Articles by NaviFairy
Hey all you closet indie fans, why not come out and show your indie pride? Check out the new Xbox Indies app on Facebook and show off your favorite indie games to friends. It's a great way to show indie game support, as well as get back at your friends for clogging up your news feed with pointless personality quizzes.
Yay
- Squid Yes! Not So Octopus! - 80 MS points. In my mind, the name alone makes the game well worth a look, but there's actually a very solid shooter here. Unlike the modern trend with shooters, SYNSO! does not use a dual stick control scheme. Instead you fire in whichever direction you are facing, making for a feel that is both familiar and refreshing at once, and just all around fun. There are also a ton of options in the game, ranging from difficulty level changes to how psychedelic the graphics will be. SYNSO! has actually been around for quite a while on PC, for free I might add, so you might also want to check it out (and it's sequel SYNSO!: Squid Harder).
- Antigrav Racing Championship - 400 MS points. Do you wish that the Xbox 360 had a futuristic racing game like F-Zero and Wipeout? Well now it does thanks to Antigrav Racing Championship which boasts 8 vehicles to choose from on 20 well-designed tracks. Anyone looking for their futuristic speed junkie fix need look no further.
- Space Milkman - 240 MS points. Space Milkman is a platformer with cute graphics and a nice selection of power-up abilities. Unlike other platformers, you can't just jump on an enemy's head. Instead you need to whip enemies in front of you, or use a move where you jump and slide into the enemies. This jump and slide move also becomes integral to navigating the levels since it is the only way to fit into smaller passage ways. The jumping physics felt just a little off to me, but it never caused a death in-game, and overall the game is just so fun that I can't not recommend it.
- Mirror - 80 MS points. Mirror is a unique puzzle game. Each level gives you a line that acts as a mirror, and you are challenged to predict where objects will appear when reflected on the other side of the mirror line. It's a simple and surprisingly fun concept that I highly recommend for people to go out and give a try.
Get ready to yell "Objection!" while striking a dramatic pose with your Wii remote, because it looks like the Ace Attorney might be venturing to Nintendo's console in the future. That is, according to Germany's USK rating system which recently posted a rating for a Wii Phoenix Wright game.
Currently, suspicions are that Phoenix Wright's first console foray will be a WiiWare rehashing of his first handheld adventure. Last year in Japan the first Phoenix Wright game was released via digital distribution for PCs, which would make for a fairly easy port to a WiiWare game. In Japan the PC version took an episodic form, breaking the game's 4 cases into 17 chapters. However, given that the German USK rating only lists one Phoenix Wright game, it would be safe to assume that we'll be getting the whole package in one shot. Now, fans of the series might have noticed that I just said that the PC game had 4 cases, while the DS game had 5. This is because the PC version was based on the original GBA game, which was lacking the DS version's touch-screen intensive 5th case.
While it is a bit disappointing that the first Phoenix Wright game to hit consoles will likely be an older port, it is good to see the franchise expanding to new platforms. Of course, nothing is official at this point, but please tell me I'm not the only one that gets really excited thinking about the possibility of presenting evidence with an over-dramatic flourish of the Wii remote. Maybe this will help to make up for Phoenix Wright's glaring omission from Tatsunoko vs. Capcom.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Coming To The Wii [GamerBytes]
Great news came for music and puzzle game fans today with the announcement that the fabulous indie game Auditorium will be making the jump to XBLA, PS3, and PSP early next year courtesy of Zoo Games. What is Auditorum, you may ask? Auditorium is a musical puzzle game in which you control a stream of particles to trigger music in the environment. Reading it back, that sentence probably made very little sense if you haven't played it, which I highly recommend you do, but trust me that it is simply an amazing audio experience.
Auditorium currently goes for $10.99 for the PC version (which is totally worth it), so expect the XBLA and PSN versions to be priced similarly. And though nothing has been announced specifically about it at this point, Zoo Games has a history of publishing on the Wii, DS, and iPhone, all of which would also be a perfect fit for Auditorium. Check out the full press release after the break.
Let's face it, the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time movie is first and foremost an excuse to get Jake Gyllenhaal to jump around with his shirt off. And I fully support that. But what are we supposed to make of this trailer that was just revealed for the film? Not only does it feature very little shirtless Gyllenhaal action, but it actually looks like it might be a decent movie. This could disrupt the years of a cherished history where movies based on videogames are abominations not fit even to be used as torture.
Sure, the movie isn't following the exact plot of the game, and the game's signature acrobatic puzzles are nowhere to be seen, but I am still optimistic. Gyllenhaal's prince seems to take the Sands of Time character minus the angst of Warrior Within and Two Thrones, then adds a bit of the more recent Prince of Persia's snark. At the very least, it looks like it'll be a good popcorn flick to kick off the movies of summer when it hits theaters on May 28.
I don't know what the special occasion is, but this week Nintendo is releasing twice as many games as per a typical Monday morning. First up on WiiWare we've got three new titles. Carnival King brings all of the fun of a carnival midway to your home without any of the creepy carnies. "Aha! I Got It!" Escape Game gives you three challenging puzzle rooms to escape from. Meanwhile Family Card Games brings you popular(?) card games like Daifugo, Speed, and Memory.
The virtual console gets two new entries this week. Fighting Street is a TurboGrafix port of the original Street Fighter arcade game, which featured the first appearance of the fabulous Eagle. But if you're more in a mood to shoot things, then check out the classic R-Type, which this is the Master System version that had a bonus level not seen in the arcade or other ports. Then again, the near-perfect arcade port of the game is already available in the TurboGrafix version, so the Master System port may be a tough sell.
The DSi gets plenty of love this week with three games of its own. Sparkle Snapshots lets you add some glamor and glitz to your DSi photos. If you're more strategically inclined, Viking Invasion brings some Nordic tower defense action to the handheld. And to top things off, Battle of Giants: Dragons - Bronze Edition lets you, well, battle dragons.
WiiWare
Carnival King
Publisher: Incredible Technologies
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 700 Wii Points™
Description: Carnival King is a fun-for-all-ages video game that brings the spirit and energy of competitive carnival games to the screen. Players compete for top scores and prizes while visiting three different amusement parks: Arcadia, Dreamland and Lagoon Park. Each park has four sets of games and a Bonus Round to test players' speed and accuracy. For novices or sharpshooters, the games are continually challenging, and the difficulty level can be adjusted to match each player's growing confidence.
"Aha! I Got It!" Escape Game
Publisher: Ateam Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Play alone or with family and friends to solve this puzzling adventure game. Today is Milo's birthday, and he just got an amazing present from his dad: a room full of puzzles. Milo needs to solve all the puzzles to escape from the room. Shake, push and twist the Wii Remote™ controller to collect and use in-game items. There's plenty to solve - see if you have what it takes to figure it all out.
Family Card Games
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy are back for some good ol' card game action. Try your hand at one of three card games: Daifugo, Speed or Memory. Family Card Games offers appealing cel-shaded graphics, endearing music and friendly, competitive match-ups. You can play one-player Daifugo or play against up to three other random players in an online match. You can also view your ranking and see how you match up with players around the world. Test your reflexes against another player in Speed and see who truly has the fastest hands. Memory will test your mental capacity as you try to remember where cards and their respective matches are.
Virtual Console
Fighting Street
Original platform: TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM
Publisher: Capcom
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Blood, Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: A port of the arcade version of STREET FIGHTER, the legendary fighting game that started it all. Players control RYU or KEN and battle against unique fighters from all over the world. The first fighter to knock out an opponent and win two rounds is the winner. Power up your attack to three different levels - the longer you hold a button, the stronger your attack. Input commands to perform special attacks and deal serious damage to your opponent. Combine your normal and special attacks effectively to fight your way to victory.
R-TYPE™
Original platform: SEGA Master System
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: R-TYPE is a classic, side-scrolling arcade shoot-'em-up that was developed by Irem in 1987. It's the 22nd century, and you are humanity's last hope against the evil Bydo Empire. Your ship is called the R-9a "Arrowhead" and comes with a standard gun, but power-ups and upgrades are available in each mission. Navigate through eight challenging levels that will test even the best gamer's reflexes. The SEGA Master System version features an exclusive secret level not found in any other release.
Nintendo DSiWare
Sparkle Snapshots
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Take photos and embellish them to your heart's desire with Sparkle Snapshots. Choose from a large variety of fancy frames, backgrounds, stamps and funny outfits to decorate your photos, or use the powerful paint program functions to manipulate them in detail. Want to take a new photo and add it to your collection? Adjust the lighting conditions and lens type to match your subject and even use a shutter timer to allow yourself some extra time to get everything perfectly in place. Save your favorite snapshots in your Nintendo DSi Camera album and use Nintendo DS wireless communications to send your masterpieces to your friends. It's all the fun of a photo booth - and more - in the palms of your hands.
Viking Invasion
Publisher: BiP Media
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: They come from the North, and they're about to invade your Nintendo DSi system. Beware of Olaf the Viking and his motley crew. Even now, their drakkars are sailing up the rivers to attack your castles. It's up to you to construct fortifications to prevent them from pillaging everything you own. The more you defend yourself, the more ferocious they'll become. Before you know it, they'll be invoking legions of fantastic creatures straight out of the mythical land of Asgard. Fortunately, the experience you gain will help you to build even more powerful defenses. Thwart all your assailants' ruses and unlock new kinds of buildings: tornado-blowing windmills to repel the ships, monoliths that strengthen your fortifications or canons that shoot studded shells. Discover more than 10 levels, tons of units, a Campaign mode, a Survival mode and three difficulty levels. There's even a little surprise at the end. Can you rise to the challenge and stop Olaf from taking your treasure home to his sweetheart Olga?
Battle of Giants: Dragons - Bronze Edition
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: As last of the noble and rare Bronze Dragons, you must defeat the evil SALMU dragons and reclaim the 25 exclusive bronze gems they stole. Explore 10 maps and travel through the great jungles of Earth, the scorched grounds of Fire, the frozen wastelands of Ice and the floating islands of Wind. Customize your dragon's appearance by changing its body, wings, tail shape and colors - even add stripes. Test your dragon's fighting skills against your friends in head-to-head combat or four-player tournaments.
Yay
Frequency - 240 MS points. Frequency is an action/puzzle/platformer. You play as a robot capable of firing three colored bullets, blue, yellow, and red. But you also need to keep your colored ammunition in stock, so your robot has the ability to absorb any of those colors from enemies or objects in the environment. Taking red ammo from a red car is pretty straightforward, but things get more interesting with color combinations. See some green grass? That grass can turn into both yellow and blue ammo. The ammo also acts as your health, so switching between colors quickly becomes vital to your survival. Think of it as Mega Man meets Ikaruga, except without the unforgiving difficulty. On top of all of this there is a great story for the game, which came as a complete surprise, but a very welcome one.
Amniotic - 80 MS points. Sure, Amniotic looks like just another (absolutely gorgeous) twin-stick shooter, but it takes the genre in an interesting direction by incorporating elements of the popular game Flow. Enemies will drop orbs when you defeat them, which can be collected and added to your cell like a tail. This tail acts as your health bar, and when an enemy touches you or any part of the tail segments fall off. The orbs collected by enemies also act as weapon upgrades, which keeps the pace of the game fast with your cell constantly getting stronger with each orb collected. The game mechanics are fun on their own, but it's worth mentioning that this game looks amazing, especially considering the file size constraints of the $1 price point.
Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! - 240 MS points. The second game in the Arkedo series is a puzzle game based on the Puzzle League/Tetris Attack formula. Colored blocks come up from the bottom of the screen, and you need to match them into rows or columns of three or more. The twin stick controls work surprisingly well, and the bright colorful graphics give it a great sense of style. If you're a puzzle fan, SWAP! is an excellent download.
Beat Hazard - 400 MS points. Beat Hazard is a twin-stick shooter that allows you to upload your own music to impact the gameplay. Your ship's rate of fire is determined by the beat of the music, so the better you know the track you're playing, the better you'll perform. The game comes with 10 songs for those that don't want to import their own, and they all work quite well for a fun experience, but the game gets really fun when your own music is involved. I tested the game with the Persona 3 soundtrack, and for the most part is worked quite well. You quickly learn that not every song will turn into the most fun experience, with the game favoring techno or hip hop beats over peaceful pianos. But if you have the music library to back it up, Beat Hazard will last you for a long, long time to come.
Run Away - 80 MS points. Run Away is a simple game where your doodle character seems to piss people off wherever he goes, forcing him to run away from the would-be attacker. The gameplay is incredibly simple, breaking down into either jumping over obstacles or rolling under them, but it is also undeniably fun.
'Tis the season for special Halloween goodies in games, and it looks like Uncharted 2 may be joining Demon's Souls with a bonus treat for players. Naughty Dog posted a tweet very late last night saying simply, "Working late tonight, got a ton of things that need to get done..." along with the image to the right.
If I had to wager a guess, it looks an awful lot like red-eyed skeletons might be joining in on some Uncharted 2 multiplayer action tomorrow. The big question at this point is whether this is a new horde-like game mode fighting waves of AI undead, or if the multiplayer teams are just getting a special Halloween re-skinning. If it is a treat for the holiday, then expect an official announcement later today. Then again there's always the possibility that this could be part of some larger DLC, so we'll keep you posted when more is announced.
[UPDATE]: Naughty Dog just announced via Playstation Blog that there is a title update for Uncharted 2 fixing several multiplayer bugs. In honor of the title update, Naughty dog also announced that from October 30 to November 2 will be a double cash weekend in Uncharted 2 multiplayer, allowing you to quickly earn in-game rewards. There will also be Naughty Dog devs online playing with red paws next to their PSN names, so be on the lookout for some of the game's creators for target practice. The post also hints at "something spooky around the corner" with a much clearer screenshot of the glowing-eyed skeletons. We still have no idea how the skeletons are going to come into play, but it's sure to be spoooooooky.
Back in June we found out that a movie based on the Uncharted videogame series was in the works. But there was a big question about the movie still left in the air: which Hollywood hunk would play lead character Nathan Drake. I don't think I was alone in hoping that Nolan North would reprise his role for a film adaptation, but according to North himself that isn't likely.
"I would love to do the movie, obviously I'd love to do it as Nathan Drake [...] but I've done film and television and I understand the reality of the business."
It's a shame because North's performance really defines Drake as a character, making him one of the most charismatic and believable characters in gaming. Not to mention the fact that North is quite easy on the eyes and already looks the part.
So who is Nolan North thinking will play the part in his stead?
"[Hugh] Jackman is who I'd like to see. I think the producers would like to see Jackman too, because he has that tough guy exterior, but [...] there's also a lot going on behind his eyes. A lot of emotion and sensitivity on that brusque exterior, and he has great comic timing. He's a phenomenal actor. I just hope I get a part on the movie so I can work with Hugh."
Well, that certainly was unexpected. Personally I'm not much of a Jackman fan, but the more I think about it the more I can see him working in an
Uncharted movie. Of course, nothing is set in stone at this point, but it's nice to see the level of star power that Columbia might be eying for the part. Let's just hope that
Uncharted doesn't turn into another Van Helsing.
Are you excited for 3D Dot Game Heroes, because we certainly are. And with the Japanese release date of November 5 approaching, many of you may have been scrambling to import sites so you could get your hands on this retro-styled PS3 gem. According to a tweet made by the Playstation Blog yesterday, that shouldn't be necessary.
No need to import - 3D Dot Game Heroes for PS3 is DEFINITELY coming to NA! Spread the word, more to come.
According to Sony's Jeff Rubenstein, it was the game's yet-unknown publisher that made the announcement through Sony, and it will not be Sony who is actually publishing the game. Considering that From Software's last niche RPG, Demon's Souls, received local publishing by Atlus, and was a huge success, it seems that Atlus is on the top of the suspect list for 3D Dot Game Heroes. Atlus and other publishers have been contacted for confirmation, though as of yet have not made any comment.
This is fabulous news, at least for those of you living in the U.S. and Canada. There's no word yet on whether European and Australian gamers will be forced to import the game or not, so hopefully that news will follow the North American announcement.
Yesterday this video started making the rounds showing what appeared to be a 3rd person perspective option in a leaked PS3 copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The video, unfortunately, is of extremely poor quality because it was recorded from a live stream of gameplay. Try and pretend that the lag isn't there, and that the picture isn't fuzzy, and you'll get the idea. But turning Modern Warfare 2 into a 3rd-person shooter? That can't be right.
Except that it is. Official word has come down from Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling that there will be new 3rd person gametypes for online multiplayer. As Bowling explained:
"3rd Person is a new playlist mode in Multiplayer. So you can play your favorite playlists [or] game types, like Team Deathmatch just standard, or in Hardcore mode ([with] limited HUD and increased bullet damage) or in the new 3rd Person mode, which means you and everyone in the game is in 3rd person."
"When you're in a 3rd Person playlist you can't toggle in and out, you're always in 3rd person, you can't toggle 3rd person view on or off in a standard game type either, people in 3rd person can't play with people in 1st person, they're entirely different game modes. This is just another way to play the game."
So just to clarify, 3rd person will be a completely separate gametype in online multiplayer. That means no 3rd person in single player, and no people playing in 1st person against people in 3rd person. Why does this matter? Well, for one there's the fact that a 3rd person view allows you to look around walls without poking your head out from cover, which could give 3rd person players an advantage in a mixed game.
I'm pretty neutral on the 3rd person addition. It's nice to have the option, but I imagine that there will be significantly fewer players in the 3rd person playlists so finding a match will be a chore. But so long as it doesn't interfere with the 1st person experience, then I say the more options the better.
What do you think? Are you going to hop into the 3rd person mode, or is that a direction that the series should stay clear of?
Modern Warfare 2's Third Person Mode Is No Rumor [Kotaku]
With Halloween coming up Nintendo is unleashing quite the digital lineup to celebrate. WiiWare gets Ghost Mansion Party and Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3. The former is a family-friendly party game in a haunted mansion, while the latter continues the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood (mighty pirate) against the villainous ghost pirate LeChuck.
Meanwhile on the Virtual Console it's time to break out the water gun and 3D glasses with an all time classic Halloween game: Zombies Ate My Neighbors! For those wondering, this is the SNES version, so blood is green instead of red, but it's still Zombies Ate My Neighbors! The Virtual Console also sees the release of the arcade version of Golden Axe, which while isn't Halloween themed, is still quite awesome. The DSi misses out on the Halloween theme, getting a trick more than a treat. Picturbook Games: The Royal Bluff kicks things off with EA's version of Sudoku completing this week's DSi Ware offerings.
WiiWare
Ghost Mansion Party
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Fazzy the ghost has been locked out of his mansion by some evil spooks, and he's willing to give his treasure to anyone who can chase them out. Work cooperatively and competitively with friends and family to defeat the ghosts and discover a huge hidden treasure. Travel around this wild mansion in board-game fashion, landing on mini-games that everyone can enjoy. You'll even engage in challenges on the board itself as you try to collect magic scrolls and hints to reveal the secret word that will open the doors to the treasure. Get your Wii Remote™ controllers ready - you're about to play with them in ways you've never imagined.
Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3
Publisher: Telltale Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Comic Mischief, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: In the third Tales of Monkey Island chapter, Guybrush gets in deep - literally - as his quest for the voodoo exfoliating La Esponja Grande takes a scenic detour through the guts of a giant manatee. Our hero encounters a surprising band of castaways, including the long-lost explorer Coronado De Cava. Can the Mighty Pirate win the suspicious De Cava's trust? Will sexy pirate hunter Morgan LeFlay prove to be a ruthless enemy or an unlikely ally? Will the group find La Esponja Grande in time to save Elaine from the rampant Pox of LeChuck? And will the world be crushed by the gnashing teeth of a certain demonic skull? Tales of Monkey Island's moist and absorbing third episode, "Lair of the Leviathan," will answer some of these urgent questions and raise even more as the five-month adventure builds to its epic climax.
Virtual Console
Zombies Ate My Neighbors™
Publisher: LucasArts
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: You will play the game as one of two brave kids: Zeke or Julie. Both kids use the same control scheme and have the same characteristics. If you're playing in two-player mode, each player must pick a kid. You can't have two Zekes or two Julies. Each player starts with three lives. When your life bar runs out, you lose a life. There are hidden 1-Up bonuses in the game. You may also earn bonus lives if you have 10 victims left when you finish a level. Get ready to conquer 48 levels of giant ants, mad scientists and big babies. Find seven bonus levels (look for the question marks), earn points and stockpile your water pistols and other weapons.
Golden Axe
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Blood, Fantasy Violence
Price: 900 Wii Points
Description: In this original arcade game that launched the popular Golden Axe series, the evil Death Adder has invaded your land and taken the king and princess prisoner. Three mighty warriors step forward to bring the villain to justice: powerful fighter Ax Battler, Amazon warrior Tyris Flare and mighty dwarf Gilius Thunderhead. They will use their weapons and magic to fight their way through Death Adder's hordes. Along the way, they'll mount fearsome, fire-spitting beasts to help even the odds. Team up with a friend and enjoy two-player simultaneous game play for a better chance of survival.
Nintendo DSiWare
PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Aristocratic opponents square off in PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff, a game of strategy and deceit. Compete for points by adding or subtracting colored chips from rows on the game board and trying to guess each of your opponent's secretly assigned chip colors. Once you're confident in your deduction, issue a Call Out attempt to earn bonus points - at the risk of giving your opponent an extra point if you're wrong. Three modes of play (Tournament, Free Play, DS Wireless Play) offer a variety of options, from facing off against an assortment of computer opponents to competing in a wireless match with up to four players. Throw Trick Cards into the mix and you've got a winning combination of tactics and trickery that's sure to score points.
SUDOKU
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: SUDOKU offers hundreds of number-crunching puzzles that will stretch your brain power to the limit. Take it even further by playing in the exclusive Newspaper Mode. Add a daily puzzle from your favorite paper and build your very own collection. From Easy to Insane, a total of five different levels are available for novices and masters alike. Enjoy a host of grid designs that will keep you coming back for more. This worldwide phenomenon delivers an exhilarating game of logic that's not only challenging, but also surprisingly relaxing. It's everything you want for a quick puzzle getaway. Make life easier by taking advantage of smart features like automatic annotation for effortless calculation of your achievements. Stumped? Get help with error-checking tools and friendly cell hints. Track your stats and test your reaction time with the in-game timer. This addictive brain game has been polished to perfection and renders a sleek design that's easy on the eyes.
Heads up about this week's update: all games that were 200 MS points have been dropped to 80 MS points. That's only $1! After the jump you'll still find the games that have been updated, but since over 100 games have dropped in price you won't find all of the price changes. For the full list of price changes check out here. But since some awesome games are now much cheaper, after the jump there will be a buyer's guide for the best games that were included in the price drop.
Yay
- Minigolf Mania - 400 MS points. Minigolf Mania is the game I have been secretly dreaming of for a long time. There are plenty of arcade-style golf games, but until new there hasn't really been a good minigolf game, with moving obstacles and winding greens. Minigolf Mania fills this niche with 4 courses that range from the typical windmill holes to ice-covered greens to make the ball skid. In addition to the main golf game there is safari golf, which puts animals on the course that you need to collect before going for the hole. It's an odd diversion, but a fun one none the less. Minigolf Mania is a joy to play, and I highly recommend it to anyone else who has been secretly wishing for a fun game to putt around in.
- Echoes+ - 240 MS points. Echoes+ is what would happen if Asteroids was reborn as a twin-stick shooter with Geometry Wars-esque neon glow. And though it may look like Geometry Wars, Echoes+ surpasses it in just about every way. Asteroids, moons, planets, stars, and black holes fly into the level for you to destroy, crumbling into smaller pieces to be destroyed. Unlike similar games, Echoes+ uses a health bar rather than a 1-hit kill policy, which is much appreciated when hundreds of tiny asteroids are floating around the level. There are a number of gameplay modes such as classic, time attack, survival, and more for unique challenges like dodging meteors and fighting snake-like asteroid belts. On a final note, it's also the sequel to the awesome freeware PC indie game Echoes, so be sure to check that out too.
- Astro Match3 - 240 MS points. Astro Match3 is a fun twist on the typical Bejeweled clone. Whenever 3 or more shapes are matched together the background of those squares changes color, first to red, then blue, then gold. The level is then complete when all squares have been changed to gold. This traditional mode is fun on its own, but there is also an alternate mode that only lets you move the shape from wherever your last selected square was, but that shape can be swapped with any other square on the board. This mode adds a whole different way of strategic thinking that is refreshing from all of the "me too" puzzle games out there.
- Banana Split - 240 MS points. Banana Split is a 2D platformer starring a dapper banana in a top hat. I was sold right there, but it turns out the gameplay is actually good on top of the great concept. The jumping does feel a little heavy at first, but it doesn't take long to get used to it. If you're in the mood for some classic platforming action, then give Banana Split a try.
- Crate Expectations - 240 MS points. Crate Expectations has very high production values with a great visual style crisp, clean graphics. The game is a competitive sliding block puzzle, where
two up to 4 players try to slide crates into the other player's base. There's a lot of strategy involved since crates can block the opponent's path, or temporary ice blocks can be placed on the level to act as walls. Thankfully there is a single player mode so solo players can still get in on the fun, or practice for multiplayer matches, but the game truly shines in multiplayer where it encapsulates the mantra of "easy to learn, tough to master."
- Carcophony - 400 MS points. Carcophony is a puzzle game that has you directing traffic on 5 different city streets. You only actually control the traffic lights at intersections, trying to get all of the cars to where they want to go while trying not to cause major traffic jams. It's highly addicting. It may be priced a bit high, or perhaps I'm just spoiled because I have a similar game on my iPhone that was only $1 (Gridlocked, for those wondering), but regardless of price it's just a well made fun game.
- Pumpkin Chop - 80 MS points. I went into Pumpkin Chop expecting it to be a simple pumpkin "carving" app where you put the equivalent of decals on a picture of a pumpkin. This is not the case. Pumpkin Chop is a very versatile little app that lets you design pretty much any pumpkin design that you can think of. Give it a try, you'll be impressed by all you can do with the simple interface.
And girls who like girls who like rumble packs!
Gay Gamer of the Week
Recent Comments
GGP Mailing List
Are you gay and working in the games industry? If you are interested in networking with other folks like you within the industry, try joining the Gay Game-Industry Professionals mailing list.
Links
The GayGamer Store
- Help support GayGamer by purchasing your items through our store!
All rights reserved © 2006-2008 FAD Media, Inc.
