February 2013 Archives

Eighty-Eight is a puzzle game from Premiere Liaison that smashes together numbers and logic. The simple set-up places you on an 8x8 grid of squares with a few blocks resting comfortably at the bottom. New blocks appear, ready to be dropped, and with a little bit of forethought (ok, boatloads of forethought) you can create some elegant chain reactions and keep the screen as empty as possible. Or, you know, panic and start crying because THE NUMBERS ARE EVERYWHERE.

New blocks appear at the top of the screen and can be dropped down any column by tapping on the grid. Blocks only disappear when the digit displayed on its face matches the number of blocks in that column or row. So, for example, if you place a "2" block on top of a single "4" block, the "2" will immediately disappear. Numberless gray blocks also appear from time to time, and special shaded blocks need to be busted open before they can vanish. It's all a wonderfully tidy mess of squares!

Old mobile game pros will recognize this very similar set-up as displayed by Drop7, one of the early hits on iOS devices. Eighty-Eight doesn't try to hide its inspirations, but it does go a little further by introducing a badge system, gameplay statistics, Game Center support, and two unique modes of play. Easy to understand, but building a decent level of proficiency will require time and patience, which is exactly why we love games like this!

FunByJohn's chaotic arena shooter Color Tanks does the unthinkable by making tanks bouncy and cheerfully bright, and also by forcing me to spell "color" without a U. Using the [WASD] keys to move and the mouse to aim and shoot, your task, should you choose to accept it, is to take out all your enemies with blasts of colourful blobs before they do the same to you. Doing so earns you cash you can spend at any time by opening the upgrades menu with [spacebar], purchasing everything from temporary flight, to special shots, and extra lives... important since once all your lives run out, your money will be wiped. Just like in real life, naturally, you'll also have to contend with a variety of terrain problems, like conveyor belts and launching pads, that can either help or hinder you against enemies that fly or use other dirty tricks. It's sort of a giddy little game with a soundtrack you'll either love or hate right off the back and a great sense of style. Unfortunately, it'd be a lot more fun if upgrades were persistent or more varied, and the lives system just seems... well, sort of pointless. A fun, frantic little game, if not one to write home to mother about, Color Tanks nevertheless has a great casual appeal for the action fan who is too chicken to actually play paintball when they're not inside an armored vehicle. Hey, I'm not judging. Those suckers hurt.

Play Color Tanks

We've all been the new kid sometime in our life, and we've all dreaded it. So there's a part of all of us that hopes the new kid will have a successful first day of school. You can help this happen in New School Blues, a short and sweet point-and-click adventure from Untold Entertainment. Pick your character and click through the day. Inventory items appear at the bottom of the screen, and click the arrow to advance dialogue. New School Blues is heavier on narrative and lighter on gameplay than many adventure games, and the puzzles are straightforward, but it works for the subject matter. In fact, it's a good game to introduce the point-and-click genre to the small school child in your life. Though you'll face ugly jackets, bullies, and inattentive teachers, it's nothing you can't help the new kid overcome.

Play New School Blues

New in the line of mobile room escape games with "100" in their name ("door exit" games, if you will), 100 Crypts takes a bit of a darker tone with its series of point-and-click puzzles. Dropped off in a series of one screen rooms, your goal is to find a way to unlock the door, unseal the tomb, open the port hole, or do whatever it takes to leave the area, usually so you can find yourself in the exact same situation when you reach the other side!

100 Crypts utilizes some common features of mobile devices to get you more involved in the puzzles. For example, instead of sliding things across the screen, you might have to tip your phone, turn it upside down, or give it a good shake. Very few instructions are given, so don't be afraid to tap on things to see what happens, or do all of the above just for the sake of it!

100 Crypts doesn't mess with the tried and true escape game formula too much, but when you need a good puzzle fix and can't be bothered with a full room escape game, this thing's got you covered!

You've just got to envy some of these game protagonists. They seem to be able to eat, eat, eat whatever they want and it never shows up on their waist-lines. In the case of Crazy Digger, an arcade puzzler by Pipkin Games, the hero's diet seems to consist entirely of gems and dirt, both of which are notoriously high in carbs. How does he do it? Oh well, at least on this side of the screen, we don't need to worry so much about cascading rocks or chomping green things. Use the [WASD] or [arrow] keys to guide the digger around each level, with the goal of consuming all the gems. You are able chomp through the green dirt and push around blue rocks in pursuit of your goal, but be warned: while the digger is not affected by gravity, a rock or gem will roll on curved surfaces, and without any support, it will start plummeting to the bottom of the screen. That can lead to a painful squishing, so watch out! There are enemies to avoid as well, though the fact that they are squishing-vulnerable as well gives you an edge in the strategy department. Complete all 25 levels, and maybe you'll show the world this digger ain't so crazy after all. Despite background music that deserves the audio equivalent of an epilepsy warning, Crazy Digger is a simple and addictive time-waster in the Boulder Dash vein, and players looking for a burst of retro fun on their coffee break will not be disappointed. Especially those who hit the mute button fast enough.

Play Crazy Digger

Once in a while when you're trying to solve a room escape puzzle, do you pause a moment and take in your surroundings and say to yourself, "Hey, why would I want to leave this place?" A room where the surroundings are so lush and comfy looking that in real life you'd be kicking back and enjoying living the good life. Tomatea is a designer that specializes in spaces like that, so inviting that you have to wonder why anyone would be trying to get out. Sienna Room, one of their earliest efforts, is yet another place that could make you look around and think, "I could get very used to it here, and not leave."

And Sienna Room has some pretty fun puzzles to distract us with during our stay. There's a lot here that is very familiar in Tomatea's designs, the lovely scenery, the "I have no idea how to solve this" lock on the puzzles, the handy inventory and easy navigation. The only thing lacking is a changing cursor, that lovely glowing cursor that would show up in later games. This does cause a bit of pixel hunting but doesn't ruin the usual zen calm of a Tomatea escape, even without the soothing music. For this mid-week break take a peek at the early days of one of the more popular escape designers out there. And take a few minutes to enjoy the scenery.

Play Sienna Room

Note: If you're having issues getting the game to load in Firefox (we did), use Chrome instead.

Briquid is a physics puzzle game from Gamious that quite neatly combines brick removal, brick creation, and flowing liquids. With a few simple taps it's your job to shift all of the water on the screen to the designated zones, all while staying under your movement limit and without wasting a drop of the precious stuff. It's a bit of an extreme brain bender at times, but it's just accessible enough to work!

Simply tap an empty space to add a brick to the screen, or tap an existing block to remove it. Water immediately flows in the direction indicated by the gravity arrows on the side of the screen. After spending just a few levels getting the hang of conservative brick removal, you'll need to switch these indicators to shuttle the water where it needs to go. That means thinking three or four moves ahead just to keep everything in order!

Briquid is a simple concept built for the die-hard puzzle fan, and its retro look and feel certainly doesn't hurt, either. It's almost like Where's My Water? but on a grid and with a monumentally higher level of difficulty. The only real drawback is it requires a tablet to play, as the concept would take some effort to fit on a smaller screened iPhone or Android device. But if you've got the equipment, Briquid is a fantastic puzzle game with 100 levels to charge through!

Ever look into a mirror, and wonder about the world on the other side? Wouldn't it be weird if that world were the real one? Wouldn't it be even weirder if you could see things that didn't exist in your world? That's the kind of thought J-Horror flicks are made of. But it's also the stuff of noitcelfeR 2, a cool puzzle platformer by Wix Games. Use the [WASD] or [arrow] keys to move, with [W], [up], or the [spacebar] to jump. Avoid sharp things like spikes and spinning blades, bounce off enemies and springs, and make it to the right side of the screen. However, many of the obstacles you face will be invisible, only reflected in the bottom of the play area. Likewise, there will also be vampire obstacles which have no reflection. Completing a level, and completing it faster than the developer's par time, will grant coins that can be spent to unlock new features and level packs. While noitcelfeR 2 can be a little laggy when the screen is filled with objects, it embodies both a high concept and a simple concept quite well. With its eight level packs included and comprehensive community level editor, noitcelfeR 2 will keep players reflecting for a long time.

Play noitcelfeR 2

Tiny Squad is a wonderful pixelated turn-based strategy game from Kerpenko Ilia where you battle in several different pixel-y landscapes against various monsters until you come out on top! Before warfare ensues, you get to pick a team using a limited amount of cash to assemble your squad. You start out with a basic soldier, but will soon have an array of people to choose from. If you are unsure who to pick, there is an auto select button that will choose a team for you. When the battle begins, it is the highlighted unit's turn, with darkened ground indicating their range. Soldier units need to be right next to an enemy to attack, while ranged units can hit a target from anywhere on the screen. Hover over a unit to see their stats, and make sure to keep an eye on the health bars. With well done pixel art and challenging (but not impossible!) levels, Tiny Squad is a great strategy game. And while we don't know why we are fighting bears, robots, and ogres, we do know one thing: Humans must prevail.

Play Tiny Squad

Welcome! Ladle you some games from our extensive archives? How about a lovely 2005 from the Boxeau province? Or a vintage 2004 with an eloquent bouquet from Boxine? Try the 2010 box from Boxage because, well, just look at those legs!

• Cube Droid Saves the Galaxy - Cubes are basically boxes, right? In the puzzle game Cube Droid Saves the Galaxy from DevilishGames, you play as a little robot named Cube Droid who, well, saves the galaxy. A mysterious ship left thousands of metal squares and robots in its wake and they slowly started covering entire planets. Cube Droid's rock was left untouched, though, and now his only job is to save the galaxy. Basically, Cube Droid is a good-looking sokoban puzzle game, only with a lot more drama and some really cute artwork. It's also much more challenging than you might expect, but you are saving the galaxy, after all.
• The Moving Game - There once was a time when JayIsGames had a few hiccups while moving content from server to server. To distract everyone (including ourselves), we snagged a little diversion called The Moving Game by Benjamin Soule of Motion-Twin. The idea is simple: stick figures carry boxes from building to building, earning cash with each successful deposit. You can upgrade various attributes like speed, number of personnel, or the ability to throw boxes by spending said cash. Not a bad way to pass the time!
• Rumble Ball - Rumble Ball isn't, strictly speaking, about boxes. It's about everything in-between the boxes, but there's also some box smashing going on! From Orbox creator Arseniy Desrosiers, this unassuming arcade game lets you play a stylish billiards-esque game where you tap a ball around the screen, gathering yellow dots and bumping into cubes to clear a path. Play it for a high score, play it for the finely-tuned physics. Or play it because you really, really hate boxes.

While we welcome any comments about this weekly feature here, we do ask that if you need any help with the individual games, please post your questions on that game's review page. Well, what are you waiting for? Get out there and rediscover some awesome!

Hey, didja hear the one about the lady who tried to repaint that fresco of Jesus, but failed hilariously? Art restoration is no simple task, and if you're not properly trained for the job, you could end up unveiling a potato with an afro at the big reveal. In Gavina Games' Puzzle Restorer, you can try your hand at fixing up damaged photos by smearing around a puzzle full of paint, no spuds attached.

The picture at the top of each level is your target, what the restored painting is supposed to look like. Tap and drag a path from one colored block to smear some paint around, but remember that your path must also end in another similarly-colored block. Once you've made your path, tap the checkmark on the starting point to confirm your move. You have not only a limited number of blocks that you can paint through, but also a limited number of brushstrokes that you can take, so be sure to make every move count!

Paint isn't just smearable though, it's also mixable. When your path of paint crosses a square of another color, the colors will combine in that square, and knowing what each color consists of can help you predict what the resultant color will be. Primary colors mix to make secondary colors according to the standard rules (red and yellow make orange, for instance). Mixing a secondary color with one of the primary colors in it gives you the secondary color again (red and orange just makes orange, because there's already red in orange), but mixing a secondary color with its complement (for example, orange and blue) will always give you black. Black is an important color in this game, as it can be used to mask parts of your path while moving around the grid.

There are 64 standard puzzles to solve, which get trickier as you have multiple brushstrokes to work with, meaning you often have to use one stroke to set up a starting point for a second stroke. By solving the standard levels, you can also unlock bonus levels that throw some twists into the color mixing rules for you to figure out. It's all in a day's work for a professional Puzzle Restorer though. Once you solve a masterpiece, reward yourself with a bowl of fresco au gratin.

Inner Vision, a flixel visual novel, from debuting developer Sunil Rao, tackles one of the most important subjects, and one of the most difficult to do justice: suicide. Based on the author's own experiences with depression, Inner Vision presents you with three individuals contemplating killing themselves, and asks you to talk with them. Obviously, you cannot hope to solve all their problems in the course of a single conversation, but maybe the responses you click might help in some small way, and that's enough. Whenever a game designer explores a serious theme, they face the dual concerns that either the subject matter will overwhelm concerns of quality design, or that aspects of the medium will prevent the subject being given its due respect. As a very short and very personal game, Inner Vision does succeed in maintaining that precious balance.

The game's prose has the sense of genuineness that can only come from personal experience, and, going by the response so far, what it has to say has struck a chord with quite a few people. What's more, while the game faces its subject with compassion, any sentimentality is undercut by the presenter of the story, Yama, a cigarette-puffing skeletal-embodiment of discouragement and a truly vicious piece of work. You'll either want to see more of him real soon, or never again ever. Admittedly, the themes of Inner Vision make an objective review difficult: those who see something of themselves in the characters of the game will, of course, be much more willing to forgive the occasionally clunky writing. But, if nothing else, Inner Vision gives a sympathetic peek into the minds of people afflicted with depression. It's not at all subtle about its message, but it's one many deserve to hear: "You are not alone."

Play Inner Vision

Chewed -up gum and knobby knees are the dominant mental images one may experience while reading this edition of Mobile Monday. That, and the incessant repetition of Torgo's four second theme song running over and over again, never stopping, just looping. Forever.

Sand in your Android - The iOS game first released in 2012 has finally worked its way to Android! In The Sandbox, you play a god-like character with the power to paint with the elements. By dragging your finger across the screen, you can drop stones, bits of earth, water, even create batteries, lava, heating elements, and more. Not only that, you can also toy with the lighting, weather, and temperature settings, creating conditions ripe for just about anything your brain can cook up. Check out our full review for lots more info.

I LeFt a piEce of cHeWed uP GuM on yoUr pilLoW - Master says playing MANOS - The Hands of Fate is good. Master says Torgo needs knee replacements. Master says one of the worst movies ever made, which spawned one of the best MST3K episodes ever made, somehow works as a retro platform game. Master also says it's now out for Android. We like the master, don't we? 8-bit Torgo theme time!

Get your dragon on, on more devices! - 10tons, makers of the scientifically-proven best and most gorgeous matching games on the planet, has just brought a modern classic to mobile devices. Instead of stacking, shooting, swapping, slamming or other S-related verbs, Dragon Portals is based around dropping. Several dragons are flying together in a group, each with a row of orbs on its side. Tap an orb and it falls to the dragon below, snuggling itself between existing orbs and making a tidy match so you can stay flying. It's a fantastic fit for mobile devices and perfect for quick pick up and play sessions.

Free App of the Week: Plants vs. Zombies! - Each week on the iTunes App Store, Apple drops a single release down to the tasty price of "free". This week, that freebie just so happens to be Plants vs. Zombies, both the iPhone and HD iPad versions! We've got Plants vs. Zombies review, a special review for the mobile version, and a Plants vs. Zombies strategy guide just in case you're having a bit of trouble with those brutes on the roof. Grab PvZ for free anytime before Friday.

The name Notre Dame conjures up many visuals: towering flying buttresses, sublime stained glass, and a hunchback in love lurching through the bell tower. Now Play Favorite Games has added more to the legend with 9: The Dark Side of Notre Dame, a stunning adventure hybrid with hidden object elements which takes place in and around the "Grand Dame" of Paris, as Victor Hugo so fondly remembered her.

A little over a year ago Play Favorite Games came on the adventure hybrid scene and blew us all away with 9: The Dark Side. Well, they're back with an even better sequel in 9: The Dark Side of Notre Dame, a continuation of the story of the war between the Guardians and the Clan, as well as a modern retelling of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Someone with access some pretty dark magic has animated the famous gargoyles of Notre Dame, causing them to kidnap the daughter of a prominent and wealthy Parisian. Fortunately this took place during the Festival of Fools, so all witnesses thought it a great prank and part of the festival.

The inspector in charge of the kidnapping, Inspector Charmant, recognizes that magic and flying gargoyles are out of his purview, so he has contacted you personally, being that you are "The Last Descendant" of the guardians, as learned in the first game. The Inspector cannot risk his career on this "supernatural" option, so his briefings come in the form of clues and communiqu�s left hidden in and around the historical cathedral, giving you the player an idea of what is going on and him plausible deniability if anyone finds out that the Paris Police has hired a supernatural expert.

All you need to do is point and click your way through the stunning (and pretty accurate) scenery and solve the mystery with the help of the Inspector's clues, your own wits, and a charming gargoyle companion who is happy to lend a claw when something is outside of your physical ability. The bottom loading inventory and helpful refilling hint timer is augmented with a really useful map that not only shows areas with unaccomplished goals but which also allows the player to instantly transport themselves from one place to another, eliminating a ton of back and forth wandering. The glowing red guardian amulet is also back, this time its ability to find the evil runes hidden the scenery have an added bonus in being able to give life to whatever stone statues happen to be nearby, explaining your friendly gargoyle companion Gladriel.

Sparks of light and cascades of sparkles point out areas of interest and a handy changing cursor will help along the way pointing out places to go, people to see, and things to do. As with the first time around, 9: The Dark Side of Notre Dame packs a ton of gameplay into every frame with regular hidden object scenes, fragmented hidden object scenes, puzzles, and a wide variety of mini-games ranging from the simple to the devilish. Standard hidden object scenes feature a nice array of interactivity to find all of the items listed. Can you find the kidnapped girl and help the modern day Quasimodo and Esmeralda find happiness as well?

Analysis: Sequels to really well-made games can often be let-downs, inferior product rushed hastily to market to capitalize on the success of the original. Fortunately, that is not the case with 9: The Dark Side of Notre Dame, which actually manages to not only live up to the original but actually surpass it in some aspects.

The visuals are of course a treat, sharp and clear despite the night-time setting, not necessarily a difficult feat considering that everything takes place in and around one of the most visually exciting places in the world, Our Lady of Paris. The music is appropriately spooky and mysterious, adding to the atmosphere. Where 9: The Dark Side of Notre Dame really excels, though, is in the gameplay. Play Favorite Games has once again thrown everything but the kitchen sink into the mix, giving us an exciting and challenging series of games and puzzles to enjoy while trying to solve the mystery.

A great improvement is that handy map, a feature not available in 9: The Dark Side. Consisting of two separate layers (exterior Paris and the interior of Notre Dame) the map is extremely helpful not only in avoiding a lot of tedious wandering trying to get from point A to point B but also in giving the player a nudge as to where things still need to be accomplished. The hint feature not only helps with the hidden object scenes and mini-games (as a skip feature) but also helps out in the main adventuring sections of the game.

If there is anything to criticize about this game it is that it is a bit shorter than the original, which is a pity but not a fatal flaw. The amount of gameplay packed into this gem certainly makes up for any deficits, and the pretty, pretty graphics and animations are merely icing on the cake. The three modes of play (casual, advanced, and hardcore) guarantee a fun experience for a wide variety of skill levels and the lack of heavy violence and gore makes for a fun adventure the whole family can enjoy. Take a tour of one of the great architectural wonders of the world and have a grand old time with the gargoyles!

A Collector's Edition is also available. It includes wallpapers, concept art, music, extra gameplay, and a built-in strategy guide. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions, and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo Order the full version Also available: Collector's Edition

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

Young Elena Honnor grew up as many of us would have liked to: perched on her dad's knee, playing the latest family-friendly Adventure Game Studio releases as a father/daughter pair. One day, at the ripe old age of 9, she decided that putting together a point and click adventure was something she'd like to do and, more importantly, with the help of her father, Liquid Nitrogen, could do. (Shouldn't her name be Elena Nitrogen then? Maybe she took her Mom's maiden name.) So together, over the course of a winter, they set out to make the game of Elena's dreams. Now it's finally ready to show off to the world: it's Kitten Catastrophy, and it's something any crayon-wielding auteur would be proud of.

The story stars Daddy Cat, who, after a record day of mouse hunting, wants nothing more than to go home to Mummy Cat and convene his kittens for family dinner. Unfortunately, those four kitties, Rose, Max, Beauty, and Sessame, have lost their way, each stuck in a predicament, or having a chore they must complete before the dinner bell may ring. It's up to Daddy Cat to get his litter together, or else no one is getting any pie. Standard AGS controls apply: click the mouse to move Daddy Cat around the screen, and right click to switch between the various icons used to examine, interact with, or talk to elements on the screen. The inventory is accessible in the lower left, and, when an item is selected, you are able to use it on other objects as part of your right clicking repertoire. Finally, be sure not to forget to pause at random intervals, so that you may point to the screen and shout YOU'RE A KITTY!

Naturally, it is difficult to try to objectively discuss the merits of so adorable a game made by someone so young, at least without getting a little condescending. Like many works from AGS newbies, Kitten Catastrophy is an easy, straightforward, little game with few superfluous details. Of course, even if there are no unique snarky comments for a failed attempt to try add a tree to your inventory, the gameplay and programming are solid. Perhaps even more so than Sissy's Magical Ponycorn Adventure, there is a sense that the ideas here truly sprung fully-formed solely from the mind and drawings of a creative young girl, with her Dad just there to help put it on the computer screen. If only Sissy could've helped on with the voice acting, the internet might've been overloaded with pure joy! Kitten Catastrophe is a genuine work, with a lot of heart, and it's certain that any game-loving child and guardian duo will have just as much fun playing it as LiquidNitrogen and Elena seem to have had putting it together.

Windows:
Download the free full version

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

Although the situation you're in—locked in a room with apparently no one on the other side to hear your shouts and let you out—is quite typical, unReal by Factory.112 is not your usual escape game as far as puzzles go. And that's about as much as I can tell you because describing this nearly monochromatic room in too much detail will spoil the challenge involved. Let's just say it has a few devices and furnishing that are much more than they first appear and, no, it's not a glitch if you can't seem to get any of them to work properly. Using deductive reasoning, some lateral thinking, a lot of trial-and-error exploration and the point-and-click method to navigate, examine objects and interact with elements until you finally find and obtain the key to the door. Wordless and silent, unReal offers no other help than a changing cursor, so make the most of it. It's actually quite logical but, until you discover the method behind the disfunction of this room, your frustration might be a little more than unreal.

Play unReal