Tomorrow’s the last day of the semester, and as of next week, work will finally calm down a bit, too. I want a new game! But I want something really fun and lighthearted. I was thinking about one of the Lego games. I own some of them already, but they are kind of hit or miss. I loved Lego Pirates. Liked Lego Indiana Jones but I didn’t like the one with the last movie. I also didn’t like Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4.
So should I try Lego Star Wars or Lego Batman? If not them, do you recommend something else really fun and lighthearted? I have plenty of dark, moody games (I have yet to get back into Batman: Arkham City) so need something different.
What’s your opinion on Minecraft? I know most serious gamers prefer it on the PC but I like the crafting menu on the Xbox a lot better. No thinking required.
I play it on the PC already. I don’t mind the crafting thing, and I can play it with my SO, which is really the only reason to play it - the world seems too big and empty on my own.
I was looking at Rayman: Origins. Is that serious platforming, like Super Mario Brothers style? Because I hate those kinds of games. They are fun for about 30 seconds and then they get frustrating. If it’s a more light kind of platforming I would like it.
I have all the Lego games, and the two Batman ones are by far my favourites. Not very dark, and pretty funny. Batman 2 is even funnier, but the first one is great as well.
I wouldn’t recommend the Star Wars ones. Although they have the “funny” down, the gameplay itself I found much harder than the Batman games. And (like you) when I’m looking for lighthearted and funny, frustrating is not the way to go.
For quick time killing arcade action, Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is downright awesome. Play in 5-10 minute bursts of full on mind blowing action… I know, it’s just pac-man, but it’s pac-man on ultra-steroids with acid! In a good way. IGN’s review said, " It’s like taking a great white shark and adding laser beam eyes and saw blades that shoot out of its mouth. " Pretty much.
LEGO Lord of the Rings is the king of all LEGO games. No other LEGO game has this.
Other good lighthearted games include:
ilomilo - Well, okay, this one is a bit more ‘heartwarming, yet simultaneously sad’ but it’s adorable, and a fun puzzle game.
Plants vs Zombies - if, somehow, you haven’t played this already.
Pacman Championship Edition: DX - It’s pacman, taken up to 11, with techno. Play the demo. You’ll like it.
Chime - it’s just kinda tranquil, somehow. It’s a shape placement game, plus music.
Rock of Ages - It’s like…weird Monty Python humor mixed with some kind of crazy bowling and art history!
Castle Crashers - Awesome hilarious cartoon knights!
Snoopy: Flying Ace - It’s… crazy air combat with Snoopy!
Note that all of the above are Xbox Live Arcade titles, and therefore have demos.
Also, a couple of mentions from the Xbox Live Indie Game section:
Protect Me Knight - It’s like… 8 bit monster battles, with 4 player local co-op. Perhaps the best $1 I have ever spent on a game. If you can’t find it, just look at the top ten best rated games for the one with 8 bit pixel art and the Japanese title. (Game text is entirely in English. Also, demo.)
Miner Dig Deep - Digging. Mining. Selling valuables. Repeat. Try not to do something stupid and kill yourself. Strangely relaxing.
And I un-recommend Limbo for fun or lighthearted. Ugh.
I got Beautiful Katamari AND Lego Batman because they were super cheap.
I looked up Limbo. Yup, that game is not lighthearted, and not what I am looking for.
BTW I do have Lego LOTR. I like it a lot but upon replay it loses a LOT of its appeal because you are FORCED practically at GUNPOINT to watch all of the cutscenes again. Game companies should realize how many of their players are aging now, and we have limited time to play. We don’t have time to sit and watch every freakin cut scene.
Thanks for the other recommendations, Airk. I will keep the list for the next time I want to go shopping!
Play the demo. You’ll like it.