Bridge Constructor Medieval

Bridge Constructor Medieval was part of the Merge Humble Bundle, which I mostly picked up for this game, knowing nothing about it other than it's title. All in all I'm happy with the purchase.

This is one of those rare treats that is also available as a mobile game, but that shouldn't be held against it as it is fun and, more importantly, challenging. The game is simple, build bridges using only medieval materials, the goal is to create a supply line for your country during an invasion.

Look at those supplies move!

You've got a set amount of money to spend and a given number of units that have to make it across safely to complete each screen. Invaders show up occasionally and throw stuff at your bridges, but, as long as your units make it across before the bridge is destroyed your good. Each map has slightly different terrain and usually a different set of materials to use.

I'm giving this one an 8/10, I'm enjoying it and it's keeping me engaged, but this is not high impact gaming, there is more thought than action, and a lot of trial and error involved. However, if that's your thing, this is the thing for you.

Cogs

Cogs has to be a Humble Bundle purchase, I can think of no other reason for it to be in my library. This one is a puzzle solving exercise, and a damned well built one too I might add.

The game is a series of mechanical puzzles, moving gears and piping to direct steam or mechanical energy to drive a mechanism; think the hacking games in Bioshock, but only the hacking games. A frame of movable tiles with on empty space, rearrange to make a mechanical connection, sometimes requiring multiple sides to be solved.

Bioshock never made a Jack in the Box, not once!

It's a very nice looking game, some if the puzzles are quite complex, and the solution usually results in a nice little animation.

I'm going 8/10 on this one, it's fun and makes you think, although people with spatial orientation issues may find it as pleasurable as masturbating with sandpaper, no amount of effort will ever leave you satisfied.

Costume Quest

I don't remember when or why I picked up Costume Quest, but I'm going to assume it was part of a Humble Bundle. Built like a kids game it's got a good design,albeit a bit older in execution, and a decent combat system. Graphics are nothing fancy, but they work well with the general atmosphere. I found myself enjoying this one much more than I expected to.

Looks pretty cool base don that screenshot, doesn't it?

Long story short, you go trick or treating and end up fighting monsters. Along the way you find different costumes that give you different powers, completing missions give you more candy/costume parts and a fair bit of neighborhood exploration tie up the rest of the game. There is a plot to the game, but I didn't pay much attention to it past the opening cut scenes so obviously it's not anything too engaging.

Combat is generally a quick time event, but it's one of the better ones I've seen. I'm not a fan of QTE's but this one wasn't badly done.

Nothing innovative and, again, probably more for a 10-14 year old audience, but fun is where you find it. I'm giving this one 7/10, if you get it for dirt cheap, it's not a total miss, but I don't think it will appeal a broad audience.

Zombie Bowl-O-Rama

Zombie Bowl-O-Rama is a fun little casual game that I can't find much wrong with. An interesting concept, bowling, but instead of pins, zombies. Throw your ball, using various powerups and knock the zombies down before they walk down the alley and reach you.

Undead bowling at its finest.

I enjoyed the bit of this game I played, although there isn't much going on. There is a vs mode for those possessing enough people skills to have a friend or two, but the single mode was all I tried out.

I'm giving this an 7/10, a fun way to kill a couple hours, but, if you manage to get it on sale, it's worth picking up.

Shank

Shank is a fun little game for what is, essentially, an updated Double Dragon knockoff. A blood drenched side scrolling beat 'em up with just the right amount of attitude, but, be warned, to properly play the game you need a controller.

To be fair, the first thing you see when you start this game up is a message stating that a controller is required for full enjoyment, so I was warned about it. I attempted to map my keyboard to the controls, but was left with limited results; adding a controller did cure much of this ailment.

Got a Street Fighter gone Mexican vibe to it.

You play a super-badass on a tale of revenge through a Mexican town, fighting of gangs on a quest to defeat a man who almost beat you to death. Equipped with knives, guns, grenades, and a chainsaw, you seem well suited to the task at hand. Although fighting games have never ranked high on my lists, this one is not too bad at all.

I'm giving this a 7/10, if it was easier to play on the keyboard I'd go higher, and the controller does work well, but my personal bias is at play here. Viva la Revolucion!