Surviving Aven Mars ENDLESS Colony Space....

Three more to reconsider, three more that I've tried but long-term haven't passed the test of time.

Surviving Mars

A game that I looked forward to getting; A game I splashed out on pre launch. A game that I did play but one that never fully clicked(here and here), even with all the patch updates and changes. 

In thinking about it there was a lack of long-term enjoyment. It is what it is. A game from the same creators of Cities Skylines, which I had been very much into. Surviving Mars should have been a game I was 100% engrossed in(WALL-E clones and all).... And so it's lingered. Installed but not played. 

I've had fun, not as much as I feel I should have had or wanted with selecting an all in buy option; I think enough time has passed that if I was going to play it more I'd have done so by now.... Uninstall it is.

 

Aven Colony is a game I picked up in a Steam winter sale in 2017; A game that ticked a lot of gameplay boxes. Part of which were more options to play in a sandbox way. A very alien planet colonization game and a lot more futuristic when comparing it to Surviving Mars. A lot to like about it; And a lot more challenges to take on than in Surviving Mars. Like needing to be reelected to carry on your game. Very interesting scenarios, from filtering toxic gas for air quality to 'discouraging' giant worms and 'alien' plants.

If Surviving Mars is more simulation, Aven is more Sci-Fi and 'fun'. Both difficult in their own ways.

Aven is a good game I've played and enjoyed but one I've not been back to in a while. That's a me thing; Other games have taken my interest long-term. I've not found any motivation to go back to other games never mind Aven... It's not you Aven, it's me! 

A game my wife saw me play and picked up herself; She's been more into long-term than I ever was!

The game was free on Xbox's June freebies as part of their subscription. I've only played it's tutorial there but it seems to handle well once you get used to the selection of sub-menus.

Endless Space

A 4X space strategy game. Not one I've blogged about because it's been one of those games... A surprise find, a surprise buy and a surprise I've not been into it. 

Another game that screams all the good 'play me' vibes...... Great art, music and overall style. Just no motivation to play it.

A game that's been sat installed and not really played..... I think 10 years and two PC's is long enough for consideration... Time to let it go.

That said I think the reason I've never looked into Endless Space 2 is that I've never really 'gotten into' the first game. Not sure that will change going forward but worth a mention.

Also worth the mention; Siphon ships in the game I think were a design influence on ships in the Orville series. Just saying...

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right:

Siphon ships - 

Orville - 

Fights in Tight Spaces....

A game with great music and gameplay; But one I'm having as much fun with out of game editing videos with as in game with the action. Yea just for the fun of it. 

The 'shorts' video yesterday was a tester made from this fight(replay).

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Banished Civilization V Planet Coaster....

Banished

A game I picked up in 2016 after seeing my wife play it a lot. I liked what I saw; That said it's a game that never clicked with me in actually getting to play it. For me it felt more simulation and lacked fun. A balance that is very much dependent on player perspective. I'm way more into Dawn of Man. 

Which is kind of funny as shes into Banished more so than Dawn of Man. Different sides of the coin. So for each of use, games of different give and take. It happens.

In a last bid to give the game a chance I played it as she played it. With mods. A lot of mods! Not as many mods as she plays it with but still.... So many mods! Each to their own, but even with mods changing things and making it all 'easy' for me, it's a game that's not for me. Try as I might it seems an uninstall is the better answer(back to Dawn of Man it is).

Civilization V

A game I've never been 'really' into..... 

It may be a good game but I've a lot more nostalgic love for Civ III; As an upgrade from Civ II which I also have a lot of nostalgic love for..... Civ games from IV on have 'not felt the same'. No wonder I've not been 'into' them. Except the console version 'Revolution'... Maybe it's a platform thing but that's a 'different' iteration that 'works for me'.

Trying to play that Steam version of V hasn't been easy and it's no different this time round. I'm not sure why but it was always glitchy and 'twitchy'; Moreso now. Not a fun experience. An old save made things worse when loading it with a higher resolution.... I can't be bothered to re-tweak settings. Well past time to uninstall this one. 

Planet Coaster

A game I got in 2017 and didn't play for a while. I've posted longterm about it(here in 2018 and here in 2019). I guess I held onto it in the hopes of 'getting' more form it or 'getting' into it some more. But as I've said in recent posts for other games 'it's time' to uninstall. I've not done anything meaningful with the game in a long time so no need to keep it installed. If I was going to play it I'd have done so by now.... 

Darkest Dungeon....

With the bulk of the real work 'done'(here and here); The real grind kicked in. So what can I add to the last post I did. Everything and nothing.

End boss and repeated grind to gain DLC currencies. Check.

CoM DLC district buildings bought. Check.

All of the CoM trinkets bought to complete the collection. Check.

All my goals completed. 

In getting things 'done' I had a rotation of heroes. Three groups consisting of 2 Shieldmaidens(Blight/Impale), a Jester(bleeds and stress heals) and a Vestal(actual heals, more heals and the odd stun/dps). Of the three groups, two were of normal heroes and one of Shard Mercs. Still my favored 'comfortable' group composition to run with in CoM. Effective. All groups in rotation to both get the max amount of Shards and spread the damage to heroes post run. When the chosen heroes can no longer 'work' I'd put them in for healing/cure etc and run a lowest of the low level dungeon group of level 0 or 1's(expendables) to pass the week/turn to progress the healing/cures. Rinse and repeat the rinse and repeat. Again.... And again..... And again..... And again..... And again..... 

Not to be causal about the grind. It was no small thing. It was a real 'grind', a really real grind but it's over now. Last night I completed it in an 'all-nighter' where I saw the sun rise. The push was worth it. 

Normal difficulty done.

NG+(stygian) done

Both as complete as can be. Bosses dead, all trinkets gained and buildings built.

All that and I don't consider myself a completionist.

It was difficult, it was punishing, it was infuriating at times and it was worth it. I can say that mainly because I'm now done with it.

Overall a game and a journey that's lasted years. 2016 to 2018; 2018 to 2020, 2020 to 2021. Some breaks in play and some distance needed for sanity. But what a wild ride.

I'm sentimental and nostalgic with this game, the saves and the heroes. A lot of game time and a lot or RNG. I can always return to my saves and run a dungeon or two... For old times sake.

Now that it's done there's a 'is that it' feeling; Not that I don't appreciate the end(ings) and the sun on my face.

So where to from there....

With all else complete, there's the easy "radiant" campaign to do.... 

For no other reason than to say I did it.... 

But why do easy mode when I've completed normal and hard modes....? 

Because it's there....!

I've two other saves on PC. An already started 'Radiant' campaign(on week 45, early game) and a placeholder 'vanilla' campaign(on week 2).

Both worthy of returning to for some 'casual' fun.

BUT.

In a sale not that long ago(last January) I picked up Darkest Dungeon on Xbox(Played on Gamepass just over a year ago!)..... I'm thinking of a Radiant run there, to be different.

But there's no rush....

Fights in Tight Spaces....

Fights in Tight Spaces had been on my radar for a while. It has a playable demo 'prologue' which I'd played a good bit. It made it onto the Steam wish-list almost directly after initially playing that prologue; But it's only in the current sale that I've purchased it. Very much more a me thing than the game; 'Just' looking for a bargain. It's a great game and one that is much better than any near rival(John Wick Hex).

Since getting it I've been having much more fun with the games world. Not in any hardcore way, Anything approaching the medium difficulty beats my áss. So casual is casual after all, for fun.

Fight:

Protect:

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Into the Shovel Knight Gungeon Breach....

Three more for the chopping block....

Enter the Gungeon

2017 to 2022, five years of not playing it... When I got it first I was 'into it' for about a week... It was then that the grind and perfection kicked in. I've maybe played it twice a year, a year or two after that..... I've had an aversion to grinds and 'perfect' runs for a long time now so it's no wonder this game has gone unplayed for so long. About time it was uninstalled.

Shovel Knight Treasure Trove

2018 - 2022. A game that has been stalled like Enter the Gungeon, but for about 3 years... For the same reasons. It's a grind of a game the more you get into it; And the more you get into it the more there is a need to be 'perfect' etc...

As with Enter the Gungeon I played it for about a week then on and off a year or so after that and nothing since. Again about time it was uninstalled.

Into the Breach

2018 - 2022; There may be a running theme here but Into the Breach suffers the same reaction and fate from me as the previous 2 titles listed here, for much the same reasons as well. Interesting firs week or so of play, then longer term grind kicks in, with a need to 'be better' at it. All a combination of 'work' over fun. Given it's been four years and I've not been back to it till today doing this post, yea it needs an uninstall.

Three more done, the late 'spring clean' continues, more to do.

No Man's ASTRONEER Genesis Alpha One....

Three more long-term installed games to consider..... Which will receive the uninstall guillotine.

Genesis Alpha One is as unique a game as any. Both in art, game mechanics and play-styles. I posted about it last year(here and here). It can be a game that's harsh in it's randomness. I'm still recalling a crew member that got ill, leaving a trail of DNA goo on the floor with every sneeze; That in the blink of a eye turned into an alien infestation that killed the crew and the ship. But I've waffled about that before in the second post liked above. A game I've not gotten back to in a 'while' but it has a lot of playability for as long as a player lasts..... Worthy of staying installed. Leniency allowed(gasps from the crowd)!

Not so for Astroneer(gasps from the crowd)! Odd I know. How could such a cute, fun, Minecraft in space game not be my thing. It just isn't. I play it and I'm just not interested. Even the news of an upcoming content patch bringing trains into the game has me wanting to know about it but not play it. Train lines(minecart lines) in Minecraft are my thing! Astroneer should be as well!! BUT, it's just not....

I keep trying to play it and I loose interest pretty fast. The last time I posted about it was 2019.... I uninstalled it then and I'm uninstalling it now. As I said at the time; Everything about the game says it should be a game I'm into. The graphics art-style, gameplay and the humour of it all. I do like everything about it..... Except playing. So no real wonder I reinstalled and kept trying.... And no real surprise it gets an uninstall again... Which may not be the last. I'm conflicted with this game for sure. Who knows maybe another update will get me to reinstall it.... Just to see... Maybe something will click then....

No Man's Sky.....

Where do I start, where to end with it.....

Another game and another time to uninstall it again.

A game I keep trying to get back into; When I do try it's just not the same. With so many patches/updates and expansions it's a game that far exceeds it's original pre-release promises. But for me it's gone too far in the opposite direction. Too much content I've no interest in(like multiplayer).

That initial goal of explore and reach the center is not meaningful motivation any longer. Not now and not in knowing the game today. 

The time I settled down was taken away from me. So I wandered on.... Aimless. Disinterested.  

Posting in 2019 here, 2020 here and last year here, here and here. 

The game is what it is. I still agree with what I said in my last post about it....

It's time for another uninstall. Archive info/save and move on. I'll still feel like I'm missing something by leaving it behind. I've said and felt that before about the game. It's like the loop or a self fulfilling prophecy with no happy ending(just another uninstall).

XCOM 2....

Still installed even after a post I did in 2018; Getting 'into' the game or getting it to 'click' with me hadn't happened by then and it sure hasn't by now in 2022. I still stand by the old post. Time to uninstall.

Besides I've since had way more fun in XCOM Chimera Squad(here and here); I'd recommend it even if you liked and played XCOM 2. Chimera Squad is 'different' but it works and works well, it was worth a chance.

Hitman 3....

Hitman 3 was a game I wanted to like. I initially ranted about the game and more recently here and here I guess I softened up a bit. The game isn't my be-all and end-all of gaming, but with the Steam summer sale I couldn't help but notice the games price drops.

Even with the substantial drops in price, if your looking to get H3 and all it's DLC content it's total price is still too expensive(in my view) at €47.82(Deluxe plus all Seven Deadly Sins). Never mind re-buying older content if it's not recognized from your previous game purchases..... 

Anyway it's still not a good look to get so much of a price drop a year and a half into the games life. Never mind halfway through its 'second year' release. To me that screams of dropping of a hot potato. Getting cash while they can. 

It's good that there's constant development, additions and updates(for as long as that lasts). Then again I've not kept up to date on 'fixes' for the game.

But I'm just done with it(since the end of the second game). I'm over tired with it all. So much chopping and changing with the games, the DLC, repackaging, publishing and publishers, what content, in game recognition and achievements will and won't crossover etc etc. 

Again, the game isn't my be-all and end-all of gaming. I'll wait another year or so and pick it all up as an all in one bundle at a much lower price with luck when an offline patch is introduced. I just found the current price drop 'interesting'.

Remastered....

In my ongoing installed games clear-out two more long-term titles are staying. Time to mention some remasters.

Remasters rarely hit the marks of both being as good as the game they 'rework' and still add to those games in meaningful ways; To enhance and not take away from the old. A troubled modern reworked 'remastered' game I had interest in was of the classic Blade Runner game "Blade Runner - Enhanced Edition".... From all I've read and heard it's much better to stay with the original( it 'may' take more than one patch to make it right). Time will tell on that one, but for now it's best to avoid or get the original....

Of the best remasters done in recent years; Two come to mind straight away:

Total War ROME - REMASTERED....

I've gushed previously on posts for the original and remaster(here and here). So it's not surprise I'd list it here as a recommendation. If you were into the original or into other Total war games then the remaster is the best version of Rome to get. As always each to their own, not all Total War games are for everyone.

Command & Conquer Remastered Collection....

As with Rome Total War I've gushed in many posts about Command & Conquer over the years. The remaster of the original C&C and Red Alert is a similar jaw dropping iteration. If you've played them previously then the remasters are the way to go now.(my previous waffle here and here). While not a remaster I play as much as Rome it's one I'll be pottering away with long, long-term.

Total War Definitive Editions and a SHOGUN 2....

Total War MEDIEVAL II - Definitive Edition....

Total War NAPOLEON - Definitive Edition....

Total War EMPIRE - Definitive Edition....

Total War SHOGUN 2....

None of the Total War games are perfect; For all the faults Rome gets a pass(from me) due to it's playability, even today, even with the remaster features of those 'faults'. Nostalgia eh?

With the newest of these games being Total War SHOGUN 2 at 11 years old it's no surprise that they've been gathering dust on my steam list, never mind the physical editions I've purchased over the years. So disk versions changed to Steam versions, yet I still wanting more from them. These 4 are the Total War games I've wanted to get into but never really could. Not much more than in a very casual way. 

The first Shogun game was technologically of it's time but it had character and playability. The first Rome total war game blew my fragile little mind when I first got it(initial release); A game I've adored since, bought about 4 times and then got the remaster... A remaster that is the pinnacle of what a remaster should be; Art with a chefs kiss. No wonder I've not been playing the other games over the years. Are they worth it in their own right. Yes. Each has it's own take on the franchise game mechanics, some the same, some different. With time and a certain remaster out are they worth going back to and pouring hours into....? Not for me not at this stage. I've no nostalgia for them.... A slight bit for Med II; I think that was more about hype post Rome total war for their next game than the game itself..... Not enough nostalgia about to really get stuck into it or them. I'd rather go back to the original Rome or it's remaster(older posts) with a dash of the original Shogun. I prefer Shogun over Shogun 2..... That's just me('better' graphics do not equal 'better' gameplay).

A Casual Carebear Gamer

Nostalgia plays a huge part when considering my older games. Some games cause that due to their technology of the time. Some because of times and circumstances in life... Others a combination of the two. 

Loading up any of the 4 with old saves and playing the games does nothing for me but remind me of how good Rome and it's remaster are; Or nostalgia and fun the origianl Shogun is(for me).

Yet I've had an itch to keep trying the others to get more value out of them. That said I can't even bring myself to watch some Youtubers play any of the 4 I've listed above. I think a final uninstall and waffle on the internet to seal the deal is now called for.....

DEFCON....

I purchased DEFCON(it's an interpretation on the classic 80's film Wargames) on a friends suggestion; He and his brother were 'into it' and as a Steam sale was on I picked it up for the hefty price of  €1.22! Last February..... Yea another game purchased and another game not really played.... No fault of the game. With one thing and another, if you can't play against the friends your trying to play against but doing so gets skipped..... And skipped..... And skipped by one person or another(including me), co-ordination gets pushed back, then skipped again. It happens. Life it life. 

Introversion Software

The games been updated over the years but with over 15 years of players it's no wonder it's harsh. Playing the game with friends for laughs etc is a different kettle of fish than randoms in online play. As an online game I've veered away from it with random players as the majority are like professional card sharks(or at least seems that way). They know all the perfect angles to calculate the odds and next thing you know it's game over before your even in position to attack them(in a meaningful way).  Even if your new and your looking for new players(specific matchmaking) to face it's still harsh(not all new players are new players). It's harsh no matter the game mode(diplomacy?) or the scoring used(in my experience). Truth is I have no motivation to dip my pinky into the writhing piranha tank that is online gameplay.

At this stage everyone who I would play the game with has moved onto somersetting else so the game remains. Maybe it'll get use in the future, but for me now, in a clean up game mood I guess I'll leave it installed, waffle on the internet about it and drive on.

It's a good game. As strange as that may sound from what I've already said; It's interface, music and overall audio all breath an atmosphere into the game. Not a pleasant one but given the apocalyptic nature of the game that's no surprise. It 'feels' like the Cold War knife edge gone wrong in ways you'd not think. Creepy, overwhelming detachment as you focus on the objectives. On that note the manual for the game is worth a look for aesthetics alone.

Diplomacy is Not an Option....

Since my last post about the games demo, I've since bought it in the Steam summer sale. A game that's more harsh than it looks. Even on the easiest level of difficulty the enemies can swarm you fast if you don't act quickly. Which all means you need to learn the game and push hard all the time. There's little room for sightseeing; luxury army building and micromanagement/stockpiling. It's all go, go, go. Constantly building to increase population and using that population to increase fight troop numbers. Always pushing to clear the map with them and resisting the next large wave.

Which is not a bad thing overall. I've been having fun. 

Being a casual player(for the most part) I've downgraded and restarted the main campaign to the easiest level. I guess the game for me is more about enjoying the journey than being crippled by the challenge. Not that it's 'easy'; Even on easy it's still 'hard' and unforgiving. All said and done I like the game but I like being able to spend short amounts of time in it which is good given it has save options. 

It's not a game about creating a perfect town like in  Kingdoms and Castles; The town you create is a pure army building organism. One which doesn't go from one mission map to the next; You start from scratch on each new mission/area. I'm ok with that.

The cut-scenes are(imho) funny to a fault with dark humour. As is the kings right hand man with his advice to the player(king).

A lot of nice updates keep flowing into the game, which is good to see. A lot of subtlety added to the brute force of a wave survival mechanic. In my mind games such as They are Billions or Frostpunk(as I posted) are on the extreme end of the scale of these types of games, requiring long-term commitment.

Anyway, Diplo is a game I'll spend 10 minutes here and half an hour there on for the foreseeable. Long-term casual. Something that I'm doing with games more and more.