Forum Overview :: Steam

Indiegamestand has Waking Mars for $1 by skip 03/29/2013, 7:28pm PDT I hadn't heard of this site before but it lets you pay $1 for a game, beating the average price gives you more stuff, and paying $10 gives you a bundle. This week gives you a Steam/Desura/GOG key which is great and also means there is no point in paying over $1. The GOG version gives you almost the exact same extras. The game itself is okay and I'm about 2 hours into it. Positives: - the idea of being an alien gardener is neat and it's nice to sit back after planting and watch a self-sustaining ecosystem go - the manipulation of ecosystems is clear and I didn't find any plants that I couldn't find a use for - the research panel is pretty good at noting down findings as you observe the plants interacting - the character portraits and plants are drawn well - the puzzles aren't hard to pass but you have to get a running ecosystem to get 4 stars. Even then it's not hard (this may be a negative depending on how you play) Negatives: - The animation is stiff, especially of Liang - the backgrounds look like someone had a field day with the red filter in Photoshop - the style of the plants, the background, and the main character don't seem coherent - the soundtrack is grating electronica when it really could have used the Limbo low-key approach to emphasize the loneliness of the alien terrain - there was no need for computer sidekick's voice to be so grating and at some point he's called "so wacky" by one of the characters. Christ. - the dialog (except for the computer) is strictly functional and even though this is supposed to be a historic exploration, discussions about new types of life are discussed in the same tone of voice and almost the same wording you'd use to discuss finding dust bunnies under your sofa - the GUI is clearly a port from iOS/Android and even calls itself an "app" in the menu Like many indie games, there's actually a solid game here but it has too many rough edges to ignore.

Indiegamestand has Waking Mars for $1 by skip 03/29/2013, 7:28pm PDT     Re: Indiegamestand has Waking Mars for $1 by Commander Tansin A. Darcos 05/18/2013, 11:03pm PDT         Playtesters!? What insight! NT by Worm 05/19/2013, 12:39am PDT         No man can be expected to climb stairs when he's on a tight blowjob schedule. NT by Americans with Lives Act 05/19/2013, 1:37am PDT         Re: Indiegamestand has Waking Mars for $1 by Favorite Movie: The Crow 05/19/2013, 10:51am PDT         Re: Indiegamestand has Waking Mars for $1 by Mysterio 05/19/2013, 10:59am PDT