Category: video games

Doom: High Noon Drifter

(Originally posted on Tumblr by TerminusEst13)

High Noon Drifter is getting closer and closer to release, with only a small handful of things left to do.
So with that, I’ve distributed a couple builds out for folks to test and share their thoughts on, and I’ve also been doing some serious playtesting of it. And there’s been one mapset that I think has fit wonderfully.

This is a run-through of Strange Aeons, Episode 1, with High Noon Drifter on UV. I don’t really go for many secrets or 100% completion, and many of the weapons are still unshown, but hopefully you enjoy nonetheless.

TerminusEst

I’m really looking forward to playing this. The new abilities look super fun.

Video Game: Ziggurat

Currently playing Ziggurat. It’s a rogue-like FPS with a fantasy dressing. You control an apprentice sent into the mysterious Ziggurat as their final test to enter an elite wizard’s guild.

There’s obvious Heretic & Hexen influence in (some of) the gameplay, with magic wands, spellbooks, magic staves, and alchemical weapons all acting suspiciously similar to weapons seen in Heretic, Hexen and Hexen II. There’s no puzzles, no level design, just rooms of arena encounters, hazards, and randomized upgrades from weapon drops and the occasional prayer shrine. Unlike, say, Strafe, this is a proud rogue-like with new unlocks pretty much every time you play.

It runs a little janky for me, but I assume this is my ancient rig. Is it actually good? I’m enjoying it, and I’ll probably be replaying it a few more times. The atmosphere of the levels is good, the music and monster designs are fine though a bit generic. You can see homages to other games in the character designs – the burning flying skulls and the gargoyles come to mind. Overall I’ve been enjoying my time playing it but I couldn’t help but think “Man, this game makes me REALLY want to play a modern day Heretic!” and wish it had tried for a true FPS experience instead of a rogue-like one.

It’s on sale now, and I recommend it while it’s on sale. Would I recommend it any other time? Probably not, especially if you already have The Binding of Isaac.

Fight Knight!

(Originally posted on Tumblr by bn05 )

FIGHT KNIGHT IS HERE

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER ABOVE OR ON YOUTUBE!

CHECK OUT THE DEMO AT: boen.itch.io/fight-knight-ks

CHECK OUT OUR KICKSTARTER AT: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1139574598/fight-knight

For everyone who’s been following my tumblr over the years, thank you so much your support. I would not have been able to make it this far without you. I hope you try the demo and have fun!

Quake’s Vore in Mutant Chronicles 3rd Edition

I run Mutant Chronicles tabletop campaign. Sometimes I write things for it. Sometimes I make new monsters for it. About six months ago I replayed Quake 1 for the first time in years, and a new threat for my players was born.

Vorare (Elite)
A tri-legged spideresque horror. Drawn from arcane dimensions, they are parasites that feed on raw Dark Symmetry flowing from enslaved universes– though some inhabitants of those haunted realms claim they are birthed from the Empress of the Void herself. They are sometimes summoned by the greatest scholars of the Dark Symmetry to serve as eldritch guardians.

Strength: 15 (+1)
Physique: 16 (+2)
Agility: 6
Awareness: 12 (+1)
Coordination: 10
Intelligence: 10 (+1)
Mental Strength: 14 (+2)
Personality: 6

Damage Reduction (Corrupt Flesh) (All 2)
Wounds: 8

Traits:
Dark Presence
Fear (2)
Night Vision
Slave to Symmetry (1)

Skills:
Combat: 2/2
Fortitude: 2/2
Movement: 1/0
Senses: 2/2
Social: 0/0
Technical: 0/0

Special Attack:
Symmetry Sphere (Medium range; 3+6d, Corrupted)

Quake 1

I’m replaying Quake. Quake is great.

Not just the gameplay (which is fast and fluid, with a healthy roster of distinct enemies), not just the graphics (aged but still effective) but the atmosphere. Quake has some of the best atmosphere I’ve ever heard. Heard is the word – the lighting and the theme of the graphics are part of this, but it’s the sound and music design of Quake that really make it shine.

Everybody likes to talk about Quake’s multiplayer, but I’m not that interested in Quake as a multiplayer franchise. It’s fun, but for me the real high point of Quake is in the single player. There’s simply no other game quite like it. We have a lot of brown shooters, but there’s only one Quake.

You’re a sci-fi military soldier, from some kind of brutalist retro-futuristic Earth, making his way through countless arcane dimensions and fighting against evil eldritch monsters. The worlds you visit are bleak, dark and very hostile . You are constantly made to feel like an intruder in a strange and darkly oppressive place, waiting for the next eyeless abomination to jump out from the shadows or teleport into the room with a distinct PING sound

Playing through Quake’s E4M2, with the lighting set just right and the sound turned up, was one of the best and most memorable shooting experiences I had last year.

The thought of a modern Quake reboot going back to the series’ dark fantasy Lovecraftian roots is tantalizing, though I wonder if it would be possible in today’s market. You never know though – Doom 2016 happened

Until then – get a sourceport, get the files, and play some Quake.