallout series- I love the whole post apocalyptic era for games and Metro 2033 is no exception.
The game is set in post-apocalyptic Moscow, Russia where you control a survivor named Artyom. All the surviving humans are living underground in the Metro system as the surface’s air is too toxic to breathe without the use of a gasmask at all times. Unfortunately, outside the established bases in the Metro system are various enemies ranging from Soviets, super intelligent mutants called “The Dark Ones” and gigantic mutated rats. Your task is to make contact with a group of Rangers in order to help get rid of these new mysterious super intelligent creatures which threaten your city.
The game in my opinion- is the bridging gap between BioShock and Resident Evil with a bit of STALKER thrown in for good measure. It focuses much more heavily on atmosphere, while still giving that hopelessness feeling of being totally alone against hundreds of killer monsters. As with any survival horror game, ammo is essential and shouldn’t be wasted. Metro 2033 goes a step further by giving you the option to loot corpses; allowing you to trade the scavenged items with other people. If you like survival horror games which rely more on sounds and atmosphere, definitely give Metro 2033 a go. It provides a good story, eerie moments and maintains the horror feel throughout with its heavy focus on the dark claustrophobic tunnels of the Metro system.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
My tangent with most modern FPS’ are that they really over glorify war and keep beating the dead horse of WW2. Taking Call of Duty for example: The franchise’s life span has lasted longer than the actual war which should give you enough indication of how much it’s overdone, even inside company’s own franchises. Granted, there has been some ‘good’ WW2 FPS’. Unfortunately, they’re being overwhelmed by the sea of terrible ones. Quite recently, it appears the new udder for First Person Shooters is the modern day current affairs with the threat of nuclear war. Bad Company 2 is no exception.
So you may ask, what makes Bad Company 2 stand out from the rest? Well for one it’s got the Frostbite engine (V1.5 to be exact) which allows for the destruction of pretty much anything. Giving a whole new dimension to Game play and realism, forcing you to re-think your tactics as soon as your favourite sniping spot has been obliterated by a rocket. Top this off with some of the most cleanest, realistic, high fidelity gun sounds; which change depending on your environment (Hooray for continuity!), incredible level of detail and an amazing multiplayer- This could easily be the best First Person Shooter I’ve played this year.
For those of you who enjoy a good single player experience, you won’t be disappointed. Bad Company 2 offers a typical story which spans across a wide variety of countries and places. Something you would expect nothing less from a modern FPS to have. However, this is compensated for by the amazing environments and your team mates amusing commentary throughout the fights.
Alien Swarm
This was a shock to most Steam users as one day a game just appeared in their uninstalled list- that game is Alien Swarm; originally a Unreal Tournament 2004 Modification, Valve have made it a game in its own right and above all else- it’s 100% free.
The game is a top-down shooter 4 player co-op experience. You’re a space marine who has to fight their way through waves of aliens; stranded on an Icy mining colony planet. The game has some incredible detail, even from the top-down perspective; showing every flash in the shadows and every alien crawling up the side or crawling from under the pipes.
Team work is one of the main focuses of this game so it’s essential you stay on everyone’s good side (as a ‘polite’ reminder, friendly fire is always on.) and learn to use your role efficiently. You’ve got the Officer: Jack-of-all-trades, The Special: Essentially the tank, The Tech: Can hack through doors/terminals and finally The Medic: The weakest one who everyone else has to protect. However, the more you play, the more rewards you get with upgrades ranging from weapons to abilities which will truly make your marine unique and give a new challenge every time you join up with a group.
So there you have it; the best picks for PC gaming of 2010. I would also recommend you check out First Fantasy – A Satirical Role Playing Game as it’s possibly the best game in existence.
Happy new year everyone!