PC Game Anachronox USD $1.74 on Steam (75% off)

An older game from 2001 but a bit of a cult classic. It regularly gets into "top x pc games" lists, especially top rpg lists.

This is one of my favourite games of all time. It was probably the first game I played with a story that wasn't simplistic or clunky. The Sierra Quest, Final Fantasy, Ultima etc. games were great and had their charm but they didn't really tell an interesting story, it was pretty much just hero conquers challenges.

The good bits: great story and characters voiced wonderfully, fun sense of humour, interesting use of sci-fi concepts including the plot revolving around the idea of the big bang-big crunch cycle which was considered a valid hypothesis at the time, a noir gumshoe style, a few different mini-game style sections that are interesting.

The bad bit: the turn-based fight mechanic is completely unchallenging.

I recommend people play the game on the easy mode because the fight system is so bad. You can play on the harder settings, that's fine… but you'll still win every single fight without any trouble. It'll just take longer. Hard just means more time spent in the fairly tedious fight mechanic and less proportional time enjoying the puzzles and story/characters/dialogue.

It's unfortunate the fight mechanic is so essential to the game. Getting the equipment you need to win the fights is interesting, fun and even a little challenging. The actual fighting isn't.

Another thing worth noting is that while the story of the game does have a conclusion it was meant to be a two parter and the second part was never made. So the game does have a resolution to the main plot but it also opens itself to a new one at the end of the game. Which, if you love the game, will make you a little sad every time you finish it.

Despite it's flaws it's a great game.

Plays fine on Win7 SP1 64bit.