All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'lava, casual' on The Great Games Experiment All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'lava, casual' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'lava, casual' on The Great Games Experiment en-us The Secret of Monkey Island
I cursed my luck again as I slid down the monkey's throat. Have my dreams of guzzling grog and plundering galleons been reduced to this. "Three small trials and you're a pirate like us." Fair enough. If only I could stomach the foul brew these scurvy seadogs swilled, the rest would be easy. How could I have known I'd meet a powerful and beautiful woman with a jealous suitor too stupid to realize he'd been dead for years? And how can I crawl through this great stone monkey to find a man who walks three inches above the ground and sets fire to his beard every morning?

-The Memoirs of Guybrush Threepwood: The Monkey Island Years
]]> 06 Feb 2007 04:24:31 Tetris (GB) Tetris, tetris, tetris. Nothing beats the original good ol' Nintendo Gameboy Tetris!
]]> 02 Jun 2007 02:41:14 Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
I thought I'd killed the Ghost Pirate LeChuck for good. Wrong. How many times can that bloated old fool die? Other pirates tell me there's no escape. "When LeChuck wants you dead, you're dead", they say. Legend has it that the treasure of Big Whoop holds the key to great power... I must find it before LeChuck finds me.

-The Memoirs of Guybrush Threepwood: The Monkey Island Years
]]> 06 Feb 2007 04:45:44 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Arguably the finest example of two dimensional gaming goodness, the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is the true inspiration behind the masterpieces that are Ocarina of Time, and Twilight Princess. The fine soundtrack is but one of the seminal areas of inspiration;in fact, a majority of the most prominent Zelda themes -such as Zelda's Lullaby and Kakariko Village tunes; even the name entry music-were directly lifted from A link to the past's musical score.

Between the environmentally based dungeons, two distinct realms, hookshot and punt-able chickens, it's clear to see that the original Legend of Zelda merely provided the canvas and a rough sketch of the series whereas A Link to the Past served as a the charcoal and oil paints.

Yes A link to the Past is truly a Bob Ross inspired happy little tree in the corner of the masterwork that is the Legend of Zelda series.
]]> 28 Nov 2006 11:36:44 Mario Kart Source Mario Kart Source aims to bring the fun and excitement of the Mario Kart series to the PC though the powerful Source engine used in Half Life 2. We hope to create the ultimate version of Mario Kart (MK) by combining all of the best aspects into one game. We're not simply recreating one version of MK, but using the best parts of each. We want to have all the traditional weapons, characters, and maps but also bring out new weapons that make game-play interesting. We're redesigning the maps so that they keep their appeal, but truly utilize the power of the source engine. We plan to have at least 16 different characters, all the ones you know and love as well as some others from the Super Mario World.
]]> 12 Feb 2007 01:18:38 Ico The player of the game takes on the role of Ico, a young boy born with a pair of horns, who must escort a princess named Yorda safely out of a castle without her being captured by the shadowy figures that prowl the castle or being killed by the castle's numerous environmental hazards. Despite selling only 650,000 copies worldwide, Ico received strong reviews, and has become a cult hit among video game enthusiasts.

Ico is noted for its highly individual artistic style. Key factors contributing to the game's absorbing atmosphere include the absence of any HUD; a bleak and washed-out use of color; low key use of in-game music, played only in selected scenes of the game; and atmospheric, ambient sound effects in the background. It makes effective use of minimal dialogue and story to forge strong emotional connections with the characters and environments in the game. It includes action, adventure and puzzle elements. The game also has a notable fictional language which has been theorized to be backwards Japanese.
]]> 08 Feb 2007 09:19:24 Audition Online Dance Battle Audition Online, also known as Dancing Paradise in Japan, is a downloadable Multiplayer Online Casual Game produced by T3 Entertainment. Audition Online is free to play, using the popular Virtual Asset Sales (VAS) model (as officially called) or a cash shop system that allows users to use real money to purchase ingame clothes, accessories, etc. to dress up their avatars. The game is similar to Bust A Groove, but takes a different approach, besides the fact that it is a multiplayer online casual game.
]]> 28 Dec 2006 07:22:38 Day of the Tentacle One day, Purple Tentacle and Green Tentacle are out for a walk when Purple Tentacle decides to drink toxic waste. The waste causes him to grow arms, become evil, and eventually take over the world. It is up to Bernard, Hoagie, and Laverne to travel back in time and turn off the Sludge'o'Matic before Purple Tentacle can drink the ooze and become evil. Because Dr. Fred used an imitation diamond in his time machine, it breaks and sends Hoagie 200 years in the past and Laverne 200 years in the future. You must get everyone back to the present and save the world!
]]> 26 Nov 2006 01:03:10 The Curse of Monkey Island The third game in the Monkey Island saga. After giving Elaine a cursed engagement ring, Guybrush must find a way to break the curse that turned her into solid gold. Hilarious antics ensue.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 12:46:57 Cave Story - Doukutsu Monogatari Cave Story is a freeware sidescrolling action/adventure/platformer title with leanings towards Wonderboy and recent sidescrolling Castlevania titles. You control a little amnesiac who runs around helping out these rabbit-ish creatures called Mimigas while trying to find your way out of the giant cave inside the floating island which makes up the game's setting.

This is a free game made by one man:

Pixel said,
It's been five years since I first thought to myself, "Hey, why not try making a game?" I developed Cave Story at my own pace, taking my time, and while doing so I released a few other smaller games as well.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 01:38:13 Psychonauts Embark on a unique third person psychic adventure through the minds of misfits, monsters and madmen....

For years, the Psychonauts have deployed their psychically-armed operatives all over the world, but this time trouble is brewing in their own boot camp. A deranged scientist is abducting camp cadets for their brains. One student, a mysterious and powerful new arrival named Raz, stands alone against the lunatic. Raz must develop and unleash an arsenal of paranormal powers including his most powerful weapon of all: the ability to launch himself telepathically into the minds of others. Ultimately he must enter the psyche of his worst enemy and destroy his dark plans at their source while trying not to lose his sanity in the process.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 11:14:08 Catan Catan is based off of a best-selling board game from Germany where players gather and trade resources in order to build settlements and expand their control over the land of Catan. The board is constructed of hexagonal tiles which are randomly placed in a large hexagon surrounded by water. Numbers are then placed on the hexagonal land tiles. Players take turns rolling dice which decide which land tiles produce resources that turn. Any player with a settlement or city adjacent to the tiles which number has been rolled will recieve resources which they can use to expand their colony. Distributed over XBox Live, Catan bares a 10 dollar price tag.
]]> 06 May 2007 09:21:35 Happy Feet - Mobile Join Mumble on his epic quest across Antarctica in Warner Bros' Happy Feet! Inspired by the dancing and adventure elements of the film, Happy Feet combines classic platformer gameplay filled with jumping, sliding and Rhythm-Action dance sequences to create a unique, quick and fresh game. With Mumbles’ natural agility and an uncanny ability to dance up a storm, Mumble will need to cross perilous icy landscapes and use his slick belly sliding moves to slip and slide across each level, shooting across glacial landscapes and launching into the air like a torpedo! Dance your heart out against many crazy boss encounters including hungry Leopard Seals and Skua's, prying zoo goers or even try to dance your way into Gloria's heart! Happy Feet for mobile has it all!
]]> 23 Feb 2007 01:03:57 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Link, after setting sail for new experiences and adventures, finds himself caught in a squall at sea. Helpless in spite of his valiant efforts to last through the storm, he is overwhelmed by vicious waves and lightning...

Some time later, a gentle girl named Marin discovers him washed up on Toronbo Shores.. the beach of Koholint Island. She finds a way to get him home and takes care of him until he finally awakens. Marin and her father, Tarin, explain to him where he is, and after he sets out to reclaim his sword, he encounters a mysterious owl... The owl cryptically warns Link about the perils this island faces should the Wind Fish be disturbed from his slumber, and thus Link decides he must do something to save them.

This owl guides him throughout the rest of his journey, slowly helping him uncover just what exactly is going on. Link learns that, unfortunately, in order to save the islanders he had grown to love, and to set himself free, he must also end a dream, a romance that he might not want to... To save all those people he had come to know and cherish from the Wind Fish's Nightmares, he would also have to end the illusion that caused them to exist in the first place.

It's a heart wrenching choice to confront, one that Link no doubt regrets with every deep ache of his very soul.. but the only alternative was to let the Nightmare take over and destroy everything.. This was the only fate he could offer them...

A tragic, touching tale that is told in the simplest way, Link's Awakening is a dream that I'll always hold dear to my heart...
]]> 08 Feb 2007 11:34:05 Super Mario World Super Mario World is most likely the best 2D adaptation of the Mario universe. Player's will guide Mario across the world map, unlocking secrets, and fighting the evil koopalings to defeat Bowser. Along the way, Mario will be aided by a variety of special power ups like the Cape and colored Yoshi's. This is an incredibly deep and enjoyable game that almost anyone can get into.
]]> 26 Jan 2007 10:31:41 Mega Man X Mega Man X, released in 1993 by Capcom, is the first game in the Mega Man X series. The first subseries of the popular Mega Man series, it was made primarily as a stepping stone between the NES and SNES incarnations of the original series. In Japan, it is titled Rock Man X. It was released on the SNES first, then ported to the PC in 1995. The game was remade in 2006 as Mega Man Maverick Hunter X (Irregular Hunter X in Japan), for the PlayStation Portable.

The Mega Man series has always been an action game that focuses on "run-and-gun" gameplay. The player takes control of Mega Man X ("X" for short), a Maverick Hunter who seeks to stop Sigma's rebellion against humans. After an introductory stage, the player is presented with a stage selection screen that depicts eight Maverick boss characters.

After the player selects a Maverick to battle, X is teleported into the Maverick's base of operations. The player must dodge obstacles, destroy enemies and other hazards, and keep their life bar as high as possible. Defeating a stage and its boss Maverick rewards X with the boss's weapon, which can be used in a rock-paper-scissors fashion to defeat other boss characters. This mechanic is carried over from the Mega Man Classic series; Capcom maintained the tradition throughout the new series, with a few twists. In the X series, completing a stage may affect the environment of other stages, possibly making them easier or more hazardous.
]]> 02 Mar 2007 02:12:59 Star Wars: TIE Fighter Published by: LucasArts
Developed by: Totally Games
Genre: Space simulation
Number of players: 1
Release date: 1994, 1995

It is a time of chaos in the Empire. Rebel factions strike from hidden bases, pirates plunder unsuspecting civilian spacecraft, and traitors plot behind the Emperor's back. You, a rookie pilot in the Imperial Navy, must rise to action for the glory of the Empire and the good of all mankind.

The player's character is unnamed (however, in sources outside the game, name is Maarek Stele), but features such notable Star Wars characters as: Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and even Admiral Thrawn from the books.

Star Wars: TIE Fighter is somewhat of a sequal to Star Wars: X-Wing, however this time the player is the "bad guy." With various objectives ranging from destroying pirates and Rebels to flying wingman for Darth Vader himself, TIE Fighter offers a great deal of enjoyment for those who love the Star Wars universe.

Gameplay involves managing your weapons/engine/shield (if available) systems while dogfighting enemy spacecraft or attacking larger capital spaceships. Additionally, missiles are limited (if even available), so must be used carefully. Because this is the side of the Empire, the fighters you will be flying initially are very vulnerable to damage. Two or three hits to your TIE Fighter and you're toast, and destroying shielded enemy Rebel fighters in such a craft can be challenging.

Mission objectives are crucial to completing stages of the game, and advancing the storyline. Additionally, there are optional bonus objectives, which influence the secondary advancement in the Emperor's secret order.
]]> 24 Jan 2007 07:45:12 Pokemon Red Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue are the first two installments of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games, released for the Game Boy in Japan in 1996. They are two of the best-selling video games of all time. Set in the fantasy world of Kanto, the game's stories follow the progress of the central character in his quest to master Pokémon battling. Both games are independent of each other but feature largely the same plot and, while both can be played separately, it is ideal for the player to refer to each in order to complete the game.

Pokémon Red and Blue have subsequently been remade for the Game Boy Advance into Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen. These, being advanced generation games, serve to allow the player to obtain all of 386 then-available Pokémon species created by the franchise.

Check out the group for Pokemon Fans of the World!
]]> 19 Feb 2007 04:31:54 Another World Another World, known as Out of this World in the US and Outer World in Japan, is a 1991 cinematic platformer designed and developed by Eric Chahi. The graphics and box art were designed by Chahi, while the music was composed by Jean-François Freitas.

While not a great commercial success, Another World was innovative in its use of cinematic effects in the graphics, sound and cut scenes, with characters communicating through their facial features, gestures, and actions only. This cinematic style granted Another World cult status amongst critics and fans.

The protagonist of the game is Lester Knight Chaykin; a young, athletic, red haired physicist. Lester arrives at his high-tech underground laboratory during a thunderstorm, and continues to work on his experiment using a particle accelerator. Right before the particles reach their intended destination, lightning strikes the lab and interferes with the accelerator causing the unforeseen teleportation of Lester to a barren alien planet.

The player can control Lester using the keyboard or gamepad using four directions buttons and two action buttons: one for main actions, and one for jumping. Depending on the player's current position, movement, and status, the main action key performs a variety of actions including attacking and interacting with Lester's environment. At the start of the game Lester can only kick to attack, but later he can acquire a gun. While the movement keys normally make Lester run, the game also features sections where the player must swim, roll, or drive a vehicle. The player only has one life, but there are multiple checkpoints he can return to by entering the relevant pass code given at each one.
]]> 10 Dec 2006 09:53:52 Grim Fandango Something's rotten in the Land of Dead and you're being played for a sucker. Meet Manny Calavera, travel agent at the Department of Death. He sells luxury packages to souls on their four-year journey to eternal rest. But there's trouble in paradise. Help Manny untangle himself from a conspiracy that threatens his very salvation.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 12:17:40 Toejam & Earl
Toejam said,
Check it out... We're Toejam and Earl. And we ran into a small problem. More specifically, a large planet (I shoulda never let Earl drive...). Help us hunt down the pieces to our rocket ship and we'll let you jam out some tunes on our megawatt rapmaster. Deal?
]]> 08 Feb 2007 05:23:16 Suikoden II Sequel to the early PlayStation RPG. As a member of the Alliance, a military force only really hinted at in the original, you play the unwitting hero of the game: an orphan who has been raised by a quiet, unassuming battle hero in a seemingly ancient war. Alongside you in the ranks is your best friend Jowy, a boy born of nobility but who has never been able to receive approval in his stubborn father's eyes. As the game begins, you are immediately tossed into a tale of political strife, betrayal and war on a grand scale beyond your scope in the early stages. As the game wears on, the plot will twist, turn and develop in numerous ways that expose the personalities of each of the characters involved. The battle system is turn-based, with the option to equip Runes for special abilities, combine party member attacks to create chain combos or devastating spells, and the option to run the battle in Auto mode.

--Original Source Text: IGN
]]> 24 Dec 2006 11:29:53 Elite Elite is a seminal space trading computer game, originally published by Acornsoft in 1984 for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers. The game's title derives from one of the player's goals of raising their combat rating to the exalted heights of 'Elite'. It was written and developed by David Braben and Ian Bell, who had met while they were both undergraduates at Jesus College, Cambridge. Non-Acorn versions of the game were published by Firebird.

Elite was one of the first home computer games to utilise wireframe 3D graphics. Another novelty was the inclusion of The Dark Wheel, a novella by Robert Holdstock which influenced new players with insight into the moral and legal codes which they might aspire to. It elevated the technically complicated software beyond the pigeon-hole of "game".

Elite's open ended game model, advanced game engine and revolutionary 3D graphics ensured that it was ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and earned it a place as a classic and a genre maker in gaming history. Even now, over 20 years after it was published, Elite is frequently used as a yardstick by which any new space trading game is measured. It has often been said that "Elite has been imitated but never bettered". While this is perhaps somewhat hyperbolic, it is certainly true to say that Elite was a hugely influential game, serving as a model for more recent games such as EVE Online, Wing Commander: Privateer and the X series of space trading games.

The Elite universe contains eight galaxies, each galaxy containing 256 planets to explore. Due to the limited capabilities of 8-bit computers, these worlds are procedurally generated: A single seed number run through a fixed algorithm the appropriate number of times and creates a sequence of numbers determining each planet's complete composition (position in the galaxy, prices of commodities, and even name and local details — text strings are chosen numerically from a lookup table and assembled to produce unique descriptions for each planet). This means that no extra memory is needed to store the characteristics of each planet, yet each is unique and has fixed properties. Each galaxy is also procedurally generated from the first.

The player, initially Commander Jameson, starts at Lave Station with 100 Credits and a lightly armed trading ship, a Cobra Mark III. Most of the ships that the player encounters are similarly named after snakes, or other reptiles. Credits can be accumulated through a number of means. These include piracy, trade, military missions, bounty hunting and the mining of asteroids. The money generated by these enterprises allows the player to upgrade their ship with such enhancements as better weapons, shields, increased cargo capacity, an automated docking system, and more.

Travel between planets is constrained to those within range of the ship's limited fuel capacity (7 light years); fuel can be replenished after docking with a space-station in orbit around a planet - a challenging task without a docking computer, as it requires matching the ship's rotation to that of the station. Players can upgrade their equipment with a fuel scoop, which allows raw fuel to be skimmed from the surface of stars - a dangerous and difficult activity - as well as collecting free-floating cargo canisters and escape capsules liberated after the destruction of other ships.
]]> 03 Mar 2007 12:00:49 Guilty Gear XX Slash The Guilty Gear series takes place around the year 2180, in a chaotic, mystical future world. In 2010, mankind discovered an unlimited energy source of incredible power, which was fittingly labeled as Magic. Even with the various energy problems solved, wars still continued. With the power of Magic and science, living weapons known as "Gears" were created. These Gears eventually turned on their masters, beginning a century-long global war known as the Crusades where the Sacred Order of Holy Knights (Seikishidan being the Japanese name), fighting for the human race, was able to defeat Justice, the leader of the Gears. Justice having been locked away in a dimensional prison, all other Gears seemingly ceased to function, bringing an end to the Crusades.

In this latest edition of the game we find the addition of two characters "Holy Order" Sol, and ABA. Many tweaks, moves, and other bits have been added and/or changed to make this the most balanced and challenging Guilty Gear to hit consoles yet.

Take command of over 20 bizarre characters with devastating moves and combos. With a fighting system that can be as simple, or technical as the user wants the game never gets old.

(First segment taken from the Guilty Gear Wiki)
]]> 08 Feb 2007 11:48:52 Blocksum Blocksum is a very new typed action puzzle game. For everyone who can add numbers to 20.
]]> 08 Feb 2007 07:04:52 Raptor: Call of the Shadows Raptor: Call of the Shadows (often Raptor for short) is a 2D raster graphics vertical scrolling shoot 'em up single player game for the x86 PC written for MS-DOS, by Cygnus Studios (which has since changed its name to Mountain King Studios).

Raptor: Call of the Shadows was originally released on April 1, 1994. There is a shareware version available for this game which includes the first sector, the Bravo Sector. The full version can still be bought today

As in all shoot 'em up games of this genre, there is a vast number of enemies to kill, both on the ground and in the air. At the end of each wave, and often halfway through the more difficult waves, there is a "boss" which is a single enemy of great size and whom can take a lot of fire before succumbing.

For each target destroyed the player earns credits, with the amount of credits earned per enemy destroyed is proportional to how tough the enemy ship is. Most of the ground objects (buildings, vehicles, turrets) can be destroyed as well. Between new waves and sectors the player can use credits to select among 16 different equipment upgrades (various weapons, "shield-packs", bombs, etc) to be bought for his own aircraft.

The game is divided into three "sectors": Bravo Sector, Tango Sector, and Outer Regions, all of which have nine sub-missions called "waves", making for a total of 27 levels.

(Quoted from Wikipedia)
]]> 11 Jun 2007 11:15:52 Super Mario Bros. Super Mario Bros is a classic game of Nintendo. It revolves around rescuing a kidnapped Princess by an evil creature named Koopa. Mario and Luigi must help each other to succeed in their mission and save the Toadstool Kingdom.
]]> 30 Dec 2006 07:27:55 The Incredible Machine From Wikipedia: Incredible Machine Article
The general objective of the games is to create a series of Rube Goldberg devices: arrange a given collection of objects in a needlessly complex fashion so as to perform some simple task (for example, "put the ball into a box" or "light a candle"). Available objects ranged from simple ropes and pulleys to electrical generators, bowling balls and even cats and mice. The levels usually have some fixed objects that cannot be moved by the player, and so the only way to solve the puzzle is carefully arrange the given objects around the fixed items. There is also a "freeform" option that allows the user to "play" with all the objects with no set goal or to also build their own puzzles with goals for other players to attempt to solve.

Created at Dynamix by Jeff Tunnell (Director, designer) and Kevin Ryan (Programmer, designer)
]]> 18 Oct 2006 03:40:21 CrashBlock Crashblock is a platform puzzle game, mixing puzzle elements from Tetris and platform elements of Flashback.

The aim of the game is to play a game of tetris from the inside, running around the arena, climbing over the fallen blocks,trying to complete a line whilst trying to collect enough stars to advance to the next level and collecting coins and other items to boost your score and help you along the way. There are hazards to overcome, Bombs are released from completed lines along with bonus items and stars, also captive creatures called meanies are released making your task so much more difficult.

If the blocks pile up to the top of the arena, it's game over. If a falling block lands on you, it's squishy death, if you're caught in a bomb blast, it's goodnight and if you're caught by a meanie, it's so long and thanks for all the limbs.

You have to control the crane holding the current shape by calling it over to you, rotating the shape to the correct position and then diving out of the way while it falls.. there is no controlled drop in this game, oh no!

This game is currently under development for the Pascal Game Development 2007 Competition, The end deadline is the 3rd of June 2007. Check back often for updates.
]]> 17 Apr 2007 11:12:56 MultiMayhem The goal of this arcade game is to score the most points by jumping on, or hovering over the other player's head, dealing damage to him and scoring points. The game includes levels like the Arcade, Fish tank and Forest Valley. You can play against the computer, friends or on a network.
]]> 10 Jan 2007 05:23:32 Lotus Escape to a whirling world of puzzling fun in Lotus Deluxe. Whirlpools are swallowing all the lotus flowers to the dismay of the water nymphs. Scan the flowers for identical matches and remove them before they fall into the spinning current. This enchanting challenge features charming graphics, more than 75 levels, and two game modes. Take a break with this refreshing diversion today.
]]> 05 Feb 2007 03:28:57 PixelShips Retro [from official page]
After six years, a new PixelShips game emerges! Except... shouldn't this have come first? ;)

PixelShips Retro is an all-new game, taking on the look and feel of classic, 80's style games. The graphics, the sound, the music, the simple controls, the very high framerate, all indicative of those old-school games.

Of course, if there weren't significant improvements over the original PixelShips game, this one wouldn't be shareware! Besides the 13 original music tracks, numerous sound effects and more weapons than before, the game is far more balanced, lending itself to greatly simplified statistics and easier to understand concepts.

But perhaps the biggest change of all is that the screen no longer scrolls on its own! The screen moves as you move to provide you with a good view of what's ahead of you. (Leaving your backside more vulnerable of course!) You decide where and when to go!

Drones come in a much wider variety now and have their own unique array of 12 weapons, such as the Ring Pulse which slowly tracks you and the Trail Pulse which leaves a damaging trail behind for you to accidentally dash through!

The 9 different environments can actually threaten you this time around too. For instance, Space Arenas have force fields to block your progress and Class R Planets have erupting volcanos and oceans of lava. The background is no longer just an obstacle but a hazard too!
]]> 11 Mar 2007 10:28:55 Advance Wars: Dual Strike Join Max, Rachel, Jake, Colin, Sasha, and all the rest of the advance wars CO's in the battle to save Omega Land from the evil forces of Black Hole's sinister armada. Fight turn-based wars against the enemy, and turn the tide of the battle with your CO powers! Whether you want to be a powerhouse like Max, or a long-range mastermind like Grit, Advance Wars is the #1 portable solution for strategy gamers and casual gamers alike.
]]> 31 Jan 2007 05:58:58 The Legend of Zelda Ganon, the King of Evil, breaks free from the Dark World and captures Hyrule's beloved Princess Zelda. Before she is caught, Zelda manages to shatter the Triforce of Wisdom and scatter its eight pieces throughout Hyrule. Link swears to recover the Triforce pieces and rescue Princess Zelda from Ganon's clutches.

With Zelda, Miyamoto wanted to take the idea of a game "world" even further. In his own words, the intent of the original Zelda game (and every Zelda title since) was to give players a "miniature garden that they can put inside their drawer." His inspiration came from the fields, woods, and caves outside Kyoto that he had explored as a boy, and he has always tried to impart this sense of exploration and limitless wonder to players through his Zelda titles.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 08:08:47 Within a Deep Forest Within a Deep Forest is a freeware 2D platform game for Windows, featuring challenging gameplay, beautiful music, an evil doctor, infinite cuteness, and a deep forest.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 02:38:21 Merry Gear Solid merry gear solid: secret santa is a top down stealth action game in the vein of hideo kojima's metal gear solid series.

it's grid-based as it was entered in the daily click grid-based x-mas game competition. it won 1st place.

use distractions and tools you find around the level to distract and get past any guards that are you in your way.

the game is relatively short, taking around 10-20 minutes to complete. the story is related to the metal gear solid series' plot so if you haven't played those games, you might be kind of lost.
]]> 11 Feb 2007 06:06:28 Spring Spring (formerly known as TA Spring or Total Annihilation: Spring), is a full 3D open source RTS engine originally created by the Swedish Yankspankers, intended to bring the gameplay experience of Total Annihilation into three dimensions. The core game engine is released under the GPL License; however, the prepackaged mod that comes with the standard installation requires that one own a copy of TA to legally play it. There is, however, an official release which uses fully free content, and there are a number of mods, both in development and released, that are also completely free to use.

Spring is being developed by the Swedish Yankspankers and the Spring community. The initial goal was to have the game run the mods and 3rd party units from Total Annihilation. This goal is now mostly complete, and the project has moved on to including additional features. The game is mainly focused around multiplayer games over the Internet or a LAN connection. There are currently no single player campaigns or missions, although there is some basic support for this through Lua scripting. There are also many skirmish AIs under development, allowing for offline play or extra players in an online game. Two skirmish AIs ship in the game package.
]]> 06 Feb 2007 11:53:14 Monkey on Your Back On a small, uncharted island a mysterious organization is breeding Bio-Enhanced Animal-Cyborgs at the bidding of the brilliant, albeit evil, Dr. Randolph Montague Krenwinkle. In a small cage down in the deepest level sits Nim, a rebellious test monkey who has acquired a secret and powerful ability. An experimental treatment has given Nim enhanced psychic powers that allow him to take control of any human simply by jumping on their backs! Now is his one chance to escape. Use Nim’s ability to take control of scientists, soldiers and A-Bots! Blast and sneak your way through the Krenwinkle facility in a desperate attempt for freedom! Revel in the ironic justice of using your enemies against each other! Experience innovative action gameplay on your phone and with a monkey!
]]> 23 Feb 2007 12:23:01 Super Mario 64 The first well made three dimensional platformer of it's day Super Mario 64 still ranks among the genre's finest. Perhaps its a sad commentary on the once dominant game-type but Mario's seminal 3D game still holds up to this day-provided you don't attempt to play it using the DS' stylus pen: increasingly rare DS thumb-strap for the win! Not to worry though if you managed to snag a Nintendo Wii you can set aside your GI Joe esque Kung-fu grip and use either your wavebird or classic pad to experience SM64 the way it was meant to be played.
]]> 28 Nov 2006 06:04:04 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure roughly follows the same plot as the movie it is based upon. Certain scenes are omitted, but it sticks close to the original plot for the most part. The game uses the SCUMM system that was used in Maniac Mansion before it. This system involves choosing certain verbs to interact with objects and people in the game. However, this game features something that no other adventure games of the time had. The "Indy Quotient" system gives the players points based on how they solve certain puzzles. This gives puzzles multiple solutions and adds replay value to the game. Also included in the game are action sequences where Indy must fight to get by guards.
]]> 06 Feb 2007 06:09:19 Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is a hybrid adventure-RPG developed by Square Co., Ltd. (now Square Enix Co., Ltd.) and published by Nintendo. The game was first released on March 9, 1996 in Japan and May 13, 1996 in North America. It was the last game made and released on the Super Famicom/Super NES for the Mario series as well as the last major Square-produced game for a Nintendo video game console in North America until Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles in 2003 for the GameCube. It was also the first role-playing game (RPG) in the Mario series. It contains token similarities to Chrono Trigger and the Final Fantasy series with a story based in the Mario universe. Long-time Mario fans sometimes see it as an introductory RPG, since it was an easy-to-play RPG starring Mario. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars also became the first game in which Mario and Bowser fight as allies. Neither Nintendo nor Square ever released a PAL version. IGN confirmed that Nintendo will re-release Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars on Wii's Virtual Console in North America in 2007.
]]> 13 Feb 2007 10:28:42 Fraxy Fraxy is a space shooter with giant bosses. The best part being that you can build your own boss. Using hundreds of parts, you can create almost any kind of enemy you could think of. Giant lasers, vulcan turrets, suicide bombs, you name it. Fraxy is still being worked on, and new stuff is added almost weekly.

Download both the game, and the english patch.
]]> 27 May 2007 12:11:57 TrackMania United Produced by the young, talented French studio Nadeo, TrackMania United is the latest version of the most entertaining car racing game available. Released in 2003, the TrackMania series has rapidly become one of the most popular video games for PC thanks to its fast and fun gameplay.
]]> 23 Jan 2007 10:50:48 Sonic 3 And Knuckles Sonic 3 & Knuckles is a fast-paced action game, which was made in 1994 by Sega. You can play either as Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles. The game consists of lots of running and jumping, destroying badniks and collecting Chaos Emeralds along the way. However, on the original Genesis/Mega Drive, there were two cartridges- Sonic 3, the main game, and Sonic & Knuckles. The second one listed here had a "lock-on" feature on the cartridge, meaning that you could insert Sonic 3 on the top of Sonic & Knuckles and play Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles are therefore two completely different games.
]]> 01 Mar 2007 11:22:07 True Combat: Elite What Is TrueCombat:Elite?
TC:E is a modern world total conversion modification of the free, popular, stand-alone first-person shooter Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory. That is, TC:E is an entirely free game, made by gamers, for gamers.

TC:E is currently being developed by GrooveSix Studios and TeamTerminator. While TeamTerminator is known for the famous Q3 based TrueCombat series, GrooveSix Studios was initiated by retired TeamTerminator co-founder Coroner to develop a Return to Castle Wolfenstein modification that is not released. Thus, as very experienced Q3-based content creators, we hope to be able to serve the gaming community with a quality offering.
Now, the most important question: "What can you expect from TC:E?" TC:E is a tactical-team shooter, set up in a modern-world environment. TC:E puts you into the role of elite mercenary soldier in the conflicts of two internationally operating forces.


SpecOps vs. Terrors
The Global Intervention Force (GIF626) is a special force formed of the top of the world experts joining from US Delta force, UK SAS, German KSK and GSG9, to mention a few. An international mercenary organization known as "The Unit" is their opponent. It is reported that some of these dudes are were once with the above forces, but the lure of money is strong. You say "Yet another terror counter-terrorism shooter. Why the hell should I go for it?". We say "Cause you don't have to spend a cent and it features:"

  • Texture Tone Mapping
  • HDR Lighting
  • Realistic scaling
  • Free climb
  • Free Aim
  • High quality sounds (44khz)
  • rich, deluxe graphics, based on high-resolution digital-camera shots
  • Letterbox & widescreen modes - TrueVision
  • Dynamic Eye Adaption - DynEA
  • Cross Platform Gaming (Win, OS X, Linux)
  • tactical-teamplay oriented, modern-world combat simulation
  • realistic weapon behavior simulation
  • iron sight aiming system, no crosshair
  • sophisticated ballistic simulation including multiple-layer object penetration
  • professional mode: 1-life, short-timed, objective driven scenarios in realistic environments
  • bodycount mode: team deathmatch style, gametype to relax?
  • Reinforced OBJ, as Capture the Flag in stock maps
  • balanced, team specific set of real-world weapons (Grenades, Pistols, SMG's, Assault-, Shotgun- and Sniper-Rifles)
  • lag compensation, client-side bullet prediction, punkbuster support
  • immersive and lethal, fast-paced action"


    • You will need to download and install Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory to install and play this game. But it's all free, so it's all good!
    ]]>     27 Feb 2007 08:35:25     Elite Beat Agents Feeling sad? Got a problem you can't solve? Enter a trio of singing, dancing agents to pep you up!

    This is the American remake of popular Japanese import Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan.

    Tap, slide, and spin in time to music to guide expressive cartoon characters to victory or crushing defeat. Simple stories and exaggerated comic imagery will make you grin.

    Competitive and co-op multiplayer modes both available, and the competitive one allows limited wireless play even with people who don't have a copy of the game!
    ]]>     19 Dec 2006 11:32:21     Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) is about the return of Sega's mascot, Sonic and introduction to the blue hero's friend, sidekick and surrogate brother Miles 'Tails' Prower.
    Dr Eggman/Robotnik is at it again, attempting to take over the world with his army of robots (each one containing one of Sonic's captured friends as before), a deadly new weapon, the Death Egg and now he just needs the seven Chaos Emeralds to complete his plan. Naturally, Sonic simply can't stand by and let this happen, so he goes after the Doctor again, with Tails in tow to retrieve the Emeralds and put a stop to Robotnik's plan.
    Sonic 2's gameplay is vastly similar to that of Sonic's previous adventure, a simple run and jump play-style while still maintaining the speed aspects of Sonic 1. It also introduced new opportunities of play with the introduction of Tails, such as the memorable Sky Chase Zone and the fact that Tails could spin his trademark twin-tails and fly, though players were not given control of Tails' unique ability until Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994). Sonic 2 also deviated from the rotating maze-style Special Zone of Sonic 1 and introduced a half-pipe style Special Zone where the player can retrieve a Chaos Emerald, a format still used in modern Sonic games such as Sonic Heroes. And this was the also the first that really introduced an incentive for collecting the Emeralds; Only when you had all of the Emeralds could you see the real ending (as in Sonic 1) AND transform into Super Sonic who was much faster and invincible as long as you kept collecting those rings. It was also the first Sonic game to introduce a multiplayer mode, where you could either race a friend in split-screen mode, or your friend could jump into the main adventure and control Tails any time.
    Sonic 2 is well-renowned among gamers in general and Sonic-fans and is still regarded by many as a classic component of the early 90's gaming scene and some still refer to it as the greatest Sonic game to date.
    ]]>     08 Feb 2007 01:48:12     Contra Playing with fire and murder in the eyes.
    Keep squeezing that trigger and never let go.
    If it moves, shoot it.
    If it doesn't move, shoot it anyway just to be sure.
    ]]>     09 Dec 2006 09:14:23     Final Fantasy XII The Final Fantasy series' !PS2 opus is set in Ivalice, a fantasy-themed land familiar to veterans of Final Fantasy Tactics. Here, magic and technology coexist, as do humans and other intelligent races such a s the leporine viera and the scaly-skinned bangaa. Airships, in the form of high-tech hovercraft, are also common in this land of Ivalice, and players will pilot these sky-speeders for transportation, warfare, and (perhaps) even a little privateering.

    Character development is designed to be as engaging and empowering as in any Final Fantasy game, and is accomplished by making strategic "license" choices in a chessboard-like graphic interface. Through the game's new "Active Dimension Battle" system, combat progresses in a pause-able real-time flow, offering a sense of action while retaining tactical options. Companion characters can be assigned customizable battle behaviors ahead of time, through the game's "gambit" system.

    Ashe, the princess of a small kingdom called Dalmasca, is the star of the story, although she is joined by several other driven and distinctly skilled characters. The nearby Archadian Empire is in a period of reckless, vicious expansion, and as heir to the throne of Dalmasca, it falls to Ashe and her companions to save the sovereignty of their tiny nation from imperial usurpers.

    Including a full version of the !PS2 game, the "Collector's Edition" of Final Fantasy XII comes in a steel case with a DVD video containing developer interviews, trailers, a brief "History of Final Fantasy" feature, and a virtual art gallery.
    ]]>     26 Jan 2007 12:34:17     Lemmings Lemmings, a computer game developed by DMA Design (now Rockstar North) and published by Psygnosis in 1991, was one of the most popular computer games of its time. Several games magazines of the time awarded the game maximum review scores.

    Psygnosis, also known for the Wipeout series, had its greatest success in Lemmings. Famously, the concept for Lemmings came from an animation created by Mike Dailly over a lunchtime, to prove a point about how small a character could be on screen. [1]

    The game was unique and based around a concept previously untried. In the original Commodore Amiga version, there are 120 levels, and on each level, the player must guide a group of up to 100 lemmings (or 80 in many versions, such as DOS and Windows) home by giving individual lemmings various commands. The "lemmings" of the game are small, green-haired humanoid beings that mindlessly walk en masse into any danger in their path, following the popular myth that real lemmings behave in a similarly suicidal fashion.

    Of the numerous sequels the only one to achieve the success of the first was Lemmings 2: The Tribes, which added twelve specialist tribes of lemmings, each with their own type of level and specialist workers.

    The game briefly gave rise to a new genre, described in magazines at the time as the "save 'em up", a joking reference to other popular genres like beat 'em up and shoot 'em up.


    Source: wikipedia.com
    ]]>     15 Jan 2007 07:43:50