Steam picks for a Pint
Jen rounds up the best Pint-priced PC offerings
Sid Meier has that special knack of making the most monotonous sounding business simulation, also the most compelling. This has never been more prevalent than in the case of Railroad Tycoon 2. It doesn't sound too exciting does it? Controlling your own railroad empire and building rail routes from city to city. However it's really rather exciting, certainly more so than it sounds. This edition even comes with an extra 50 custom maps, just to keep you even more hooked. It's the kind of game you play for five minutes then realise it's 4am and you've got work in 5 hours. Much like another well known Sid Meier game in fact.
Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete
Who'd have thought it? Being able to buy all of Sid Meier's Civilization III for a mere 299 pence. Including the Conquest expansion pack, the Play the World multiplayer expansion and of course the full game, this is the bargain of the century if for some reason you haven't played Civilization III before, or (like me) you're too lazy to dig out your discs and would rather download it through Steam. The sheer depth of Civilization III is ridiculous, there's just so much to do in order to conquer the world through might, diplomacy or culture. If you fancy being a megalomaniac you really must seek this out. I'll even just about forgive you if you start the download before getting to the end of this senten
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
The most expensive offering here and a slight cheat considering it's actually 3.49 GBP, however it's Star Wars and surely no one can turn down an appearance from Star Wars? It's a bit of a hit and miss affair with many Star Wars games but the Jedi Knight series has never had that problem. While later titles such as Jedi Academy are a little too expensive to be included here, Jedi Knight is still just as enjoyable a game. For once you actually feel like a Jedi with your skills gradually increasing throughout the game and the option to be either a Jedi or to turn to the dark side. The graphics may have suffered badly over the years but nothing can be better than actual light sabre battles surely.
Time Gentlemen Please & Ben There, Dan That
It's a double bill of gaming goodness here for 2.99 GBP but there's no chance of quality being halved with both Time Gentlemen, Please! and Ben There, Dan That! being brilliantly funny point and click adventures. If Loom and The Dig sounded too serious and dour, then these two titles are perfect fodder for you. The dialogue and script are rare examples of game humour which really does make you laugh out loud. After all, how can you not laugh at the idea of Hitler using an army of robot Nazi dinosaur clones? I thought not. Brilliant indie games that will run on pretty much any PC you throw them at.
X-Com games: UFO Defence, Terror From the Deep, Enforcer, Interceptor
It's cheating slightly including all the X-Com games as one entry but choosing one game out of these four would be like choosing your favourite child: it's just not possible. They are all fantastic strategy games where you take control of X-Com, a government force out to destroy the evil aliens that are attempting to invade. The depth is astonishing in the early titles with research ever crucial to be one step ahead of the enemy. UFO Defence and Terror From the Deep look extremely dated compared to the latter two, newer, titles but maintain the edge when it comes to game mechanics. The X-Com games are terrifically unique with their combination of business sim, strategy sim and action game. Now if only the much mooted new game in the series was actually a reality.
