This is not an apology for not writing this week, but rather an explanation of sorts: the day job has been extremely busy and hectic and stressful, and I’ve been going to bed on the early side of things when I get home. Not much time for writing or gaming.
Though, that said, I did manage to finish Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (PS4) this week. It is still a fun and worthwhile experience, and the graphics are noticeably improved from the already-impressive previous version. The narrative is still a bit whackadoo, and I’m still weird about seeing Lara thwack a dude to death with her pickaxe (which somehow counts as a stealth kill), and I’m not entirely sure that this is worth $60. But I’m glad to have played it, and to have let the developers know that I’m still on board for this sort of thing, thank you very much.
Also downloaded Outlast (which is this month’s free Playstation Plus game, even though I already have it on the PC). I played right up to the first real jump scare (which is about where I got to on the PC), and turned it off. It doesn’t look to be enhanced in any way for the PS4, but – more to the point – it looks like the PC version with all the settings turned way up, and so that bodes quite well as far as I’m concerned about the PS4 getting quality indie games.
Speaking of quality indie games, I will be writing a review of Jazzpunk for the NYVCC, which should go up later next week. I have not yet touched it – I’ll be buying a retail copy like a regular shmoe – but everything I’ve seen indicates that it will be a wacky good time.
And speaking of the NYVCC, the 3rd Annual Critics Awards are happening next Tuesday, and I’m going to be one of the award presenters! Which is very exciting indeed. My category is Best Mobile Game…
…and speaking of best mobile games, I cannot recommend enough the new game Threes, which came out last night. (This Polygon piece about the game’s development is a must-read, by the way.) It’s made by the guys behind Puzzlejuice, and it is absurdly addictive, and I can’t stop playing it. Also worth picking up is Spell Quest, which is a free word-search RPG (similar-ish to Bookworm Adventures).
I am also working on a slightly more ambitious piece for this here blog about games and memory, although I suppose I’ve already jinxed it by mentioning it here while I’m currently stalled out on it. That will go up whenever it’s ready, which who knows when that will be.
Shouts From The Couch 