What is this Pile of Shame business about? I've decided to blog-review my videogame related Pile of Shame; all the games, demos, game based novels, comics, and movies. I've already done 10 reviews, but I'm just now deciding to blog on Giant Bomb. I've been a listener since it's inception.
But about this Pile of Shame, I've decided to spice it up (not that you can tell since this is the first post on Giant Bomb) to include interesting opinion pieces. I'm calling the opinion pieces "Side Notes." This first one is titled Five Games You Probably Missed But Need To Try. If you want to check out my previous blog posts, visit my profile for a link. From here on out I'll be posting in my blog here and depending on the type of entry, the Forums.
So, Let's begin.
You probably missed Blacksite because Call of Duty 4 release one week before this game came out. In retrospect it seems this game was sent to die. Yes, COD4 had superior gameplay and cinematography, but did it have as good of a story? I don’t think so. Blacksite’s story is well choreographed and developed. Yes, the level design is simple, the driving is mediocre, and so is the gunplay. But Blacksite is memorable. It has excellent locales. I felt like I was in home-town USA, fighting to get my country back. If this sounds familar, see Homefront, a game reminiscent to this one, without the aliens, that I think highly of. Blacksite isn’t memorable because it’s a shooter, it’s memorable because it’s story, characters, and locales are great. As of this writing, you can purchase the game from Amazon.com for $7 USD. The experience is well worth that small price.
You probably missed Bullet Witch because it was received poorly by critics. Or maybe it was the over-the-top redciulous gameplay. Or maybe it was because the graphics weren’t good or the design seemed too simple. I cannot remember the story. But I remember the action, the awesome, insane action. I fought giant eyeballs on top (that’s right, ON TOP, not inside) of a jet airliner thousands of feet in the sky. I watched major city skylines crumble around me as giant weird-ass bosses the size of the skyscrapers lumbered at me. I created tornadoes that destoryed anything in their path. I hopped around with a huge chain-gun and an attitude all the way to it’s finale. At the time of this writing, the game can be purchased for $12 USD. Rent it now, or buy this game if the price falls below $10.
You probably missed Deadly Premonition because the graphics are ugly, or the gameplay is terrible in every aspect. Or maybe it was because of how drawn out the gameplay was. In any regard, this game has an awesome story that is well worth seeing to the end. Seeing being the key word. I could no longer take the horrendous and drawn out gameplay, so I began finishing the game by watching a commentated walkthrough on Youtube. Why? Because like I said, the story and characters are awesome. They're intriguing, quirky, and well developed over the course of this 20 hour game. "FK, in the coffee." I will always remember that line, and therefore this game. The current Amazon.com price tage of $13 USD is well worth the experience if you can handle the length.
Supergreatfriend's awesome Youtube walkthrough of the entire game: http://www.youtube.com/user/supergreatfriend/videos?query=deadly+premonition&view=1
You probably missed Rise of the Argonauts because the setting didn't seem like your style, or maybe it was the simple level design and gameplay. Rise of the Argonauts is a wonderful Adventure/RPG. Characters, vocal talent, locales, decision trees, and story are all well done and thought out. Your decisions play a role in the development of the world and characters. The story is well conceived and executed. That goes for all the story elements and characters. Argonauts is not a short game, nor is it too long. It felt paced just right. I was pleasantly surprised out how much I enjoyed this game. As of this writing, it can be purchased from Amazon.com for $4 USD. At that price this game is a must buy.
You probably missed Singularity because you thought it was just a mediocre game. It was Summer and you already played the familiar Bioshock 2. Plus, you still were playing multiplayer games of Modern Warfare 2.
Well, Singularity is reminiscent of Bioshock, but it’s a new and fresh locale. You traverse a place seemingly long forgotten. You interact with it in unique ways, talk to interesting characters, and make your way through an interesting and well developed story. Like Bioshock, your decisions have consequences, and there is more than one ending. As of this writing, the Amazon.com price is $12 USD. Singularity is well worth that price tag.
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