Media in March

So, another month gone. And what have we learned? Never try predicting stuff. Also, playing games sometimes steals time away from books.

Games

The game that wants to be mentioned this month is Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. This is a story driven (semi-abstract) stealth / turn based tactics game.I tried the demo on Steam, and then bought it as part of April’s Humble Monthly.

The story drives progress with fixed maps and encounters. The stealth bit is abstract as in all enemies watch 360° around them, including through walls. And when your characters are hidden… they are hidden. It exists only to pick off stragglers, making the “real combat” easier.

The turn based combat is good, though. Two actions, like in XCom. A (small but) diverse set of weapons, abilities and enemies coupled with varied and destructible environment makes me a happy gamer.

Sad to say I haven’t played it very much, only a couple of hours, but I have had fun and will continue to play it in small bits.

I also pulled out Papers, Please again. Played some more, until I got a game over I can call a minor victory (if I squeeze my eyes and pretend dying is not a loss). It is fascinating, but still scary. Something about the theme coupled with that soundtrack. Brrr…

Anthem DID NOT get a go, as my Anthem playing friend played to 30 and parked it, waiting for patches and content. Perhaps some other time. We did end up buying Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, and I’ve had a blast playing multiplayer co-op in potato mode. Also played a bit alone, but I cannot get through the bosses in story missions alone as a casual gamer playing sniper.

Some time was put into Dead Cells, it is a hard metroidvania (whatever that means), but the platforming is forgiving. I’ve had some fun, and though it is not my style of game– more fun will be had.

As an aside… well, it is gaming. I did join up with some friends, travel for hours and hours across the country to play pen and paper role playing games for an extended weekend. We ended up playing Elite Dangerous: the RPG, and as a warm-up I installed and played Elite Dangerous for the first time. Even though I helped kickstart it.

So much relaxing gameplay were had, that I’ve ended up buying the Horizon expansion (at half off). More relaxing fun to follow. Medium term goal is to get access to the Sol system and visit Earth.

I also got Factorio for the “fun and relaxing play” — yes I did turn off monsters. I kind of regret the purchase, not because I didn’t like it but, because I actually have enough games for that kind of frame of mind.

Other games worthy of mention is:

• Car Mechanic 2018, for more achievements
• Ironcast, it showed up on my list of games when I needed some quick fun
• Path of Exile, for the click for loot feel. Tried it out with a friend, not sure it worked as well for me there as Diablo 3 does in the same space.
• More Slay the Spire, but just a bit – and I keep losing early
• Diablo 1, because it was released on GOG.
• Also picked up AdVenture Capitalist again (clicker / idle game). Not sure why.

And the mobile suspects:

• more Marvel Puzzle Quest on Android
• more Tents and Trees on Android
• Golf Peaks, a golf themed puzzle game on Android. Fun :)
• Elder Scrolls: Blades (Early Access) on Android. Smooth and… I’m not sure on this one, yet.

Books

Books got less attention this month than last. I’m simultaneously reading several books, but haven’t finished any. Which kind of shakes up my progress towards 39 books this year.

Worth mentioning are Game Engine Black Book: Doom by Fabian Sanglard, which is a slow and technical book. Fun though, in a gamer / programmer / historical kind of way.

TV, film and series

We did see The Princess Bride, and it was still good. Inconceivable? Right, I know. :)

We’ve also seen a few music/band documentaries on Netflix. Particularly enjoyed Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago and We Are Twisted F***ing Sister! Recommended all around.

Formula 1 also started, and it’s been some roller coaster. Happy for Kevin Magnussen, especially with the Australian race and the qualifying in Bahrain. Too bad with the race there, though. Still lots of promise shown.

Listening to

Still the usual suspects. Nothing specific on the music front, more of the same on the podcasts. Didn’t find time for all of TWIG, though:

• Gamers With Jobs conference calls
• Diecast
• This Week in Google
• Designer Notes

Next month…

is next month. Waiting for what more is left in Humble Monthly April, and what shows up early for May.

More Formula 1 will happen, and Easter week will leave me a hole in my schedule that will at least partly be filled with some kind of media.