Path: ...!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: Justisaur <justisaur@yahoo.com>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
Subject: Re: FREE GAMES: "Call of the Wild: Angler" and "Atom Eve" (and a
 bonus)
Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2024 08:57:50 -0700
Organization: A noiseless patient Spider
Lines: 91
Message-ID: <uvea21$330sm$1@dont-email.me>
References: <2nlovithnfng47gbn1vesrp6c3ecumg8je@4ax.com>
 <uthpil$2anm9$4@dont-email.me>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Injection-Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2024 17:57:53 +0200 (CEST)
Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="e63bd9dccc4696417ee1c37c1e82e39f";
	logging-data="3244950"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org";	posting-account="U2FsdGVkX18fPWkFR7PMLi5I4p13zNslxG7XL6FMxHg="
User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird
Cancel-Lock: sha1:PmtbfGcDaXMiRB7CeEOXY7R9t7A=
Content-Language: en-US
In-Reply-To: <uthpil$2anm9$4@dont-email.me>
Bytes: 5558

On 3/21/2024 10:08 AM, Justisaur wrote:
> On 3/21/2024 8:51 AM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
>>
>> Hello again!  I won't bore you with an overlong introduction; it's
>> Thursday and we all know what this post is about. Today we get two
>> free games. You know what to do.
>>
>> * Call of the Wild: The Angler
>> https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/call-of-the-wild-the-angler
>>      "Call of the Wild: The Hunter" is an open-world hunting
>>      game that presented huge, gorgeous maps and a reasonable
>>      hunting simulation. "The Angler", made by the same
>>      developers, essentially uses the same tech as a basis
>>      for a fishing game, but I found it a lot less convincing.
>>      In part, because the graphics that wowed us in 2017 are
>>      looking a lot less impressive in 2024 (especially with
>>      regards to the water), and also because the base game is
>>      just a lot less interesting and complete. This is a game
>>      that demands you buy its expansions if you want to have
>>      any fun with it. And the core gameplay - the fishing -
>>      isn't even much fun; it poorly simulates the real-life
>>      hobby and is extremely grindy. Being able to wander the
>>      wilds to find the perfect fishing spot, and then wade
>>      into deep water to cast your line sounds like it could
>>      be a lot of fun, but the game fails to capture that
>>      experience.  I'd love to be able to recommend this game,
>>      if only because modern computer fishing games are such
>>      a rare breed. But even if you love the genre, this
>>      game is probably not worth your time.
>>
>> Note: There are several free DLC packs (two winter cosmetics, and a
>> tackle pack) so if you do grab the game don't forget to claim the DLC
>> too,
>>
> 
> Blech, grindy and Epic, pass.
> 
>> * Invincible Presents: Atom Eve
>> https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/atom-eve-ff090d
>>      Essentially, a Telltale Games-style adventure where you
>>      take on the role of a super-hero. But it's more visual
>>      novel than adventure. Apparently its based on some comic
>>      book. There's a mix of combat and relationship
>>      management, and the whole thing has a very comic-book
>>      aesthetic. A must-get for fans of the Invincible comic,
>>      or even if you just enjoy visual-novel style games.
>>      Otherwise? You can probably pass. It's not a bad game
>>      at all, but it is targeted at a very narrow niche.
> 
> Weird, this also showed up on Amazon Prime Games just after you posted 
> last week.  I only tried one Telltale game (a batman game) and didn't 
> care for it, so probably won't like it, but I really enjoy the 
> Invincible cartoon on Amazon Prime.  I'm not bothering getting it on 
> Epic as I already have it on Prime and Epic is a hassle.

I guess it was free through prime, but actually on Epic.

I got around to trying it, it's fairly short, I finished it in under 8 
hours.  I found it much better than the Telltale games I've tried.  I 
had no issues getting through puzzles (I dare to perhaps say it didn't 
even have any puzzles.) It had at least half JRPG style turn-based 
fights Vs. the role-play sections which kept it balanced enough I didn't 
get bored.  The fights were with the only the one main character on your 
side (mostly, there's a couple points another super throws rocks from 
off screen at the enemies.)  It also has a skill tree.

I found it engaging and not a slog without the large party to go through 
turns for.  I'm almost tempted to play it again to try different skill 
trees, and RP options.  I had watched and enjoyed Invincible on Prime, 
so I may have enjoyed it more than those without the background.  On the 
other hand I tended to go for RP options that were similar to the show, 
so maybe being too familiar hurts.

I know Invincible is yet another take on DC where the characters are 
more gray (at best) to downright evil (what if superman were evil.) 
There's getting to be too many of those.  I had to look up which DC 
super Atom Eve is based off of and it looks like it's Firestorm, I don't 
think I've ever even heard of Firestorm.

Thoroughly enjoyed, recommend.

-- 
-Justisaur

  ø-ø
(\_/)\
  `-'\ `--.___,
   ¶¬'\( ,_.-'
        \\
        ^'