Score: 8

"Fun but ultimately inconsistent"

submission: Demolition City 2

date: November 10, 2009

This game has a solid premise providing an excellent challenge with great graphic execution and intuitive interface. However, the physics are highly inconsistent, sometimes dropping debris straight down and other times launching it across the screen. Randomness even appears when nothing is changed on screen and the detonator is hit again. This changes it from a game of skill and strategy to one of luck.

Score: 7

"Interesting concept"

submission: Mission: Midwinter

date: June 29, 2009

This has a cool idea behind it, but it seems to be too busy. The targets are too small. Still, animation and artwork are good, and any two of the major aspects of the game (present sorting, bombing chimneys, and avoiding snowballs) would make it a great game. As it stands, I just found myself doing too many things at once. While this may be part of the appeal to some, I found it a bit off-putting.

Score: 8

"Fun but flawed"

submission: CrackShot!

date: June 29, 2009

I meant to score this a 4/5 instead of 5/5. Still, it's a good game. The major flaw is the slow and somewhat finicky response to clicking the mouse. Occasionally a double-click will simply not fire at all while others it will let loose one or two shots. The ricochet physics are a neat feature, though some of the puzzles have very narrow windows of success.

All in all, it's a pretty good game. It's moderately challenging and worth a play.

Score: 9

"Subtle and beautiful"

submission: -Red-

date: June 29, 2009

While it got a bit tedious after a few minutes, this game was highly engaging. It's got a great aesthetic, simple and intuitive gameplay, and a wonderful soundtrack.

The smooth transition between increases in difficulty sort of makes it hard to keep focused, but it works well with the "scoring" system.

I look forward to further games!

Score: 10

"Fun and engaging"

submission: Upgrade Complete!

date: June 29, 2009

This is a humorous take on the upgrading element of games, but more importantly it is a very well-executed shooter. The gameplay is very smooth and easy to learn, making it easy to focus on logistics. The speed booster is fairly unnecessary since flicking the spaceship left and right keeps most of the field enfilade. Still, the difficulty curve matches the availability of upgrades very well, making it challenging but not frustrating. The graphics and animation are both very fitting. Even the 8-bit style is fun and functional. Perhaps future versions could incorporate an upgrade allowing the player to toggle graphic styles.

My only complaint is that after level 20 has been beaten and the ship is fully upgraded, it ceases to be much of a challenge. More levels or different challenges would be a great addition.

Excellent work!

Score: 10

"Compelling and beautiful"

submission: Morningstar

date: May 22, 2009

While most of the gameplay was intuitive with clearly-defined solutions (e.g. "Loose bolts? Good thing I have my trusty WRENCH!"), some of the critical plot points required greater stretches of the imagination and, ultimately, the walkthrough. Honestly, I combined the Buddha statue and the steel bar in the hopes of creating a hammer, not a prybar. Oddly, I did pick up on building a transformer bit right away. The inventory system was clear and well thought-out making the necessary item management easier.

The character banter was a little inane at times, but I suppose it's more realistic than them talking like hyper-masculine louts grunting at each other.

The best reason to play, however, is that this is a beautifully rendered game with wonderfully atmospheric environments. The cinematics at the beginning and end are truly wonderful to watch.

Score: 7

"Good stuff but too little of it"

submission: Hitstick 3

date: May 22, 2009

The aforementioned Dragunov zoom bug aside, the only problems with this game are the confusing movement arrows and the fact that there are only two levels. The levels are also fairly easy, allowing me to beat them using my laptop's touchpad and doing nothing but headshots when using a mouse.

Simple graphics undoubtedly help the game run smoothly, and the drab color scheme is appropriate to the premise. I'd like to see more distinction between the AK and M-16, but both are aesthetically consistent to both their real world counterparts and the overall look of the game.

While on the subject of guns, I'm not sure why the Beretta was included. It offers no advantage to the player and looks like a Sig Sauer while in play. Perhaps in future installations the pistol could be silenced so as not to alert badguys whose backs were turned to the player, or make it quicker to transition from an empty rifle to the Beretta than to reload the rifle, or just get rid of it until it has a legitimate place in this game.

Keep up the good work.

Score: 8

"Grayt work!"

submission: Gray

date: May 18, 2009

This is a clever game with a unique concept and original and well-implemented aesthetic. It was difficult to learn at first thanks to the chaotic nature of the game and the very few instructions.

I can't speak to the message behind the game, but it is delightfully cynical.

Good work!

Score: 9

"Beautiful, elegant, and fun"

submission: The Arrow Of Time

date: May 18, 2009

The artwork on this game is really beautiful and engaging while the gameplay is simple and smooth. The story and characters are cute without being saccharine. The music is also very appropriate for each level and highlights the action without overshadowing it. I really like the control options that make it easier to play on a laptop.

The only complaint I have is that for the vast number of arrow and defensive options only a few are worth getting. For example, exploding and homing arrows with a bubble shield and defense orb will get you through just about the whole game.

Great game all around!

Score: 10

"Hedgehog chucking fun!"

submission: Hedgehog Launch

date: May 11, 2009

This is an awesome game. It's simple and fun with smooth, vivid graphics, and a combination of action and strategy. Fast reflexes are needed for the flights, and the well thought-out equipping-up really adds to strategy.