Worth Playing
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Given the amount of development time and the public nature of the game, Fez no longer seems like a revolutionary title. The puzzle mechanics has been used in several different ways in other games (that were released earlier), and the move away from realism and into a more whimsical, older look has also been done by other titles. The graphics and sound are still charming, even if it falters in a few places. More importantly, the game does a great job of throwing in a number of obtuse and brain-melting puzzles, and the sense of elation when you finally solve them is second to none. Those who love a good challenge will have some fun with this well-made puzzle platformer.
Bastion is a solid action-RPG that is put over the edge by its unique and entrancing concept. It's a fun game, but it would've had trouble standing apart from the crowd, even with its unique features. When you add in the awesome use of narration, the game becomes much more than the sum of its parts. Bastion manages to be engrossing from beginning to end. It's well paced, well executed and fun to play, and it's hard not to get more curious about what comes next. The lack of replay value, even with a NewGame+ and multiple endings, may hurt it a little, but if you're a fan of atmospheric and unique action-RPGs, then Bastion is well worth the 1,200 Microsoft points ($15).
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords is the best RPG to come out since its illustrious prequel, a worthy follow-up to a grand title that has true replay value, gorgeous presentation, and depth that most other games wouldn’t dream of attempting. Buy it, play it, love it.
While there are issues that should have been addressed before the game shipped, when you compare them against how well the game is executed overall, they are minor blips on the radar. Star Wars fans have been clamoring for a decent RPG, and Bioware has certainly exceeded expectations. "Baldur's Gate" has been the RPG that I measure RPG's against, and KOTOR will unseat it from the throne. The writing and voice acting are the best I've seen. No other Star Wars game, including Star Wars Galaxies, has done a better job of completely immersing you in the Star Wars universe. It's impossible to finish the game without somehow feeling like your actions have made a difference. It's not a short game, clocking in at about 60 hours if you do all the side quests. With the multiple paths through the game, you'll want to play it more than once which really gives you a lot of bang for your buck.