I make it a habit to stay away from Bad Games, but this week is an exception. I’ve got three strong picks of the “so bad, it’s good” variety. Brace yourselves!
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“Mars: War Logs” (PC, coming to 360 and PS3; rated Mature) — First off, what a title. It really rolls off the tongue. But I’m not here to pick on “Mars: War Logs,” because I’m actually playing the thing now and it’s … quite good, mostly.

“War Logs” is a sci-fi role playing game set on the alluring Red Planet, and it has a lot in its favor: fun melee and ranged combat, a leveling system with diverse skills and abilities to improve, weapon and gear crafting, and multiple dialogue choices that affect the game’s plot and characters. It’s a pretty robust feature list for a title that’s being sold as a $20 download.

You play as Roy Temperance, a “renegade with multiple talents” being held as a prisoner of war in a hellish labor camp. The situation on Mars is bleak. Nearly a century has passed since a cataclysmic event devastated the planet, and powerful factions are squabbling over its most precious resource: water. “War Logs” kicks off with Roy devising an escape from prison, fighting for his life against both human and alien adversaries.

I’m a fan of the gritty futuristic environments, which remind me a bit of 2009’s “Red Faction: Guerrilla.” The combat is decent third-person brawling action, and both the crafting and leveling systems are well done.

But then you have the voice acting and dialogue. They’re jarringly awkward at times, which is a shame, because they detract a little from the game’s otherwise solid presentation. “War Logs” doesn’t fully expose itself as a budget title until the characters open their mouths, which is problematic in a role-playing game.

With that said, I can always enjoy a good sci-fi B-movie, and “War Logs” has at least captured my attention for the moment. You can download it now for PC or just wait for the upcoming (“soon”) Xbox Live and PlayStation Network releases. At $20 it’s easy to recommend.