VideoGamer.com Plays March 1, 2013

Tom Orry, Editor – Duolingo, PC

This is going to sound a bit like an advert, but the ‘game’ I’ve played the most of this week is free-to-play language learning tool Duolingo. Up until this week I’ve had next to no interest in learning a new language, the last time I did so being about 14 years ago at school. Anyway, Steve mentioned this cool sounding site that makes learning into a bit of a game, so I signed up and have been chipping away at basic French all week.

So far so good. I’ve levelled up a few times, have 88 skills points and learned 48 words. I reckon I’m currently at about the level of a 12-year-old who has had been learning French for a month. If I keep at it I’m hoping to be fluent by the end of 2013.

Steve Burns, Reviews and Features Editor – S.T.A.L.K.E.R, PC

Yes that one, PC Stalker, from 2007. No, I will not call it S.T.A.L.K.E.R. That doesn’t even make sense.

So, Stalker. It’s great. An RPG-shooter set in an atmospheric post-apoc environment; one that offers fulfilling exploration and is intent on giving players the fear. It’s roughly 600 times better than all the Crysis games put together. In years to come, when the bombs drop and the internet is gone, the world will be made up of two types of people: those who survive because they played Stalker, and those who died because they didn’t.

I think I may have played too much Stalker.

Matt Lees, Video Production Editor – Dark Souls, PC

The copy of Tomb Raider that’s sat on my desk hasn’t managed to entice me yet, so I’ve once again found myself returning to a classic. I’ve been trying to see how far I can get playing Dark Souls with a character that’s only wearing pants, and it’s reminded me that – despite having already finished the game twice – From Software’s masterpiece is endlessly playable. There’s a chance I might get bored of it someday, but I can’t imagine it arriving any time soon.