Any self-respecting definition of steampunk must involve goggles. Goggles, goggles, and more goggles. And Sean Connery. Sean Connery is pretty much essential to any discussion worth having.

For a more entertaining schooling on the nature of steampunk than Wikipedia's, and a less nonsensical one than mine, download a trial of Steam Brigade from Pedestrian Entertainment. Believe it or not, this downloadable game is a side-scrolling real-time strategy game, and an exciting one at that.

The only unit which you have direct control over is your unarmed steam-powered Airship, which has a magnet attached that allows you to pick up and move units, yours or your enemy's. Your goal in every level is to get an engineer into the opponent's factory, which is always placed at the opposite end of the map from your own. You accomplish this through the use of several different unit types, pitting them against your enemy on the field of battle. Money is your main resource, though thankfully you don't have to collect it like in traditional RTS games. It simply builds up over time.

You have several different units to choose from, ranging from basic infantry to armed whirligigs. There are also several map elements that you and your opponent will vie for control over, including bunkers and gun emplacements.

After building a unit it appears outside your factory and begins its inexorable march to the right. You can only affect its fate by either keeping its path clear from harm or by directly picking it up and dropping it somewhere more strategic. You may also pick up and drop enemy units from great heights and watch them fall to their death, but your foe is a master at that tactic as well.

As you whizz around the battlefield and take fire from enemy anti-air units, you lose steam, which in this game is your airship's health bar. You replenish your steam by floating near your factory and filling up, but this may force you all the way to the rear of the battle at a key moment, so it's usually in your best interest to stay just short of the front lines.

Analysis: I enjoyed this game for a lot of different reasons. The production values are superb; and not just the graphics, which are beautifully stylized. The music is well-done, the story is well-written (cut scenes are in verse, no less), and the game as a whole has the polished feel of a retail offering. The designers' dedication to their work is present in every element of the game.

The gameplay is fast and fun. I never spent more than 15 minutes or so finishing a level, of which there are 12 total in the campaign. There is also a configurable skirmish mode, though at this time they only offer games against the AI. Multiplayer, as well as a level editor, is promised soon on the developer's website.

My one quibble with this otherwise excellent game (besides the lack of multiplayer) is how each level, over time, blends into the next. Despite the interesting story elements and different units that are gradually introduced, you are basically playing a giant game of reverse tug-of-war. You churn out unit upon unit until you gradually push your opponent back far enough to be able to drop an engineer in their factory. The missions lose their distinction once you've gotten the hang of gameplay.

One way to remedy this would be to implement different objectives for different missions: hold a particular bunker for a certain amount of time, build a certain number of units or unit types, shoot down 3 enemy airships, etc. This would create a need for a different strategy than just the scorched earth strategy that I found most effective in each level. At some point down the road maybe even adding a vertical component to the ground units would be interesting, like a watchtower or a bridge over low ground, allowing two different levels of play while still keeping the side-scrolling paradigm.

In spite of that, Steam Brigade is a fantastic game from an independent developer that deserves our support. In addition, your purchase will also help us maintain this site and allow us to continue to bring you the very best in casual gameplay.

Windows:
Download the demo
Order the full version

Mac OS X:
Not available. Use Boot Camp or Parallels.

Brand new from Bart Bonte, creator of fine Flash point-and-click experiences—such as Bonte Room, Bonte Room 2, and Free the Bird—comes this latest effort, a collection of short and simple little point-and-click puzzles.

Seen on Screen uses a computer monitor theme to present a variety of puzzles that you must solve by figuring out what to do for each. Sometimes the solution is straightforward, and others you will have to apply a little logic to derive the answer; and yet none of them are very difficult at all (ok, so I did get stuck on one of them, but the answer is really easy and I am embarassed to even mention it.)

So, if you're looking for a little puzzle action that won't take too much of your time, give Seen on Screen a try. Click.

Seen on Screen walkthrough now available!

Liquid Colors is another creative and original puzzle game entry to our recent game design competition. It was created by DDams of France.

The objective in Liquid Colors is to turn the target square (in the lower right corner) to the target color: purple (pink or fuchsia depending on your own perspective of color). To do so, use the mouse to either add or remove wall segments by clicking anywhere on the play field. Removing a wall segment that separates two colors will mix the two resulting in a new color, the formula for which can be found in the chart in lower portion of the game window. By adding wall segments, you can create new blocks to hold desired colors for later use.

Choose between three (3) different puzzles: normal, hard, and very hard. Here's a hint to get you started: you won't have to add any wall segments to solve the normal puzzle. Click.

Analysis: Liquid Colors is a brilliant idea for a puzzle game and one that works exceptionally well in Flash. The idea is unique and has a great deal of potential to be taken further than the 3 levels provided in this version. The implementation of the game engine appears to be of solid design, and the graphics are appealing if just a little plain. I would have preferred to see randomly generated puzzles, though that certainly wasn't a requirement for the competition. Another downside to the game, besides having gameplay dependant on color perception, is having to familiarize oneself with the color formulas before any serious puzzle solving can begin. These are smallish complaints, however. Overall, an excellent game with huge potential. I look forward to seeing where DDams takes this very creative idea.

John: A great puzzle idea with one of the most descriptive names ever to grace a flash game. It reminds me of Color Box that we featured several months ago, but much more dynamic. Liquid Colors gives you full control over mixing colors, allowing you to easily "quarantine" certain blocks for later mixing or build paths to mix colors that are far apart. It's fun to find the easiest solution, but I've gotten a thrill out of trying to find the most complex solution as well. Any game that lets you play around that much is worth some time. Cheers to DDams for a great game!

Liquid Colors walkthrough now available!

Run n' Roll is an online multiplayer Flash game from Yamago that lets you play chase with people from around the world. Your character runs on his or her own, all you have to do is jump over or roll under objects. You stay ahead by, well, not falling behind. Grab a few fun power-ups to stall your opponent as you race around a giant sphere in the sky.

After you log in and customize your avatar you can choose from a single player mode or the multiplayer arena. Go solo first to get a feel for the controls, then take your skills out into the wild. You can join players waiting to race by clicking their planet in the sky, or simply start your own game. There are a number of different environments you can choose from to hold matches, each one with a different level of difficulty. The harder the planet, the faster the land scrolls, and the more you'll find yourself falling to the ground.

The entire presentation of Run n' Roll is bright, cheery and friendly. The cartoon-like visual style is quite inviting, and the music has been stuck in my head for days now. Although it's very kid-friendly, users can chat while waiting to play games, so it's a good idea to sit with children who want to play. It's been my experience the players are more interested in running/rolling than chatting, though.

One drawback for Run n' Roll is there is no long-term goal or incentive to keep playing (other than high-scores). Unlockable costumes or other features would be a great addition that might draw players back more often. As it stands, it's an excellent game to pick up and play every once in a while. The skill level of the players varies a lot, so you never know what the next match will be like. Play.

Thanks to mmodule for suggesting the game!

A brand new game from Tonypa, this one is a variation on Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) designed for playing with fingers, instead of legs, and using a computer keyboard for input instead of a dance pad.

Like most games from Tonypa, Keyway is very simple to play. Using symbols to represent the arrow keys and the space bar, the game displays a sequence of keys that the player must press in order, and as quickly as possible, to advance to the next level, or screen.

There are 20 screens total, and you begin with 100 seconds total with which to make it through them all. You receive an additional 10 seconds for completing each screen, and you lose 5 seconds every time you make a mistake and press the wrong key.

Scoring is relatively simple and straightforward: you receive a point for every correct key you press, 10 points for every level you complete, and bonus for the longest correct chain. Bonuses are added up at the end and tallied to reach your final score. If you finish the game you receive another 1000 bonus points. Click.

Analysis: Like so many of Tonypa's game designs, Keyway is simple and elegant and a wonderful addition to his growing collection of casual games. Although the game features similar gameplay to the previously reviewed Beat Bubbles, he changes many of the characteristics of the game to make this one stand on its own. For example, I especially liked that each level's key sequence is randomly generated, as well as entire levels being switched around at random. This allows the game to feel fresh every time. Also, each level's key sequence is initially hidden from view, and then a smooth animation fade is used to reveal each key slowly. This actually has more than an aesthetic affect, as it forces the player to pace through each level. It also creates an additional challenge since the ability to look ahead is removed.

The only nitpick I have is that eventually the key down sound becomes a bit grating to my ears, though your experience may be different. Also, sometimes a background task causes Flash to pause for a split-second and that can cause me to retype the same key thinking that the first time didn't 'take'. This usually ends up in a mistake, which can be a little frustrating. And while this is not a flaw with the design, it is probably an indication that this type of game is not best suited for the Flash platform.

All things considered, Keyway is another fine design from Tonypa that is very enjoyable to play and one that can be picked up again and again.

Often the best things come in the simplest packages. The idea behind Tanked Up, the latest game from UK developer Nitrome, is a simple one: race a tank through eight tracks of varying terrains while trying to blast your opponents to smithereens. You must win each race in order to unlock the next track, and the difficulty increases the farther along you go.

Each race is only two laps, but on the harder tracks it can be tough to keep your lead for that long. The main reason you'll find that it's hard to stay ahead is the unique control scheme: steer with the arrow keys while aiming and firing your turret using the mouse. Even after several races you'll find yourself occasionally overwhelmed by the task of firing in the opposite direction that you're steering and run yourself right into a wall, cursing a blue streak as the computer opponents pass you by.

Shooting is more defensive in this game than offensive. The tanks take a lot of damage before blowing up (which, unfortunately, they don't really do, they just sort of fizzle out), but when a tank is hit it stops dead in its tracks. That may be your main tactic: get out in front as early as possible, aim your turret behind you, and start shooting at your opponents to keep them at bay. It's hard to climb out from last place because you're every one's target.

The difficulty level overall is fairly easy, so the control issue becomes as much a part of the fun as the shooting and the racing. I never lost more than three times on one track before finally getting my act together and placing first. The computer opponents are sometimes as inept as you are, occasionally getting locked into clusters, firing all around and keeping everyone from getting anywhere.

The pixellated graphic style is great, reminding me of old shareware games (like Death Rally, which the gameplay in this game also reminds me of). The music fits the game well, but with my limited musical tastes I can only describe it as a blend of 80's Depeche Mode and funk.

All in all I had a great time playing, and managed to finish all eight tracks in probably around 30-45 minutes total playing time. I'd love to see this game become something of a franchise, mainly because I'd love to race on more tracks, see more hazards, and if it's possible race against human opponents.

Enjoy Tanked Up!

The following is a reader-submitted game review by Maxro:

The computer game is not the strongest medium for word games. The crossword puzzle and word jumble dominate the papers; Boggle is the board game master. Computer games are often overlooked by the linguistically minded. But then, Text Twist changes all that. I'm tempted to call it the best word game I've ever played. Of course, there are lots of awesome games out there. Scrabble, Boggle, Funny Farm—you know the drill. But I think Text Twist's the best, or one of them—and here's why.

Text Twist's rules are simple. Combine the six letters on the screen to make as many words as you can. This is by no means an original concept, but it's been spruced up. The goal of every level is to get the six-letter word. Once you do that, you are allowed passage to the next level. However, there is not much pleasure in just determining the six-letter word. I found that by just typing words as they come, eventually the long one will pass through my mind. Play is at it's best when you complete every single word before time runs out, giving a huge score bonus. Very satisfying. Play is available with keyboard or mouse. This is particularly useful for the "Twist" button. Twist shuffles around the letters for you. It's annoying to have to click during a keyboard-oriented game, so press spacebar instead. The versatility is great for speed. The interface is understandable from the start, and it has a nice presentation.

Despite the great gameplay, the game does not vary much between levels. Eventually you will start to recognize some letter sequences (when I see A R E T, I think tea ate era are art tar rat rate tear etc.) Text Twist's word bank is not perfect; some words are omitted from the game that should not be. The game is not exactly built for longevity and playtime. That being said, if you want variation in levels and gameplay and a larger word bank, the full version is available to buy. The full version's strongest point is that it includes seven letter words and a high score list. However, these criticisms are from the point of view of someone who has played this game for a long time. For a beginner, none of these points apply.

Analysis: Text Twist is a wonderful word game. The joy experienced when having just uncovered a word in the nick of time is quite satisfying. The sound and interface suit the game well. The criticisms I've covered are quickly overcome by purchasing the full version. A good presentation and simple rule set make this game perfect for a quick break. And that means many, many rewarding quick breaks for you.

A last word of advice: "Ade" is indeed a word. Click.

Everyone loves planes, trains, and automobiles, but nobody cares much for the little-old wheel. Underrated and ill-appreciated, wOne and wOne 2, by Sean Cooper, give the lowly wheel center-stage in its very own arcade-style Web game.

Use the arrow keys to control the wheel, with your task being a simple one: collect barrels (or coins) and stars by rolling through a myriad of levels full of ramps and platforms.

Collect all barrels in a level to advance to the next. There are only 6 levels in wOne, varying in difficulty from easy to nightmare, and all of them have the same bricked look and feel. If you'd like to play the 6th level, however, you will have to collect all the stars in each of the first five.

The follow-up to first, wOne 2, expands upon this greatly with 19 different levels, including several different environments and a couple of power-ups. wOne 2 only has one level open by default, and you unlock new levels by collecting all the coins in each. So far I am unsure of the benefit to collecting all the stars, as the higher levels are a bit too much for me. But so far it appears to be nothing more but bragging rights. You'll also find scattered throughout the levels 4 differently-colored balls. These fill up the grid along the top of the screen. All 4 are neccesary for the last level, but I'll let you find out why for yourself.

Beyond the new collectibles, wOne 2 adds three (3) new environments: slippery ice, bottomless pits, and levels based around a central force of gravity. The last of the gravity levels adds items which change the direction or strength of the force.

In some levels you are also given a bungee system and/or a jet. The bungee attaches to any solid surface and allows you access too places not otherwise possible. The jet basically allows you to fly, though I will warn you that the controls while "jetting" are very sensitive, so take it easy.

Nice little additions to wOne 2 is the time par, rating system, and highscores table. Based on how many stars you get, and how fast you complete the level, you are given ratings from "Not Bad", to "Excellent".

Analysis: I thoroughly enjoyed both games, and I like the additions included in wOne 2. That being said, the improvements do make the game significantly more difficult, at least for me. Also, I do have a couple of quips: 1) the physics in both games seem to overreact a bit when you're moving too fast; and 2) although wOne 2 upgrades the wheel graphic from wOne, the new graphic isn't as smooth, and on the leaf-background it's visually a bit jarring. Regardless, the visuals on a whole are fantastic, the control structure is simple and the gameplay makes both games easy to jump into. Whether you're a die-hard platformer fan or just a casual gamer, wOne and wOne 2 are your new friends. Click! Again!

If someone were to have told me that I'd be spending the next several hours flinging, flicking, snapping, bouncing, dropping and shooting a green gob of gooey slime around 50 levels of a unique new Flash platform puzzle game, I'd probably have expected to see an exceptional piece of work. Well, Sling is exactly that: an amazing new physics-based platform game and I have been playing and enjoying it for hours.

Sling is also an animated creature with a single hand and a head connected by a long stretchy piece of springy slime. You control it with the mouse by clicking on its head to grab and pull it around, or snap it like a sling shot. Sling can attach only to small round spheres, or "grabs", that are placed around each level. It can also bounce off of walls, ceiling and floor provided they are free from hazard. A realistic physics model is used to give Sling its behavior and its springy, sling shot properties.

The objective (for most levels) is to visit all the grey grabs to turn them green. That will open up a portal that will take you to the next level.

Some levels will require you to flip switches and avoid enemies as well as visiting all the grabs, and every fifth level introduces you to a 'boss' level to complete. To create an added incentive, you play against the clock to beat the "gold time" set for each level. Although gold time performance is not required to advance, if you do achieve gold on all 50 levels a special bonus game is unlocked as a reward.

Analysis: There is much to enjoy from this beautiful piece of work: The opening introduction and animated tutorial, the cut scenes after the boss levels, the graphics, the sound design, as well as the unlockable levels and bonus game, Sling has all the features of a commercial game product. It is a gorgeous Web game with an exceptional physics implementation. That in itself is quite remarkable considering the usual Flash performance bottleneck we're used to seeing with action-oriented games.

In terms of gameplay, Sling plays as smooth and fluid as it looks. The levels start off fairly basic and gradually introduce new concepts and complexities as you make your way through the game. Each new level presents a puzzle with a little something added here or there. Just enough to keep you interested and challenged the whole way through. At first I wasn't as concerned with making gold times as I was with simply making it through each level; but now that I have acquired new skills and tricks from the later levels, back tracking to get those missed gold times is simultaneously enjoyable and gratifying.

Sling was created by two brothers from Australia, Jamie Edis and Simon Edis, who together have created over 200 Web games and animations between them. The game is available to play for free from their ezone website. Click.

The following is a reader-submitted game review by Stanton:

Ah, the rural life. Nothing but vast expanses of farmland, the occasional sounds of the barnyard animals, and life-shortening, back-breaking manual labor. But Funny Farm, by Igor Naverniouk, is distinctly different than the farmer lifestyle. This word association game starts on the farm, but quickly branches out into greener pastures. What at first looks to be no more than a simple inventory of a cultivator’s possessions quickly expands far beyond Green Acres—unlike this review, which has remained firmly planted in farming gags. (I’ll stop now.)

The concept of using words to find more words in a chain is hardly original, but the implementation is what makes this game so incredibly addicting. The spider web-style of displaying words gives a flowing sort of feeling as you progress through the chains. As you extend outwards, new sections of the map are opened, giving a definite sign of progress.

The most useful feature, however, is the merging system. In order to encourage cooperation between players, you can merge another player’s correct answers into your own puzzle by copying their game URL. If you can get a group of people all working on the puzzle together, hints, answers, and URLs will be flying around faster than one can follow.

Ultimately, the game is won by solving the meta-puzzle, which has clues in the four corners of the map, but you won’t consider the game truly won until you’ve hunted down every last word. If you can do that, then you certainly should be put out to stud. Click!

This strangely compelling and unique little webtoy was just released over at deviantArt, and a bunch of us were playing while chatting about it in our new irc chat room (if that link doesn't work for you, the chat room is always available via a Java client by clicking "Chat" in the menu above.)

The idea behind Line Rider is a simple one: You are given an interface with which to draw a surface for a little character on a sled to slide upon. Once the surface is drawn, just click the play button (triangle pointing to the right) to watch the ride.

Although still a work in progress, there is a lot of fun to be had with this little toy. In fact, you can even save and load tracks that you build, which are saved locally on your own computer.

The author, FSK, has also made available a downloadable version that promises to have a better frame rate and is resizable, though it is in .exe format and therefore will only run on Windows.

Tiralmo and Blauwbaard (author of Panic) suggested the toy needs a few objectives to make it more enjoyable, so here is a list of tasks to get you started:

1. Create a ramp to slide down without crashing.
2. Create a ramp with a jump, and a smooth landing.
3. Create a loop-de-loop.
4. Create a backwards loop-de-loop.

Any other objectives you'd like to add? Let us know in the comments. Click.

If you loved Line Rider but were frustrated by its limitations, then be sure to check out the new updated version, Line Rider Beta 2!!.

Cake Mania is a fast-paced arcade game where you play the role of Jill, a new graduate from culinary school, who returns home to discover her grandparents' bakery is closed. Business fell when the new Mega-Mart opened and not even their special recipes could help them compete. Jill decides to open her own old fashioned bakery to earn money and re-open her grandparents' store. Through nearly 50 levels and four different locations you'll help Jill serve customers as efficiently as possible. Along the way you'll buy new appliances for your kitchen, set up a bakery at the circus, and serve pink frosted cakes to vampires.

Cake Mania's simple formula is very easy to learn, but when customers start swarming the shop those simplicities start to get a little more complex. Each time someone comes in your first step is to give them a menu. When they select their cake shape, hop over to the oven and bake it, ice it with the correct flavor, add any decorations, then serve it up hot. Each customer has a set of hearts that shows how happy they are. Wait too long and the customer will get angry and might leave the store. The happier your customers, the more money you'll make. Which, of course, is a good thing.

Cake Mania plays out in rounds, each one lasting approximately five minutes. At the end of each round you can use some of your cash to buy new equipment or upgrade existing appliances. Add more icing stations, extra ovens, or even upgrade Jill's shoes to give her a little extra spring in her step. You can even buy things that will help keep customers happy while waiting in line, such as a television set.

There's a good variety of locations and types of customers in Cake Mania, enough to give each round a unique feel. Depending on what month it is different people will visit your store. For example, in February Cupid will stop by the bakery. As you can imagine he's quite busy this time of year, so you'll need to work fast to fill his order before he gets upset. In December Santa Claus will pay you a visit, bringing with him holiday cheer that perks up everyone in the room.

Cake Mania has the wonderful ability to draw you in and keep you wanting more, kind of like real cake. The fast-paced gameplay doesn't sacrifice overall progression, giving you more reasons to stick around for "just" one more round. It blends action and strategy together in a game that's easy to learn and very easy to enjoy.

Analysis: As I type this, I'm thinking about my kitchen. Well, Jill's kitchen. Should we upgrade the other frosting stations or save and upgrade the third oven? Maybe I'll go and play just one round and see what happens. Only one, I promise... Cake Mania is one of those rare games I just can't stop playing. The blend of short spurts of action with long term goals captures me and I'm helpless to resist. Or maybe it's that I really like cake?

What's so engaging about Cake Mania is how the initially simple formula grows and evolves as customers' demands become more intricate. While you play, your brain is keeping track of four unique orders, trying to figure out the best way to fill them, and monitoring their happiness levels. It sounds like a full plate, but it feels like just the right amount of information to keep you interested without becoming frustrated. Rounds last around 5 minutes, so time never drags, but each level brings new customers and a chance to try out my new kitchen upgrades.

Cake Mania is a superb rendition of a classic action/arcade formula. It wraps almost everything a gamer needs from a good casual title into one nice little package. With frosting on top.

Try the online Flash version.

Windows:
Download the demo
Order the full version

Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Order the full version

Cake Mania is available to download from these affiliates:

[Jay adds: Cake Mania is another one of those excellent casual games that we highly recommend. It is also a game from which we will benefit when you purchase the full version. These affiliate game reviews provide us a way of informing you about the best downloadable casual games available, while giving you another way to help support this site via your purchase. We will continue to provide sponsored reviews only for games we emphatically endorse.]

Just launched by the BBC History team along with the design and technical prowess of those amazing Preloaded folks (wasn't I just pining for something new from them?), CDX is a brand new multi-episode adventure game that uses real actors and video segments to spin a tale of mystery and intrigue around an ancient Roman sacrificial blade.

The first episode was just released on September 21st with three (3) more soon to follow. The format of the game, at least in this first episode, is very much like a point-and-click adventure in that you're presented with a brief cutscene introducing you to the story and your role within it, except it is entirely live action video. You're next dropped into a room in which you must figure out how to move the story forward.

Exceptional attention to detail and high production values set this effort apart from other Web-based point-and-click adventures, and the acting is fairly top-notch. There are even selectable dialog sequences in which the actors will play out a scene based on the choices made by the player. These choices do not appear to have any affect on the outcome, however, as the game seems to be quite linear in structure so far.

CDX is shaping up to be yet another remarkable effort from the BBC and Preloaded teams, and they have created an engaging and compelling interactive experience that is very enjoyable to play. Looking forward in earnest to the next installment.

A broadband Internet connection is highly recommended for this interactive adventure. Click.

Update: If you are located outside the UK and wish to play this fantastic piece of work, you may now access the game from Preloaded's CDX website.

We've just launched our own IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channel, which you can get to by clicking "Chat" in the menu above. That will take you to an open source Java client and automatically log you onto the chat server being hosted at Casual Gameplay. If you prefer to use your own IRC client, then point it to irc.jayisgames.com and join channel #casualgameplay. See ya there! =)

Note: When launching the Java applet by clicking Chat in the menu available on every page of JIG, you will get a dialog requesting that you accept the digitally signed application. This is to allow the application to communicate with our IRC server only. It is signed by Philippe Detournay, the author of the chat client application, PJIRC. While the certificate may have expired, we assure you that launching the chat app is perfectly safe.

The Java client is just the easiest and most convenient way to access our IRC channel, but it's not the best client to use. Here are some recommended clients. Choose one based on your OS:

• Mac OS: X-Chat Aqua
• Linux: X_Chat
• Windows: mIRC

So, come on and join us! Don't be shy. We have a great bunch of folks that hang out in there everyday and who ensure a family-friendly, safe chatting environment for everyone. Come talk about your favorite game(s), or help us solve the latest game posted on JIG. Whatever your gaming pleasure, you're sure to find someone there who shares your joy. =)

Cyptograma has to be the most appealing interface to a cryptographic puzzle that I have ever seen. Created by Alicia Ramirez of Manitoba, Canada, the game features quotes and phrases to decrypt from famous people, and they are available either in English or en Español.

Each puzzle is in the form of a simple substitution cipher in which each letter of a phrase is substituted with a symbol. It is up to you to figure out the letter that each symbol corresponds to.

To play, use the keyboard and the mouse in combination by first clicking on a symbol to select it, and then typing a letter on the keyboard. All like symbols will then become the letter you typed, regardless of whether you guessed correctly, so keep working with the puzzle until you get it right.

Analysis: The fluorescent lime green and yellow colors together contrasted against the black background creates a visually stunning appearance to the game that really grabs you and pulls you into the puzzle. The use of symbols instead of other letters broadens the appeal of this game to include even those that may not usually play with cryptograms. Overall an excellent game design by Alicia Ramirez. The only area in which I see room for improvement would be a greater number and a wider variety of phrases. Additional languages would also be a nice to have. Click.

Wow. How could I have missed this? Suggested by Marijn and John-Paul a couple of weeks ago, I can't believe I let this one slip under the radar as I am a huge fan of David Thorburn's prolific game development efforts on his Teagames website.

TG Motocross 2 is the sequel to another fine game of the same name, TG Motocross, which we haven't covered before. Both games actually appear to be quite the same except for different courses. This is not such a bad thing, however, as both are excellent games in the motocross genre.

As with other similar Teagames, use the arrow keys for control. To accelerate the motorbike press the [up] arrow; press [down] to brake. Use the [right] and [left] arrows to shift your weight forward and back on the bike, respectively. To climb very steep inclines you will need to shift your weight to the back to take the weight off the front tire. Shift your weight forward on stretches to gain momentum.

A light area in the upper right corner of the game window shows a map of the terrain for the level to give an idea of what's coming up so you can be ready to jump that chasm or land safely on the rocky and uneven slope. Race against the clock and try to get one of the top times, or just have fun trying to make it through each of the 11 courses. Great casual fun with an added incentive for the hardcore gamer.

Analysis: The physics engine here is very much the same as we're used to seeing in David's work, and yet the implementation seems to be a bit different in terms of bike and rider. Whereas previous games had the rider attached to the bike, the TG Motocross games separate the two so it becomes entirely possible to actually fall off. While I am not certain if this is important to the gameplay at all, I did notice that the physics in this iteration of the engine seem a bit more polished and produces a greater sense of immersion and enjoyment than previous efforts.

In comparison to Teagames' BMX series of games, I enjoyed TG Motocross much more. This is most likely due to the fact that the bike is motorized and that makes climbing steep inclines less of a problem and improves the relative level of enjoyment for the casual gamer.

Try it yourself and add your feedback to the comments. Click.

Lately I've been working on several projects for the site as well as scouring the Web and going through all the game submissions looking for something truly exceptional to share, though nothing has really jumped out at me yet.

However, yesterday I did look through all the results from the recent Flash Forward Film Festival that were just announced last week in Austin, Texas, and there are some exceptional items that simply should not be missed.

First off, in the game category, award-winning design studio, Preloaded in the UK, took home the prize for their stellar work on Death in Sakkara, a game you should play immediately if you haven't yet. Kudos to everyone involved there at Preloaded and at the BBC for commissioning the piece. And yet that game was released almost a year ago(!) BBC and Preloaded: come on, you've whet our appetites, we want something new! =)

Ferry Halim's latest game, Bugs, was a finalist. That's another name we haven't heard much from in many months. I hope to see a new Orisinal game soon.

Also landing finalist spots were two intriguing Web games you may want to check out: Guardians of Altarris, an elaborate Flash fighter with a rich and deep control scheme and very pretty graphics and effects; and Playdo Jam, a browser game played with a Webcam that tracks player movement and motion, and uses that for the basis of its gameplay.

Besides the highly revered "game" category, there is still much to peruse through all the other categories as well. Just to get you started, be sure to see Bendito Machine, a finalist in the "cartoon" category. And while you're there at Zumbakamera check out some of Jossie Malis' other work, especially Good Morning Isamu and also Pacha. Absolutely brilliant style and design. Gorgeous.

Samorost 2 was a winner in the "original sound" category. Thanks for reminding me about that one, as it definitely deserves another play.

And in the "technical merit" category the Flash Commodore 64 Emulator deserves a mention for it's authentic emulation of a playable Galaga game, even though the controls for the game were technically messed up on my Mac—pressing the [right] arrow moved the ship left—though that didn't stop me from scoring over 50,000 points. =)

And that should keep you occupied for a while. I'll try to get another game reviewed later today. Cheers!

The Jackson Pollock emulator is a simple Flash toy that simulates the drip style of painting popularized by Jackson Pollock. The entire browser window is a blank white canvas and your mouse becomes the paintbrush. Move the cursor over the surface to pour paint, changing colors with the left mouse button. Linger over one area for some time to leave large blotches or shake the mouse back and forth for light streams of paint. You may not create a masterpiece, but it's an engaging way to let your creativity flow.

Pollock produced a number of paintings in the 1940s and 50s, pioneering his now-famous style. He would tack a large piece of canvas on the floor of his old shed, preferring the solid feeling of the earth to an easel. The brush would never touch the canvas, Pollock would simply move around the painting pouring and dripping colors as he saw fit. A photographer once watched Pollock produce a painting. Over the half-hour session he describes being entranced by the playful focus of the painter. He moved like a dance, poured paint here and there, and then suddenly stood back and said "This is it."

To quote Pollock on what he experienced while he painted:

When I am in my painting, I'm not aware of what I'm doing. I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through. It is only when I lose contact with the painting that the result is a mess. Otherwise there is pure harmony, an easy give and take, and the painting comes out well.

The Jackson Pollock Emulator captures some of the same creative magic. Produce a beautiful piece of art or just scatter colors on the screen. Either way, it's an entrancing experience. Play.

Thanks to Rob for sending this one in!

A little bit of mindless fun to follow up that wonderful yet frustrating brain teaser puzzle from Lars. This one from a newly formed, independent game design and development company in The Netherlands, Coin-Op Interactive.

Panic is a simple and stylish arcade game made in homage to a classic on the Commodore 64, Astro Panic. Made in Flash and sporting an impressive new soundtrack as well as eye-pleasing particle effects, Panic plays like a cross between Space Invaders and Pang.

The objective is to shoot all enemy spaceships (UFOs) that enter in wave after wave of increasing number. The higher you hit a UFO the more points you earn. And you have just three (3) lives with no power-ups.

Analysis: With intuitive controls and immediately understandable rules of play, the game is quick to pick-up and play and thus can provide that desirable dose of instant gratification during your afternoon lunch or coffee break. The graphics are simple and plain, and yet the monochrome backdrop is nicely contrasted by splashes of red when an enemy is destroyed. It is a well-made game that features a high score list that also lists the highest score attained for a single kill, adding one more reason to return for just one more go.

With graphics and code created by Sander van der Vegte, Panic is simple, mindless and classic arcade fun. Click.

At first glance, when submitted to our recent game design competition, I thought perhaps The Alchemist's Apprentice would be similar to other 'recipe' games like Grow that have been popularized by Eyezmaze. And while recipes actually play an important role in this game, the concept is an original and creative idea from the mind of Lars Andreas Doucet.

In this entertaining puzzle game You are the alchemist's apprentice left in charge of the alchemy shop while the master is away (probably away on business, but we don't really know for sure; details are sketchy, you see, and therefore we shouldn't jump to any conclusions.) In any event, she left some instructions behind: you must conjure three (3) items before the master returns.

You will have to read through tomes of material (ok, maybe not 'tome' in the literal sense, but definitely in the figurative sense as it relates to figures drawn on the screen) to solve the mystery ensconced within this delightfully interactive experience. And in these tomes is where the brilliance of this game shines its brightest.

Lars toiled, no, he double toiled and troubled over the charming drawings and imaginative stories that unfold within the pages contained therein. I found myself chuckling as I went through each recipe and ingredient, even letting out an occasional guffaw(!) at the clever and witty references he tosses around. Great stuff!

The core of the puzzle itself may be a bit difficult to solve for some and, on the downside, once the 'key' is found there's little motivation to return to this otherwise engaging and inviting game. But don't let that stop you from rolling up your sleeves, donning an apron, and trying out this rather bewitching little puzzle game created by a Norwegian born American now living in Texas, USA. Click.

John: The Alchemist's Apprentice is an extremely creative idea that should be played even if only for its wonderful sense of humor. It's tough to figure out, but at least you're smiling the whole time. Look at the ingredients book, flip through the recipes, then start experimenting. Despite the tomes of information before you, it's still easy to feel rather lost in the alchemy shop. This works both for and against the game: you feel like you can create anything, but it can be frustrating at first to make even one recipe. I quickly became an expert at making Aglaglop, and I'm not stopping until I make Unobtainium. I don't care what the book says. Thanks to Lars Doucet for a fantastic game!