Her Story - Most original Indie game this decade REDUX - Win a copy!

I'm rereleasing this post to the wild as I have a code to give away for the PC version of Her Story. Leave a comment on this post and I'll pop you in a draw for the Steam Code. Draw on 1st July 
Note that the game is currently on Sale in Steam for £2.49

Thanks to the fine folks at The MMO Show, I discovered a great new Indie Game called Her Story.

I grabbed it for my Ipad, as I don't have much in the way of mobile games, though it is available for PC too on Steam for £4.99.

The game, from Sam Barlow, mind behind Silent Hill:Shattered Memories, is basically a detective game using real video, a series of police interviews with a woman who's husband has disappeared. Using keywords, the player has to go through snippets of video and piece together what has happened.

Without spoiling the story, this is so much more than a murder mystery and the most original game I have seen in years. I highly recommend it!

Edit: Having now pretty much finished the game, I can recommend even more highly. The acting talent of the interviewee and her nuanced body language adds another layer to a startlingly well written game and expect to be thinking about this game long after you finish it.

Space Run Galaxy review from Passtech Games

Space Run Galaxy, PassTech Games, PC, £14.99, Website

At time of publishing, the game is available on Steam for £12.74.

This is the sequel to 2014's Space Run from one-man French studio, Pass Tech games. It has been described as a cross between a tower defence game and Space Invaders and I think that's a fairly accurate description.

The player works as a freight runner, partaking in various missions to carry goods from planet to planet for various employees. The ship is made up of hex nodes, with a central power core in the centre leaving the others free to carry cargo and build on equipment such as guns, shields and repair modules. 

These are purchased during each run using currency gained from shooting enemies and asteroids. Your initial amount of currency will only buy so much so the player needs to be tactical. Working your way through a level facing aliens, pirates and asteroids, the aim is to survive the run without losing your cargo (or your power core, which spells Game Over if destroyed)

Each run is similar to the game FTL but plays in realtime instead of being turn based. In between runs you can buy access to additional modules from local mechanics, trade materials that you obtain through runs and obtain different ships of various hex shapes that provide different builds.


It's also possible to have runs as a multiplayer experience though I've not yet tried this.

The game has some 30 achievements on Steam and ton of missions to go through. Space Run is a lot of fun and can be challenging even for the most seasoned tactician.


The basis for this review first appeared on the British Fantasy Society website

Neverwinter Anniversary Event

I've been away from Neverwinter for far too long. There was a time when it was my number two MMO, after LOTRO and I spent a lot of time there. I created my own content, I played the mobile crafting version of the game when I wasn't logged in to the main game and I loved it.

The story content was great and each zone flowed to the next, group content was easy to get into and user generated content in the Foundry added an extra layer to the already well polished veneer.

Then came the events, always well done with one small drawback that seems the same in events in every example of MMO's, they are grindy as hell. I threw myself into the Winter festival a couple of years ago and all I remember of it was a LOT of ice fishing. There was a particular pet I was after and I eventually got it but that burnt me out and I've barely set foot in the game since, until now.

I recently got a notification of the game's Three-Year Anniversary and naturally there is an accompanying in-game event and this called to me. Now it seems odd that the exact type of content that drove me from the game has drawn me back, but here I am.

As I really had no memory of how to play my game, I selected one of my lower level alts to jump back in on and try to learn the game from scratch. Elbereth, Level 21 Hunter Ranger was back in action!

Within a couple of hours, she was up to level 24, I'd figured out what was junk in my bags and cleared some space and ran a couple of simple quests to get used to combat again before looking for the Anniversary content.

The one thing I like about Neverwinter's event content is that it tends to be all in one place (unlike LOTRO where it's all over the starter zones) and this event is no different. Elminster, the infamous Wizard I read about as a teenager was in Protectors Enclave, the start hub and he had quests to hand out!

There's a mixture of simple quests, like find an NPC in a particular zone, or retrieve an item then there's a grouped skirmish that can completed daily. My first experience of this was great, the grouping simple as it ever was and easy enough that I didn't get yelled at or booted for not pulling my weight or not knowing what the hell I was doing!

As with all such events, there are rewards to be had. A new companion in the form of a travelling minstrel (Seen juggling juggling behind Elminster above), a couple of lovely looking thrones (also pictured above, presumably for housing, that I've not yet looked into), a few cosmetic cloaks and armour pieces and a lovely new mount, the Jubilee Parade Horse.

One thing I like about Nevwerwinter is that you can view exactly what the items look like so you're not just grinding without seeing the end goal. That mount is 3000 Anniversary coins, of which I barely earned 150 on my first day so not sure I'll be grinding for that!

All in all, Neverwinter is still a beautiful game and if the gameplay can keep me engaged, I may try to level Elbereth to cap and see where that takes me.

Back again!

So life has taken a crazy side turn and time has become an incredibly precious commodity. Earlier in the year I decided it was time to start some kind of gainful employment, having spent the last few years  taking care of my little one and a little part time work for an online company beginning with G. I decided to return to something that interested me during my time running restaurants and employing foreign students, Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

I jumped online earlier in the year, signed up for a 50 hour course and breezed through it, despite some health issues. A few weeks ago I discovered a great platform to offer my services using Skype, linking tutors with students on a one to one basis. In the space of just three weeks, I have accrued over a dozen regular students and have been teaching back to back every day!

Despite my lack of formal experience, these lovely people have flocked to my profile and signed up. I don't know if it's a general lack tutors available, or lack of native English speakers teaching, but whatever the reason it's awesome, and exhausting!

So today, for the first time in three weeks I have mostly a free day so I actually got to play some games and thought it would be a good time to try and push myself to blog again. I may even create a blog relating to teaching English, at least to advertise my services, if nothing else!

Long story short, I've played some games and it's been great! After a week of daily customer support where They suggest one thing by email on a daily basis, I finally got Total War Warhammer to work on my system. This is the first game I've bought on release day in years ( and may be the last, given my experience) and have been frothing at the bit to play so today I was over to moon to finally get to try it. And it's great! The feel of Total War that we know and love is there but given the polish of Warhammer, taking me back to my teens of playing the tabletop war game (and my late thirties, when I played for a short time with it with my nephew). I've started out with a Greenskin army (I still have my Orc and goblin figures in the attic) and had great fun with it.

I also grabbed the recent Humble Bundle and played some of Steve Jackson's Sorcery, adapted from the choose your own adventure books of the early 80's that set me on the path to RPGs. When I saw the image of the armoured sergeant from Shamutanti Hills, my heart jumped straight into my mouth, so powerful was the memory.

I've also been sent a review copy of tower builder, space transport sim, Space Run Galaxy, sequel to Space Run. It's very interesting and I hope to spent a fair bit of time with the game before putting a review out there. I've also been offered a copy of The Technomancer, so watch this space for more on that.

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada, Tindalus Interactive and Games Workshop, PC, £29.99, Website

Set in Games Workshop's hugely popular Warhammer 40k universe, Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is a new Real Time Strategy game based on 1999's tabletop game of the same name.

The game features a single-player campaign, pitting the Imperium against Abaddon the Despoiler and acts as an excellent tutorial to the game. The player controls a variety of ships with various weapons and abilities and requires tactical skill to outwit and outmatch the enemy in a variety of different scenarios.

In addition to the campaign mode, the game also features an excellent multiplayer mode in which you can develop your own fleet, improving both ships and crew as you battle and gain experience and in this mode you can play as Imperium, Eldar, Orks or the dreaded Chaos fleet. Each faction has it's own play style from the fast moving Eldar vessels to the huge made-for-ramming Ork machines.

There's also an option to run custom matches or quick solo skirmishes, good for when you just want a quick fix. 

The unique feel of the Warhammer 40k world is really captured and the ability to customise your fleet as you advance really give you the feeling of a tabletop wargame. With the original board game no longer (currently) available, this makes an excellent alternative.

This review first appeared on the British Fantasy Society website

Back to Play by Post

For almost 30 years, I have been running roleplaying games remotely by mail, email and forum post. Despite this, I have never been the player, always the GM. The last time I picked up a set of dice to roll my own player character was about 1986 so it was with some excitement that I joined a community of gamers on Gamer's Plane, a dedicated play by post site.

After some introductions on the forum, I rolled up my brand new character for a game of Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. I've not played D&D since 2nd edition and a lot has changed. It's a lot simpler for a start, which as a newb I'm very thankful for.

So I introduce you to Father Belethor, Human Priest of Lathander....

In his mid-forties and quite rotund, Belathor found faith late in life. Formerly a heavy drinker and gambler, he was converted by his village's local priest of Lathander and given a new start. His fervent devotion to both his temple and healing the sick outweighs his lack of knowledge and constant misquoting texts.

His mace was handed down from his father, a former mercenary turned bodyguard for the local temple. He lost his life defending the church from bandits. His belief in Lathander's tennents of birth and renewal are what keep him going.

Belathor's love of money sometimes raises it's ugly head but never at the expense of the church.

Trait - Often quotes and misquotes from sacred texts. Nothing can shake his optimistic attitude

Ideals - Aspiration - Seeks to prove himself worthy

Bonds - Will protect his village temple at all costs

Flaws - Judges others and himself

The adventure he's lined up to join is called Death House, an adventure set in the Ravenloft world and I can't wait!

Gamer's Plane looks like an excellent site to play by post and my own Knifesedge Games may run something through there. 

New Year, New Games!

Happy New Year!

I've been so taken up with games the last month that I've not had chance to even look at the blog, let alone post, so thought I'd drop a quick update on what I'm spending my time on this very cold January.

I've unsubbed from Lotro for the second time and have remained so for several days so far (the last time lasted 24 hours) As much as I love the community, especially my own little corner of it, the game is just not interesting to me right now and given the current issues with servers following the migration to new hardware, I'm glad I'm not in the middle of it.

Instead, three games have been taking most of my gaming time..

Marvel Heroes 2015

After a break from this game after hitting cap with Punisher, I got a yearning to return and to level my newest character, Blade. The character itself is a favourite of mine and in game he mixes melee and ranged, which is a style I enjoy. The management of the thirst can be a pain at first, requiring you to take serum when you fill a bar after a  number of kills, but it soon becomes second nature. So far I'm up to level 40 and loving it!


Wildstar


My main, Jestro Fardock, is a Spellslinger and maestro with dual pistols. Since jumping in after the free to play launch, this has become my MMO of choice. Not a big fan of the cartoony graphical style at first, I soon learned to ignore it over the great stories, incredible sound and easy to master combat.





I've spent a fair bit of time playing with the excellent housing system too, thanks to the awesome Guild I fell in with, the Black Dagger Society.







Fallout 4

Just before Christmas I grabbed Fallout 4 on sale. I loved Fallout 3 and knew I'd come to this at some point but didn't think it would be so soon and it's incredible. The base building really speaks to my love of those elements that I enjoy in survival games like H1Z1 and the quests and storylines, even of small side quests are the quality I've come to expect from Bethesda.



The graphics are incredible, even on lowest settings and some of the vistas across the wasteland are stunning.At last count, my character is level 25 and barely scratched the surface of the game and according to my Steam log I've played 164 hours.





Other notable mentions...

I completed Tomb Raider recently, the first single player game I've focussed on in some time and found the ending very satisfying. I really need to focus more on this kind of game.

Bioshock: Infinite has been sitting in my unfinished list so what seems like years. I revisited it recently and found I was close to 80% through so I need to focus and get it finished.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is an MMO I've dipped in and out of and actually subscribed for a month recently to unlock the new content, though I've not played any yet. I got into it for a while, playing through the Trooper story for the first time and drifted into Wildstar before I got very far, but with the current Star Wars fever I may get back in soon.



I picked up The Elder Scrolls Online in a sale at the end of the year and played a little. Having loved Skyrim, I hoped it would capture my imagination, but I don't seem to be able to play for too long before I get bored. For me an MMO needs a community to make it interesting and I just haven't found one there yet. I'll keep looking but for now it's a now and again game.



Warhammer:Vermintide is another game I dip in and out of, but that seems to be the nature of it, good for short bursts. I've only played with strangers so far and I'm sure the experience is better with people you know. I also looking forward to more content that is planned for this year and with the Warhammer universe being an old favourite of mine, it can't fail for me.