This week we welcome Matt (a.k.a. merryprankster), who brings us tales of Vermont, consumer-friendly game companies, and his own charming boardgaming naivete. Also, the outside scoop on the Call of Duty gathering in Los Angeles, the fate of LA Noire developer Bondi, and mankind’s ongoing efforts to tame bees and defeat ants.
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Well that was unexpected. Another TOY STORY. This week’s community level. Should be sickeningly cute and childish, with annoying music. Nothing too taxing. Just enough to remind me why I love those movies so much and should steer clear of movie levels when playing this game.
Wrong. Another TOY STORY is challenging and gorgeous with a nifty sound design. Did I mention it was challenging? I can think of at least three spots where I thought I’d have to throw in the towel. I didn’t. I figured it out, and was pleasantly surprised. A movie-themed level that is smart and difficult. Not to mention evocative. Didn’t expect that.
I also didn’t expect to learn a lesson in gaming strategy from National Public Radio.
After the jump, the ants go marching in formation, hurrah hurrah Continue reading →
I love when I’m just bopping along, doing my job, trying out some cute little indie game I’ve heard about. And then, whoa, I’m suddenly playing what’s probably going to be one of my favorite games of the year!
Space Pirates and Zombies doesn’t fast forward beyond the apocalypse. You get front row seats when it happens. What begins as a sort of Star Control clone turns into a zombie game, which I wouldn’t tell you if the word “zombie” wasn’t already in the title. Besides, you can see the shift coming as you work your way towards that seemingly innocuous waypoint in the center of the galaxy. But it’s no less dramatic for being telegraphed this way, because Space Pirates and Zombies isn’t afraid to become a different kind of game once the dead walk the earth. Or, in this case, drift the stars.
Read the review here.
Above are some of the guys in the town hub for Cladun x2, the sequel to last year’s thoroughly charming and even more thoroughly addictive Cladun: This Is an RPG! They are, from left to right, Harry Potter, the Witchmaster General, and I think some guy from Marvel vs. Capcom. I can already tell I’m going to love Cladun x2, and it’s gratifying to see the new stuff emerge. I’m enjoying a series of “Ah, so they’re going to add that!” moments.
However, I have one very important question for those guys up there: Where’s Pudding? I can’t bear to think I’m going to play dozens of hours of this intricately configurable dungeon crawl without the first game’s brash but sympathetic heroine along for the ride.
