Quba HQ

April 11, 2010
In Featured, Games, Gotta Play
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Gotta Play: The Orange Box

If you like gaming, have a PC that’s not yet a museum piece, but you don’t yet own The Orange Box (or all the games that comprise this amazing collection), do yourself a favor: Stop reading this article, go to the Steam page of The Orange Box, purchase it for for $30 and let it download in the background while you continue with this post. It’s that good.

Released in October 2007, The Orange Box is a compilation of some of the best titles produced by Valve Software: Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episodes One and Two, Portal and Team Fortress 2. They even throw in a tech demo Half-Life 2: Lost Coast, just in case the rest is not enough for you. You will be playing this stuff for months.

April 7, 2010
In Featured, Games, Gotta Play
One comment

Gotta Play: Defcon

- Shall we play a game?
- Love to. How about Global Thermonuclear War?

You might remember a certain 1983 movie entitled WarGames. I was a little kid when it came out, but I got the message: War is bad, computers are awesome. Well, that’s the message I got anyway.

Produced at the height of Cold War, WarGames told a story of a young computer hacker gaining access to the A.I. controlling American nuclear arsenal and almost annihilating the entire planet in the process. The final stand-off took place in a military facility and featured (then) state of the art CGI simulation of a Global Thermonuclear War. It is this segment of the movie where Defcon gets its inspiration from.

March 30, 2010
In Featured, Games, Gotta Play
3 comments

Gotta Play: Flower

It is difficult to believe that there may still be a PS3 owner, or a gamer out there who hasn’t yet heard of thatgamecompany’s Flower. The game was showered with awards and recognition since its release in 2008, most recently winning a BAFTA award for Artistic Achievement in 2010. It is also one of my personal favorites and one of these games I’d recommend to anyone without any second thoughts.

Much like other titles of the studio, Flower is an unusual title, often categorized as ambient gaming experience. It is a genre I have been very fond of for quite a while – an interactive entertainment type where player’s immersion and emotions take precedence over the score, reflexes or button mashing. It is a game that lets you relax and enjoy yourself in front of the console – a commodity much valued at the end of a busy day.

February 26, 2010
In Featured, Games, Gotta Play
One comment

Gotta Play: PixelJunk Eden

This is a first post of the new category I decided to introduce to Quba HQ. Gotta Play will consist of short reviews of some of my favorite games – not only the new ones, but mainly older, memorable titles.

PixelJunk Eden (as well as its expansion Eden Encore) ranks really high on my personal favorites list. It’s definitely somewhere up there in my top 5, but since I do not keep any particular scoring system it would be difficult to determine the exact place. One thing is sure – Eden was the very reason I decided to purchase PS3 console.

February 22, 2010
In Featured, Games
6 comments

Review: Mass Effect 2

Yesterday I have completed the final “suicide mission” of Mass Effect 2, concluding my first playthrough of this game. Right until before the final mission I was convinced the game was one of the best I ever played. Now that I have concluded it, my feelings are more bitter-sweet. Here’s why.

February 12, 2010
In Games
One comment

Heavy Rain Demo: Impressions

I have just completed several playthroughs of the Quantic Dream’s Heavy Rain demo released yesterday on Playstation Network. I was cautiously optimistic approaching it, having known the studio only from it’s Omikron: The Nomad Soul game released back in 1999. (Having loved Omikron, I have no idea how did I miss their 2005′s Fahrenheit (a.k.a. Indigo Prophecy).)

When the game comes out, undoubtedly the reviews will range all the way from calling it a “x-hours long quick-time event” to “the most cinematic experience ever”. Personally, I think it will become an instant cult classic, and can only hope the commercial reception will be as good. But that – only time will show. For now we have a demo: