April 2006 Archives

In the five years following the conclusion of The Beast, Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) have arguably broken into the mainstream. While not exactly a part of the everyday vernacular yet, they have been steadily gaining greater visibility. For the better part of these past five years, ARGs have fallen into two categories: large, corporate-sponsored advertising campaigns (I Love Bees, The Art of the Heist) or smaller, player-run games (Metacortechs, Orbital Colony). Starting last year, however, Mind Candy Design made the first concerted effort to break the mold: an entirely self-sufficient yet wide-ranging ARG named Perplex City. But if all of this history doesn't catch your eye, perhaps the $200,000 cash prize will?

The premise is simple. An item of great importance to the citizens of Perplex City, the Receda Cube, has been stolen and somehow smuggled to Earth. The leading members of The Perplex City Academy tasked with retrieving the Cube have made contact with a company named Mind Candy and are using them to enlist the help of anyone and everyone on Earth in the hunt. The reward for finding the Cube? $200,000. To publicize their plight, the Perplexians have been working with Mind Candy to release puzzle cards, available both online and at comics/gaming stores. Though these cards will familiarize you with Perplexians and their city (not to mention they're ridiculously fun), the real substance of the game is spread across a series of in-game websites.

Over the course of their investigation so far, Cube Hunters have found a variety of websites, such as sites for Perplexian record companies, newspapers, and personal blogs, each unlocking new mysteries to be investigated and puzzles to be solved. Live events, as well, including a scavenger hunt in London and a puzzle competition in New York City, have already occurred. To give you an idea of the size of the game, the London event ended with a mole escaping by helicopter and Morse code being flashed across the Thames. On a similar scale, one of the tougher puzzle card is being solved via a distributed cracking network (like SETI@home) hosted at www.13thlabour.tk, with over 1500 computers working towards a solution right now.

Even though the game has been underway for a little less than a year, catching up has been made relatively easy. At the official website, you'll find a series of slides introducing you to everything, followed by a series of links to summaries of the events so far in Perplex City. Just recently a podcast was added for those on the go. New events surface via the various websites every three to four days, leaving plenty of downtime in between puzzles to push this into "casual" game territory.

All of this, however, cannot do justice to the elegant complexity of the game itself. Think of this as the best parts of "Alice in Wonderland," "The Da Vinci Code," William Gibson's "Pattern Recognition," Michael Douglas' "The Game," and Kit Williams' "Masquerade" all mixed into a globe-spanning and highly interactive mystery/conspiracy/adventure story. Click.

GameTrove is an online portal for independent and casual computer games. It pulls together screenshots, demos, game summaries and more into one easy to use site. Scroll through the pages and see what catches your eye, or sort the games by genre, platform, price, popularity and more. The site functions much like digg and allows you to rate and comment on games that developers have added to the database.

I had a lot of fun just browsing through the many varied titles on the site. There's everything from shooters to puzzlers to titles for kids. And rating them is strangely addictive. I just love clicking that little green arrow when I like a game. I also found a few games I had never heard of and now quite like, so it's an excellent resource for finding hidden gems of entertainment.

GameTrove has over 100 downloadable games at the moment and is growing quickly. It's an excellent service for developers and gamers alike, plus it's free to use. If you have a game you want to promote or just want to find some good casual games to play, GameTrove.net is your new best friend.

Thy Dungeonman 3: Behold Thy Graphics! is a parody of the old 5¼-inch floppy text and graphic adventure games. Made by Videlectrix, Homestar Runner's fictional software design company, Dungeonman 3 sports "state-of-the-art amber monochrome visuals" (circa 1980), real-time simulated medieval English text, a parser that talks back to you, and enough mocked adventure game cliches to fill your beer stein twice full.

You start at the most noblest of places: a dungeon cell. After escaping certain doom, you find the very FLASK you have been questing for. But as the fates would have it, as soon as you reach for the vial the dungeon collapses and transports you to a strange crossroads in a meadow. In your never-ending quest for the FLASK you must gather clues, steal from monks, seduce an old hag, enter the street that doesn't have a FLYER on the GROUND, and put up with CAPITALIZED WORDS. Thy life is torturous. But hey... behold those graphics!

Like most Videlectrix games (see Peasant's Quest), Dungeonman 3 is short but very well-written. It never takes itself seriously and pokes fun at common adventure game conventions at every turn (Westerberg is in the east?! Forsooth!). It's done in the style of old monochrome computer games, complete with simulated load delays and the sound of the disc drive reading the media. Awww... Videlectrix, you make me weep with nostalgia!

It's not the puzzles, the ending or even the game itself that makes Dungeonman 3 worthwhile, it's the parody at every parser input. Get more information and some trivia at the wiki, plus a turn-by-turn walkthrough as well.

What wouldst thy deau if thee were trapped in a dungeon most despairingly dark? If thou art feeling worthy of partaking in an adventure most noble, take ye courage and ye shall partake in Dungeonman 3. Ye. Playeth.

Play Professor Fizzwizzle Flash

While the Flash version doesn't include anything new, its purpose is to introduce the game to anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to play yet and who may be curious to see what all the fuss is about. This is great news since there are several rather vocal visitors here at JIG that simply don't like to download anything.

Now we all can get down with the Professor in our browsers while we wait for Professor Fizzwizzle 2! Keep up the great work Ryan & Matt. =)

Another diamond in the rough of the Adult Swim games section, Fullmetal Alchemist: Iron and Flame is a Shockwave-based scrolling beat 'em up, reminiscent of arcade favorite Final Fight. You control Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers searching for an artifact known as the philosopher's stone in order to restore their damaged bodies.

Move around the screen with the arrow keys, and dash by tapping [left] or [right] twice. Press the [spacebar] to perform a melee attack, or use your alchemy hotkeys by pressing [A], [S] or [D]. Being the science of equivalent exchange, you'll need raw materials to fuel your alchemic abilities; bags that are found in pots or dropped by enemies will provide your resources, represented by the vertical bar at the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Press [M] to bring up the alchemy menu, used to tweak the amounts of resources consumed by each transmutation, as well as assign hotkeys to your various abilities. Finally, you can switch between Ed and Al by pressing [X] at any time. Al is usually the better choice, despite being slower and having less powerful alchemy; his attack and defense are far greater than Ed's, who often seems to come up a bit short.

Analysis: As in most similar games, the enemies you'll face are slow, stupid and predictable. The challenge arises when you're forced to deal with them en masse, and it doesn't take long for Iron and Flame to start throwing chimeras at you like red stones are going out of style. Fortunately, the Elric brothers have a wide variety of alchemic tricks, mostly pulled right from the tv series. It's a shame, then, that the attempt made to customize transmutations isn't more interesting; you're limited to either boosting the power of moves when you've got resources to spare, or reducing resource consumption in a pinch. Still, Iron and Flame benefits from and is faithful to it's license, and fans will appreciate the cut scenes featuring several familiar characters.

Play Fullmetal Alchemist: Iron and Flame

The game was developed by Pop & Co. of New York City.

Travian is a browser-based, massively multiplayer, quasi-real-time strategy game, developed and maintained by a German team dedicated to its upkeep.

The game represents a conflict between a multitude of player controlled empires. The goal is to build up economic and military power through the development of land and construction of buildings and armies; each activity taking upwards of 10 minutes.

Upon creating your account, you choose to be represented by either Romans, Teutons, or Gauls; each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

The game itself is also free to play, but if you choose to purchase a 'plus' account then you are granted a laundry list of features which don't grant numerical benefits, but do allow for easier play and more informed decisions. For additional details about the game play itself, check out the tutorial found here.

Analysis: Travian is one of the most balanced, long-term, browser-based games that also includes player conflict that I've seen. In addition, it puts Web 2.0 technology to good use and therefore has implications for the future of web game development. Efficient use of AJAX and PHP makes for a smooth play experience, and when combined with reasonably balanced, if slow, game play; it's no surprise that Travian has the following that it does. On that note, I will warn you that the game is slow, and tedious at times, so it works best when taken as a background activity. But as you build up your empire you'll find more and more details to spend your time on as your war-like neighbors make themselves known and you begin to manage more than one village. If you have any other questions, check out the FAQ and important information forum found here.

In conclusion, if you're in the mood to try something a bit more long-term and strategic than the usual fare, while still maintaining those browser-based sensibilities, then give Travian a try. Click.

If you are intrigued by this type of game and want more, then be sure to keep an eye on M3mnoch's Blog as he is not only developing one of his own, but continues to offer insight into his development as he finds time to write.

From Lightning Games and Playaholics, the Flash-based Lightning Pool brings all the accoutrements of modern electronic entertainment to the classic game of billiards. Race against the clock as you collect power-ups and coins, unlock secret levels, avoid obstacles and, of course, clear the table with style and finesse in this addictive take on pool.

Each level begins with six red balls and one black ball. You can save the black ball for last to get a bonus but, unlike in eight ball, sinking it earlier will not result in a loss. Aim the cue stick with the mouse and hold the left button to determine how hard to strike the ball. The color of the crosshairs will fade between yellow, representing the most force, and red, representing the least. It's impossible to ignore the huge numbers steadily counting down to zero in the center of the table, but relax and concentrate before each shot; sinking the cue ball will cost you 4 seconds, and some of the hazards often littered on the table can do even worse. Thankfully, you won't be forced to replay previous levels, unless you want to attempt a better score, as Lightning Pool saves your progress and even the number of times you've attempted each table.

Analysis: Beginning with fairly conventional power-ups and items such as stopwatches and coins, and culminating with pockets that snap shut and a table set above a vast abyss, Lightning Pool stays fresh and fun by providing new challenges with every level, although after number 15 they begin to repeat. For those looking for a truly high score there are even several secret levels, unlocked by collecting 10 of the coins randomly found on the table. In the end, though, Lightning Pool is still pool, and if knocking a bunch of balls around with a long stick isn't your idea of a good game, all the quirky levels and collectible items in the world probably won't make it any more fun. However, billiards fans will find a lot to like here, and a serious challenge to boot.

Play Lightning Pool

Esc is a key on your keyboard. It's also one of the most difficult three-screen point-and-click games you'll ever play. Made by Japanese programmer YCC, Esc reaches deep for logic puzzles that are laughably obvious -- once you toil over their answer for half an hour. If you don't beat the game in ten minutes, say goodbye to the rest of your afternoon.

The game takes place in what appears to be a small three-room prison cell. On the left is a small cabinet with two drawers, on the right is a table and chair. In the center is a big steel door locked with a fancy looking number pad and screen. And... that's it. There's only one clue to kick things off: a notepad on the desk. Good luck.

Esc thankfully doesn't employ the "click every pixel" strategy many room escape games do. There are maybe two instances where it isn't clear what to do next, but because the game is so small it encourages you to use trial and error and re-visit previous locations. Getting certain items or doing certain things often changes the scenery, so a little backtracking is in order.

Finding the clues isn't necessarily the challenge, it's learning to use them. You have to do a little lateral thinking in order to apply the hints to the game. It's one of those moments that after you figure out what to do, you'll feel awfully silly for not thinking of it before.

If you're ready to be frustrated, or if you're one of those people who could solve it in just a few minutes, give Esc a go. Play.

Thanks to Hannah for sending this in!

Update: There is apparently a game file that is supposed to load when you click Play at the very beginning, but it's missing, so the game is not playable any longer. If the situation changes, please post a comment about it, otherwise, move along folks, there's nothing to see here.

Sony Pictures and Google team-up to offer this Flash-based puzzle game comprised of a series of puzzles that together form the basis for a contest. Of course, the real purpose of the game is to promote the May release of the Da Vinci Code movie. The contest is open to legal residents of the US, the UK, and Australia.

The Da Vinci Code Quest features a variety of puzzles of increasing difficulty that incorporate themes, symbols and characters pulled directly from the movie. Immediately following the completion of each puzzle, the game presents a question for which the answer must come from knowledge about the movie. Some questions will require watching video highlights from the movie, a visit to the movie's official website, or even searching via Google.

The puzzles may be played as often as you wish, and there are several unique variations to each one. Wrong answers don't count against the player, nor does the time required to complete each of the puzzles.

The game requires registration for a Google personalized home page on which the game module will be installed and accessed from (see screenshot). There will be a total of 24 daily puzzles that must be solved, in any order, prior to 1:00PM EDT on May 11, 2006, which is the end of Phase 1 of the (US) contest.

The contest is described in the official rules as being "skill-based" and "time-based." The time-based portion of the game comes into play when the last of the daily puzzles becomes available. Upon successfully completing all 24 puzzles prior to the end of Phase 1, the player will be automatically directed to the Puzzle Completion Form where their Google ID is to be entered and submitted for a time stamp ("PUZZLE COMPLETION TIME"). The player will then be automatically directed to the Contest Entry Form, which must be correctly completed in-full and submitted for another time stamp ("CONTEST ENTRY TIME").

Only the first 10,000 participants who correctly solve all 24 puzzles AND submit a puzzle completion form AND a contest entry form will advance to the Final Phase of the contest.

Cheers to J.F. for suggesting this one. =)

For those of you who remember a little gem called Robo Rally, this game should be comfortably familiar. RoboRunner is a DHTML, turn-based strategy, online board game created by the people at EyePlay Games.

You play as a Fixer class bot trying to repair and inspect Inspection Points (IPs) on the hull of a ship. The elements on the board are on a grid, and you maneuver around walls, shift down transporter rails, avoid pits, heal at repair depots, and move your bot to the checkpoints. Bots can be randomly optioned to have a booster, dual lasers, clamps, or other options. The boards range from 7x7 squares to 20x20 boards, and everything in between (my personal favorite is a 7x17 board).

Movement comes in the form of randomly dealt program cards. Each card can be either a movement card (move 1, move 2, move 3, or move backwards 1) or a turn card (left, right, or U-turn). Every round, you place these cards in order of your desired program by drag-dropping them into place. The first five cards become your move and execute in the same phases as your opponents, one card per phase. Each round, the order priority changes according to your performance the last round; the better you do, the higher your priority. The problem is, other bots doing their own moves can throw you off your previously planned course. Additionally, you lose a program card for each point of damage you take, up to ten. After five points damage, the last card locks and will be frozen as the card it was programmed for in the last round. You can choose to reboot, sitting still for one round, or find your way to the repair depots that heal either one or two points, depending on the square.

You can play by yourself, or with up to seven other bots. Additionally, you can substitute some of those spaces with Scanners, which are AI bots that are programmed by the server. Most games are played in "slow-time" with the next round up after everyone else has executed their programs. There is also the option for a "real-time" game in which everyone who joins are expected to stay and play until the game is finished.

Additionally, if you don't feel like playing a checkpoint Robo Runner game, you can also play the last-bot-standing Robo Arena, or a team Robo Recon game, where you try to push a crystal back to your airlock starting point.

The game offers ten training missions, so you can learn the game mechanics hands-on before getting in on the action.

There is a very active worldwide user community and there's almost always another player on, usually more than ten. There are constant updates to the ship roster to the community forum. They hold regular tournaments and there are series games looking for players all the time.

Players can play for free. You can have up to ten active games going and can initiate a game with several options. For a nominal fee, you can have up to five times as many games going, and contribute to the fleet by making boards. Several more options come up during game creation as well. But a player can have a very fulfilling experience without spending a dime.

All in all, it's a lot of fun to play, and a great environment to have anything from a casual, play-whenever-you're-able-to pace to an always on, real-time intensive experience. Give it a shot. The more, the merrier. (Registration required) Click.

Find the Bug is a set of four flash-based spot-the-difference games by Ketevan Iakobishvili and Manfred Weber. Each game in the trio has a different set of themed images—nature, space, and classic paintings. You are given one out of dozens of images paired with a slightly altered version. It's your job to spot the five differences and click them before time runs out.

The game works with a simple scoring system based on how quickly you find the changes. Incorrect guesses take a chunk of your time away, so you can only afford to make one or two mistakes. When you find all five alterations your remaining time is added to your score and you proceed to another picture. The images are random, but the farther you progress the faster the time decreases. You have three "freebies" you can use at any time to reveal differences, but use them wisely.

Find the Bug is not Where's Waldo or Sesame Street's "One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other" game. It pulls some really sly Photoshop tricks to make you do everything but pixel hunt to find what's been changed. The images range from extremely difficult to moderately challenging, but none of them are laughably easy. The good news is that after playing (and losing) several times, images will repeat and you'll remember where the differences are located. The more you play, the easier the game is and the better your score.

• Find the Bug
• Find the Bang
• Find the Art
• Find the Sun

Although the idea certainly isn't a new one, Find the Bug has a very clean and interesting interface. Catchy music loops in the background and the images are always fun to look at. The website also has a memory matching game using the same style as the Find the Bug games. Good for when you just can't compare another set of pictures.

• Don't focus on finding something "wrong" in an image, as the alterations almost always blend in.
• The best way to compare the pictures is to look at a small area and dart your eyes back and forth between the images. Methodically move through each set to get a better score.
• Look at the negative space and overall shape of objects in each image.
• A few common alterations: subtle changes of shadow, lengthening/shortening of objects, slight color changes, objects move in front of/behind other objects.
• Don't look for the same defect twice. For example, if a petal on a flower is missing, don't waste time looking for more missing petals.

Find the bugs, or else.

Play Find the Bug

Thanks to Stebu for sending this one in!

Escape to Obion is a five-part series of short point-and-click games by Matt Slaybaugh of SkepticTank.net. The games are strongly reminiscent of old-style adventure games such as Myst, complete with the mysterious atmosphere, fiendish puzzles, and an absolutely gripping sense of exploration.

Dr. Saturday is hatching an evil plot to hijack the mind of every sentient machine in the world. The government is too weak and unorganized to stop him, so the responsibility falls to a few small groups of concerned citizens. You have just learned the location of the entrance to one of Dr. Saturday's labs: in the charming neighborhood of a dormant volcano named Mount Terror. That second helping of apple pie will have to wait, it's time to get to work.

Each area is presented in a series of still-scenes with clickable hotspots and movement arrows that highlight when the cursor passes over. You'll gather clues in the form of cryptic hints scrawled in various parts of the game and use them to solve other puzzles. Keep a piece of paper handy to jot down the odd note for later use. Also keep an eye out for subtle changes in the scenery, as they could be clues to your next move.

The scenery is rendered in grainy detail that adds a surprising amount of depth to the world. What the screen doesn't show the mind creates itself, and Escape to Obion offers just enough detail to let your mind run rampant with ideas. Sound effects are also minimalistic, pulling your attention right where the author wants it: inside the game's world.

The first chapter, Fire and Ice, starts you off with shorter puzzles to get you warmed up. Later installments: The Hidden Map, The Alchemist's Notebook, Closer To Zero, and The Chemisphere continue the story and introduce more intricate problems to solve. You'll have to find out what happens yourself, as spoiling the plot would deprive you of a fantastic gaming experience.

Analysis: The Escape to Obion games exude a remarkably complete atmosphere in short, bite-sized installments. Each chapter is wholly satisfying on its own, but I found myself so enamored with them that I couldn't stop until I played them all. I've always been a big fan of adventure games and Escape to Obion really had me hooked.

The puzzles, storyline, and sense of exploration are all very well-balanced. The areas aren't so large you can get lost in them, but there's enough there to let you feel free to roam. Having the game divided into chapters lets you play at your leisure, accomplishing the difficult task of taking an epic adventure and turning it into several smaller casual games. Everything about Escape to Obion is done remarkably well, and it shows in every puzzle, every scene, and every chapter you'll be clamoring to play.

Play Chapter 1: Fire and Ice

Play Chapter 2: The Hidden Map

Play Chapter 3: The Alchemist's Notebook

Play Chapter 4: Closer to Zero

Play Chapter 5: The Chemisphere

Before I say anything about this next game I must point out that the requirements to play it are rather obscure compared to the usual fare reviewed here. The game is a download for Windows only AND it requires the use of an XBox 360 wired controller connected to the USB port of your computer. If you have access to the prerequisites then you're in for a rare treat.

In The Pit is a well-executed, unique and original game that is innovative in its approach to gameplay, and it was an entry in the recent "consume" game design contest presented by the Experimental Gameplay Project.

R. "Hunty" Gough of StudioHunty conjured the idea for an audio game after playing Sonic Invaders, a game that is also played and navigated entirely in audio. When the "consume" theme was announced for the contest, the idea took on the shape and form of a monster at the bottom of a very dark well that consumes its victims.

In The Pit you play the hungry monster that must track down its victims by using only audible and tactile clues. Tactile stimulation comes courtesy of the XBox 360 controller that allows varying degrees of force feedback vibration.

Movement is controlled with the left analog stick of the controller: up and down move you forward and back; left and right turn you in the respective direction. If you move too fast your (feet? paws? claws?) will make a splashing sound alerting your prey as to your whereabouts.

Gameplay consists of closing in on the target by listening to the breathing sounds each of the victims make as you move about the bottom of the well. Headphones are highly recommended to be able to discern the subtle changes in positioning of the audio you hear, which lead you to succeed with the consummation. The controller will begin to vibrate when in very close proximity of a victim. Wait until the vibration is strongest, then press the A button on the controller to take a bite.

Analysis: I love the concept of a game using audio only for gameplay since sound is a much neglected and often under-utilized component of games, especially in casual Web games. Hunty's voice acting is quite amusing and he really hams it up to the benefit of the game. The gameplay is fresh and exciting and I found myself getting an adrenaline rush from stalking the prey. I especially enjoyed the gradual difficulty increase from a single stationary target; then moving target; and finally to multiple moving targets. Very nicely done.

On the downside, it is indeed unfortunate that it must be a Windows-only executable, and the game may not be worth the price of a controller unless you find the experience of new and unusual gameplay concepts as rewarding as I do. There has to be a Flash extension to support the 360 gamepad out there somewhere. Gamepad support aside, I believe this type of game would be possible in Flash using audio alone by utilizing multiple channels and unique sounds to replace hitting walls and nearing a victim. Sound volume could be substituted for force-feedback strength.

Also, after playing through a couple of times I found myself trying to press the A button to skip over dialog. Hunty says dialog can be skipped with the Start button, but I would prefer it be the button my finger is already on. A minor nit-pick.

Overall, In The Pit is a short, three level excursion into the deep, dark depths of Hunty's warped yet brilliantly creative mind. He certainly has a talent for producing great stuff that is refreshing to experience. Keep up the great work, Hunty! Click.

Flash developer and blogger LUT! has a few unique point-and-click adventure games just begging for your attention. They're short, moderately difficult, and one oozes style while the other tries to scare the ActionScript out of you.

Darkness Episodes 1 and 2 - The Darkness games put you in the role of a girl who wakes one night to answer a knock at her front door. A black hand engulfs her and the next thing she knows she's back in her bed and doesn't remember a thing. Upon investigating she finds a few things are a little... different... in her home. No spoilers here, but the plot twists in several directions while taking the time to spook you with some chilling moments. Follow the title screen's advice and turn up the speakers to really get sucked in.

There's an interesting feature where the girl will get frightened and "PANIC!" will flash on the screen. Press the space bar as fast as you can to keep your cool. If you don't, it's Game Over. It really keeps your senses on alert.

The first episode of Darkness is played out entirely in first person while the second shifts to a third-person view. The puzzles in both installments are fairly straightforward, but part two offers a little more challenge.

Tomb of Doom - This room-escape point-and-click game really stands out because the characters and scenery are made entirely out of plasticine, the clay-like substance used to make Wallace and Gromit. You play a Gumby-esque character who falls into a mysterious tomb while taking a walk. Using the items found inside, you must fend off giant scorpions, unlock doors and investigate strange statues as you search for the exit. It's sort of like a light-hearted Indiana Jones adventure with a few quirky quests to keep you from getting too serious.

Solving the puzzles in Tomb of Doom isn't too difficult, but navigating through the maze of doors and nearly identical rooms can be confusing, even with the map. It's a short play, but it's great to see this rare form of animation used in a video game.

The games on the LUT! website are great diversions. The Darkness episodes are especially atmospheric and can easily swipe an hour of your time without you even realizing it. Play.

As a side note, the LUT! website has a few pop-up ads, many of which open when you leave the site. Be ready.

Thanks Bonman for sending these in!

From Digital Seed Entertainment, the creator of Tactics Arena Online, comes this brand new entry in casual games playable in any browser.

Cubrius is a commercial-quality puzzle game in which the player pushes boxes (cubes) to solve stages by removing all the colored cubes from view. A variant of Sokoban, Cubrius extends the classic gameplay by introducing a variety of cube types, each with special characteristics and behavior, as well as time-based bonus scores.

Basic play consists of pushing a colored cube next to one or more of the same color to remove them from the stage. Only cubes that directly touch the pushed cube are removed along with it.

Cubes may be pushed only by an avatar that is moved and controlled using the arrow keys on the keyboard. First position the avatar behind a cube, and then press [space] to push it.

A "Starter Pack" first introduces each of the cube types you will see in the game, and then sends you through several 'training' stages to practice what you've just learned. Once through the basics, a much more advanced "Emerald Pack" will put your best puzzle-solving skills to the test in 16 very challenging stages.

Analysis: A nicely polished puzzle game containing irresistibly appealing graphics and a pleasing soundtrack that is reminiscent of Enigma. The starter stages have been designed well to gradually ease the player into the game, which will surely please the casual gamer audience this game is aimed at. The puzzles themselves, even in the starter pack, are not all that obvious to solve with some requiring considerable analysis and thought to complete.

The lack of mouse support for menu selection, however, is not intuitive even though it is consistent with the user interface of the game play. I don't appreciate a user interface that forces itself upon me. At the very least allow me the capability to use the mouse if I want, even if it goes against how the game designer feels the interface should behave.

Overall, Cubrius is an excellent puzzle game for anyone that enjoys Sokoban and similar games like it. Vito Sze ("Seed") has done well in taking a classic puzzle game formula and adding elements that change it into something all his own. While the gameplay is not all that remarkable, his extensions to it create a very different kind of challenge for those that may be familiar or fond of Sokoban games in general. The result is a framework capable of generating a mind-numbing variety of puzzles to enjoy.

In fact, it appears that Seed plans to offer new and different stage packs for download in the future. The free online version of the game comes with the Starter and Emerald stage packs already loaded.

Play Cubrius

Cheers to Dave for suggesting this game, and cheers for all the Cubrius walkthroughs being posted in the comments below. =)

Update: to avoid confusion with another developer's product, Digital Seed Entertainment has renamed Cubrius to CuberXtreme.

American History Lux is a downloadable war strategy game that takes an often boring subject and turns it into a simple but epic game. It's a whittled-down version of Sillysoft's more detailed Lux Delux title, making it perfect for casual world-conquerors. The game plays a lot like Risk with a few extras and is available for Windows, MacOS X and Linux.

As the name suggests, AHL lets you re-enact famous battles in American history. Although entirely optional, you can read a little background info before heading onto the battlefield. You aren't obligated to learn anything, so don't worry. Each map shows you and the opposing armies along with the territories controlled by each. The usual deluge of manageable tasks is gone, leaving you with just one thing to worry about: obliterating your enemies.

At the beginning of each turn you get a certain number of troops based on the territories you control. Each round lets you place units then mount attacks against bordering areas. After the dust settles, move units around to fortify weak areas, then unleash your opponents' turn and hope you did a good job.

A few extras set this one apart from the usual fare. For starters, there are bonus territories you can control for additional units each turn. There's also an interesting card system where you can build massive extra units by occupying certain areas of the map. Cache in the units before a turn for a massive bonus, then level the enemy with a gigantic force of troops.

The atmosphere of American History Lux is truly epic, helped along by a grand musical score. You can hop right in and start playing the game without knowing the first fact about American history or strategy titles. The game doesn't hold your hand but gives you the freedom to explore your own strategy for victory without any penalties.

Analysis: I rarely indulge in the time-consuming strategy game genre, especially war games which have always seemed too stuffy for me. This one really took me by surprise, however, as it is remarkably simple and caters perfectly to my taste in casual games and craving for strategic gaming.

After abysmally losing my first war, I came back with a vengeance and something else extremely helpful: a strategy. With so few things to manage, the number of strategies you can adopt is impressive. Should you be offensive or defensive? Build your forces on the borders or in key cities? Go for the bonus cards or total obliteration? Your choice.

Even after bowling through the major wars in American history, there are several difficulty levels in AHL that really ramp up the challenge. I can't even begin to imagine what the highest difficulty is like, and I'm actually a little frightened to find out. Still, if you go through the game and find it too easy, there's plenty of challenge waiting for you.

American History Lux is a great casual strategy game, so don't hesitate to give it a try.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

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

The stunningly prolific Rumiko Takahashi is one of Japan's most successful manga artists. Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2 and InuYasha are familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in manga or anime, and that's just the tip of the iceberg; she's also responsible for Mermaid Forest, Maison Ikkoku, One Pound Gospel, and countless shorter works.

Based on the anime of the same name, Inuyasha: Demon Tournament is a one on one tactical fighter, somewhat similar to a stripped down Tactics Arena Online or Shining Force mixed with Street Fighter. Demon Tournament has been expertly realized in Flash and is available on AdultSwim.com to promote the series now airing on Cartoon Network.

Select one of eight different characters to begin. Each character has a unique set of moves, represented as a deck of cards. On every card you'll find a name, damage amount, energy cost, and a 3x3 grid. Use a movement card to move in the direction of the arrow on the bottom of the card. Using an attack card will subtract the card's energy cost from your energy bar and, if the move connects with your opponent, the card's damage amount is subtracted from their HP. The red squares on the grid of attacking cards determine the area affected by the attack. Each player also has a guard card, which will protect you from up to 15 damage received on the turn it is played, and an energy up card, which will restore your energy bar by 15.

Both you and your opponent choose 3 cards to begin each round, which are revealed one by one as the action unfolds. As a reward for defeating a foe you get a shard of the Shikon Jewel and the opportunity to choose one of five mystery cards to add to your deck, granting you abilities such as special attacks, enhanced movement or healing.

Analysis: I've always been more fond of Ataru, Lum and the Urusei Yatsura gang, but Demon Tournament is superbly produced and doesn't require any knowledge or appreciation of InuYasha. Though the combat tends to degenerate into random guesswork, it is fast and fun guesswork, with graphics and animation that rival commercial products. Also, watch out: after completing the game and trying to start a new battle I encountered a strange bug, kicking me out of Flash and into an error message.

Play Inuyasha: Demon Tournament

Naked Melee Armageddon is one of the most aptly named online games ever created. Your simple goal is to overwhelm alien attackers by placing naked humans on the screen as fast as you can. Why everyone's naked, no one really knows, but you don't have time to sit and ponder. After just a few seconds the aliens will attack, at which point all you can do is kick back and watch the armageddon.

You have roughly five seconds before the melee begins to load the screen with as many people as you can. When an alien and a human meet, they get into a little skirmish. There are several crazy ways in which they destroy each other, such as axes, explosions, ninja moves, electrocution, etc. No matter the outcome, both the winner and loser vanish. The only way to win is by outnumbering the enemy.

Yes, it's a laughably simple game, but yes, it's fun. There are five levels of difficulty, each requiring more people to defeat the onslaught. Win or lose, nothing happens, you just go back to the title screen. Kind of like those "I Saved The World And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt" things.

But you know, Naked Melee Armageddon is just too wacky to pass up. Play.

(P.S. Yeah, everyone's naked, but there's no detail and it's all a cartoon, so it's safe.)

R. Hunter Gough at Studiohunty has been sporadically updating Dungeon Escape, his Flash based tribute to the somewhat questionable interactive movie genre pioneered by laserdisc games such as Dragon's Lair, for the past three years. As an unnamed stick figure stuck in a prison cell, you've got to break out of a remarkably dangerous dungeon armed with nothing more than your reflexes, wits and patience.

In each room, a series of flashing ovals will tell you where to [Left click] in order to keep your stick figure avatar safe. Clicking outside of the oval or reacting too slowly will restart the current room and cost you a life. Some rooms are very involved, requiring long chains of successful mouse clicks to escape a trap or defeat a monster and move on. Though still a work in progress, the game is currently split into two sections of about 10 rooms each, ordered at random.

Analysis: The flashing oval hints remove the guesswork that plagued quarter gobbling classics like Dragon's Lair or Space Ace and as a result Dungeon Escape is relatively easy. Still, the rapid fire pace of the rooms in Dungeon Escape can be surprisingly tense, and the depth in certain areas goes beyond any interactive movie I've seen before. It goes without saying that Gough's crude stick figures aren't as pretty as the cel animation of Dungeon Escape's laserdisc forefathers but don't let that stop you; gameplay-wise, Gough's tribute is superior in almost every way, and he's not even after your change.

Thanks to Daniel for the submission!

Play Dungeon Escape

Il Destino is an online point-and-click room escape game by the same team that created The Bar. Your father is a famous car designer who created a vehicle based on your childhood drawings. He sold it shortly after it was built and you thought you'd never see it again. But today your father gives you the keys to his showroom where you find the shining car waiting for you. The only problem is you can't seem to get out.

Just like The Bar, Il Destino takes place in a single, stunningly rendered room. Everything you see is drawn in clean, shiny detail. The camera dramatically swoops as you navigate with the shaded arrows on the screen. You can also find hidden areas and uncover a items by clicking on the scenery itself.

In order to solve the puzzles in Il Destino, you'll have to find and use items in conjunction with each other. Click the inventory item, then click "About Item". This gives you a close-up of the object and lets you use other things with it or maybe even manipulate the item itself.

When compared to The Bar, this game is much more straight-forward and easy to solve. The puzzles make more sense and you don't have to roam around clicking everywhere to find what you need. Navigation is a bit tricky in some areas, as the arrows don't always seem to point where they lead. It takes some time, but you'll be able to easily move back and forth with just a little exploration.

A short but nevertheless stunning game. Play.

Thanks to Matt for sending this in!

Mozaik is a clever Flash puzzle game from the good people at Globz, creators of the wonderful Twin Spin series. Vaguely reminiscent of a 2D Rubik's Cube, the goal of each level is to match the blocks on the board with the key at the bottom of the screen. The catch? You can only rotate blocks around strategically (that is, inconveniently) placed nodes.

Click any node to rotate the blocks surrounding it clockwise. You are not timed, but your turns are limited to the number next to the old fellow on the bottom of the screen. As more colors and oddly shaped layouts appear Mozaik becomes increasingly difficult. However, even when the starting position looks very different than the solution you can usually solve each level with a simple pattern of moves; being able to visualize that pattern before you start mixing up the blocks is essential.

The Globz team's signature style and consistantly high production values are readily apparent in Mozaik. In fact, the only criticisms I can offer are in regards to the sound (there is none) and the limited number of levels (there should be more!). Enjoy this great addition to the large Globz game library.

Play Mozaik

Eets is an amazingly addictive action/puzzle downloadable game for Windows from Klei Entertainment. Your goal is to guide Eets to a shiny puzzle piece by placing different (and often wacky) items that affect his mood or behavior. The game has an undeniable charm and will easily get you hooked with its huge set of levels and online community complete with user-made level downloads.

Each stage begins with the action on pause while you place items from your inventory on the screen. Draw your eyes carefully on the path Eets will take, then add each item as necessary. When you press "Play", Eets starts walking in whichever direction he's facing. When he reaches the end of a platform, his actions vary depending on what mood he's in—angry, happy, or scared. A frightened Eets refuses to leap off platforms, while an enraged Eets leaps off without a second thought. Several things can alter his mood, but mainly feeding him different marshmallows will do the trick. Hence the game's tagline: Hunger. It's emotional.

The items range from "set them and leave them" types to objects you'll need to activate at the right time. Even though the game is primarily a puzzler, there's a fair amount of precision timing involved in many stages. Discovering the many ways you can send Eets flying around the stage to get the puzzle piece is a treat, and some of the levels require a bit of creativity to make it through. Fortunately you can try as many times you like or even skip the level and come back later.

There are seven main worlds and four environments you'll visit, each with a unique atmosphere and artwork. There are only half a dozen tunes that play during the game, but fortunately they don't get old very quickly. The art direction in Eets is gorgeous and chock-full of personality. Very desktop wallpaper worthy.

Eets Editor and Community: The included level editor in Eets is straightforward and very easy to use. Drag and drop platforms, decorations, items and objects straight onto the screen. You can rotate them, flip them around, change the music, backgrounds, foregrounds—you name it, you can customize it. The only difficult part of the editor is coming up with a good idea.

The Eets Community has a message board complete with custom level download center. You can upload, share, rate and review the many stages other players have created, then add your own to the list.

Analysis: It's obvious Klei Entertainment put a lot of love and care into Eets. It oozes style, charm, and sometimes excessive cuteness (Eets' sound when he jumps from a platform). I like the Incredible Machine influence on the game, and interacting with Eets through the dozens of crazy items is a lot of fun.

Any game that comes with an editor gets points in my book, and the Eets editor is extremely fun and easy to use. I have made a few levels and uploaded them to the Eets Community (look for "bard"). I've also seen some very intimidating and strange levels from other users there. The user base is fairly small at this point, but it's growing rapidly.

Eets had me at hello, and it has enough content to keep me hooked for a long time.

Windows:
Download the demo Get the full version

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

Eets is available to download from these affiliates:

String Avoider is an online flash game where you slide a string through a series of mazes using your mouse. Coded by fwe and part of the Gamenet network, String Avoider has the nasty habit of being both addictive and maddeningly frustrating all at once.

Levels are composed of black blocks that are strictly off-limits to your happy little string. Slither through narrow gaps and round sharp corners while gritting your teeth in suspense. Bump the wall just once and you'll have to start over (and see a dentist). Your long string trails behind and can be shortened by pairs of scissors found in some levels or by pressing "S" at any time (at the cost of one life, however).

A nice feature about String Avoider is the ability to make your own levels. The editor allows you to fill a grid with walls to make your own mazes. These are playable through the main menu and stick around even after you stop playing the game.

The physics of String Avoider sometimes feel a little unrealistic, but it's a mechanism you quickly adapt to. Unfortunately there's no level skip or password feature, so no matter how far you make it during one sitting you'll have to start over for the next.

Go play String Avoider, the best use for a bit of string since dental floss! Thanks to Duki for sending this one in.

1UP is a great Flash Web toy from Tanaka U over at Nextframe. In a twist on traditional scoring, the 1UPs you collect are representative of your progress while coins and points are a means to that end.

Grab the monster with the mouse and shake coins out of him, or fling him against a wall. On each bounce you'll gain points and a scoring multiplier will increase, so throw him as hard as possible! 1UPs are earned for each 100 coins and every 50,000 points. I had some trouble with the right wall; on three occasions the monster got stuck inside it. Sometimes he will slowly drift out on his own but, with some persistance, you can pull him out. In addition, grabbing the monster when he is near the ceiling is more difficult than it has to be, due to the fact that only his head is clickable.

Select the first option on the main menu to play without a time limit. In this mode you're free to toss the monster around until you get bored, but if you want a little more game with your 1UPs try the second selection, where you're given 30 seconds to rack up as many lives as possible. A short online high score list is available for the most gifted monster tossers.

1UP is wonderfully tactile and remains fun far longer than one might expect. Tanaka definitely has a great ear; the maddingly repetitive carnival soundtrack is somehow appropriate, and the chaotic mass of bleeps and points produced as the monster rapidly bounces around the room is simply perfect.

Play 1UP

Warning Forever is a Windows-only, downloadable 2D shooter written by Hikoza Ohkubo of Hikware software. You pilot a tiny green ship with a single versatile weapon and must face off against a constant stream of bosses. No stages, no obstacles, no power-ups, just epic fights with massive enemy ships. And the surprising thing is they learn from your patterns and fight back. Yikes.

The graphically sparse top-down shooter is easy to pick up and play. You have only one weapon and don't have to be concerned with different enemies, items or other distractions. It's just you and the boss. You can control the spread and direction of your gun with a simple button press which allows you to move about the screen and keep your guns pointed at the baddie.

Rather than learning a boss' pattern and eventually circumventing it, the bosses learn your patterns and try to conquer you. It isn't as apparent in the beginning of the game, but several battles in you'll notice they seem a little too smart for their (or your) own good. In order to prevail you have to switch your strategy and learn your own habits. For example, if you defeat a boss by destroying the sides first, the next boss will have better armor on the sides. If a certain boss weapon seems to destroy your ship more often, future enemies will have more of them and use them more often. Before each battle an info screen pops up with some general info about each boss. Look it over, check out the boss ship's construction, then start hacking away.

The default mode of play in Warning Forever starts at 180 seconds and slowly counts down. Each time your ship is destroyed you lose 20 seconds. For every boss you defeat, you gain 30 seconds. When the time reaches zero, it's game over. This is the most balanced mode and should be the one you start out with to get a feel for the game. Other modes include sudden death, a linear timed mode, and a more traditional three lives mode.

Analysis: The idea of bosses evolving to combat your tactics is kind of scary. It really shifts your attention away from the game's design and onto your strategies. You won't notice anything until seven or eight bosses into the game, but then the difficulty ramps up and you can tell a marked difference in how the bosses are constructed. It's a subtle nod to player-centric video gaming that Will Wright must approve of.

The rest of the game has a minimalistic look and feel to it, a stripped-down shooter of sorts. I like the idea of no power-ups or hundreds of swarming enemies. Less frantic button smashing, more thoughtful planning and analysis. It's almost puzzle-like, but you're still dodging bullets and avoiding laser beams.

Warning Forever is available as a free download for Windows-based PCs. Click, and enjoy.

FunPods is a site filled with unique and unusual Shockwave 3D Web toys that you can play with in your browser.

Web toys are not really games, per se, though one FunPod does include game play elements. For example, Bonobo's Bongos is a simple rhythm matching game using virtual bongo drums. Bado, the chimp on the left, will play a rhythm on his set of drums. Simply copy the same rhythm on Bono's drums to get a more difficult rhythm to try. Use the mouse to click the drums, or use the [left] and [right] arrow keys for speed drumming.

While none of the FunPods offers a very deep or lengthy experience, creator Richard Smith has done an excellent job of pushing the limits of what we're used to seeing with Shockwave 3D graphics and game play. The result is a collection of toys that are beautiful to watch and fun to play with, even if only for a few moments of your time.

There are currently seven (7) different FunPods to choose from. Richard has been adding to the collection quite frequently, and he promises even more to come!

Update: Unfortunately, this site is no longer online.

What exactly is Kawa, anyway? Is it a point-and-click adventure game? An art experiment? An accidental merging of random code snippets on a website? The opening text says it all: It might be an exit; It might be a trap; It might be just a dream. Created by Pi San of China, Kawa is the flash-based equivalent of being stuck in an interactive MC Escher nightmare.

Your adventure starts out straightforward enough, but the linearity ends there. Kawa has many branching and interconnecting paths you can take with just a single click. Trying to map out the game is almost impossible, as rooms that should connect do not, and oftentimes you will be transported to previous rooms without warning. Most things you do in Kawa make no logical sense. All you can do is click, explore, and watch. It ends up being a trial and error sort of game with no real puzzles in the usual sense. But it's absolutely riveting.

You start in a room. Well, not really. You start with a white cross on the screen, then it morphs into a room. Then what? Try clicking around, eventually something will happen, something strange, something that probably makes no sense. This is the charm and ultimate draw of Kawa -- non-sequitur gaming.

If you're ready to be amazed and confused all at once, give Kawa a try. Good luck!

Thanks to Cami for sending this one in!

Magneto Syndrome is a point-and-click room escape game created by Juliano Reina. The main character has been infused with the power to control metallic objects. He regains consciousness and his first thought is to escape. It's going to prove a little difficult, seeing as how he's stuck inside a water-filled tube. Using his powers of magnetic manipulation, it's your job to help him make his run for freedom.

Before you start clicking, move the cursor over the objects inside the lab to see what you can interact with. Some things are marked as plastic, a dead-giveaway that you won't be able to manipulate them directly. A large number of other objects you won't be able to move even though they're made of metal.

Magneto Syndrome is billed as Episode 1, so hopefully we'll get another few episodes in the story. Despite its short length, it manages to pull you in to the environment and create a complete atmosphere with only a few game elements. Initially I was just going to sample the game, but once I started I couldn't stop playing until I had completed it.

As a small warning, this game rates itself as 13+ for some language and a little violence and blood.

Play Magneto Syndrome

Also available, episode 2:

Play Magneto Syndrome 2

Thanks to Gabriel for sending this one in!

From Shiftup comes two games featuring their cute tanuki mascot, Ponta. People all over the world have become familiar with the tanuki, an easygoing, shapeshifting raccoon-like creature which frequently appears in Japanese folklore and popular culture such as Studio Ghibli's Pom Poko or Super Mario Brothers 3.

First up is Gold Leaf, a simple Flash based platform game. Each level contains a number of leaves; after collecting one, another leaf somewhere in the level will turn gold. You can collect the leaves in any order, but collecting enough gold leaves will lead to a big bonus at the end of the level. Press the [spacebar] and you will transform into a balloon, floating up until you press spacebar again to turn back. Move with the [left] and [right] keys. Jump by pressing [up] and, as in Mario 3, attempting to jump while you're descending will wag your tanuki tail and slow your fall. With only 10 levels and no way to lose (each level is timed, but running out of time will only prevent you from getting extra points) Gold Leaf isn't difficult, but the imprecise collision detection with certain walls can be frustrating.

In the Java Kaleidoscope click either side of the screen to rotate the entire level 90 degrees and attempt to drop Ponta in the exit hole. Wicked foxes, red blocks and Ponta are all affected by gravity and touching a fox or being crushed by a block will cost you a life. Fortunately the foxes can also be destroyed by the red blocks and, despite not being able to move on his own, Ponta isn't completely defenseless; grabbing a leaf marked with an A will turn him into a fox smashingly invulnerable Jizo Statue, while a leaf marked with a B will turn Ponta into a balloon and cause him to float instead of falling. In later levels you'll find yellow blocks, which turn into a fox on the rotation after you first come into contact with them, and tombs, which emit flying ghosts. The 15 levels of Kaleidoscope should keep you busy a bit longer than Gold Leaf, especially if you enjoy it enough to try Kaleidoscope Hard.

All of the work on Shiftup could stand a bit more depth, but if you've played through the above and still want Ponta you're in luck; although I'm partial to the two featured here he appears in four other games on the site. Try Pong Pong Ponta, Float Jewel, Ponta's Quest and Stray Janis for more.

As mentioned previously, the Experimental Gameplay Project has just launched their game design competition today by announcing the gameplay theme: consume. You now have two weeks to come up with a game designed and developed with that theme in mind. Games that do not follow the theme may be disqualified.

Be sure to visit the EGP website for information on How To Enter and for the official rules.

They have even launched a brand new forum specifically for the competition.

Good luck! =)

I love it because I feel welcome at ZomboCom, and it's a feeling that cannot easily be replicated. If I am limited by anything at ZomboCom, it is myself. The best part about it is anything is possible at ZomboCom and there is nothing I cannot do.

So won't you join me? The unattainable is unknown ...at ZomboCom.

Play ZomboCom