Time for games! Not free games, but cheap is almost as good as free,
right? 8 games for $12USD is a good deal... if they are good games.
But are we getting good games this month? Let's find out.


* The Outer Worlds https://store.steampowered.com/app/1920490/The_Outer_Worlds_Spacers_Choice_Edition/
Developer Obsidian's sci-fi open-world game got mixed reviews, but
honestly it's not that bad. It's not that good either, but that's par
for the course for Obsidian titles as far as I'm concerned; I know the
many consider "Fallout New Vegas" or "Knights of the Old Republic 2"
the definitive games of their franchises, but I've never been a big
fan. "Outer Worlds" is fine if you want an ever-so-slightly different
take on the "Bethesda RPG" genre. It won't wow you but it'll keep you entertained.

* Yakuza 4 Remastered https://store.steampowered.com/app/1105500/Yakuza_4_Remastered/
A fun romp through Japan's seamier underbelly, the Yakuza series were
always an odd mix of realistically detailed worlds, entertaining
characters, and Japanese-weird gameplay types. Yakuza 4 doesn't really
break new ground with the franchise but evolves ideas from earlier
games and does them well. Its eclectic style might not please
everyone, but the likable cast and narrative covers up a lot of the
gameplay flaws.

* Roadwarden
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1155970/Roadwarden/
A text adventure game in 2023? You betcha. It's not completely text;
there are accompanying images but the bulk of the gameplay is
described and played through text descriptors.

* Kraken Academy
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1158220/Kraken_Academy/
A top-down retro-graphic'd Indie adventure game; sort of a zanier
"Harry Potter" adventure. Meh.

* Merchant of the Skies https://store.steampowered.com/app/1040070/Merchant_of_the_Skies/
A trading sim with flying boats; build up your base, then go exploring
for new trade routes and goods that will help boost your trade
company's fortunes.

* Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim https://store.steampowered.com/app/1768280/Ozymandias_Bronze_Age_Empire_Sim/
A fast-paced 4X strategy game set in the ancient world. It's designed
for quicker campaigns than your average "Civilization" playthrough,
but does so with much simpler gameplay. I think I prefer the original.

* Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate https://store.steampowered.com/app/1972440/Shotgun_King_The_Final_Checkmate/ Chess crossed with Roguelike RPG mechanics; lead your
single-chesspiece against an army of other units. But - as the name
suggests - you have a shotgun. Part RPG, part puzzle game. It's a
weird amalgam that I'm not sure really works, but it's the sort of experimentation that makes Indie games so important to the industry.
You'll never see EA or Ubisoft make a game like this.


So is this month's selection worth it? Frankly, I think the inclusion
of "Yakuza 4" makes the bundle worth the price; "Outer Worlds" is a
nice bonus. The rest are mostly filler; you'll probably find at least
one game that appeals while ignoring the rest (I'm most favorable
towards "Roadwarden"). So overall I think it's a good month and I'm
happy to fork over the cash.

But decide for yourself; get the games at https://www.humblebundle.com/membership/home. No rush though; it lasts
all month.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 7/4/2023 2:46 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

Time for games! Not free games, but cheap is almost as good as free,
right? 8 games for $12USD is a good deal... if they are good games.
But are we getting good games this month? Let's find out.

* The Outer Worlds
* Yakuza 4 Remastered
* Roadwarden
* Kraken Academy
* Merchant of the Skies
* Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim
* Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate

But you've left the best one out :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/745920/Temtem/

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 7/4/2023 12:52 PM, Metal Guru wrote:

On 7/4/2023 2:46 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

Time for games! Not free games, but cheap is almost as good as free,
right? 8 games for $12USD is a good deal... if they are good games.
But are we getting good games this month? Let's find out.

* The Outer Worlds
* Yakuza 4 Remastered
* Roadwarden
* Kraken Academy
* Merchant of the Skies
* Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim
* Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate

But you've left the best one out :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/745920/Temtem/

Sounds like a Pokemon rip-off.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 4 Jul 2023 15:52:55 -0400, Metal Guru <MetalGuru@IsItYou.com>
wrote:

On 7/4/2023 2:46 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

Time for games! Not free games, but cheap is almost as good as free,
right? 8 games for $12USD is a good deal... if they are good games.
But are we getting good games this month? Let's find out.

* The Outer Worlds
* Yakuza 4 Remastered
* Roadwarden
* Kraken Academy
* Merchant of the Skies
* Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim
* Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate

But you've left the best one out :)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/745920/Temtem/

Oops, you're right. I can't imagine how such a VITAL game escaped my
attention. "Temtem is a massively multiplayer creature-collection
adventure. Seek adventure in the lovely Airborne Archipelago alongside
your Temtem squad. Catch every Temtem, battle other tamers, customize
your house, join a friend's adventure or explore the dynamic online
world."

Retro graphics, Indie design, Pokemon gameplay, and multiplayer
focused. Just my sort of thing.

Or not.

But numbers must go up, and who knows, in five years I might hear
great things about this game and will be glad I already have it in my
library. ;-)

Until then, though... Yakuza 4.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 04 Jul 2023 14:46:02 -0400, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action,
Spalls Hurgenson wrote:

Time for games! Not free games, but cheap is almost as good as free,
right? 8 games for $12USD is a good deal... if they are good games.
But are we getting good games this month? Let's find out.

[snip]

* Yakuza 4 Remastered >https://store.steampowered.com/app/1105500/Yakuza_4_Remastered/
A fun romp through Japan's seamier underbelly, the Yakuza series were
always an odd mix of realistically detailed worlds, entertaining
characters, and Japanese-weird gameplay types. Yakuza 4 doesn't really
break new ground with the franchise but evolves ideas from earlier
games and does them well. Its eclectic style might not please
everyone, but the likable cast and narrative covers up a lot of the
gameplay flaws.

[snip]

So is this month's selection worth it? Frankly, I think the inclusion
of "Yakuza 4" makes the bundle worth the price;

[snip]

Actually, Yakuza 4 remastered is on sale for $6.79 USD rn, so if you're
in it for just that, you can save a little dough.

Also notably:

Yakuza 0: $4.99
Yakuza 3 remastered: $6.79
Yakuza 5 remastered: also $6.79
Yakuza 6: $5.99

3, 4, and 5 remastered: $13.66 (a savings of $6.71)

I have no idea why 6 is cheaper than 5. I have no idea what happened to
2. (*Shrug*)

In any event, pretty good deals if you're into Japanese mafia games.

--
Zag

No one ever said on their deathbed, 'Gee, I wish I had
spent more time alone with my computer.' ~Dan(i) Bunten

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)