Sunday Roundup: 10/9/11

Catan is based off the board game The Settler of Catan (Sometimes simply called “Catan” or just “Settlers”). The game is a very faithful representation of strategy board game that combines strategy, city building, trading, and a little bit of luck. If you’ve never played Catan before, video game or otherwise, you are really missing out. It’s easily one of the best board games out there, and no two games are ever the same. It’s a great board game too, because it has a nice social feeling to it. It’s currently on sale for Xbox Live Gold members at the crazy low price of 400 MSP ($5), and at that price it is a must-buy.

PSP owners might be familiar with the Mercury series of puzzle games. No longer restricted to the portable handheld, Mercury Hg brings the physics puzzler to the Playstation Network and Xbox Live. In Mercury Hg, as in other Mercury games, you guide a blob of the liquid metal to a goal, while racing for times, picking up collectables, and retaining 100% of the mercury puddle. You actually don’t control the mercury itself, but rather the level itself. Moving the level will make the mercury flow accordingly, but being too rough will eject the mercury off the stage, causing for precision puzzle solving. The game is super cheap as well, only $4.99 (or 400 MSP). PS3 owners can also use Sixaxis controls to play the game. It’s a good game so far. Expect a full review the coming week.

I’ve already said a good deal about this game. It’s a fantastic combination of the tower defense genre with the action of a third-person shooter. It’s only for the Xbox 360 however, so PS3 owners are left in the dark on this one. I really had a great time playing the game, and part of that is just because the game is so rewarding. It lets you be in full control of each stage, and caters towards whatever style of gameplay you like most. Orcs Must Die! is a game that shouldn’t be missed. Check it out!