Oh, brains. You are as delicious (to zombies) as you are useful (to anyone running from zombies). You're also apparently quite explodable, as evidenced in this colorful cartoon-like physics game BrainSplode!. Created by Rust Red Games, all you've got is a cannon, some highly-useful missiles, and a few mid-air power-ups that help you control things. Oh, and an inexplicable hatred of squishy pink brains.

Somewhere on each level in BrainSplode!, you've got a cannon. That cannon can be turned up or down by moving the target in the red box at the bottom of the screen. You can control the velocity with the same box, giving you an easy one-stop area for almost all things explosion-making related. Take aim, choose your shot's power, and fire! Brains are stuck to the walls around each stage, each of which is shown on the mini-map at the top of the screen. To take them out, you're going to need to experiment, to fine-tune your shots, and a little help from some power-ups.

After the first level, you're introduced to new abilities that change the way missiles work. First you'll get the speed boost, a fun power that causes missiles to dash forward in a crazy way. After that, it's a parachute and a direction changer. Integrating these abilities into your strategy is necessary to win, and it takes a bit of practice to pull off these mid-air maneuvers successfully. Fortunately, you aren't limited, timed, or otherwise penalized for playing around and wasting ammo.

Analysis: Never thought exploding brains would be entertaining, but that's probably just my brain not wanting me to get all skilled at destroying brains, lest it become next on the list. BrainSplode! isn't a brain-killing trainer, of course. It's cute, it's colorful, it's wild and arcadey at times. And wow is it entertaining! BrainSplode! also looks great, and there are lots of fun little visual touches that lend it a quirky, weekend at the lake with every Saturday morning cartoon character you loved as a child kind of feeling. Yes, that can be quantified.

The physics in BrainSplode! are spot-on. You'll never question the outcome of a shot, and visualizing where your bullets will go is limited only by your brain's ability to analyze and predict. This is especially important when the power-ups are introduced, as they require some serious thinking and planning in order to get the missiles where you want them to be. Don't worry, though, as BrainSplode! isn't about exact precision. More like, squishy precision.

There are only seven levels in this release, but the good news is the creator has said more levels are possible if interest is shown in the game. So, you know, show interest! A level editor could also see a release, which can only be met with the following response: YES, PLEASE!!

BrainSplode! is just plain awesome, there you have it. Grabbing this somewhat short release is a no-brainer, and I hope you appreciate the pun. Go crazy, explode some brains!

Windows:
Download the free full version

Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.