On occasion, indie game developers will drop the price of their creations to bring in some fresh blood. In this case, “Longshot” set a record for me as the cheapest game I ever purchased…five whole cents. The game was originally $4.99, but I lucked out and caught it during a 95% off Desura sale. “Longshot” is an action / arcade combat driven game, set in space. You’ll pick one of two sides and square off against the other team, trying to complete one of two goals before the other team can.
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Games like “Diablo III” and “Torchlight II” appeal to me not because of the mass slaughter of bad guys (though it can be fun), but because of the customization involved when leveling up your character. I enjoy molding my character in different ways to see what is effective and what isn’t. It’s this so-called love for this particular gameplay mechanic that drew me to “Battlepaths”, a turn-based RPG that allows the player to customize their character in many different ways. If I had to compare this game to others in my collection, then I’d have to say that it is a cross between the original “Torchlight” and “Dungeons of Dredmor.” Before we sharpen our swords and apply a generous amount of WD-40 to our armor, I’d like to thank Christian Werner, the programmer and “evil mastermind” behind “Battlepaths”, for providing me with a free review copy.
I won’t lie, I was really looking forward to playing episode two, mainly because I wanted some sort of resolution to the way the first episode ended. In “Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller – Episode Two (“The Wise Monkey”)”, the player will be taking on the role of Erica Reed once again to not only address a new threat to her past love interest “Sully”, but will be trying to piece together what happened during the events of episode one. If you haven’t played episode one yet, I suggest that you do so before reading any further as I’ll be referencing key events from that game from time to time. I’m assuming that you’re reading this review because you’re interested in possibly buying episode two, having already played episode one. Before we take a look at this particular episode in further detail, I’d like to thank Katie Hallahan from Phoenix Online Studios for providing me with a free review copy.
There’s nothing like a good mystery every now and again to keep the mind sharp. I used to be very fond of the Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective games back when I was a kid. I haven’t seen a lot of detective games in a while, so needless to say that I was excited to get my hands on this particular one. “Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller” is a point and click mystery adventure series that contains a total of four episodes. Episode one (“The Hangman”), puts the player in control of Erica Reed, an FBI agent who must solve a mysterious killing. The killing may or may not be connected to the tragic event that claimed the loss of Erica’s brother three years ago and in either case, you’ll be haunted by the event throughout the game. Before we take a look at this particular episode in further detail, I’d like to thank Katie Hallahan from Phoenix Online Studios for providing me with a free review copy.
“[Unnamed]” is another one of those free games on Desura, this particular one being made by the same person who developed “Insert Title Here” and “Evil”. The former of those two games I felt was fairly good while the other was a complete mess. How does “[Unnamed]” stack up against them? Watch me play the game or download it for yourself via the links below to find out.
“Sang-Froid – Tales of Werewolves”, a game that was recently Greenlit on Steam, throws the player into lower Canada circa 1858. You’ll be using tower defense mechanics, RPG elements, and third person action to protect lumberjacks and their families from the forces of evil. Before we get started, I’d like to thank Vincent Blanchard from Artifice Studio for providing me with early access to the Beta. As such, it’s important to stress that the game is not finished yet. Any game content or feature that is mentioned in this preview is therefore subject to change.
There are days where I like to just sit down and spend hours getting lost in some strategy game or simulator, and then there are days where I only have five minutes to blow off steam before I address the issues that come with being a parent. “Paranautical Activity” is a first person shooter that certainly falls into the latter category, as games can be over in less than ten seconds depending on how careless you are. Before we get started taking a look at this particular game, I’d like to thank the folks from Code Avarice for providing me with a free review copy.
I’ve played a lot of simulators in my day, but never before have I had the chance to own a simulated boating company. In “The Good Life”, A gentleman named Derek inherits a boating company from his late uncle. Tired of working for someone else, Derek sets off to the Jo Jo islands with his girlfriend Michelle to start a new life and attempt to make something of the boating company he inherited. Before we hoist our sails, I’d like to thank Manos Tsotros, the founder of ImmersionFX Games, for providing me with a free review copy.
I’ve had the pleasure of playing games that resemble the old fan favorite, “Dungeon Keeper” as of late…some being better than others. “Dungeons” kept me busy for a little while and “A Game of Dwarves” quote unquote ruined my personal life for a month or two with its addicting gameplay. This time around, I’ll be taking a look at the game “Impire” and while it does keep with the general “Dungeon Keeper” theme, it does some pretty unique things that warrants special attention. Like “Dungeons”, you’ll be assuming the role of a once powerful figure that has been kicked out of power. In this case, you are Báal-Abaddon, a great leader who has been reduced in size to the body of an imp after being summoned by a man named Oscar van Fairweather. Needless to say, you’ll be doing your darndest to see that Báal-Abaddon rises from his slump and regains power (and hopefully his prior form) once again. Before we get started with this particular dungeon-esque strategy game, I’d like to thank Veronica Gunlycke from Paradox Interactive for providing me with a free review copy.
You may have used the phrase, “boy, I’d like to be a fly on the wall for that” at one point in your life. In, “The Plan”, you’ll be doing just that…sort of. “The Plan” is a free, incredibly short game that puts the player in control of a fly that must navigate around the environment. You’ll encounter gushes of wind, leaves, and spider webs along the way that serve to trip you up. The music, graphics, and artwork are fantastic and the controls are very easy to manage. There’s a clear message that the game conveys at its end, but I won’t spoil what that is. You’ll have to go experience that for yourself. Feel free to download the game for free or simply watch me play through it by utilizing the links below.
“Fibrillation” isn’t so much of a game as it is a journey. There isn’t much of a back story and all you know is what is in front of you. Even then, your senses can’t be trusted. Do you have what it takes to see through the psychological horrors that await you, or will you close the program and vow never to open it again? Before we get started questioning life as we know it, I’d like to thank Egor Rezenov from Mechanical Starling for providing me with a free review copy.
“Shadowgate” was one of the first point and click adventure games that I had ever played. While I enjoyed pouring countless hours into the text adventures on the household’s TRS-DOS computer, “Shadowgate” introduced me to interactive story telling in a way that I hadn’t experienced before. “Castle Dracula” is a shorter, less complicated version of “Shadowgate”, but by no means does that make the game boring. In this particular game, you take on the role of a husband who’s pregnant wife has been captured and whisked away to a nearby castle. Armed with a crucifix, you head into the castle intent on bringing your wife and unborn child out alive. Before I head to my local grocery store to stock up on garlic, I’d like to thank Kevin Gondek from Gondefire Productions for providing me with a free review copy.
You’re fourteen years old, and you’ve just inherited the throne after the unfortunate passing of your mother. Your skills are lacking, your moods are all over the place, and you have no ruling experience to speak of. To put it bluntly, you’re in a lot of trouble. “Long Live The Queen” tasks the player in molding this new ruler any way they’d like in the hopes of one day becoming a positive footnote in the history books. Before we start ruling the kingdom with a tempered demeanour or an iron fist, I’d like to thank Georgina Bensley from Hanako Games for providing me with a free review copy.
I have some pretty painful boxing memories as a kid, though no matter how much abuse Little Mac took, I was mashing on those “A” and “B” buttons to have another chance at the dreaded “Dream Fight” (play your “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out”, kids). I dabbled in the Fight Night series here and there, but nothing sticks out in my mind more than Bald Bull’s “Bull Charge” and Great Tiger’s “Magic Punch.” Needless to say, I was surprised (in a good way) to see this particular game hit Desura’s “New Games” tab. It looks and feels like a modern-day “Punch-Out” on speed, but with some interesting mechanics thrown in for good measure. Before we start wrapping tape around our hands, I’d like to thank Gordon Luk from Goodhustle Studios, Inc. for sending me a free review copy.
Despite popular belief, games don’t necessarily have to be about gunning some hapless chap down before he does the same to you. Some games involve music, some games involve adventure, and some games simply serve to make you stop and take in your surroundings. “Proteus” is a mix all of three of these things and is designed to send the player on a unique adventure that they soon won’t forget. Before we don our hiking boots and zip up our backpacks, I’d like to thank Ed Key (the designer and programmer of “Proteus”) for providing me with a free review copy.
“World of Goo” was the last puzzle game to weird me out and as a parent, that’s pretty hard to do. “Puddle”, while similar, isn’t so much as weird as it is unique in that it offers gameplay mechanics that I don’t often see in my travels as a games journalist. Instead of ferrying lemmings or balls of goo from start to finish, you’ll be manipulating the camera to manuever a puddle of fluid (hence the title) around the environment. Before we get started, I’d like to thank Sébastien Chipot-Delys from Neko Entertainment for providing me with a free review copy.