Friday, July 31, 2009

More spooky business

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, although the font could be better in bigger resolutions. The images are 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.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

An author to remember

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.


Friday, July 24, 2009

Rattlesnake ready to roll

About 300 years ago, Josh Roberts began writing an "Adventure Architect" column on his game Rise of the Hidden Sun which he was making with AGS. Well, once again there's a column entry over at adventuregamers.com and there's this trailer too:

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Convergence released!

Well, at last Blackwell #3 is out, although I see that Dave's having some teething problems with downloads...

Friday, July 17, 2009

Post of the Week: Take Heed, 3 , 2, 1 Fight!!

-Heed

Ben304, is really planning on making all the nominees and nominated on the short game awards this year. He has already released two gems. Shifter's Box and Annie the Paranoid..emm..Annie the Android. The story is about you travelling to find the purpose of your existence. Wow, now that's some deep sh*&^. (:P). The game is really good and smoothly playable, and the story is really;as usual; extraordinaire. You can download the game here.

-Anarchy on the US--emm-Mars
The talented Mr.Matti, after losing all his work due to a computer problem, is now working on a Red Faction remniscent, not so serious, 2d side scrolling game. The game looks really awesome, even though some images are made as a collage.


-AvatarSD

Alisa Tana, yeap, a sort of an unknown person, is about to make Street Fighter out of AGS. Based on a Nickelodeon cartoon I'm not really familiar with. But anyway there's a playable version HERE.
The game is in-production and about to be finished.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

600th post: Wadjet give away $5!

Pre-order Blackwell Convergence over on Dave's site and you'll get a $5 voucher off of future Wadjet-y purchases... so run and give Dave your hard-earned lucre now.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Return to the dark side you will

Marion re-released her game she has. Shai-La of the Sith you will play.

Zombie cows conquer Canada

Thanks to forumite Humbolt Steelwheels for finding this article in the Toronto Star on BTDT and TGP:

Monday, July 13, 2009

Hugo's House of Hrobots

Well, the world has been waiting for it and here it is: Wadjet Eye announce Puzzlebots. By combining the special skills of Davebot and Erinbot, they have managed to make an awesome trailer...

Friday, July 10, 2009

Universal acclaim

Well, it looks like nearly everyone thinks TGP is the best thing since ... ever. Not only have people been saying its as good as Lucasarts classics, etc. They're saying its better. Looks like the stakes have been raised, people!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Mittens photo roundup

Well, I think most of the photos from the Florida Mittens 2009 AGS meetup are now in, so here's a point post, pointing to them all!

1
2
3
4

Enjoy the experience, as if you were there!

No, not THAT Proposal!

Well, June MAGS winner Tijne gets their game Proposal reviewed over at JD's blog. I'm afraid there's no Sandra Bullock in it, though...

Monday, July 6, 2009

Wadjet Eye for the fan art guy

Well, if you like drawing pictures of Dave Gilbert's games, then send them to Mr G and you may win his new fan art competition.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Post of The Week: Shattenger's Quest: Reyze the Death

Well, some games appeared that almost made me shit my pants from excitement..here gaze upon their beauty..
-ShattenReywho?
A game really beautifully drawn by Abstauber and Jerakeen, that will have some help from Shifter's Box Ben and Kaputtnik. Ben will do the music and Kap the animation..eh..no wait.. Ben will do the animation and Kapputtnik the music. Good. The game's about two brothers getting in trouble..or something.
Oh, the game will be at least bilingual (English and German).
Site HERE.

-Heroine's Quest : So you want to be a Heroine?

Apparently a remniscent of the old fun era of 90's when Sierra was pawning by making adventures.. and really good ones too.. The game looks marvelous and really takes me back to that time...seee for yourselves..Site HERE

Man this is really nicely drawn..makes me wanna cry...

-Disc..eh..Death Wore Endless Feathers:

Scavenger mostly seen to post in the critic lounge has now taken the time to make a topic about his game. The game itself is kind of techno-cyber punk discworld, which is cool and it's really drawn coolish too. (I have no respect but to graphics)