Path: ...!local-1.nntp.ord.giganews.com!Xl.tags.giganews.com!local-4.nntp.ord.giganews.com!news.giganews.com.POSTED!not-for-mail NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 04 Dec 2024 20:14:47 +0000 From: Spalls Hurgenson Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action Subject: HumbleChoice December 2024 Date: Wed, 04 Dec 2024 15:14:16 -0500 Message-ID: X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 2.0/32.652 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Lines: 116 X-Usenet-Provider: http://www.giganews.com X-Trace: sv3-YKq/8mPEvcjiI5u7xjnOfpSubeuV9YfBnnlgV2dRpyMrRr4M9bRA2K/m/3wDhf1kNytgFMgQeI8iBKN!CZyoVDGIq4CmmIiSBF4RncljsCtfEjMfoeZsTpiIjbzWqTLbjr4VZ7hxXaRKLRwsx8R2m6XF X-Complaints-To: abuse@giganews.com X-DMCA-Notifications: http://www.giganews.com/info/dmca.html X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Otherwise we will be unable to process your complaint properly X-Postfilter: 1.3.40 Bytes: 5894 Ack. It's already such a busy start to the month I actually missed the initial release of this month's HumbleChoice. But I am sure you all will forgive me for being a day late... right? For some reason, this month we get NINE games on offer instead of the usual eight. I'm not going to look a gift-game in the mouth! * The Invincible https://store.steampowered.com/app/731040/The_Invincible/ I pretty much don't know anything about this month's games, and "The Invincible" is no exception. It takes place on Mars: that much I know. It self-describes as "action adventure". It has pretty graphics. But as to what the gameplay is like? I've no idea. I think I want to find out, though. * Inkulinati https://store.steampowered.com/app/957960/Inkulinati/ I've had my eye on this one, largely because of my love of marginalia, those funny little cartoons scribbled in the corners and sides of medieval manuscripts that forms the basis of this game's aesthetic. I'm not entirely sure how that transforms into an actual game though and -I worry- the answer is 'not very well' (which is why I never actually got around to BUYING this game). But even if I just play the game for a while to enjoy the art, that's probably worth it. * Bomb Rush Cyberfunk https://store.steampowered.com/app/1353230/Bomb_Rush_Cyberfunk/ Even watching the trailer videos I'm not entirely sure what to make of this game. It sort of looks like a modern take on JetSet Radio (JetGrind Radio), which isn't entirely a bad thing. I never really cared for the gameplay of that old classic, but its art-style was intriguing enough that I kept at it regardless. Will Cyberfunk be the same? * Old World https://store.steampowered.com/app/597180/Old_World/ It looks like a 4X strategy game in the style of "Europa Universalis" or "Crusader Kings"... except crossed with a bit of "Civilization" too. I dunno; it seems a bit too kitchen-sinky (e.g., too many ideas tossed into the mix willy-nilly, just to say you have them rather than creating a tasty mixture) to me, but it's probably worth at least giving it a look. * Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand https://store.steampowered.com/app/1230530/Atlas_Fallen_Reign_Of_Sand/ Another game that I'd never heard of until today. It looks like a fairly average example of the 'open world hacker/ slasher', in the mode of "Horizon Zero Dawn" or "God of War". Nothing about it screams 'play me' but neither does it look particularly bad; a solid B-list game for when you can't think of anything else to play. The only worry is that many reviews indicate that the combat doesn't really get fun until you power up significantly; I'm already wary of investing in the time-sink that is an open world game without wondering if three quarters of that time will be tedious and grindy. * Moonstone Island https://store.steampowered.com/app/1658150/Moonstone_Island/ A "creature collecting life sim". Basically "Pokemon" crossed with "Harvest Moon", neither of which game I'm particularly fond. There are many games where I think, "Well maybe play just to see what it's like, maybe I'll like it." "Moonstone Island" is not one of those games * Venba https://store.steampowered.com/app/1491670/Venba/ A 'narrative cooking game'. See my conclusions about "Moonstone Island" above. It's pretty much the same for this game. * Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip https://store.steampowered.com/app/1665190/Monster_Prom_3_Monster_Roadtrip/ A visual/novel dating sim. Go two games up. Read my thoughts on that game. Apply here. * Crime Boss: Rockay City https://store.steampowered.com/app/2933080/Crime_Boss_Rockay_City/ As far as I can tell, this game is basically a "Payday" clone. Or is it? Its not really clear from the trailers. It's a first-person shooter anyway, and it involves criminal heists. Not my favorite genre (the criminal heists bit, I mean; I'm fond the FPS games) but it appeals to me more than the last three games anyway. So, yeah; this month we get a bunch of B-lister games almost none of which I've heard of. Some might be good; others I've not a jot of interest in, but generally nothing really screams "play me", much less "buy me". I gotta say, I am a bit disappointed with this selection. I'm not sure I think that --even at the low, low price of $12 USD for 9 games-- I'd be getting my moneys worth. I might just skip this month's games again. Ah well. You may find something interesting and worth the price and as for me, well, there's always next month. So until then, ciao!