Windbound....

While I may be looking forward to playing Bomber Crew in this month's Games with Gold; The other game, Windbound did grow in my interest. Mainly due to my need to see if the game mechanics were as 'bad' and 'quirky' as I'd read they are.

I took a quick look.

Long story short, they are and it's true that the game doesn't offer you any motivation to play it. 

Maybe it's just not a game for me. Maybe I'm missing something(or a lot). Maybe I'm being harsh towards it because it's a free game; Or I have preconceived expectations of a survival game. That said first impressions matter.

The game looks good and I like the art-style as I do the music and sounds overall; But even on the 'easiest' difficulty it's like walking a tightrope of game mechanics. Fine when you play by it's rules but try to veer off and it will either fail you hard or not allow you to do what you want. So initial wonder at exploring a new 'world' is smashed in the face by lots of 'no'.

The start, at least for me, made me question the story and the main character's motivation. Raft sinking and then having to walk into a bright light wasn't motivating me to play a survival game if you catch my.... drift.

From the get-go the game has rubbed my up the wrong way. I'd have rather had more mystery, with the character waking up on the beach from the start. 

On face value the basic systems are fine. Collect things, make things. Collect long grass make make grass rope etc etc. 

Kill pigs to get bones and skin but not meat seemed odd given the hunger situation.

The game is a survival game for sure. Scarce resources. With only berries to eat on the first island and pigs not offering edible meat it felt harsh. 

In crafting, one needed material was a tusk; Yet killing the biggest bore gave no tusk. The start of my frustrations. 

My crafting needs then pointed to getting palm leaves for the 'next' craft-able item. Good a goal as anything! But the only palm trees are visible on a distant island..... Gotta swim it right.... 

Nah, barley halfway and all stamina was gone.  Sinking.... Fade to black and it's back to being face down on the beach. That's a thing that happened a lot as I tried to do and figure out things. There was no fun in it just frustrations.

By this stage I couldn't take the game seriously. Game systems that felt like they were only there to troll and  mess with the player. Play by the rules or not at all felt too restraining.

There's 'mystery' in the narrative that's there but for me it wasn't compelling. It just is... The mystery quickly fades when you see that it's shoehorning you in a specific way. A not by choice push that really feels like it. No real mystery to figure out, no real exploration to get lost in.

As for other world narratives, I've no idea what they are or why I should care.

In trying to get to that island I should have made a grass boat but I was too fed up of the game already I have zero motivation to press on.

Given swimming the smallest distance from the first island to the rock beside it, swimming 100 meters and getting an achievement.... An achievement that less than 8% of players had gotten... Speaks volumes!

Yea it's not a game for me. If a player can get into the game mechanics I'm sure it's a game that will feel like it falls into place for them. If it clicks it clicks and good for the player.

For some reason this games art style kept reminding me of Aragami(a far better game(no wonder really being a Ninja game(like here, here and here)); Yet the second game never clicked with me.

I'm looking forward to Bomber Crew in the next week. When it was free on PC(ages ago) I've a friend who claimed it on PC on my recommendation. He couldn't get into it. He nit picked it's game mechanics and didn't want to play it to gain the in game upgrades that would have negated his early game dislikes. I don't know anyone who has or does play Windbound so I've only the internet to lead me and I'm agreeing with the majority. That said my friend also claimed and played Subnautica and similarly didn't like it.... Only in the last few weeks has played it again and is now really into it.

For Windbound, maybe time will tell for me, maybe not.

Games with Gold....

With the 360 games no longer being added to the monthly Games with Gold offerings it seems 'weird' to 'just' see 2 games. With luck quality should increase. Speaking of which I think they have with at least one this month...

Bomber Crew is a great fun game I've played a lot of on PC; Via a free humble bundle code for Steam and later buying the USAAF dlc. My posts on that here, here and here. So seeing the Deluxe all in version free on Xbox should be an interesting return to the game for me.

Windbound a game I've not known about except for hearing the name(just sounds familiar). A shipwrecked alone experience on an uncharted island where you explore and adapt as you navigate land and sea to survive and thrive; All sounds interesting enough. Yet not a game I'll be diving into as even the 'good' reviews of the game on Steam are fairly scathing about the games mechanics. A visually good looking game let down with it's punishing and essentially meaningless survival mechanics. It also seems that the storyteller 'easier' mode lacks any motivation in story to drive the grind of game mechanics. A grind for the sake of it, it seems. A lot of nice ideas let down with implementation of the game. So I'd say a very polarizing game to say the least. Proof in the pudding and all; If it's a game that clicks with a gamer good on them. For me it's a case of too many games not enough time already. Maybe I'll miss a hidden gem....

Games with Gold...

Septembers games with gold....

Gods will Fall - A new enough game (released last year); By all accounts a 'meh' game when compared to the likes of Torchlight. Similar in both looks/style and combat. But the RnG nature of the game is apparently overboard to a frustrating point. A niche game it seems, one I'll claim and probably skip playing.

Double Kick Heroes - Another new enough game(2020). A shoot'em'up side scrolling rhythm game that looks interesting but just not a game for me. Proof may be in the pudding but .... I'm 'meh' about it. I find some, if not nearly all rhythm games frustrating(Beat Saber is an exception but then again it's on a more physical interactive platform).  A claim and skip I think for this one.

Thrillville - Another theme park management game from classic Xbox. Thrillville Off The Rails was only just given away. Both the same yet very different in aspects of style and park management never mind their 'mini-games'. I took a quick look at Off the Rails; I can see where the fun in both games management and mini 'games' is. For me in the here and now they just didn't do it for me. So again with Thrillcville not a game for me. If Planet Coaster(blogged here) was too detailed I'd say Off the Rails and Thrillville are on the other end of the scale. Another claim and skip for me.

The big ticket item of the months games, Portal 2 - A game a friend has tried to get me to play for a while. Given the meme's around the first game the second very much lived up to the first. Both classic game and both with dedicated fans one over the other as well as both. At the very least I can claim and give it a go.

Games with Gold....

Calico a game about a cat café, a sim in all aspects from café(furniture/decor/food) to townsfolk relationships. For me this game isn't appealing; one to claim but can't see myself playing.

ScourgeBringer a fast-paced 'roguelite' platformer. Despite my liking of games like this, they either sink or swim on actually getting to play them; So the proof is in the pudding as they say. One to claim and try. Plus the soundtrack is good.

Saint’s Row 2. I've never been fully into a Saint's Row game since the first one(while waiting for the next GTA at the time). There's been a lot of off the wall versions since. SR2 seems to still bridge the gap of serious GTA action and fun without being too far out there. All that said it's a game I've already claimed(July 2020) and still not played so, I guess I was right.

Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine. Another game that was given away years ago. Another one I've previously claimed and not played(Sept 2014).... Best described as a 2d sarcastic comedy version of payday 2; Best in co-op...... Just not a game for me.

Between games being given away for free and games claimable like these it's becoming harder to sink time and effort into games I don't choose. The choice of too many is a real problem. Way more extreme today than a magazine disk crammed with demos which I'd spend time on back in the day. Too much of a good thing now perhaps; And one making me choose and discard full and free games more casually without playing them. Then again if I spent time on every free game I'd do nothing else.....

There was some info going around the interwebs that the 360 games were leaving the Games with Gold as freebies; I can only hope that this both improves the quality of games that are given for free as well as their playability. As much as I may say I'll claim and not play the variety offered is wide and surprise titles/game-play is nice when it happens.

Games with Gold....

Another month another 4 games to claim.

Beasts of Maravilla Island - An interesting looking game(with an art style that I like) and another one of those games that I'll be trying.

Relicta - A first person puzzler that I'm sure I'll either love or hate..... Given I'm a player who never got into Portal.... I'll have to try this to know.

Thrillville Off The Rails I'm not sure if this game could be called a lite version of Theme Part/Planet coaster but fun will have aged better than the graphics.... Free is free and playing it will prove the point.

Torchlight, a classic game and one that was given away in 2019. I'd claim it again if I didn't have it already... 

Torchlight is the best of the bunch(imho) but a game I've played before. At least the other three will be worth a try.

Games with Gold....

June's Games with Gold are looking to be on the upper end of things. At least in my view.

Aven Colony: Available June 1 to 30; A game I got some years ago on PC. A game I liked at the time but never really been back to in recent years(unlike my wife). It'll be interesting to see it's Xbox implementation.

Project Highrise: Architect’s Edition: Available June 16 to July 15; A tower-building simulation I've seen in the past but had never sparked interest to play. Free is free so one to install and try for sure, if it sticks it sticks.

Super Meat Boy: Available June 1 to 15; Is a great platform, puzzler, a true classic. It's fun(gameplay and 'story') and frustrating all in one. A game that was free with Gold a while ago(June 2016). Glad to see it being given away again. Worth a try for anyone who hasn't.

Raskulls: Available June 16 to 30; A fun platformer by the looks of things, not sure it's a game for me but as it's a free to try.....

Games with Gold....

A bit late but still worth a post.... This months free Xbox games

Yoku's Island Express.... A fun looking pinball game. I'm just not into pinball games. There's something about this game that makes me feel averse to it. Again me and platformers/platformeresque games have a love it of loath it thing. Personal preference aside; Even if a player were to categorize this as a puzzle platformer(yes, a stretch I know) I don't think I'd be into it. 

 

The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk.... A game that has a lot of appeal to me, manly with it's humour.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane.... A water based version of Wipeout; Whats not to like!

Viva Pinata Party Animals.... A version of the Pinata series that is very much a bottom of the barrel.

I'll claim them all but this month only Hydro Thunder and maybe Yoku's Island Express are of any interest, even at that it's very 'meh' if I'll install and play them. 

Games with Gold does still have a place for me even as I'm subscribed via an Ultimate subscription. Getting random games I've not heard of or get reminded of can be a refreshing surprise at times. Just not for me this month.

Games with Gold....

April's Games with Gold are another mixed bag ranging from interesting to meh for me. It's teh usual middle of the road kind of selection. It's all subjective and with so many gamers subscribed and a wide audience to claim the games I'm sure it's a case of Microsoft can't keep all of the people happy all of the time. The good thing about the potluck is that you might get something you like which you'd have not gone out of your way for if not for it being free this month.

Another Sight, looks to be a game I'll try. A character switching exploration adventure with interesting gameplay. It might be the side scrolling and art style but it reminds me a lot of Alpha Planet.

Hue. I've not been into the more Limbo esque style of games such as Hue. It's got a lot of great gameplay mechanics and I get it but I think it 'could' get frustrating for me as the puzzles and reaction times in it are increase as you go... Try it and see I guess!

Outpost Kaloki X, Different but another game not for me from what I've seen of it. It may be slapstick funny but as much as some things age well there's something about it that hasn't in my view. I could be wrong but I think the effort playing won't be worth the time. I've seen some comments saying the game is deeper than it looks... Time will tell.

MXvsATX Alive, Not a franchise or sport I've ever been into so not a game that I feel any need for; But an install and a few minutes of gameplay will test the proof in the pudding.

Games with Gold....

The Xbox Games with Gold has some 'interesting' content.

Two I like:

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse. 

I've not played a Broken Sword game since the first of the franchise back in the day. The 5th looks interesting and one I'll claim and play for sure. I kind of have an itch for this type of game.

&

Aerial Knights Never Yield

Another interesting looking game. Fast paced style like a cross between My Friend Pedro and Mirrors Edge. A claim and try for sure.

Two 'Meh' games to claim if not to play:

Hydrophobia

&

Band of Bugs

Options to try and maybe be surprised with......

Games with Gold....

Next months new batch of Games with Gold are again a bunch of 'Meh' for me. 

Moving out: Is an interesting looking party game, one I'll try but I doubt go any further than that(famous last words?).

Kingdom II Crowns: I've not been into any of the other Kingdom games so I think this one is very much just another click and collect(maybe I'm being too dismissive of a franchise/iteration....).

Rocket Knight: Another interesting looking game but I'm not a real platform fan so any Pro or Con points I could waffle about would be negatively biased. Seeing gameplay footage I can already tell it's just not a game for me.... I'd get frustrated easy. Platformers are a very polarising thing for me.... Click, collect..... 

Lego Batman 2: I'm not into the Lego games so no surprise it's another click'n'collect only.

So yea...... Meh! A very first world problem to get randomness for 'free' and be..... Meh! 

Games with Gold....

Games with Gold for October'21 like other months another 4 games I'll claim and try. As usual 'Meh' is the general feeling in this regard. If they click with me they click with me. 

Aaero. Available October 1 to 31. 

Looks interesting. After playing The Artful Escape I've more considered time to give to games with rhythm/Simon says mechanics. A game that reminds me of Race the Sun as well.

Hover. Available October 16 to November 15

The last time I played a game called Hover is was Hover! and came with the Windows 95 disk. However the version going free here is vastly different and a lot more like Jet set radio in an 'inspired by' way.  

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. Available October 1 to 15

While I've not been 'into' a Castlevania game since the original NES(borrowed from a cousin) this could be more interesting me than the other games this month.... 

Resident Evil Code: Veronica X. Available October 16 to 31

Another game franchise I've never been 'into'. A 'side' entry for the games, reading up it's supposedly not a bad game but not a great game either...

Claim and try and be pleasantly surprised ... It does happen..... Proof in the pudding etc.

Games with Gold....

That time again; Games with Gold.

Last month I claimed the games but only played one. Lost Planet 3, which was interesting for about half an hour, then it got uninstalled. While I said I remembered the first game being promoted I found the second game listed under old Games with Gold .... Looking back it was from last Feb.... Guess it didn't make an impression on me. Lost Planet 3 was of mild interest to see in action, animations/game systems have not aged badly but they are nothing special today. After about half an hour of gameplay I was done... As for the other games last month I didn't even try them.... 

----

For September's(2021) the games look to be as interesting a mix as last month. Variety is good to see even if I'm not 'into' them. 

Warhammer Chaosbane. I admit, I get confused by the amount of lore/cannon that Warhammer has. I'm 'into it' enough that I like elements/themes/lore/styles but I'm not 'into it' enough to actually say I know things. Yet I'd say I'm more 'into' 40k. There are differences. But on that score I feel both more drawn to 40k but less qualified to discuss it. I'll stop waffling before I dig a deeper hole and just say that I'll claim and try Chaosbane out. If it clicks as a game it clicks and will see more time with me. Despite the theme/franchise of this game; I'm picky about this style/type of game. Some ARPG's work for me and others not so much... Recently that's been everything Vs the Torchlight games. Mood of the moment etc. The one thing that I really, really like about the footage I've seen of gamepaly... Lots of DPS numbers.

Mulaka - This one may have a lot more combat to it but I've been into this type of stylized, immersive, stroy/journey kind of game for a while now(akin to Abzu, Planet Alpha and The Witness). Again another game to claim and try. 

Zone of the Enders HD Collection; Which includes Zone of the Enders and Zone of the Enders The  2nd Runner. From footage I've seen the gameplay Mecha looks interesting but that aside it reminds me of an old OG Xbox title. Otogi. I guess that's down to similar thematic camera and movement styles based on hack and slash while gliding in the air like an oriental epic(more Crouching Tiger then Monkey). More to claim and try.

Samurai Shodown II. Best described(from my limited view) as a Streetfighter looking game with weapons. It's got it's own franchise and it's own fanbase due to it's slightly different take on fighting.  That's a vastly generalized take on the game... One I'll try but I've lost my need for fight games a while ago....

Games with Gold....

The next batch of games, for August, is a mix. Overall the general reviews of these free games; Even back in the day was/is 'average'. Perhaps a little something for everyone. For me there are two to at least try.

Darksiders III. I was never 'into' the series so I can't say if it's better or worse than previous games in the franchise... Even free now it's just not a game for me(claim and forget).

Yooka - Laylee. Is another game I was never 'into' and again even for free not a game for me(claim and forget). I'd say I'd try it but I'm such a mixed bag when it comes to platformers; Even if they are cute and fun looking. 

Lost Planet 3. I recall the first game had some hype to it when it released. That's all I remember. I never got the first game. As the third game is a prequel to the first I'll have a look. Just for the sake of it and if it's a surprise I hope it's a pleasant one.

Garou: Mark of the Wolves. Again a game/series/franchise I was never 'into'; So again I can't say if it's better or worse than previous games... Still not exactly a game to claim and forget. I was into Street Fighter over the years so I'll have to at least give this one a try.

Games with Gold....

That time again, more Games with Gold.

Conker Live & Reloaded; A classic of the classic Xbox era but one franchise I've never been into. I'm finicky with platformers. Either they click or not. Good as this one may be, even looking back with a retro eye, I doubt I'll play it. I'll claim it of course.

Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break; Another classic franchise and again another I've never been 'into'. While I can find humour in the Monty Phthon style I'm not a fan..... Heresy I know. It just doesn't do much for me. Still Monty Python is Monty Python, there are moments(like here and here). I'm not a total philistine.

Midway Arcade Origins; Has a ton of classics. I'll be hopping in to this and trying out some of them. Some being: Defender, Rampage, Smash TV, Cyberball, Vindicators and most of all Rampart.

Planet Alpha is by far the one game this month I'll probably sit down to spend time with. I'm not sure if I ever saw this in the past but given, as I've said, my 'finicky take on platformers that's no surprise. This one does seem to 'do it' for me. So in turn I'll be giving it a good try.

So two I'll play and two I'll claim just because free is free; 50-50 split, not a bad month again.

Games with Gold....

The King's Bird.... Looks to be a game of interest for me. It's art style reminds me of the Abzu and Journey games. As does the gameplay; all about the journey, the challenge of the journey and the views. A platformer with a difference that appeals to me. With a side of Super Meatboy wall use without the blood.... I'll be giving a try and see if it clicks!

Shadows: Awakening.... While it looks like a great game visually I'm hesitant of all (serious(?)) isometric RPG's these days; Mainly because I was into Divinity:OS and quickly fell out of it just as hard. The RPG isometric straw that broke me. Shadows isn't as unique as it says it is but I'll give it a go and see for myself. If it clicks with me I'll give it more time. Even at that it's a stretch for me to try.

NeoGeo Battle Coliseum.... Seems to be a love it or loath it fighter. Given my loss of love for all fighting games I have no need for another.... Even a free one.

Injustice Gods Among Us....... A DC fighting game. A parallel universe with Superman as a Tyrant. Meh. Not a good follow up given what I thoughts of Battle Coliseum. I've just no interest in it, it's looks or premise.

Talk about a month of games that point out my changing gameplay wants and needs over time. 

Games with Gold....

Looking at the games with gold for May; My usual claim'em and not play'em is in full swing. More so than other months. I've a lot of games on the go at the mo so my tolerance for fun faff's on the side is very, very limited whether they're free or not... 'First world problems'. The bane of so many free games on so many platforms from so many providers/stores......

Armello is an interesting looking game but has nothing that seems to draw me in for an 'I must play this' point of view...

Dungeons III could be a good game for me. It's a game that brings nostalgia for the Dungeon Keeper games. But I've already claimed it on another platform and not played it there so 99.99% ditto on that for Xbox.

The Lego Batman game isn't going to be played as I'm not into the Lego games regardless of theme...

Tropico 4 is a franchise I like the look of; And gameplay seems to be up my alley but even through I've claimed other editions of the franchise I've not played them. So if I have Tropico 5 and not played it  (yet) then Tropico 4 really isn't going to get a look in....

Games with Gold....

For me the first two of the games are of some interest....

Vikings: Wolves of Midgard: Seems to be 'a fun, deep action RPG'. A Diablo style game with some good graphics and atmosphere. One I'll look at but maybe not too deeply.

&

Truck Racing Championship: Looks interesting, worth a try. Again another I'll not dive into too deeply.

The second set are games I'll claim and 'forget'.

Darkvoid: Is an Anthem like (way before Anthem) game I've no interest in... 

&

Hard Corps Uprising: Is a game I like the look of but I know the game-play is one I'd also not be into.

2 of 4 isn't bad as Games with Gold freebies go....

Games with Gold....

Games for January are a mix...

Like all things that are free it's down to personal preference to claim and play. They're free and I'll claim them cos you never know; Maybe sometime down the line I'll be 'into' the game-type. 

The January games remind me more of a Halloween theme than anything to do with a New Year.....

Little Nightmares is akin to Inside, at least to my eye; Which was itself free on multiple platforms in the last few years. I wasn't into Inside but I 'get' it's theme, likewise with Little Nightmares. Not for me.

Dead Rising is another one that's been free over time; Fun for a quick zombie smash for the sake of it but meh. Chainsaw to zombies is only fun for so long(at least for me), motorbike or not. The second game was one I played for a bit but again not a game franchise I'm 'into'.

The King of Fighters XIII strikes me as a more hardcore fighting game.... Like Street Fighter II(any edition); All combo's and quick reflexes. I've always been more into the 'slower' fighting games so no surprise that this is again a game I'm thinking I'd not be into..... I'm curios so I'll at least try it.

Breakdown; Is an OG Xbox game that rings a bell with me. More so for the arm light 'ability' but I'm not sure if it's because it's a good or bad game. I've never owned or played it but from clips I've seen it's really familiar to me. Maybe I played a demo back in the day? I really don't remember. I'd avoid it now if not for that unknown familiarity so I may try it and then realize it's a 'bad' OG Xbox game with 'weird' (by today's standards) old Xbox controller layout and then uninstall it.

Games with Gold....

Xbox live for December. That time again. Four more freebies for the month.

The free games that come every month are so subjective to a gamer; It's no wonder most of the games I see listed with Games with Gold are not of interest to me.

Bleed 2; A short, bullet shooting, fast scrolling platformer. It's a game type that I do be picky about. Glancing at this one, it does nothing for me.

Stacking as a puzzle solver and The Raven Remastered as an investigation solver; Both likewise do noting for me...... at the moment.

3 of 4 that I'll still claim even if I'm not diving straight into them. Then again given last months Aragami surprise I might find more entertainment than I think. Time will tell.

Saints Row: Gat out of Hell is a game I'll be interested in. It's been a long time since I was in my GTA/Saints Row prime; But I'd be interested to see this standalone re-boot-ish version of Saints IV. At the very least I'll give it a try.

Games with Gold....

Novembers freebies have three that interest me.

Full Spectrum Warrior was one I played on PC. It looks to have aged well. I'll be trying it out and see how it handles.

Aragami (Shadow Edition) is a game that flew under my radar, so I'd no idea about it but looks to be a great game. Best of the bunch in terms of my interest. Reminds me a lot of Otogi with the Japanese and spectral settings and themes. Another that I'll be trying out for sure.

SWIM Sanity  - While it's 'not my thing' it does look to be fun; Worth a try even just to see once.

Indiana Jones: The original Adventures - I'm not a Lego game person no matter the theme; So I think I'll be skipping this.

3 out of 4 isn't bad!