THIS IS SPARTA

Posted by Derek Yu Mon, 21 May 2007 05:48:00 GMT

This is also not really a game, it’s a screensaver. But it becomes a game if you try to see how long you can go without peeing your pants from laughing!

Posted in Unique / Bizarre, Windows, Physics | 14 comments

Bashanomics

Posted by Derek Yu Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:56:00 GMT

Toribash, the amazing 3D, turn-based ragdoll fighting game just keeps getting bigger and better! We covered this game almost a year ago, and its great to see it thriving.

GameSetWatch reports that the game has introduced virtual credits into their online community, creating a virtual economy based on buying and selling everything from custom body parts to forum sig graphics to stories written about the various clans that have arisen around the game. Man, I love this kind of stuff… the idea of clans, histories, and economies emerging from these little game worlds drives me nuts.

I met Hampa, one of the creators, at GDC this year, and he’s also a really nice guy. Good game, good people. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should.

Posted in Unique / Bizarre, Fighters, Community, Videos, Physics | Tags Hampa | 17 comments

And Yet It Moves

Posted by Derek Yu Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:50:00 GMT

And Yet It Moves is a 2-level experimental platformer that lets you rotate the game world around while you play. The concept itself is interesting, but in practice it’s rather frustrating, due to the extremely linear level design that requires a lot of trial and error. The fact that the main character (who looks a lot like Fido Dido, don’t you think?) dies after falling a few feet doesn’t make it any nicer.

The graphical style is pretty novel, though.

AYIM was a student finalist at this year’s IGF!

Posted in Platformers, Unique / Bizarre, Windows, Physics, Freeware | 5 comments

Sumotori Dreams

Posted by Derek Yu Tue, 24 Apr 2007 07:01:00 GMT

I don’t think I’ve laughed so much playing any other game, to be quite honest. Well, maybe Pillar Killer.

Sumotori Dreams is a sumo wrestling simulation that incorporates some sort of self-balancing algorithm. What that really means is that the wrestlers stumble around like a couple of drunken clowns. Add to that an easy jazz soundtrack and you basically have the funniest 88kb of fun you’ve ever had.

(Source: Sensible Erection NSFW)

Posted in Unique / Bizarre, Multiplayer, Highly Recommended, Fighters, Windows, Physics, Freeware | 14 comments

Penumbra: Overture Went Gold A While Ago

Posted by Brandon "BMcC" McCartin Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:10:00 GMT

I meant to post this ages ago, but then… things. So here it is NOW!

Penumbra: Overture is the first in a trilogy of full, commercial followups to the 3D horror game/demo Penumbra.

I’d probably have a bit more to say about the game if it would run on my (shoddy) laptop. But it doesn’t. The screenshots and trailers look sweet, though!

Discover a demo here.

Posted in FPS, Highly Recommended, Adventure, Windows, Physics | 13 comments

Tri-achnid... and Manhugs

Posted by Derek Yu Fri, 23 Mar 2007 11:25:00 GMT

I had the privilege of getting a personal demo of Tri-achnid from one of its creators, Edmund McMillen (the other being the programmer, Florian Himsl). In this game, you control a tri-achnid, as he searches for his brothers.

The atmosphere in this game is phenomenal. The graphics, music, and sound work together wonderfully to bring the three-legged protagonist and his world to life. You start caring for this critter almost immediately. It’s hard to forget when he first grabs his egg sac and lets out a little cooing sound. And when he slams into a rock too hard, you feel palpably hurt for him.

The thing that makes this game difficult to get into (and probably the reason why it didn’t qualify for IGF this year) is that it is hard to control. Watching Edmund play is great, because he can really get around and do some cool stuff, but for me it can be frustrating to even get from point A to point B. There are moments where the legs just don’t move as quickly as you’d like and it’s easy to get stuck… darn.

But regardless, I find Tri-achnid to be a real wumpus of a game that should definitely have made it into IGF this year.

Speaking of which, check the extended for some totally (not) poignant IGF reflections:

Posted in Platformers, Unique / Bizarre, Browser Games, Community, Physics, IGF / GDC | 10 comments

Cortex Command (Test Build 13)

Posted by Brandon "BMcC" McCartin Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:15:00 GMT

Right on the heels of build twelve, Data Realms releases build thirteen of their upcoming team-based shooter Cortex Command. Why do I even bother anymore? :P

This new build should fix a bunch of the issues with the previous version.

Download here, alright?

Hey Data! It seems that walking is much more clunky on my laptop than on my PC. How could this be? Also, I just noticed… CC is all “true” 2D, isn’t it? (I.e., blitting, sprite rotation, etc. versus hardware acceleration?) It looks fantastic. The gunfights are remarkably tangible.

Posted in Platformers, Multiplayer, Windows, Physics, Freeware | Tags DataRealms | 17 comments

Cortex Command (Test Build 12)

Posted by Brandon "BMcC" McCartin Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:08:00 GMT

Kaboom! Data Realms has released the latest build of their highly-anticipated (by me) multiplayer shooter, Cortex Command.

This new version adds some pretty substantial improvements, including up to four player split screen, keyboard and mouse control, improved AI and gameplay mechanics, and blast shields. Probably more stuff, too.

Be sure to download from this page to get the proper version. (Twelve.)

Thanks Rz.!

Posted in Platformers, Multiplayer, Windows, Physics, Freeware | Tags DataRealms | 25 comments

Line Rider™ Sells Out

Posted by Brandon "BMcC" McCartin Wed, 20 Dec 2006 10:50:00 GMT

Cult Flash hit Line Rider has been acquired by InXile Entertainment (The Bard’s Tale) to be published, with “new added features,” for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii videogame consoles, with an anticipated launch date of Spring 2007.

No, really!

Now, what does this mean for linerider.org? I don’t know. The new official Line Rider site is tagged up and down with InXile’s logo, displays their copyright on the bottom, and features an entire section dedicated to don’t screw with us legal jive. Though, in actuality, they probably don’t got the stones to shut down such a massive community. Particularly one they plan to milk dry.

I wonder just how much Mr. Cadež got for this deal. I hope InXile didn’t pull a Platypus.

Posted in Browser Games, Community, Wii, Developers, Physics | 12 comments

Fun-Motion Reviews Blast Miner

Posted by Tim Fri, 03 Nov 2006 07:49:00 GMT

I still think kids who spend too much time playing military-based FPS should consider joining the army instead for a real-life experience, if not for the discipline. Ignore me if it doesn’t apply to you, or if you think I spout misinformed statements.

Oh yeah, Fun-Motion writes about Blast Miner.

Honestly, what’s the deal with Line Rider anyway. Either I “don’t get it” or it really is a waste of time.

Posted in Puzzle, Windows, Physics, Action / Arcade | 14 comments