But I get ahead of myself. It was Oneal’s prompting that finally got me to try out L4D for the PC when Steam had a free-activation weekend. I was impressed enough by the game that I went ahead and bought it (on 40% sale that weekend, yay), firmly establishing my presence on Steam.

I like L4D because of its jump-in-and-go implementation of game launching, which has streamlined the back-end of the multiplayer FPS experience into a very sleek and robust system. This is the most hassle-free design I’ve ever seen in terms of getting random people to play together, and I marvel at how easily you can get right into the thick of things. It’s a well-implemented FPS, too. And games like this have been in my blood since the days of classic Wolfenstein 3D.

I’ll talk more about it later on. For now, work beckons, but I am happy to report that blowing the heads off of zombie hordes is a great stress-buster.

Aquaria

I fell in love with this game from the moment I came across its launch trailer back in 2007. The visuals, the music and the atmosphere drew me in, and I waited impatiently for the proper release to come out. When I finally did get the chance to play it, I adored it even more. Something about the way it conveyed its world and story struck a chord in me, and I was caught up in a quiet giddiness that only the most appealing games draw me into.

I was further impressed by how the game itself was made by only two people: Alec Holowka and Derek Yu, under the Bit Blot banner. They made everything themselves, from the story and programming to the graphics and music. They had no creative staff working with or under them, and no other trappings of a gaming design company. The only other person involved in the project was Jenna Sharpe, who provided the voice for the game’s lonely, restless protagonist. The whole endeavor had a romantic feel to it, and that deepened my appreciation of the game.

The interface is both novel and effective for a 2D scrolling adventure, and I am still in awe of how the essentially simple control scheme allows for satisfying complexity. Naija has a full range of movement as she swims through the game world, and her abilities come from she sings the notes of the Verse: the underlying harmony of everything that is. She can manipulate her being and the world around her through her songs, which are combinations of notes that are easily strung together through a compass-style ring. The entire game can be played with just the mouse, although keyboard shortcuts are also available.

One of the most evocative things about underwater vistas is the richness of life and landscape, and in this respect Aquaria definitely does not disappoint. As you explore the vast game world, countless unique touches can be found amidst the varied flora and fauna. You come across saltwater denizens of all shapes and sizes, many of which would likely be very familiar to oceanographers and marine biology enthusiasts. Alec and Derek really did their research, and it shows in the game’s creature population density and attention to detail. Very often I find myself coasting along, leaving the main plot alone for a while and just seeing the sights. It’s not a sandbox world, but it’s definitely one that invites exploration and aimless wandering.

I’ve clocked in around ten hours of gameplay, and the game still feels as compelling to me now as it did when I first started out. I’ll write more about the experience after I complete the game, which will hopefully not be too soon. There’s a lot of the world still left unexplored, and I like sustaining the sense of mystery and wonder.