The Indie Game Magazine » experimental

On Trial: Paper Moon

Mike — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:46:32 +0000

Paper Moon is beyond a Blurst project and was done in collaboration with Adam Atomic and Infinite Ammo (Alec Holowka). As a result, the game feels a lot more innovative and ‘indie’ than any of Flashbang’s other projects. The game is a platformer but with a twist; the graphics are an extremely unique blend of black and white noir with a flat paper aesthetic which creates a charming pop-up book world. The pop-up world mechanic is the main twist and innovation in this platformer. Tapping the spacebar will instantly transform and move pieces of the environment in Paper Moon’s world. Popping an object into an enemy (or yourself) will kill it and the mechanic along with the visuals make Paper Moon an extremely memorable game. In fact, my only complaint about Paper Moon is that the game ends to quickly. Luckily, there are some branching level paths that allow you to explore different levels on repeat plays. The time limit is also challenging and motivates you to keep replaying levels to get faster and farther in the whimsical story and land of Paper Moon. Score: 9/10 – Rank: 2nd

On Trial: Time Donkey

Mike — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:42:43 +0000

Time Donkey is another one of Flashbang’s humorous concepts. The game is a 3D platformer where you play a Donkey with a Flava-Flav Clock around its neck that allows it to time travel and create recorded copies of itself. The goal of the Time Donkey is to

On Trial: Off-Road Velociraptor Safari

Mike — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:32:09 +0000

Off-Road Velociraptor Safari is by far Blurst’s most popular title. It was so popular that the team at Flashbang was working on a full HD version of the game that would have included enhanced graphics, more features, more levels, level objectives and much more. After playing Raptor Safari,

On Trial: Crane Wars

Mike — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:21:26 +0000

In Crane Wars, you work for the loyal, but expensive Construction Union and compete with the good-for-nothing scabs that are building adjacent to you. The goal of the game is to stack building blocks on top of one another to build skyscrapers while chucking excess debris and cars into the scabs buildings to damage them. You’re money is constantly depleting and when you hit $0, the game is over. The simple arcade setup works well for this Blurst title and the banter between the two factions is a definite standout. While I like the overall concept, I found the controls to be a little difficult and frustrating. Unfortunately, Crane Wars’ controls and gameplay don’tquite reach the same high quality as the writing, graphics, presentation and concept. Score: 7/10 – Rank 6th

On Trial: Blush

Mike — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:03:43 +0000

Blush suffers from two things: simplicity and exploitation. In Blush, you control an underwater squid entirely with your mouse. The goal of the game is to attack enemies with your tentacles, collect their eggs (they stick to your tentacles) and return the eggs to glowing spheres to upgrade your squid and extend your tentacles. Basically, it’s all about the tentacles. The game simplicity is exacerbated by the fact that you can camp by a collection sphere and just whip around your tentacles to kill enemies and rack up points. The visuals in Blush are really cool. The neon colors and glowing underwater critters all meld together with great sound and music to create a great atmosphere. As great as Blush’s presentation is, the gameplay was just too rudimentary to last beyond the few minutes that you’re given in Blush. Bottom line was that when my time was up, I didn’t really care to play Blush again when there were other Blurst titles that left me wanting more. Score: 5/10 – Rank: 9th

On Trial: Jetpack Brontosaurus

Mike — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:55:08 +0000

Jetpack Brontosaurus can best be described as Dinosaur PilotWings. As the name implies, you play a brontosaurus with a jet pack and you navigate and fly around a world completing objectives such as flying through stone rings. I really like the visuals in JB, but the clunky

IGF On Trial: Paper Cakes

Mike — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:25:56 +0000

Ashley: 8 With the release of Crayon Physics Deluxe, it seems a lot of developers are trying to capitalize on the old, “Here’s a canvas draw what you want” spiel. Of course, this is a decent excuse for hand-drawn graphics that are subpar, but Paper Cakes

Steam Brigade

Mike — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:24:36 +0000

Download the Demo

Steam Brigade is a side-scrolling, real-time strategy game set in an alternate history where airships and steam-powered tanks rule the battlefield. It’s an older indie game, but it’s definitely worth your time and purchase. It’s incredibly unique and has a really sweet art style. Check it out.

IGF on Trial: Enviro-Bear 2000

Mike — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:35:03 +0000

Andrew: 5 Imagine it’s 1988, and you’re on your way to scout the newest releases. Upon your arrival at the store, a strange game on the shelf catches your eye: Enviro-Bear 2000. What’s this? You drive around the forest as a bear, and the entire game

IGF on Trial: Spectre

Mike — Wed, 05 May 2010 10:27:40 +0000

Andy M: 4

There’s so much potential here with Spectre: a combination of interactive narrative, simple platforming, and multiple endings. The artwork is arresting and the music engaging. The simple platform levels aren’t too terribly conceived, but the voice acting and physics of the world leave much to be desired. That’s not the real problem of this game. The problem is that it succeeds or fails on one thing—the power of the narrator’s memories. Unfortunately, they’re dull. The story, if written out linearly, would bore even the most casual reader. Clichés abound and most scenes lack even the most basic narrative arc. The concept of putting together a story from disjointed memories isn’t necessarily novel, and so there’s plenty of inspiration to be had from people who’ve succeeded in this style of storytelling. It’s too bad that Spectre reflects none of that inspiration.

Stew: 3

Perhaps if Spectre had attempted to be more of a game and less of a freshman art project I would have enjoyed it more. The concept is certainly interesting enough. You play a man reflecting on his life’s memories. The problem is that behind the stylized visuals and soothing, yet melancholy new age rhythms it’s just not that much fun to play. Your character moves slowly in a floaty, dream-like state that is more annoying than anything else. The mini-games that make up the actual gameplay are boring and often share little connection to whatever memory the protagonist is recollecting. The memories themselves are dictated to the player while you work through the mini-games, and tend to come off as little more than pretentious and uninteresting. A lofty concept with good intentions that ultimately fails in execution.

Andy M: 4There’s so much potential here with Spectre: a combination of interactive narrative, simple platforming, and multiple endings. The artwork is arresting and the music engaging. The simple platform levels aren’t too terribly conceived, but the voice