Steam Summer Sale....

With the summer sale on Steam now on I got a few e-mail updates saying games I'd wish-listed were now 'cheaper'. This lead to two things. Me buying some of them and removing others from the list altogether.

It's been a couple of years since I last did an overview post on what I'd been playing, what was 'done', what was being continued and what was 'removed'. I did this list in 2018,  this list early in 2019 & updated again in late 2019 and this one in late 2020. The early 2021 version was in progress when the post got wiped and it's content lost. With it I lost motivation to recreate it(it was a long post). I'm hoping that I'll get around to it again.... Maybe later in the year with a massive update of 2021/22. Time will tell.

Anyhow... 

Three games kicked from my wishlist.....

They are Billions is a game I've watched streamers play and one I've wanted for a while. It's not been on a 'good' sale price so I never got it. Funny(not haha funny) that now it's on a 'good' sale price I'm removing it. It's a hardcore game of wave/rush RTS survival. Maybe a bit too much so for my casual tastes. I'd only end up buying it to have and it'd not get the gamepaly it or I deserve... If you get my meanings..... The killer blow on my decision this time is that I've previously bought Diplomacy is Not an Option on sale a while ago(still not really played it yet but on my list todo). A more 'fun' experience even if it can get hard.

Synthetik 2 is from the looks of it a better game than the original. It improves on the first in many ways. Like being on multiple platforms etc. The reviews seem to say you take the new good with it's own issues. It's still an Early access game so has some leeway on it's current 'issues'. That said it's been a 'while' since I last really played the first game. The second hasn't really been on my radar, just the wish-list to keep and eye on. So seeing it now even on sale isn't conducive for me to get it from what I've seen. I'm happy with the first game. There's noting I've seen in the second that makes me want to get it over just loading up the first. 

Comanche is a game I wanted to see due to my nostalgia for Comanche Gold, back in the day. The 90's had a massive overkill of sims and sim like 'gunship' games. So my nostalgia was real for Comanche. Playing it via Xbox Ultimate was good at the time if short lived. I'm not sure if some of the graphical choices were on purpose for retro nostalgia but in retrospect it took away from it being 'modern' and didn't grow on me. Also in retrospect I think it's casual arcade but simulation take was too blurred. A mix the original pulled off but I feel didn't work here with the new iteration. The game may be 'released' but it still 'feels' early access with work to be done. I'd seen it on sale on other occasions but was always hesitant; That alone should have removed it from the list.

Four games I did purchase....

Fights in Tight Spaces.... A game I've wanted and tried, just waited for the sale price and this is it.

Slipways.... A space management, game that is a slimmed down grand strategy take. So grand strategy 'lite'. It's a game I've seen streamed and liked what I saw. A pretty chill game with lots of micromanagement to get lost in.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder's Revenge.... As recent a game to the list as can be. As I posted, it ticks all the boxes for retro playable fun. A no brainer on more than just the price front.

As for Shooty Skies Overdrive.... My recent return kick to VR had me looking for something else to virtually do/shoot This game looked to be 'it', cheap(cheaper now on sale) quick fun.  

ABC Gamer

Speaking of that channel, ABC Gamer has gone through a few reworked iterations over the years. It's gone more younger viewer friendly(tho not so much now but still not watchable for me) since the Nichboy days. Which is a pity. Really liked it back then(but also like his new 'show' Back Pocket)...

Then again so many channels in competition to one another that all do such similar content....

SYNTHETIK....

Another game I've kept on the back burner of PC gaming; Good to see a game get continued support from devs and gamers. I've enjoyed hopping back into it every now and again. Synthetik is a great 'impactful' fun shooter that's only gotten better with time. 

Some really good updates/patches and content; The latest of which really is a game changer(in a good way).

FlowFire Games

SYNTHETIK: Arena

Interesting! SYNTHETIK: Arena

FlowFire Games

SYNTHETIK....

SYNTHETIK; Another game I've let slip by the wayside, which has also been updated recently and come to my attention due to seeing a Steam download. It's latest UPDATE 21 - Rare Metal covers a lot of ground.

Getting back into the game with the previous update was interesting but daunting in retrospect. Due mainly to so many changes to class's and again having let the game slip from casual play. I can just about see the changes, say with some kind of informed view that X change is cool or Y alteration is a good one. This new update changes/tweaks and enhances so much it's hard to casually keep track of. So with change after change over time it's all become a lot to take in. That said Update 21 does look to have great changes/updates and additions. I do like the game but it's a short term time filler for me. To do a few run's and then move on. I've no hope of being a min/max'er let alone level up all the class's / get all the collectibles.

Challenges! Not like before. I'm so rusty now I can barely co-ordinate eject and reload.

So back to basics for me; I shoot gun, gun feels good and impactful, enemies explode, I chuckle with glee. Fun is fun.

A Casual Carebear

SYNTHETIK....

A game I've hopped in and out of for some quick fun has gotten a free expansion, released today. Granted I've not played it for a little while and I've not been specifically looking for info on the game; So the news of a free expansion caught me off guard. What a surprise to get! So many changes, so many updates. Information on the expansion is detailed and looks good: SYNTHETIK: Legion Rising; Patch notes are here.

FlowFire Games

Synthetik....

Synthetik is still on sale (35% off) on steam. I feel I've gotten my monies worth out of the game already.

It's got that one more try element to it. Picking up the right random weapon can make enemies melt, add in some enhancements and you start to feel god like. Until the weapon jams, you run out of ammo and have to revert to your starter gun.

It's all quick good fun and a time sink. 5 minutes here and it's 30 minutes later. I'm having a blast, pun intended.

A Casual Carebear

Synthetik....

I'm glad I picked up Synthetik in the Steam sale; Great game at a great price.

The magazine eject, reload and weapon jamming mechanics add a lot to the game's replayability.

B+     I'll take it!

Synthetik....

I need to stop watching anything game related, I always end up finding new games that I want to play. With the back catalogue I have, I thought I was making some headway. Here is another game that looks really fun; I saw it on SplatterCatGaming's channel this morning.

The game mechanics of dashing, reloading and the jamming of weapons all add meaningfully to gameplay.

The games visual style, the need to use cover, the way the rounds hit the enemies, the explosions all look and feel satisfyingly visceral. It's making me fanboy out. But seriously whats not to like..... At the very least it's another cheap fun game to add to the steam watch list.