2 new games + Review Template ***Updated***

Quick blog to tell you all about two new games I've aquired on Steam (Audiosurf and Lucidity) and to explain how my reviews usually work. It ain't much, it isn't important, but I felt like writing something new since I've been busy with Christmas gifts and wrapping them up.

 

Audiosurf is a.. I'm not really sure how to classify it. It's like a strategy game, mixed with racing as well as mixed with rhythm. For those who never heard of it, you basically upload a song in the game and race to it, collecting colored blocks to form matches which multiply your points. The track itself is usually divided into three lanes (though on easy, you have 2 more side lanes where nothing happens) in which blocks are scattered. The track is created semi-randomly: It is created based on the tones of the song you upload, meaning it will change with every songs. In my favorite mode, possibly the simplest one, you simply move from one lane to another collecting the colored blocks while avodiing the grey ones. Many other modes are available, and each ship as their own "special moves" such as keeping blocks in back up to later use them, erasing an entire color, etc. You can also compete against friends for scores on the same songs, which is a nice little feature.. if you have any friends on Steam that is lol. There is a demo on Steam for anyone interested in trying it out.

 

***UPDATE: I'm now getting used to controlling Lucidity with the keyboard instead of the mouse. At first, it seems a bit sluggish as well and too slow. But after a couple of levels, you eventually start getting used to it and due to the invisible grid I talked about, using the keyboard seems much more fitting than using the mouse. So, as I'm getting used to it, I'm also starting to enjoy the game a bit more. It still feels strange as far as controls can go, but at least I now can say that I do not regret this purchase. The visuals I talked about, and the what seem so far like a cute and small storyline (it might gain complexity and depth as I reach further), good strategy and well hidden fireflies for replay value, will make this a "once in a while" game for me. I'm not sure I would of bought it if there would of been a demo on Steam, but I'll still play it. As well make my purchase worth it, right?

Unfortunately, I can't say Lucidity was a good purchase. The game definitely holds some great potential as a strategy game, but it just doesn't work. I first tried the game on X360, the art style is the main reason I tried it. The small girl, who is what appears to be the main character (I haven't played much) moves by herself, always walking to the right. You're goal is to place objects that you are given at specific places for her to collect fireflies and avoid taking damage. On X360, the controls were bad. Placing the objects on the invisible grid was far from accurate and fast enough to be enjoyable. So I thought to myself: "This should be great on PC!", but man was I wrong. The invisible grid, which is compromised of fairly large squares, still exists when controlling the game with a mouse, making it more of a hassle to place objects than anything else. Sadly enough, there weren't any demos on Steam and I was too lazy to check around on the internet for one, so I had to buy it to try it. Luckily though, it was $9.99. I wouldn't recommend this game, but if a patch ever comes out making the grid movement disappear, or at least, make it smaller for flawless mouse control, then I might rethink this. Still, the game has some intriguing, imaginative visuals a la Tim Burton, which is probably its only positive aspect in my opinion.

 

Now, for my reviews, I follow a rather simple template. Back when I first started writing, I'd write short, maybe 10 lines. With time, I decided to add more details and make it look more professional with paragraphs, sections and detailed information on each aspects of a video game. That's when I came up with my template which, literally, looks like this (I've added specifications below each section, which does not normally appears on the template):

 

(Game Title)

 

(Intro)

This is where I simply speak of the game itself, such as how awaited the game is, how much praise it got, etc. This section will often contain personal opinions of the game to make it so the reader knows how the reviewers initially feels about the game from a gamer point of view. However, it usually does not affect the review itself all that much, but at least the reader knows how was the experience outside of the general point of view for the one writing this.

 

(First-Thoughts)

I give the usual first-thoughts, but in a detailed fashion. From what the art cover looks like to the imahe shown in your menu when popping the disc into the system, everything. The first-thoughts that people could have. I often found myself buying an unknown game simply because the art cover was so amazing and caught my curiosity. I bet many gamers out there did the same, so I figured I could make this part of my reviews as presentation is as important as content.

 

(Story)

I like giving out the resume you can find behind the box and expend it when needed. Thing is I try to keep my reviews as spoiler free as can be, unlike many reviews out there. By saying this, I mean places like Game Trailers, where "SPOILERS INSIDE" in big, bold, red letters should be written above their reviews. The resume behind the box never has anything revealing, so much that I will usually find myself in the needs to expand the resume in my own words. I don't think I've ever seen a single game where I didn't need to actually do this.

(Game Play)

Literallywhat it is. No need to explain anything.

 

(Controls)

No need to explain anything here either.

 

(Graphics)

Although I do not consider graphics to be a major requirement, it will still play a role for most of the gamers out there, especially new ones that didn't live through the 8-bit era. I think we can agree on this, as "old-school" gamers tend to be the ones who does not care about the graphics (including myself).

 

(Music)

Everything from sound effects to music. I always play in 5.1 surround, whether it is PCM, Dolby, DTS, whichever the game supports. Eventually I'll buy 2 new speakers to add to my 7.2 sound receiver, but only then did I also realize that speakers are expensive lol. One day, though, one day I will get them.

 

(Online, if there is any)

This is the famous section that put a stop to my MGS4 review. I cram everything that is online in this section, whether it is actual gameplay or just leaderboards to compare with friends within the game. A good example of that is Shadow Complex on X360, which despite not having any online modes, whenever you achieve something (like 100 headshots), you will get a pop-up in the corner of the screen comparing how many headshots you got compared to your friends who played the game. This is harder with F.E.A.R., my current review, since the online is dead. I might have to set up a few games with random people on x360achievements.org to get this part done.

 

(Misc)

Here, I speak of everything that I couldn't fit in a specific section. This section does not always apply, like the Online one.

 

(Resume)

A resume of the review, or if you prefer, a short version of it. People who are too lazy to read a big review can always scroll to the last section to know how a game did.

 

And that's my template. The main reason I put this up on here, is because people will know what to expect from my first review and it might also help understanding how I jump from one section to another, as I tend to be pretty dry on when switching from one to another. I don't have any specific order for writing it either. Sometimes I'll start with the Intro, then jump to the Music section, and days later I'll go back in the Intro to switch things around, remove or add stuff. It's free-for-all lol. I've gotten a few sections done for the F.E.A.R. review, so hopefully, it'll be up before my next blog. Like I said though, I've been pretty busy with Christmas shopping and that kind of stuff, on top of being rusty, so please be patient.

 

Note: Tanya, Ron and Sleven, I replied to your comments on my last blog. And if anyone wants to add me on Steam, my username is.. can you guess it? FetusZero! Same as on here, on PS3, on X360 and everywhere else you can think of that I am subscribed. I hardly ever play online though, especially on PC, so don't expect to be playing online with me if you add me.