While there's an undeniable fetish for the new in the game world, that shouldn't distract us from real quality. Being a few years old now changes nothing about the fact that Gravity Bones remains, among free games, the top of the list of best games for PC. This brief standalone game drops the player suddenly into what seems to be some kind of exotic espionage scenario.
There are only two levels and you can play through the entire thing in probably about 20 minutes - at least once you figure out how the heck to get to that fourth bird. It is mission based with a learning arch embedded into the process, which is executed quite cleverly. It comes in a zip file and needs no installation. It requires about 20MB of disk space.
So, what's so great and fun about this game? To begin it's richly experience-based and has a gorgeous aesthetic. Technically it is certainly a first-person game, but that description leaves too much unexplained. You'd almost have to say that this game verges on creating its own genre -- or at least sub-genre. You might call it bossa nova noir!
Ascribing a story to it is a bit tricky. There are certainly tasks and as you uncover and accomplish them, a unity emerges, but for all that, this game functions more as a work of slightly avant garde art: it's open to a lot of interpretation.
Right from the start you're thrust into a kind of Euro-spy scene as you find yourself wandering amid elegantly dressed blockheads (really, you have to see it, to understand) all making merry at some black tie cocktail party spread out over a series of terraces with spectacular views of a lake and surrounding mountains. A smooth bossa nova sound track follows you among the crowd. You're already on your first mission the moment you're out of the elevator.
This first level, really a test run, is quickly completed. The second level seems to take you behind the scenes. Once more you are delivered by elevator. This time you emerge in a scenario that is more elaborate and complicated. On this second level, your missions take you through a series of back corridors and over a number of exterior catwalks during an ominous and stormy night.
Incidentally, one of my few complaints about this game is that I could have done without the clue cards. They at least should have been optional. On the first level I ignored the protruding card corner and simply wandered around the party. Eventually I stumbled upon the briefcase necessary to complete the mission. That was way more fun.
The aesthetics of this game are almost as much fun as the play. Boldly foregoing the usual polygon realism the game conjures up a vivid world of its own that works beautifully with an espionage sensibility that stops just short of being self-mocking. It's maybe ironic without descending into cheesy.
This short and sweet game is still a total winner. If you haven't yet checked it out, you definitely should. For both play and aesthetics alike it remains our number one choice among the best games for PC in the free category.
There are only two levels and you can play through the entire thing in probably about 20 minutes - at least once you figure out how the heck to get to that fourth bird. It is mission based with a learning arch embedded into the process, which is executed quite cleverly. It comes in a zip file and needs no installation. It requires about 20MB of disk space.
So, what's so great and fun about this game? To begin it's richly experience-based and has a gorgeous aesthetic. Technically it is certainly a first-person game, but that description leaves too much unexplained. You'd almost have to say that this game verges on creating its own genre -- or at least sub-genre. You might call it bossa nova noir!
Ascribing a story to it is a bit tricky. There are certainly tasks and as you uncover and accomplish them, a unity emerges, but for all that, this game functions more as a work of slightly avant garde art: it's open to a lot of interpretation.
Right from the start you're thrust into a kind of Euro-spy scene as you find yourself wandering amid elegantly dressed blockheads (really, you have to see it, to understand) all making merry at some black tie cocktail party spread out over a series of terraces with spectacular views of a lake and surrounding mountains. A smooth bossa nova sound track follows you among the crowd. You're already on your first mission the moment you're out of the elevator.
This first level, really a test run, is quickly completed. The second level seems to take you behind the scenes. Once more you are delivered by elevator. This time you emerge in a scenario that is more elaborate and complicated. On this second level, your missions take you through a series of back corridors and over a number of exterior catwalks during an ominous and stormy night.
Incidentally, one of my few complaints about this game is that I could have done without the clue cards. They at least should have been optional. On the first level I ignored the protruding card corner and simply wandered around the party. Eventually I stumbled upon the briefcase necessary to complete the mission. That was way more fun.
The aesthetics of this game are almost as much fun as the play. Boldly foregoing the usual polygon realism the game conjures up a vivid world of its own that works beautifully with an espionage sensibility that stops just short of being self-mocking. It's maybe ironic without descending into cheesy.
This short and sweet game is still a total winner. If you haven't yet checked it out, you definitely should. For both play and aesthetics alike it remains our number one choice among the best games for PC in the free category.
About the Author:
To get the news on the best pay games for PC, you need to check out Mickey Jhonny's picks of the best games for PC. Those interested in the joys of emersive, parallel worlds will love his piece over at Pretty Much Dead Already on the phenomenon of the Walking Dead Fanfiction .
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