QCF: Avernum 2: Crystal Souls

ast summer our good friend from across the pond Stevie reviewed the title from Spiderweb Software entitled Avadon 2: The Corruption. After reading that review I had to appreciate what the developer was attempting to do, in a sense capturing the heyday of PC role playing games in a generation of gaming that has all but abandoned the old ways.

Now I find myself with the similar task of reviewing another sequel, Avernum 2: Crystal Souls. After almost thirty hours of playtime with the title I can echo similar sentiments from Stevie’s review, however what Avernum 2 lacks in presentation and mechanics it certainly makes up for in story and exploration.

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QCF: Avadon 2: The Corruption

f there's anything the last generation taught us, it's that platform specific experiences are quickly becoming a thing of the past. With fewer and fewer exclusive games, it really doesn't make sense anymore to restrict a game to one system. That is of course, unless the game only really works well on one control scheme.

Avadon 2 is a game like this. With its complex RPG system and familiar top-down keyboard controls, it's very hard to imagine this game being on anything but a PC. In essence it's a shout out to a lost era of PC-centric RPG's- with all the advantages (and flaws) that the genre had to offer. And depending on your tastes it may feel like a tribute to the past, or an insult to it.

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QCF: The Last Federation

hat’s not to love about flying through space, fighting pirates and warlords, all while getting to decide which planets live or die? Taking command of the galaxy sounds pretty sweet. Arcen Games has created a visually pleasing, expansive simulation that allows even the most casual gamer to jump into space and rule the universe. There are a few missed marks along the way, but The Last Federation is a good base with lots of potential to improve with DLC.

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QCF - Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God

he rogue-like is kind of making a bit of a resurgence in the current gaming landscape. Games like Towerfall, The Guided Fate Paradox and more are really kind of creating a sort of Rogue-renaissance with their unique combination brand of roleplaying and crippling hardships upon player's very imminent deaths. Unlike most games out there today (Dark Souls notwithstanding), these games offer a challenge seldom seen in the video games of today. But what if you're not hard core enough to slog your way through the modern rogue-like battlefield? Well, that's where Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God comes in.

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QCF: South Park: The Stick of Truth

eventeen years and going, that’s nothing to sneeze at as far as commitment goes, and even more so when you factor all the consistency to be found in this ever mounting legacy—well, except for one; the shitty video games it’s spawned.

In what’s nearly amounted to almost two decades, I have continually found it strange that a solid property like South Park (one that has faithfully employed satire on the culture of video games on several occasions within its run) has failed to inspire developers to truly capture the spirit of the license in a video game five times.

That’s what makes The Stick of Truth so special; Obsidian and South Park Digital Studios didn’t aim to deliver one of the most ground breaking games to release in 2014—no, they instead have labored towards crafting the most satisfying vehicle of interaction for its property first, and above average game design to shoulder it secondly.

Ironically, this direction is makes The Stick of Truth one of the first must play games of 2014.

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QCF: The Guided Fate Paradox

IS has been publishing RPGs in North America for quite a while now. Whether it's their super-deep, wicked complex strategy games, turn-based RPGs or even a side-scroller or two, their efforts are decently enjoyable with only a few outright duds to speak of throughout its vast sub-genred library. Well, they're back yet again with their latest title, The Guided Fate Paradox. But this time, NIS brings another as-yet explored RPG genre subtype along with it; The Rogue-like RPG.

The Guided Fate Paradox follows the exploits of Renya, a downtrodden, luckless teenage high school student who, straight out of the gates, monologues his lament for having never won a thing in his life. In the midst of this down-and-out self-reflection, he is taken aside and talked into playing a random-draw lottery for a potentially fabulous prize. After far too much resistance, Renya wins the grand prize; he is to become God--of course.

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QCF: Rune Factory 4

ou may think it impossible. You may think it absurd. You might think that you're dreaming. But I have, in fact, recently traded in my intergalactic space fighter (an ' 86 vintage Hyperion Sentoki Beta, if you must know) for a farm--Oh, and a sword (Well okay, maybe loaned out for the week.) Regardless, what I'm trying to get at here, in what can only be described as an ultimate oxymoron, is that I've been losing sleep by relaxing hardcore to a farm-sim--with dungeons.

I've never played a Harvest Moon game before, but I've watched literally dozens of them across various series, systems - and even generations--being played by Daeruna and of them all, the Rune Factory series is one that I felt most closely resonated with me. Recently, Rune Factory 4 was released to the 3DS and at the urging of a friend, I decided to check it out. At first, it was no big deal. “Oh cool, I got a hammer. Not I can bust up these rocks. Oh neat, a cheap axe to take away these tree stumps. OK, that woolly-sheepy thing dropped some fur worth seven gold” but, after investing an hour into Rune Factory 4? Oh boy, get ready.

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QCF: Deus Ex: Human Revolution Augmented Edition

eus Ex is a series I've been hearing about all the time for something like 11 years. Since it was a PC-only thing for a very long time, it's no real wonder that I haven't exactly had the means to play these games, given that my first PC since the game came out was bought in 2007 (seriously) and I had kind of forgotten about the series by then. In 2011, Deus Ex finally made the jump to consoles from publisher Square-Enix with Deus Ex: Human Revolution. In addition to PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 owners were finally able to see what the fuss was about. Naturally, I still didn't get on board. Of course.

Maybe that was a wise decision, though, since there is now a whole new version of Human Revolution available that not only makes the graphics prettier, but also adds a ton of new elements to the game, as well as some better balancing of many of the mechanics in the game. Deus Ex: Human Revolution Augmented Edition attempts a daring double-dip for existing fans. With a heavy does of FPS and a liberal dash of RPG, it's definitely an interesting mix... but how is it if you're just getting warmed up?

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