Brandon's Proposed Games List

Kentucky Route Zero: An episodic adventure in a mystical South that focuses on storytelling and atmosphere, this game has had me intrigued for months. I've played through Act 1, but Act 2 is set to be released near the end of April, and I would love to see what other people think about the story and the characters. Apparently, dialogue choices you make have a direct impact on the story you get, and I'd love a chance to chat with people about the various routes they took, and what they think the meaning behind it is.



Amnesia: The Dark Descent: I've been told - by practically the entire Internet - that this is THE horror game. I love me some scary shit, and this game promises to deliver. Whether we play this version, or wait a bit for Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs to be released, doesn't matter to me - I just want to begin my foray into the realm of horrow gaming, and this looks like the best place to start.

 

 Civilization 5: I'm not going to lie, I LOVE the Civ franchise. I've played them all, and logged a fair number of hours in Civ 5 already. However, I have never truly experienced playing a multiplayer Civ game, and that just sounds like fun. Obviously, that would take some coordination from the rest of the Club, but if the desire is there, I'd like to tap it.





Dark Souls: Not much more to add about this game that hasn't already been covered in Danny's post. I've logged just under two hours in this game, and I've died. A lot. I'm pretty sure I've developed some sort of sadism, because I still love this game. Also, it will be nice to have someone to cry to after this game kicks my ass. Again.

Dungeons of Dredmor: This slot was a toss up between FTL and this game. I really enjoy Roguelike games, and the reason this one made the list and FTL didn't is that I've beaten FTL. This game has a fantastic sense of humor, if you look for it, and offers a TON of different playstyle options that makes the monotony of dungeon crawling very enjoyable.

Kinetic Void: This game hasn't been released yet, but you can get early access for it via Steam. Space sims are a genre of gaming that I've wanted to try, but been too scared by the (usually) intense learning curves required to play well. This game seems to offer a good balance between exploration, ship design and customization, and the randomly-generated content that makes games like this so much fun to play with other people, simply because your experiences can differ so wildly.

Torchlight II: Ah, Torchlight. This game is simply fantastic. I love the fast paced but simple combat, the art style, the relatively unique take on classic rpg character archetypes - but this game really shines, I think, in multiplayer. There is something immeasurably satisfying about stomping a mob of forty spiders with a buddy or two that only a game like this offers.

War of the Roses: Kingmaker: This game and Chivalry came out around the same time, and at first glance its hard to tell what sets them apart. I've played games like Mount and Blade, but havn't touched either of these two. I've done a bit of research, and Chivalry is more akin to a Call of Duty sort of game - a drop in, drop out hack'n'slasher that, while fun, may get stale pretty quickly. War of the Roses offers a ton of character customization options and unlocks that keep you interested in the game for far longer.

Sid Meier's Pirates!: This is one of my favorite games of all time. Period. I love pirates, cannon battles, and plundering. And yet I don't know if I've ever even talked about this game with anyone. Its dated, some of its mechanics are shit, and I havn't touched it in years - but it is just so damn fun, and I'd like to share this game with others who are maybe turned off by the games age. If a piratey rpg/adventure game sounds appealing to you in the least bit, give this game a try.

Starseed Pilgrim: A recent indie title, Starseed Pilgrim caught my eye for its simple design that seems to mask a much deeper and thought-provoking game. I've read a little bit about it (not much, I don't like reading about games before I play them) and most of the people who have played it come away feeling like they've reached something - they just aren't sure what it is. Any game that evokes this kind of feeling deserves a try.



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Well, there's my list! All of these games are available via Steam, and most of them aren't too graphically robust, so running them shouldn't be an issue. Let me know what you think! I love story, and I love games that evoke feeling in the player, or allow the player to create their own narrative. So if you have any recommendations, feel free to give suggestions - and if you're a Club member, let me know what you want to play!

Danny's Proposed Games To Get The Club Started

I want to play Little Inferno because one of its developers created World of Goo.  Also, Little Inferno was nominated for Technical Excellence, the Nuovo Award (an award that honors unconventional game development), and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at this year's Independent Games Festival.

I have a bad habit of reading about video games before I make any attempt to play them.  This game was released with some high praise but mostly middling reviews.  I consistently heard that Papa & Yo's gameplay mechanics were not particularly fun or satisfying in the best cases, and were broken in the worst cases.  However, many people compliment the game for its autobiographical storytelling and the daring ways it presents the complex emotional relationship the lead game designer had with his alcoholic father growing up.  People often complain about poor/safe storytelling in games, and the unconventional storytelling found in Papa & Yo seems like something unique worth checking out.

I haven't put a significant amount of time into an RPG since I played through Final Fantasy X in 2003.  I think I like RPGs, but I don't play them consistently enough to know for sure.  I want to test those waters with Cthulhu Saves the World.  Plus, I love its retro aesthetic.

Resonance was developed by Vince XII right here in Omaha, NE.  I want to support local developers, and buying, playing, and discussing their games seems like the optimum way to do that.  Any fans of the old Lucas Arts or Sierra adventure games will want to check out Resonance.

I know the combat in Fallout plays like a turn-based strategy game.  I'm imagining Fallout is like Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced if the bright and jaunty world of Ivalice was replaced with a bleak, post-apocalyptic wasteland.  I think that sounds awesome.  Fallout is an often discussed game by people enthusiastic about game design, and I'd like to be able to join some of those conversations by experiencing Fallout for myself.

Frozen Synapse

Frozen Synapse looks like an awesome strategy game.  The gameplay is simultaneous turn-based.  If that piques your interest, go watch a gameplay video because I'm not sure how to succinctly explain it.  I have to admit that I already have this game sitting in my Steam library.  I haven't played it yet, but I fully intend to.  The thinking man's choose-your-own pace nature of this game seems right up my alley.  As a nice bonus, when this game is purchased from Steam, it comes with two copies.  This purchase model make Frozen Synapse perfect for game clubs.

Cave Story

It's been a long time since I've played Super Metroid.  I think Cave Story can fill my brain with wonder like Super Metroid did when I was 6.  That's high praise.

Like Papa & Yo, I haven't played The Cave yet because of my bad habit of reading about games before I make any attempt to play them.  While I was very excited about The Cave before it was released, it received a lot of middling reviews upon release that have caused me to postpone making the purchase.  I know I will eventually play The Cave because I love all the previous games led by Ron Gilbert or developed at Double Fine.  Making The Cave a game club game will push me to play it sooner than I probably would if I were to tackle it alone.

Whenever people talk about Sleeping Dogs, they always mention how surprisingly good the game is.  I like when games defy expectations, and think these kinds of games should be supported.

Dark Souls

This game looks hard as fuck, and is equally as intimidating.  If I start playing Dark Souls, I know I'll struggle with the difficulty of gameplay every step of the way.  Misery loves company, and I want to play this one with people I know struggling beside me.

Psychonauts has grown a substantial cult following in the years since its release.  I've always enjoyed 3D platforming games, such as Spyro, Ratchet & Clank, and Rocket: Robot on Wheels.  I've also been watching and loving 2 Player Productions' documentary series on the making of the Kickstarted Double Fine Adventure game (now known as Broken Age), and I'm in the mood to absorb all the Double Fine/Tim Schafer content I can.

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That's my list.  Right now, these are the non-platform exclusive games I want to play more than anything else.  What do you think?  Do you see anything listed here that you're dying to play as well?  Do have reasons for not wanting to play any of these games this summer?  If you're a member of the Omaha Game Club, leave your comments below to help me decide which of these games should be included on the roster!