When I first got the new video card for my PC, I chose the Call of Duty 2 demo to test it out. I made the right choice. What a beautiful game. The graphics alone make the gameplay more fun, it really feels like you're doing something, not just pushing buttons on a keyboard and dragging the mouse around. Another thing I liked is that the game itself doesn't intrude on your fun -- no scrounging for health packs, no stopping to save every few minutes, just full steam ahead Nazi-killing action. Greatest moment of the demo was getting behind a stationary gun and really going to town on the enemy. I can easily see why this franchise is so popular.
Will I buy it? Definitely maybe.
The Silver Lining began life as a fan-made sequel to the King's Quest series, dubbing itself King's Quest IX: Every Cloak Has a Silver Lining. However, once the website became popular, Vivendi Universal (owner of the King's Quest franchise since it bought out Sierra) sent a cease and desist to the designers. That's when things got weird. Fan frenzy and designer sincerity actually won Vivendi over, and they gave permission for the game to continue, as long as it took the "King's Quest" part out of the title. I've played every game in the series, even King's Quest VIII (the sucky one), so when I heard about the officially recognized fan sequel, I became very excited. Unfortunately, I've since played the demo. The nicest thing I can say about it is that, considering it's made by non-pro designers for literally no money, it's pretty impressive. But the thing is: there are plenty of games out there that are made by professionals, hundreds of games that I've never played that are supposed to be incredible. I just don't have the time to invest in a game that's only tolerable, no matter how much love went into it.
Will I buy it? Not applicable, it's free.
Will I download it when it's finished? Nope.
What was the next demo I played and why? Two questions with one answer! Just Cause! This game is a mixture of fun and frustrating. Frustrating: poor driving physics, buggy, stutters, crashes, confusing weapon pick-ups and drops. Fun: constant skydiving, blowing things up, shooting people, racing a super fast boat and shooting missles out of it. So it depends on what you find important. The much touted "stunt position", where you can jump in and out of cars (or helicopters or whatever) and stand on the hood turned out to be pretty much useless. I couldn't even shoot my gun from that position, so unless I want to deploy parachute, there's no reason to attempt it. Also, I couldn't finish the demo, which is always a bad sign. The first time I failed because I didn't realize it was timing me, and "the sun went down" before I did all my objectives. The second time I was playing much faster, and was well on my way to finishing it in time, but then it crashed for no reason. I don't plan a third attempt.
Will I buy it? Maybe, if it ends up in a $10 or less bargain bin.
And now, Psychonauts. From the designer behind Grim Fandango and Full Throttle, it's a 3D platformer about a training camp for psychic children. Everything about this demo is amazing. The intro movie is hilarious, and so are many of the moments throughout the first level. The gameplay takes a little getting used to on the PC, but it's available on PS2 also if you want a gamepad. The graphics are a delight, and many times made me feel like I was on a Disney ride, like a war-themed version of the Haunted Mansion. I expected to be let down given how many times I've heard this game is an "overlooked gem" but if anything, the hype sold it short.
Will I buy it? An emphatic YES! I might go on Amazon right now actually...
Last, and almost certainly least, Bad Day L.A. In this game, "everything that can go wrong, will," which is probably not the best motto for a commercial product. The protagonist is a foul-mouthed, anti-social homeless guy, who has to run around helping people in a zombie and terrorist-filled Los Angeles. It's supposed to be a comedy I think, but unless kids projectile vomiting and a guy who calls everyone "honky" make you laugh, you probably won't agree. The gameplay is pretty easy to learn, but the constant sub-tasks like "Help 5 people" or "Kill Terrorists" feel like more of a nuisance than anything else. I didn't even finish the demo, I played for 20 minutes then decided my time could be better used on something else -- anything else.
Will I buy it? Hell nah, honky-ass cracker!
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Who is Luke? Perry? Skywalker? Lucas Haas from Witness and Brick?
