er... when i say it can't be as abstract as it needs to be, what i mean is that it can't be as explicit about what can be mantled, climbed, jumped, etc...
the 'runner vision', where bits of geometry that you can interact with in some way lights up as red is ok, but because it's only a short range effect, you can't actually use it to plan a route whereas in portal, everything is explicitly marked in some way and you can see exactly what you need to do before opening a single portal.

also, it's possible i just suck. i've never been very good at twitch games. 

There is a set of standard moves in the game which the architecture is pretty much tuned to. With practice it's possible to judge what moves are possible where.

Yeah, the goal is to optimize your route/s through each level.

I find combat is also pretty cool in ME, I haven't seen so many games that allow you to disarm opponents with martial arts moves and pick up their weapon including the ammo left in the magazine. This is handled pretty well.

very great game IMO even if it suffers a little from being mostly linear. The route options are kinda limited and it is very scripted. More game modes might have helped, such as hiding bags for other players to find. 

There is a set of standard moves in the game which the architecture is pretty much tuned to. With practice it's possible to judge what moves are possible where.
There is and i'm starting to recognize it a bit more, but the more advanced (and fun!) moves such as multiple wall running are rarely explicitly pointed out, so I end up missing them and don't really practice it.

I find combat is also pretty cool in ME
i haven't really explored combat at all! usually I just run away.
the few times where i've been forced to fight, i just treat it like a normal shooter and easily finish npcs without needing more than the first gun i grab.
but i don't do it unless i need to because killing the npcs feels strangely wrong in this game even though they are faceless evil dudes trying to kill me. 

Yeah... I think the PKs have it coming though, so those are fair game. 

Anyone interested in Br�tal Legend and FTL: Faster Than Light? I have spare Steam keys. 

humble bundle? 

it lives! 

my lazy brains...:) 

I've got an FTL one as well, but I tried plugging it into steam to see what'd happen and nothing did. Not sure if that makes it invalid or not.

Mark of the Ninja is just as good as everyone's being saying. 

I'd be interested in FTL.
My Steam handle is Zynith. 

These bundles... I have too many unplayed games in my steam list. I've just stopped buying them. FTL is something I genuinely wanna play though. 

System Shock 2 is really hard to get back into after 3 weeks without. The maps are terrible. I just found out that you can press N to leave markers though. Died shortly after because my fingers missed the reload button and I panicked.

This game is so damn much ahead of HL in having a coherent, tight atmosphere and story. HL had more vista and diversity though so that might be better. 

Was much more accessible :)

The design was much more player friendly and well rounded. 

Spirit's average game impression: http://i.imgur.com/1YrIG.jpg%3C/span%3E

Spiney: Got an email address? If non-public, send me one. 

ptr[dot]vrhvn[at]gmail[dotcom] 

you got the wrong impression and I meant the maps (cartographic), not levels. 

FTL is a bit disappointing, so many good reviews for a straightforward grinding and leveling game? I dunno... art is also kind of a mess.
I did pour half a day into it, so thanks for the key :P

Giving Amnesia another try. 

yes, it looks boring to me too. i don't know why everyone likes it. there's nothing to it, you jump go from random encounter to random encounter until the game forces itself to completion. 

my impression as well. but even rogue-like-likers like it?! 

well, it is very roguelike, is it not? totally random with discreet combat events.

but i don't like roguelikes either. :) 

I don't get why people like Quake either, all you do is maneuver a pawn around a layout and click on enemy pawns endlessly... and the layouts and positions are the same every time! 

I thought it was great, the gameplay is original, and the rogue-like elements work well. Each playthrough is quite different, and using different ships makes for even more diversity.

I like rogue-likes though.

BTW Spelunky is awesome. 

I value the aesthetic qualities from maps in Quake far more than the replayability of FTL. Obviously, I would love endless streams of maps in Quake, but if the choice was between hand-crafted maps and endless random ones that were like Oblige maps, then it's not a choice at all. 

yep I pay quake more for the level design and admiring what you guys build, rather than the gameplay. 

I liked it once I tried to complete the quests of unlocking the additional ships. It got boring once I got them all though. And some were pretty frustrating to get - the crystal one for example.

I liked the game, but it could have done with more written content and stronger linked events to make it more interesting.