6/19/12 Steam Midweek Madness: Men of War series 75% off, Cube Pack indie bundle

[KaOTiK]

Men of War $3.75 75% off
Men of War Condemned Heroes $7.49 75% off
Men of War Vietnam $8.74 75% off
Men of War Vietnam DLC $1.24 75% off
Men of War Red Tide $6.24 75% off
Men of War Assault Squad GotY Edition $9.99 75% off includes below
Men of War Assault Squad $7.49 75% off
Men of War Assault Squad DLC $1.24 each 75% off

Cube Pack $9.99 includes below
BIT TRIP RUNNER $9.99
Blocks That Matter $4.99
Critical Mass $4.99
Edge $7.99
QUBE $14.99
Rush $4.99

 

[Dankk]

Men of War is a very intense, challenging, and detailed series of WWII-RTS games. Although I guess it's not so much a "traditional" RTS like Company of Heroes; but rather, it's a "real time tactics" game as Wikipedia describes it.

And there's a ton of tactics and micro-management involved. You have to micromanage soldier inventory, line of sight and sometimes direct control the fire. The game is extremely punishing, and one tiny slip can make you lose your entire squad. I also use the word "detailed" because although it's a strategy game, the level of action and nuance going on on the ground is huge... and the game is quite pretty.

I played Assault Squad in co-op with a friend once, and I don't think we got past the first level. Maybe if we changed the difficulty level we would've gotten further. But from what I played it was pretty interesting. It was very engaging.

If you have to pick just one game, I'd suggest Assault Squad - mainly because it seems to be the most popular and successful iteration, but then again I haven't played the others. On closer inspection, the first two games (Men of War and Men of War: Red Tide) actually have higher Metacritic scores than the third (Assault Squad), and the fourth and the fifth game (Vietnam and Condemned Heroes) have the worst scores of all. Whatever; I don't put much stock into Metacritic scores anyway, so take what you will.

Those are my jumbled thoughts. I'm not big into strategy/tactics games, so maybe someone else can weigh in.

Edit: Assault Squad has a demo.

 

[KaOTiK]

Steam just added a new indie bundle

 

[Dankk]

The Cube Pack is a fine deal on some good games. I'd say it's worth if for Q.U.B.E. alone (a first-person puzzle game similar to Portal); the rest of the games are bonuses.

I've played Rush and Edge which are both very good, and are actually made by the same developer. I have BIT TRIP RUNNER but haven't played it yet. I've heard about Critical Mass being a pretty good casual game. Haven't played Blocks That Matter.

 

[KaOTiK]

I wish the games themselves were on sale individually for a good discount. Only one I don't have is QUBE and I actually want that game.

As for the games in the pack, only 2 I've played are Edge and Rush, both were good puzzle games, though I enjoyed Rush more.

 

[Dankk]

I wish the games themselves were on sale individually for a good discount. Only one I don't have is QUBE and I actually want that game.

As for the games in the pack, only 2 I've played are Edge and Rush, both were good puzzle games, though I enjoyed Rush more.

On the bright side, for every game you already own, you'll get an extra copy to give away to a friend. Says right there on the bundle's store page.

I wish more bundles did that.

 

[KaOTiK]

On the bright side, for every game you already own, you'll get an extra copy to give away to a friend. Says right there on the bundle's store page.

I wish more bundles did that.

I agree, sadly most the people on my friends list have these games too from various other bundles lol.

 

[PowerYoga]

Men of war is one of the few WW2 games that is extremely micro intensive. I was able to beat all of red tide but it required numerous save-reloads as I'd repeatedly lose my AT gun to a good shot by the AI (or my shot would miss/bounce off) or run out of anti tank grenades.

Position is the key to almost every single map, you really need to setup those kill zones and lines of defense or you'll get punched through eeasily. That and controlling one single guy to destroy everything, whether its the tiger tank or the one good AT/machine gun that you have. In almost all cases direct control of a good unit is all you need to beat the level.

Controlling and micromanaging a squad is pointless, and if people run out ammo it takes too much effort to get them to pick up someone else's ammo and reload. But you could do it. On most boards I just use the infantry as cannon fodder, run a group of 2-3 of them up to a tank to throw anti tank grenades... hey one of them usually makes it.