Game Review by Matt Bird
Game Rating = 4/5
You should buy this game if:
- You love old-style platform games
- You relish a challenge
- You have a sense of old-school, gentlemanly style
You should not buy this game if:
- You want an easy game – even on low settings this title is tough
- You want flashy, spectacular graphics
- You dislike monocles (crazy!) (more…)
Game Review by P. Stephen Baker
Game Rating = 4/5
Game Review Summary: Learning and quirky fun for the kids in one package.
Three Reasons to buy Air Forte
Quirky Fun
Quick gameplay
Learning made fun
Three Reasons to avoid buying the Air Forte
Flat Graphics
Repetitive
Strictly for the Younger set
“Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” was one of the seminal games of the early PC game craze. It was one of those games that every kid had to have and it practically started the “learning games” genre. Blendo’s new downloadable game “Air Forte” fits right into that inestimable game genre. (more…)
Mr. Smoozles Goes Nutso Game Review Rainier Wong
Game Rating: 4/5
Who says only 3D games can rule the gaming world? Mr. Smoozle Goes Nutso is a game that proves whoever says such thing wrong. If you love Pac-man, you will like this game even more. Although I am not a great scorer in games, I enjoy this game very much due to the uniqueness in its interactions especially the comic strips at the beginning of the game that reminded me of my childhood days. This game greatly challenged to my memory, and my ablity to obey instructions when I was playing it.
The object of this game is exciting. In this game, you play the role of Ed, a friendly creature who is responsible for bringing everything back to normal and restoring Mr. Smoozle’s mind who was affected by creatures from another dimension, the Gorogans who had also taken away reality.
Playing this game was really fun as it challenged my mind especially when I needed to remember instructions, when it really pumped up my andrenalin while being chased by Mr. Zmoozle, and when I had to quickly get the crown for the frog to get the “Displacer” before being hit by some “Reality Wave”. Like the traditional Pac-man game , you have to move Ed along paths to collect items to gain some scores. However, unlike Pac-man, you have to complete certain tasks before gaining enough power to collect the items, and find keys to open doors to other rooms. The way the instructions are given is interesting. You as Ed has to ‘converse’ with other characters to get them, and I like the way how each conversation was presented in comic-like speech baloons. Some of the conversions involved some humor too. Remembering those instructions was indeed a challenge to me. Another thing that challenged my memory was having to remember the way to exit to other rooms.
Using the keyboard to control the game was easy as only the arrow keys were used to move Ed around; and the Enter and Control keys to interact with the other characters and certain objects.
There are three levels of difficulties you can choose on this game. What sounded strange and funny to me was the second or intermediate level was called normal.
The game creators were very creative and innovative indeed when he used comic strips as part of the game especially in the introduction. It was indeed my first time playing such a game. Although the graphics seem to be more appealing to the kids especially the comic strips, and the characters involved, this game is great challenge for adults like me as well, and brings fond memories to many. The lobby room was the most colorful place in my opinion. The less colorful place was the Vortex room. There was something that appeared to be drawer but I didn’t seem to be able to jump to it. Perhaps, I must have missed an instruction earlier.
The sound in general was great. However, it would be a nicer to have a more lively tune as a theme song or something that is usually used for sci-fi or space movies. I enjoy the music used in the lobby as it was the most upbeat of all in the game. Perhaps we can have someone or a group to sing the theme song like those used in the old Hanna Barbara production cartoons. It would be nice if the player could shut down the sound as some people who prefer to play in a quiet mood. It would also be great if the player can just only shut down the background music.
Overall the game is superb for children who are 6 years old or more, and adults as well. You will surely enjoy this Mr. Smoozles Goes Nutso. My verdict? A 4/5 for this game.
Neogen 2 released the downloadable platform game called A Man With A Monocle” about a monocle wearing man who’s monocle contains the soul of another man. Interesting concept for a downloadable game. But hey, its meant to entertain. Give it a whirl.
Screenshot:
Vera Blanc Game Review by Matt Bird
Game Rating = 2/5
You should buy this game if:
- You like a lengthy tale
- You enjoy applying logic to your gaming
- You like comic books
You shouldn’t buy this game if:
- You’re looking for innovation
- You’re bored of point-and-click games
- You hate reading
Vera Blanc has it all: money, looks, a ritzy lifestyle… and, unfortunately, a tumor in her brain. This is enough to spoil anyone’s day – though when she winds up miraculously cured thanks to modern medicine, she’s suddenly able to add telepathy to her already magnificent repertoire…
Thus begins the story of Vera Blanc, a follow-the-story detective game that sticks you in Vera’s shoes. Having survived her operation and gained the ability to read minds, Vera is enlisted as a detective, teaming up with former FBI agent Brandon Mackey to solve crimes with her mysterious gift. And, in the case of this game, the major item on her to-do list involves a Werewolf – though who knows what the truth behind the monster may be…?
Greatly resembling a semi-classic comic strip, Vera Blanc is a point and click game. You proceed through the case, talking to people, making note of clues and trying to discover what’s up with this werewolf. Along the way you can use Vera’s claim to fame, her psychic abilities, to try and read people’s minds, or you can go the old-fashioned route and reason the crimes out with mere logic. It’s nice not to be forced to read minds all the time, as the mini-game associated with it – a little version of Hangman – gets tiresome.
Vera Blanc has less to do with exploration than simply following the flow of the story. What really matters in this game is how you proceed through the events, as they’ll change what happens; you’ll still probably wind up in the same place at the end, but how you get there can be drastically different from game to game. As such Vera Blanc bears replaying once or twice to see everything there is to offer.
That said, there are some polishing problems with the storyline. Take the beginning of the game. While you’re riding on a train to investigate the werewolf, Vera may discover a bomb in her compartment, and she can disable it in a mini-game. Later on, however, she makes mention of the bomb having destroyed your compartment. Having the story change according to your actions is good and all, but only if the story keeps up with those changes.
Overall Vera Blanc is nice looking. The art is clean, consistent and for the most part good enough for the game. Static panels detract from the excitement of the events, of course, but that’s no new problem to comic strips. The story, too, is well presented and written, though there are occasional flubs within that hurt the overall package.
Is Vera Blanc worth the money? If you like a good detective story, yes. This is a solid title and at $20 won’t break the bank. It’s not the most innovative thing in the world, but it’s far from the worst tale spun. 3.5/5
Dingo Games announced their plans to release the sequel to their game Tasty Planet called Tasty Planet: Back for Seconds towards the end of August this year we assume. Players guide a a tiny ball of grey goo through six different time periods as it eats objects smaller than itself. Here’s the trailer.
Zombie Cow Studios, creators of Ben There Dan That and Time Gentleman please! released their latest downloadable game called Privates for free on the PC. We don’t understand why game developers give their downloadable games away for free but we are sharing the news with you. Here’s a screenshot.
Inner Quest Game Review by Brandon Rutter
Game Rating = 4/5
Perfect for the casual gamer, Inner Quest offers a unique and relaxing puzzle game experience.
Reasons to buy:
- You are a fan of colorful slide-matching tile puzzles akin to Bejeweled.
- You want a calm, casual game. Inner Quest even has a “casual mode” wherein one can play levels without the stress of a timer.
- Inner Quest is a puzzle game, pure and simple. There isn’t a story; there are no gimmicks. (more…)
Chronic Logic has released Gish 1.6 with the following enhancements listed below. Gish follows a ball of tar (the Hero) as he looks for his girlfriend in the subterranean sewers of Dross, a long forgotten city filled with twisting corridors, evil traps and some of the most demented creatures imaginable.
Here’s a screenshot
-You can now choose the price of Gish when you purchase it
-All registration and DRM has been removed (no more hassling with registration)
-Added community campaigns totaling over 40 new levels
-Added 5 new community vs. levels
-Changed file saving locations in Windows and OSX to be in user folders
-Added 64-bit Linux support
Buy now and pay whatever you want:
http://www.chroniclogic.com/gishorder.htm
If you have already purchased Gish you can look up your registration information and
download the new version here:
http://www.chroniclogic.com/gish/gishlookup.htm
Check out the list of changes along with update instructions for the full version here:
http://www.chroniclogic.com/gishpatch.htm
Or Try the new demo here:
http://www.chroniclogic.com/gish_download.htm
Zombie Cow Studios, creators of Time Gentleman Please and Ben There, Dan that plans to release their newest downloadable game called “Privates”, “which aims to poke a little light where the sun doesn’t shine.” This downloadable game looks like a funny fun blast.
Here’s a link to the trailer:
Zombie Cow Studios plans to release a free PC version on the UK’s Channel 4 and E4 websites later this summer as well as an X-Box version with a price to be determined.
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