Another batch of the latest games demos try your hand at! Enjoy Orcs Must Die! 2, Quantum Conundrum, E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy, Big Bang Racing, Pro Evolution Soccer 2013, and Deponia.

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Issue 270 game demo roundup!

Orcs Must Die! 2

Orcs Must Die! 2 is more of the same Orc bashing action we loved before. As ever, its a finely balanced melange of third-person shooting and tower defense elements, requiring both strategy and a fast trigger finger. One without the other won’t do, you’ll be kept on your toes throughout each hectic level right to the very end. The game remains familiar in mechanics and visuals, plus some welcome new enemy types and many new traps, amulets and other upgrades. Skulls can now be refunded so you can buy and spend this limited currency on different builds to help tackle specific levels. Coop multiplayer is also a new feature here, so now you can team up with friends with half a chance to beat the game on Nightmare.

Download from here (Steam required)

Quantum Conundrum

Quantum Conundrum is a physics puzzler where the player can hop between dimensions to completely alter the physical properties of the environment. The fluffy dimension makes everything light as a feather. The heavy dimension does the opposite, and then there’s the slow, and finally the reverse gravity dimension.  They all seem obvious enough from these labels, and progress is made by using your newly found powers in various combinations to manipulate objects to help you on your merry way. The brains behind the game is an ex-Valve employee who worked on Portal, so not only have you learnt about this game you have some trivia to tell your grandchildren too. Or not!

Download from here

E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy

Check out the trailer and you’ll see some rather neat concepts, sadly it’s a bit let down in actual execution. E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy is rather over complex in many ways, as you soon discover when attempting to decipher the user interface. Its steep learning curve in what should be some basic controls is a sure fire turn off, and a big shame. Putting that bit aside, the gameplay itself is produced to an average level so Deux Ex beater it is not. With more investment and talent backing the production and it could have been something quite special.

Download from here (Steam required)

Big Bang Racing

Console-land is Big Bang Racing’s natural environment, where you’ll find it  strutting its feathers on your Xbox or PS3 as a digital download purchase. I can’t really throw any negative points in this games general direction as a PC title either, its rather enjoyable bombing around in the cartoon cars and twisty tracks. There’s only a single track in this demo, but that should be enough to decide either way.

Download from here (Steam required)

Pro Evolution Soccer 2013

Needing no introduction, the institution that is PES returns once again with its annual refresh. Last year (’round’) was won by FIFA, so consider this Konami’s reply to reclaim the footy sim crown! Interestingly this demo comes to us well in advance of the retail release which is some weeks off. PES is hoping the newly tweaked controls, and updated visuals will appeal to the masses.

Download from here

Deponia

Point-and-click adventures don’t come around often so it’s always good to see a new one visit once in a while. What’s more. Deponia is a very solid game with crisp visuals with well written and professionally voiced acting throughout. Elsewhere, the game is packed with lovable characters, comedy moments and plenty of puzzles to keep you entertained as you wander your way through the charming story.

Download from here

Our demo roundup for issue 265 features Deep Black: Reloaded, Rayman Origin, J.U.L.I.A., Vessel, Unstoppable Gorg, and Victoria II: A House Divided. Have fun!

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Issue 265 game demo roundup!

Deep Black: Reloaded

Demos being  demos, you of course are only in receipt of a biscuit sized taster to find out if you want more. The Deep Black: Reloaded demo is very entertaining with original gameplay (if you discount the story), with an action packed adventure on foot and underwater.  It looks pretty too! Sadly the full game reviews don’t reflect these initial impressions. It’s still worth checking out the demo in my mind, but maybe only worth buying at a discounted sale price. (demo)
Download from here

Rayman Origin

Rayman returns to the PC after 6 years in the wilderness. It’s hard to describe the game in normal words, other than it’s truly whacky, colourful, and packed with beautifully animated cartoon characters and backdrops. You won’t find a better example of old skool 2D platforming updated to meet the expectations of today’s gamers! (demo)
Download from here

J.U.L.I.A.

Set in the distant future, you’re the only known survivor of a deep space exploration vessel in search of alien life. The mystery begins as our main character is brought out of hypersleep. It’s just you and the ship computer who will offer guidance, and it’s up to you to repair the ship from gathered resources, and explorer planets. Their is little information from the outset, other than what the current status is, allowing you to discover the story as you progress through various puzzles.
A major corporate game studio would never make a game like this as it’ll never generate the millions required to line the pockets of their shareholders. Is that a bad thing, not sure! But at least budget developers do bring us interesting new games like J.U.L.A without the shackles of meeting financial targets. (demo)
Download from here

Vessel

Trapped in his own complex factory, the brilliant inventor and protagonist must find a way to take back control. In essence, Vessel is a steampunk inspired platform puzzle game. At your disposal, are the disposable Fluros. Creatures conjured from the elements that will do your bidding and sacrifice themselves to help your progression. (demo)
Download from here (Steam required)

Unstoppable Gorg

Unstoppable Gorg takes tower defence, adds a dash of 1950′s hysteria and sci fi alien invasion movie obsession , and blends them into a memorable casual number.  The premise of the genre remains the familiar brand of setting up turrets to intercept an invading horde from destroying your home base. In this instance, your home planet. Circling around the world are rings and spots to place your satellite weapons. As the level progresses, the invaders will take different routes, so you’re able to spin the rings to rearrange your gauntlet of firepower. (demo)
Download from here

Victoria II: A House Divided

Paradox are getting their monies worth out of this game engine for their current batch of strategy titles. Just check out last issues game demos for Crusader Kings II. And that’s not a bad thing, it works very well. A House Divided demo is a standalone, but is in actual fact an expansion pack for Victoria II. The expansion focuses on American Civil War era, but as before,  you can play any global nation and follow the timeline as history plays out. The demo includes an essential tutorial, which you’ll need to follow otherwise the menus won’t make a whole lot of sense. Once you’ve picked up the knowledge, you’ll discover a rather absorbing and well executed strategy title. (demo)
Download from here