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Dinos and Trenches in '1916 - The War You Never Knew'

by Ben Deitz on April 11, 2011 at 06:00 PM

1916 - The War You Never Knew
This week's batch of games take its inspiration from real life, but twists your expectations in weird and wonderful ways. Consider it an alchemical transformation that results in gaming gold.

We're no history buffs, but we're fairly certain that World War I did not involve ferocious velociraptors stalking hapless soldiers through the trenches. (But who knows? Maybe we were absent the day it was covered in history class.) The creators of '1916 - The War You Never Knew' -- a first-person survival horror experience set in the dingy trenches of the Great War -- clearly took inspiration from indie sensation 'Amnesia: The Dark Descent.' Setting this type of game in this type of environment is brilliant; it allows for a claustrophobic world that doesn't feel artificially constrained, and makes for a genuinely scary experience, notwithstanding the addition of deadly dinosaurs.

1916 - The War You Never Knew

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'Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars' Is More Retro Than Risque

by Ben Deitz on April 8, 2011 at 05:40 PM

Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars
This week we're showing love to the latest games from some of our favorite designers. These are creators from whom we've come to expect the best -- and this week's picks certainly live up to our expectations.

Self-professed "dot matrix dominatrix" Anna Anthropy (a.k.a. Auntie Pixelante) has consistently wowed us in the past. Her latest game is the intriguingly titled 'Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars.' Modeled after the classic arcade game 'Wizard of Wor,' it perfectly recreates the feel of a greasy, soda-stained arcade cabinet. Simplistic yet addictive, 'Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars' is a brilliant example of retro gaming done right.

Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars

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Surreal Gaming in 'Machinarium' Creator's Latest, 'Osada'

by Ben Deitz on April 7, 2011 at 05:35 PM

Osada
This week we're showing love to the latest games from some of our favorite designers. These are creators that we've come to expect the best from -- and this week's picks certainly live up our expectations.

If you've played either of Amanita Design's previous works -- the 'Samorost' series or 'Machinarium' -- you know to expect a visually thrilling spectacle. Amanita's latest game, 'Osada,' leans more towards the surreal insanity of their 'Samorost' games than the more puzzle-oriented 'Machinarium,' with a stream-of-consciousness flow of nonsensical visuals and simple point-and-click puzzles. Oozing with irreverence and insanity, 'Osada' is an invigorating time-waster that's sure to delight anyone with a taste for the strange.

Osada

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Old School Meets New School in Locomalito's 'Viriax'

by Ben Deitz on April 6, 2011 at 05:15 PM

Viriax
This week we're showing love to the latest games from some of our favorite designers. These are creators that we've come to expect the best from - and this week's picks certainly live up our expectations.

Designer Locomalito can always be trusted to deliver the goods when it comes to games that are as retro as they are forward-thinking. His latest, 'Viriax,' is a great example of this, mixing a simple, old-school feel with a few game play twists that make the experience far more than an exercise in nostalgic reverence. Most importantly, your method of attack requires getting ahead of your foes and attacking downward. That's already mind-bending enough in a vertical scrolling game like 'Viriax,' but add in the randomly generated levels and a glorious assortment of power-ups, and you've got a fresh game that's easy to get into. Locomalito has once again proven why he's one of the best indie developers working today.

Viriax

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Play the Incredible 'Iconoclasts', Then Help Finish It

by Ben Deitz on April 5, 2011 at 06:30 PM

Iconoclasts
This week we're showing love to the latest games from some of our favorite designers. These are creators that we've come to expect the best from - and this week's picks certainly live up our expectations, leaving us fiending for what's next.

Anyone who's played designer Konjak's previous works -- particularly 'Legend of Princess' -- knows the level of artistry he attains with pixels. His latest unfinished game 'Iconoclasts' is further proof of his skills. Incredible to behold, with whimsical character acting, fluid animation and lushly designed levels, 'Iconoclasts' feels like the creation of some alternate dimension in which pixelated art never went away.

What's going on under the hood is just as impressive. The game features perfectly executed side scrolling gameplay that feels straight out of 'Metroid' and 'Mega Man.' That's why it hurts so much to hear that Konjak may be abandoning the project. But you can help him finish: Download the game for your PC and, if you like it, you can donate to Konjak directly through his website, and support his continued game development.

Iconoclasts

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'Hot Throttle': a Terrifying Vision of Racing

by Ben Deitz on April 4, 2011 at 07:20 PM

Full Throttle
This week we're showing love to the latest games from some of our favorite designers. These are creators from whom we've come to expect the best -- and this week's picks certainly live up our expectations.

Your writer likes to think of designer Cactus Squid as the David Lynch of gaming. As equally disturbing as they are compelling, Cactus Squid's games are always something we look forward to with feverish anticipation. His latest, 'Full Throttle,' is a nightmarish racing game involving men who turn into cars, competing in order to win money for their man-to-car reassignment surgery... and that's just the tip of the insanity iceberg. While the racing is serviceable, the game more than makes up for its simplistic gameplay with an experience that feels like a combination of the ludicrous 'Cho Aniki' (slightly NSFW) series and classic racing game 'R.C. Pro-Am.' And that's a level of madness we can fully support.

Hot Throttle

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The Underwater Odyssey of 'Deep Sea Diver'

by Ben Deitz on April 1, 2011 at 06:36 PM

Deep Sea Diver
Spring's barely arrived, yet we're already looking ahead to summer and the prospect of lounging on the beach with a trashy paperback in hand. In the meantime, we've picked a few of our favorite nautically themed games to satisfy our longing for the sea.

While it may not be the most accurate portrayal of oceanic treasure hunting, 'Deep Sea Diver' is certainly plenty of fun. Don't let its bright, colorful looks fool you, though. Death still awaits those who linger too long beneath the surface, exploring the darkened labyrinths for relics and cash. Thankfully, your submersible is upgradeable, allowing nautical adventurers to take ever more daring risks. Jacques Cousteau would be proud.

Deep Sea Diver

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Avoid the Rising Tide in 'Submerged - LaSol'

by Ben Deitz on March 31, 2011 at 06:00 PM

Submerged - LaSol
Spring's barely arrived, yet we're already looking ahead to summer and the prospect of lounging on the beach with a trashy paperback in hand. In the meantime, we've picked a few of our favorite nautically themed games to satisfy our longing for the sea.

It's tough being the protagonist of 'Submerged - LaSol,' janitor Stan Winston. (Nice one, guys.) Sure, he gets to work on the man-made, oceanic resort of LaSol, but he also has to contend with the bombing and subsequent sinking of said resort. It's the kind of trade-off that makes one reconsider whether or not that 401k plan is really worth it. Trapped in a small maintenance shaft, you must scramble to freedom before the steadily rising water level catches up with you. The game's strong suit is a level of tension that's not often found in adventure games. Add some solid voice acting and well-animated character animation, and this PC download should become another fantastic (and free) addition to any gamer's library.

Submerged - LaSol

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A Brief, Claustrophobic Adventure in 'Beacon'

by Ben Deitz on March 30, 2011 at 05:50 PM

Beacon
Spring's barely arrived, yet we're already looking ahead to summer and the prospect of lounging on the beach with a trashy paperback in hand. In the meantime, we've picked a few of our favorite nautically themed games to satisfy our longing for the sea.

'Beacon' is a brief adventure game with one of the most original and eerie settings we've had the pleasure to explore. A Russian space capsule crashes into the bottom of the ocean, and you -- taking on the role of a repair droid -- must find a way to release an emergency beacon before the spacecraft is crushed by undersea pressure. While this PC download only features a handful of environments, each is rendered with an artistic touch. We only wish this tale could have lasted longer. If only an entire space station had crashed instead...

Beacon

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Harpoon Surfing and Other Nautical Nonsense in 'Fishbane'

by Ben Deitz on March 29, 2011 at 07:00 PM

Fishbane
Spring's barely arrived, yet we're already looking ahead to summer and the prospect of lounging on the beach with a trashy paperback in hand. In the meantime, we've picked a few of our favorite nautically themed games to satisfy our longing for the sea.

'Fishbane' recounts the adventures of our titular hero, who must use an endless supply of harpoons to persevere through a series of puzzling platform challenges. Mastering the harpoon is the key to success, as you can use it to climb ledges, shoot it to trigger switches, and even ride it like a deadly surfboard. Unlike the majority of platform puzzlers out there, 'Fishbane' will actually test your mental mettle, requiring actual brain power to circumvent some of its trickier challenges.

Fishbane

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Dive Into the Depths With 'Beneath the Waves'

by Ben Deitz on March 28, 2011 at 05:40 PM

Spring's barely arrived, yet we're already looking ahead to summer and the prospect of lounging on the beach with a trashy paperback in hand. In the meantime, we've picked a few of our favorite nautically themed games to satisfy our longing for the sea. 'Beneath the Waves' is a seafaring adventure that takes you to the bottom of the ocean floor and back again in search of eight stone idols. ... Read more »
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'The Journey Home' Revels in the Joys of Nintendo Hard Gaming

by Ben Deitz on March 27, 2011 at 03:01 PM

We've been feeling homesick, with nothing but these games to soothe our longing. Our picks this week will leave you yearning for a mom-cooked meal, or joyously reliving the day you left the nest. Thank God our daily commute has never, ever been as rough as the one portrayed in 'The Journey Home.' If it were, we'd never leave home in the first place. (Not that we really do anyway. Ah, the ... Read more »
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'Get Home' Merges Music, Gaming, and a Message

by Ben Deitz on March 25, 2011 at 07:00 PM

We've been feeling homesick, with nothing but these games to soothe our longing. Our picks this week will leave you yearning for a mom-cooked meal, or joyously reliving the day you left the nest. 'Get Home' is an ingenious bit of marketing, made in conjunction with the song 'Weathervanes and Chemicals' by the band 'Team Me.' While the game fits the song's lyrics more aptly than its indie pop ... Read more »
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'N?na, Ha?e F?aith,' an Unreadable But Extremely Playable Platformer

by Ben Deitz on March 23, 2011 at 05:50 PM

We've been feeling homesick, with nothing but these games to soothe our longing. Our picks this week will leave you yearning for a mom-cooked meal, or joyously reliving the day you left the nest. While its title may be unpronounceable, 'N?na, Ha?e F?aith' combines its protagonist's world-shifting abilities with nigh incomprehensible language to create an appropriately alien setting for a ... Read more »
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Leaving Home for Adventure in 'Dacey in the Dark - Prelude'

by Ben Deitz on March 22, 2011 at 06:30 PM

We've been feeling homesick, with nothing but these games to soothe our longing. Our picks this week will leave you yearning for a mom-cooked meal, or joyously reliving the day you left the nest. 'Dacey in the Dark - Prelude' is a short, melancholy adventure game for PC about growing up and leaving home, with a few fantastical elements thrown into the mix. A dark, purple-hued atmosphere ... Read more »
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