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Title: A G-G-Ghost!
Author: SpastikChuwawa (James Morr)
Release date: 20 July 2009
Playtime(*): 628
Size: 11.5Mb
Another game about ghosts. This time it's hunting the killer of your father. With loads and loads of humor and a narrator that won't shut up.
But that's the most fun about the game, the great dialogs between the main character, Doug McBlandface, and the narrator. When it almost seems to derail, there's intervention from the hooded man who will send you on your mission to get the classical inventory items for the spell.
But the the items you need are not so classical. They, pretty hard to find but with some creativity and imagination you can do the job. They are all within reach and when you're at it, you'll do some more gruesome discoveries. You have to find out for yourself.
The story is nice, to too big and the game play is good. Puzzle not too hard but certainly not unsolvable. Maybe just hindered by the lack of hotspots on the inventory objects, it's the only negative point I could find.
The graphics are nicely done, crisp and scenes are not overcrowded with hotspots but certainly enough to make the puzzles a bit harder. These hotspots, by the way, leave enough possibility for a sequel or a 'deluxe' version. With nice sound effects, great musical score at the right moment and a clear verbcoin interface, it all adds up to a great game. Not long but when you're into ghost hunting, like a few classical references and humoristic dialogs and have 30 minutes to spare, it's the game for you.
Title: A night to remember
Author: Float On (Ethan Damschroder)
Release date: 23 July 2009
Playtime(*): 1250
Size: 3.6Mb
A lot of games have been released lately that deal with the spiritual world. There's Wheel of Torture in the MAGS section, Ben Chandler's Heed, Dave Gilbert's Blackwell addition and now there's also A night to remember from first-timer Ethan Damschroder. Although not completely done alone, it's mainly a one man project.
It's a story about a con artist who tries to uncover the suspected malpractice of an entrepreneur. But as soon as he tries to get closer to the main suspect, things don't work out as planned and will it become a night to remember.
A great story with a good plot. There's a lot of reading to do from dialogs and documents and you're introduced to all characters in a fast pace at the start so you have to pay attention to remember who's who later on. The graphics are nice, clean but at some points I find them too clean. There could have been more detail and more objects in certain rooms (especially the hall) to make the images richer and enhance the game play.
The game isn't difficult. It's more walking from A to B and finding the right room to let the story continue. There are two real puzzles in it and you can't progress before the needed actions have taken place so with these puzzles you're also pushed in the right direction. A negative side effect is that objects that weren't available at first, will be later on in the game and interaction with people will change as game progresses. Looking at first will become taking later on. Somewhat distracting and confusing. The rest of the game is more pixel hunting.
The interface of the game is simple. The menu and inventory can be accessed via the TAB key but make sure you use the right cursor before you open the inventory otherwise you can't select any objects to work with.
The music in the game is nice and not too dominant. At moments it's a good addition to the drama at others it can become a bit annoying because of repetition. With the lighting effects (very well done) the game as a whole is a nice spiritual drama to work through.
So overall it was an enjoyable journey but for me it won't be one to remember. You should do with the author though, because I'm sure the next one will be.
Title: Little Girl In Underland
Author: The Ivy (Erin Robinson)
Release date: 7 september 2008
Playtime: 5 minutes
Size: 7.3Mb
It's not really a game. Actually it's an interactive movie. But one with lots of humor. What else to expect from this author, who also made Nanobots and Spooks.
Always good for stunning graphics and, just like in Damsel, you can't do without the audio. No less than 10 voice actors were used to give the funny characters an even more funny voice. Again a perfect example of what audio can do to a game. Turn it off and the game isn't interesting anymore.
The story is based upon American McGee's 'Alice'. Just as evil but much funnier. It's a story we've all heard once: the girl who became very little and wandered around in a fantasy world in search of her way back. But in this case it's no fantasy world, is it? The communist regime is real (yes still) and the enemy is in everything. But it's up to Little Girl to fight it. And she will of course.
If you can spare 5 minutes, play the game. Your download will probably take longer. And if you wait long enough, after the credit roll you can unlock the bonus material.
Title: Damsel
Author: Strange Visitor Productions
Release date: 25 september 2008
Playtime: 15 minutes
Size: 57.3Mb
A prince, a woodcutter and a dragon is what's needed to get the damsel out of her doorless tower. Are they any help? Not really. On the other hand. She couldn't have done it without them. Because they make the game to what it is: a fifteen minutes of fun.
With great, nice, clean graphics this game is a must play. With not too difficult puzzles it just something to get your mind off your daily business.
The best feature of this game is the voices. Although you can download the game without the voice pack, I'd say it's not an option. Download the full version and you'll see what real voice acting can contribute to a game. Windpiper, ElaineMC and Jesse Cox did a tremendous job here to give a voice to the characters. Especially Jesse as the prince made me laugh out loud. Together with the music of TwinMoon and the animations of Pijin Pastrana the game is complete. You can tell it's not the work of newbies.
Negative points? It's short. But that's on the other hand the positive side. With the subtitle Stress on the Tress this was the first chapter of more to come. The production team announced to have enough ideas for several situations and locations for Damsel to get out of. I just can't wait. I'm always prepared to help a Damsel....
Title: Smiley's Quest
Author: Babar
Release date: 22 september 2008
Playtime: 25 minutes
Size: 1.3Mb
Another oldie, or should I say new one? After a development time of over 5 years, the game is finally released. Not that it took that long to develop, it took that long to be found again. And then parts 1 (another part 1?) and part 2 were already released, according to the homepage of the author (although number 2 is not listed..).
After you wake up having had a nightmare, you realize it wasn't a nightmare at all or you're still dreaming and the police is at your door. So what else to do than take your money and run....
The game isn't very difficult. There are some logical puzzles in the sense that they are obvious and well hinted. When I reached the map with the car I though: not another police-quest clone... but it's not that bad. You don't have to drive for hours to find your destination and there aren't hundreds of option. Just 4 locations, close together. That saves a lot of annoyance.
What I particularly liked in the game was the switch to the house to find the meteor. A nice combination of logic, nice graphics and good navigation. Well done! Also the fact that you can choose two routes in the game, the easy way and the hard way, although you don't know which one is which when you have to choose.
The key-part combining puzzle might have been more of a challenge. The parts were quickly found and put together, the encrypted letter (very obviously hidden) could have been made more difficult encrypted to extend the game play. The trick in this case was the speed with which is was presented.
Overall it's a nice, fun, solid game that's not too difficult and has graphics that aren't messy and good to look at. Not brilliant, but nice. Not the huge downloads I've seen lately, a good sense of humor (buying a car can be very easy sometimes) and several dead bodies (a good game can't do without) and resurrections. So a good start of what could become a series. Or already is..? Curious what number two will be.. eeehh, number three.. no four... oh well.....
