Recent reviews by Spooky Mulder

**UPDATED**
A previous version of this review was not recommended due to poor HECU AI, but this has since been fixed

Black Mesa is, at its core, a reimagining of the first Half-Life game. Not a remaster- rebuilt from the ground up with more modern tech and principles. (Still some minor platforming, but it wouldn't be Half-Life 1 without that, now would it?)

Regarding the graphics, your jaw probably won't drop- this is still the source engine, but it manages to look pretty through solid art design and good textures. Sound design is also pretty nice- however, I encountered one sound bug early on, but I believe this has since been patched out.

Facing off against headcrabs, zombies, houndeyes, and all the other abominations from Xen in the BMRF has never looked and felt so good. The ability to, say, use physics objects to set of trip mines or create some temporary cover is great.
Previously I found the HECU to be absurdly overpowered, but this is no longer the case, and they behave much more like they did in Half-Life. Running and gunning is possible, shooting from cover works well, and the whole shooter aspect works without complaint.

This game is a blast to play, and a fun trip down memory lane.

A fun, vibrantly artistic, and interesting puzzle game. Inspired by biologic concepts like cells and enzymes, Volvox asks you to move and orient little triangle sized critters.

The premise is deceptively simple, but it turns out to be more challenging and compelling than one might expect. If you like Lemmings or similar games, you'll probably like Volvox. I have enjoyed my time with it so far.

This game is wonderful.

Chances are if you're this far down in the reviews you have an idea of how this game works. If you don't, basically you use puzzle pieces to program machines that do chemistry. For every puzzle, there is no one solution, you are limited only by the rules and your creativity as to what will work.

You will spend hours trying to figure out one puzzle, but when you figure it out, there are few feelings better than that one of accomplishment the game creates.

The game runs absolutely fine, of course, it's really not very demanding, so if you have a lower end PC and need to waste umpteen hours of your life, this can be your game.

If you like puzzles, or programming, or chemistry, or running headlong into challenges, difficulty be damned, I recommend this game wholeheartedly.

I'd just like to say that this game is viscerally terrifying. The Alien is menacing and creepy. The androids are moderately disturbing. The humans are squishy. The environments are pretty freaking awesome.

If you're a fan of Alien, buy this game. If you really like survival horror, buy this game. If you're looking to experience something different from AAA, buy this game.

My only complaint is that the antialiasing options are a bit barebones. That said, it might be something you can fix with Nvidia control panel or its AMD equivalent.

This is a wonderful game where you get to follow around characters you don't care for, and shoot enemies that don't scare you, in order to advance a plot that doesn't interest you.

A great team-based FPS. And I do mean team based. Co-operation is key, with teams forming tactics and responding to enemy counter-tactics. Players will want to stick together, as "lone wolfing" is often a ticket to an early demise. Plus, players working together are more effective at almost every task in the game.

A mic is thus recommended, or else you won't be able to communicate effectively. While on the subject of sound, a good pair of headphones or at least stereo speakers come recommended, since the sound of footsteps gives you a massive advantage when dealing with an enemy whose whereabouts are unknown.

Another collaborative issue is the fact that weapons and equipment, beyond a standard issue pistol, must be purchased. A winning team should be able to keep it stocks reasonably well replenished, but in a close match, players must prioritize their purchases, and sometimes even buy weapons for other, cash-strapped teammates.

On the individual end, relative accuracy is important. Recoil control is a very useful skill. That said, unlike some believe, you don't have to be able to shoot the wings off a fly to succeed. Your positioning is more key than that. Good players can use cover, sight angles, peeking, etc. to their advantage.

Trading and weapon customization is present in the game. However, it is does not nearly affect this game as much as it does in Team Fortress 2, with nary a trade server to be found. For the most part, items fall to the wayside in comparison to the raw, fast paced team action of this game.

To conclude this long winded review, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a remarkable game, that modernizes a classic while remaining just as addictive as ever. If you don't own it already, you're missing out.

I'll preface this by saying I am not a huge strategy fan. RTSes tend to give me a thorough butt-kicking and this is the only turn-based one I own. That being said, it is freaking brilliant. Permadeath adds a lot to the game, and every time you pull victory from the jaws of defeat will be a moment of triumph. You will come to dread the unkown corners of the map, and to know the sweet relief of a successful maneuver.

I could write more, but I may as well not. Just buy this game.