Posted by Derek Yu
Wed, 07 May 2008 16:14:00 GMT
Droid Assault is a new action game from Puppygames. Just as Titan Attacks was a “Puppified” version of Space Invaders, and Ultratron a Puppified Robotron, Droid Assault is Paradroid given the Puppy treatment.
In Paradroid, players controlled an “Influence Device,” an otherwise weak droid with a very special ability – it could control and command droids after beating them in a logic-based circuit game. Droid Assault eschews this mini-game and lets you “transfer” to a droid so long as you have enough transfer points (obtained per 1000 score points). Also, once a droid has been transferred, it joins your team and can be controlled at any time (or when your current droid is blown up).
Longtime Paradroid fans may find this a bit off-putting, since the circuit mini-game was a big part of Paradroid (and allowed skilled players to take over even the mighty level 999 droid with a lowly Influence Device). However, Droid Assault is clearly built for speed and action, and as such it’s a highly enjoyable game with frantic action. The graphics and music are also ace, as we should come to expect from Caspian Prince and his team.
If I had any complaint, its that it’s occasionally difficult to discern blocks, pits, walls, and floors. Other than that, I’d highly recommend this very affordable ($10) little game. (And give Freedroid a try if you’d like to play the original!)
Posted in Remakes, Macintosh, Highly Recommended, Linux, Windows, Action / Arcade | Tags Puppygames | 31 comments
Posted by Jordan Magnuson
Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:46:00 GMT
One of my all time favorite “Click” games. You play the White Wizard, residing in a medieval fantasy fortress where you create and unleash hordes of minions onto a 2D battlefield with one goal in mind: defeat the warlord across the way. If you ever played Three-Sixty Pacific’s Armor Alley, you’ll find that the premise is similar, but this game might just be better than its classic counterpart.
The mechanics are fairly simple: use the keyboard to move blocks of resources around to form combinations which produce troops, then unleash those troops to the battlefield where they fight automatically as best they can. The game blends strategy, tactics, and dexterity in a really interesting way.
On the strategic level you will have to decide which Warlord to play (each has their strengths and weaknesses), and what your general plan of unit production is going to be: a cheap mix of foot soldiers and archers, with an occasional battering ram thrown in? Or perhaps you will rely on more advanced technology and an air based assault? Or how about trying to infect your opponent’s troops with the Black Plague?
On the tactics level you’ve got to respond to the situation at hand, both in terms of the resources you have in front of you, and the current state of the battlefield.
Finally, on the dexterity level… well, the game is played in freakin’ realtime, and you better get good at moving those blocks of resources around!
Siege has a couple of flaws, like its tiny 320×200 resolution and some imbalances that I’ll let you discover, but these small detriments are small next to the fun of madly mixing resources and watching your miniature troops fight it out to the death in front of you, with your arch-nemesis pounding away on the keyboard beside you.
The game supports human vs. computer and human vs. human play. I don’t have to tell you which is better.
Download Siege for free from WinSite (1.35 MB).
P.S. You may need to run the game in Windows 95 compatibility mode; and remember to copy cncs32.dll to your system32 directory if the game doesn’t work.
Posted in Multiplayer, Highly Recommended, Windows, Strategy, Action / Arcade, Freeware | Tags FallenAngelIndustries | 24 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:28:00 GMT
Oh, man, this game is fun! Trials 2 Second Edition is a physics-based motorbike game that’s reminiscent of the classic Elasto Mania. The series began with two Flash games, Trial Bike (and variants) and Trials 2. Trials 2 SE, however, is a downloadable commercial title with really nice 3d graphics and many more options (although the 2d gameplay remains more or less unchanged).
The goal of each track is to make your way from one end to the other. In between, you’ll be jumping gaps, popping wheelies, doing loop-de-loops… and probably smashing your poor rider into every surface along the way. Have you ever fallen face-first into a tire fire? I’ll bet even Travis Pastrana hasn’t.
Thankfully, this is another game where losing can be as entertaining as winning (hurray for 3d ragdoll physics!). Also, checkpoints are placed liberally, and restarting is as easy as hitting a button. Trials 2 Second Edition is surprisingly frustration free.
The full version of the game is $19.90 USD, and gives you 40 tracks, 3 game modes, 25 achievements, and the ability to maintain a profile and compete with other players for online ranking. One of the coolest features of T2SE is that, when comparing scores, you can click an icon next to a player’s name to either watch a replay of their best run (complete with key presses), or to race with their “ghost.” You can also create and join teams and compete as or within a group. (Which reminds me, team “TigerSauce” is looking for members! The password is herebeowls.)
So yeah, damn fun game. Video after the jump!
Read more...
Posted in Highly Recommended, Videos, Windows, Sim, Physics, Action / Arcade | Tags Redlynx | 24 comments
Posted by Xander
Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:10:00 GMT
Oh yes, it’s finally here! Noitu Love 2 is the very long awaited sequel to the original side-scrolling mighty-morphing action game from Konjak. Hit up the site for both an extended demo version and to purchase the full version online. The forums do seem to list some problems with getting order emails through, which seems mainly to do with PayPal (although it worked for me), so if you can avoid using that then maybe a better plan as there are a number of payment options, but if not I’m sure it’ll probably work out fine anyway.
$20 may seem a little high (edit: according to the comments, this is apparently only the case if you’re a student… bugger…), but I swear on my reputation as the most ‘occasional’ contributor to TIGSource that if you at least give the demo a try you will not be disappointed. And if you have already, then you’re probably too busy clicking the above link to read this. I understand. Do what you must. As well as the main 7-level IGF finalist game, the full version also offers a wealth of unlockable content, including one extra that’s so awesome I swear I’m running my second-playthrough pantless.
Happy gaming TIG!
Posted in Platformers, Nerd Love, Highly Recommended, Windows, Action / Arcade, IGF / GDC | Tags JoakimSandberg | 129 comments
Posted by Jordan Magnuson
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:54:00 GMT
World 2 update 1.5 is fast approaching.
www.bornegames.com
Posted in Platformers, Browser Games, Action / Arcade, Freeware | Tags BorneGames | 8 comments
Posted by ithamore
Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:03:00 GMT
These are two acid techno music games by Hideki Kubo, which can be found on his Download page. In the first, vs Music, the main mode is Shooting[Play]. It pits the player against a single boss ship that has 3 lives, and the boss’s fire patterns are sequenced to the music. Movement of the ship is slower than I normally like, but the slowness also makes dodging that much more precise. Use C for continuous fire, X to clear the screen of shots with a bomb, and SPACE to get past the intro screen and to start a play mode.
Action Jockey, the second game, is a 2D, fixed screen jump-and-shmp. The available enemies and bosses are changed by adjusting mixer settings during the Acid Machine Phase. Of the 3 bosses, I’ve only been able to beat the Pong Paddle bosses so far, and it seems the game simply loops until you run out of hearts. You can fire with C and X can be used to jump, double jump, or slide (when your crouched).
More info on the other modes of vs Music and Action Jockey’s variations can be found below in the extended.
Read more...
Posted in Music, Shoot-em-ups, Action / Arcade, Doujin | Tags HidekiKubo | 4 comments
Posted by Jordan Magnuson
Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:45:00 GMT
Gladiator is a brilliant Action/RPG hybrid playable by up to four players on one keyboard. Yeah, the graphics are “old” (whatever that means). Yeah you’re going to need an attention span longer than the average casual gamer to get your team set up. So what. Period.
In my opinion this game is one of the best and most classic multiplayer on one keyboard games you will ever play. The game was originally released by Forgotten Sages for DOS in 1992, but has since been ported to your twenty-first century operating system courtesy of Snowstorm Entertainment. Check out the game and see why it has an average rating of 9 out of 10 at HOTU.
Download and more info at Snowstorm. Man, you don’t even have to pay for this!
Posted in RPG, Highly Recommended, Linux, Windows, Action / Arcade, Freeware | Tags ForgottenSages | 19 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:24:00 GMT
In a world… of gentlemen…
When filthy pigeons plague the city…
One owl will rise to the challenge…
To take back the night sky with fury and malevolence.
Will that owl be you?
PLAY OWL COUNTRY NOW. LEARN THE TRUE STORY.
Read more...
Posted in Nerd Love, Macintosh, Highly Recommended, Community, Windows, Action / Arcade, Freeware, IGF / GDC | 28 comments
Posted by Derek Yu
Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:38:00 GMT
It’s still quite early in development, but I have to mention Omar’s Orthogonal Oyster Outing, the follow-up to Omar’s first tremendous oyster outing. If only to support charon and get him even more juiced about finishing this bad boy. ‘Cause it’s that great.
The original game, which pitted Omar against a town full of zombies, was an enjoyable action RPG “lite,” that had a number of interesting mechanics, like searching/securing buildings and fighting infections. O^4 so far seems to be that game, but with totally sweet minimal 3d graphics that can be zoomed and panned (using the mouse or the numpad).
The controls at this point are a bit obtuse and require that you have roughly 3 hands – you move with the arrow keys and aim with the mouse, but to shoot, you have to press the Spacebar. ‘Enter’ will get you into buildings. You can see the rest of the controls (and edit them all) by opening up “oooo.gei” in Notepad. This is a good way to get the game running in a window, as well.
Alse, be aware that in certain “omigod zombies”-type situations, Omar may start “panicking,” in which case you will temporarily lose control of his movement!
(Thanks, Alehkhs, I got it! Via Puppy Buckets.)
Posted in RPG, Windows, Action / Arcade, Freeware, Previews | Tags SinisterSystems | 12 comments
Posted by Jordan Magnuson
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:08:00 GMT
After some of the reaction to my Tremor post I feel the need for some sort of disclaimer here: this is part of my series on independent same-machine multiplayer games, and is not “news.” This is for those of you out there who enjoy playing multiplayer games on one keyboard, and haven’t yet tried this one.
Sonic Speedsters, created by Shorty Short Productions a while back, is essentially a glorified version of Tron’s Light Cycles game. If you’re not familiar with that game, the basic idea is that you control a futuristic “cycle” as it speeds around an arena trying to stay alive while knocking off opponent cycles. Each cycle leaves a long trails of “light” behind it as it moves, and these trails are deadly to other cycles, as are the arena’s walls.
You’ve probably played Tron, or some spin-off, but there are a few reasons that you should check out Sonic Speedsters none the less. Most of these boil down to the fact that the game is just FUN; it works, it’s done right. There are a number of cycles to choose from, and each is customizable, allowing you to configure for speed, acceleration, or maneuverability. The game supports single player “instant action” and campaign mode, as well as multiplayer LAN, internet (though you might not be able to find a game), and same keyboard play. The single player modes are fun enough, but the game’s multiplayer on one keyboard split screen action is just brilliant.
One of the best things about the game is the level of customization available. Besides customizing your cycles, you can choose between a number of settings regarding the deadliness of the light trails, and automatic turning and whatnot, making the game nicely scalable as you get better—and believe me, the better you get, and the harder you turn the settings up, the more fun the game is. The game also features custom resolution settings (a very good decision, as it allows the game to look good on my 22-inch monitor, years after its release), and a few different camera selections (playing the game from the “cockpit” view is a real blast once you get your feet wet). A variety of weapons, speed boosters and the like are of course available. The game’s feeling of chocolate coated speed is one of the best things about it.
Unfortunately the demo is no longer available on the official website, but I believe that it was released as freely distributable, so I’ve gone ahead and uploaded it here. The demo only gives you access to instant action play, but if you feel like trying out the full game, it only costs $15, and comes with a 60 day unconditional money back guarantee.
Sonic Speedsters
Players on One Keyboard: 1-2
Demo:
here (7.8 MB)
Purchase:
here ($15, unconditional 60 day money back guarantee)
Posted in Remakes, Highly Recommended, Windows, Action / Arcade | Tags shortyshort | 10 comments
