Gemdance, Dance, Dance, Dance!!!

Review #95 – Free Video Game

Gemdance, Dance, Dance, Dance!!!

Gemdance is intelligent, simple and elegant. It really is what free games should aspire to be, at least mechanically speaking. Last week I talked about a game with a beautiful message and execution. Today, it's simple mechanics well implemented. So, let's begin.

In Gemdance you play as Galactea, a prisoner of Serpentarius, the king of the Zodiac. Tired of being just a clockwork dancer in his treasure trove, you escape, and learn that the Zodiac's power resides inside magical gems.

Gemdance is basically Arkanoid. You play as a paddle, and make Galatea bounce around the stage, breaking gems to get their power (points). But the beauty of the game comes from how much it does with such a simple premise.

Each of the twelve Zodiacs has it's own “tower”, a series of challenges tied together by specific rules, obstacles and themes. The towers share the “personalities” of the Zodiacs, and end in a creative (and difficult) boss battle with each of them.

I just can't praise enough how Gemdance uses it's simple rules and creative level names to create a wonderful and unique world, so you'll just have to play it.

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

External Download Link: http://gamejolt.com/games/gemdance-v1/17281

And Everything Started to Fall

Review #94 – Free Video Game

And Everything Started to Fall

This game is beautiful. I've been away from this blog for a long while now, and I do have a list of cool games to review. But it was this one that finally got me of my ass and writing again.

Why? Because it reminded me of something important to this blog. And Everything Started to Fall is a short game about... “life”. I won't spoil every symbolism used in he game, that's for you to figue out. But from the get go, from the moment you stop being a baby to become a little boy, you can realize this is one of the good stories.

The art style is simple, but effective, creating symbols that easily evoke the feeling the designer is going for. And the music fits perfectly with the game, soothing and ethereal, as we move trough a lifetime in just a few minutes.

The gameplay is also perfectly implemented. It's a game, you have to make a effort to proceed, and it's neither so difficult that it takes you out of the story nor so easy that your mind wanders off.

Next week, we'll have a game that exemplifies the other end of what the Warehouse stands for. A game where mechanics are not only well implemented, but also explored in depth.

For now, enjoy this beautiful game and it's story. See you all soon.

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

External Download Link: http://gamejolt.com/games/and-everything-started-to-fall/1262

Sky Serpents, Wata!!!

Review #93 – Free Video Game

Sky Serpents, Wata!!!

In a similar space to Shadows of the Colossus, Sky Serpents is a game where the boss and the stage are one and the same.

In it, you play as a bratty viking-sky serpent hunter, trying to surpass his fathers achievements and kill more sky serpents than him. It's all sky serpent killing from there on.

The game does a good job of combining the size of your enemies with the tension of falling off from them to your death. You've got to jump, stab, and hold for dear life, all while avoiding the creatures “natural” defenses.

It's not a “complex” game, but it does use each and every aspect at it's disposal. So, a successful simple game that I'm proud to recommend.

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

Play Online: http://www.nitrome.com/games/skyserpents

Extra Credits, [Insert Another Funny Wordplay]

Review #92 – Online Video Series

Extra Credits, [Insert Another Funny Wordplay]

Games are more than just games. Lately, a lot of effort has been put to making them a community. Extra Credit feels like a nice step towards that.

Staring people inside the game developing cycles, the series not only adressess design theory and game analysis, but also discussion of current events in the medium and offers tools and ideas for aspiring game designers.

You may not leave every video agreeing to every single thing they said, but they do bring attention to really interesting topics. Even if you don't care about working on your own games, it's worth to check it out.

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

Watch Online: http://extra-credits.net/

https://www.youtube.com/user/ExtraCreditz

ButtonMen, Roll the Dice and Fight!

Review #91 – Free Tabletop Game

ButtonMen, Roll the Dice and Fight!

ButtonMen is a two-player, free, dice fighting game. It's a really simple setup, but it's full of strategy and risk.

Each player chooses a character, and then takes the five dice that make up his or her fighting style. A character with mostly small dice (d4 and d6) is “fast”, while a character with mostly large dice (d12 and d20) is “strong”.

After the initial roll, player try to capture their opponent's dice with Power Attacks and Skill Attacks. When players cannot capture anymore, the round ends and they score points with each die they could capture from their opponents and keep from their initial pool.

This is not a complete explanation of the rules, but they are really easy, so you shouldn't have any problem with them.

And as a final recommendation, you should start with the “Fightball” Character Set. They don't have any special dice with special rules, and they offer seven or even eight starting dice for you to choose your pool of five, so it's easier to experiment and get the feel of each combination. Have fun fighting!

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

External Download Link: http://www.cheapass.com/freegames/buttonmen

changeType(), Hack Your Way Out

Review #90 – Free Video Game

changeType(), Hack Your Way Out

It's hard to find a game with an idea you haven't seen before. Maybe it's been done, but I have yet to see something like changeType() again.

The game is a puzzle platformer built around a single mechanic: you can mix the properties of the objects on the screen. This works as follows: you take object A (the blocks that make up the floor) and an object B (like a row of spikes). Then every instance of those objects exchange their properties. So now, the floor kills you but the spikes don't.

Besides that, the game is a straight forward platformer, and that's good. The changing mechanic is so broad, and you have so many elements to combine, that it would be daunting if your character did more.

And the graphic design is the thing that ties everything together, mixing regular video game graphics with flashes and glitches when you use your powers. So, it looks nice, and it play awesome.

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

Play Online: http://www.nitrome.com/games/changetype/

Basic Instructions, How to Find Some Guidance

Review #89 – Free Webcomic

Basic Instructions, How to Find Some Guidance

Have you ever said to yourself: How do I do this? It doesn't really matter what it was. Maybe you wanted to know How to Be Productive, or How to React When You've Been Wrongly Accused of Murder. It's all right, Scott has you covered.

The series follows Scott, a middle age, geeky, office guy (it's not very clear what his job is), as he deals with the mundane and the absurd. All the strips have a “voice over”, imparting wisdom from the situation.

It's fun, and inventive. If you are looking for lighthearted and smart humor, look no further. Basic Instructions is already here.

- The Storeman

Disclaimer: I didn’t upload any of the content in the following link. I have downloaded and checked it as I always do. I have even executed it in my own computer and did not experience any kind of problems. But I can’t ensure that it is free of virus and/or malware that my anti-virus programs couldn’t find. That’s the author’s responsibility.

Read Online: basicinstructions.net