Mamma mia! All the pies in Papa Louie’s pizzaria have turned into interdimensional portals and pizza-monsters!!!

We’re not sure what the guys at Flipline Studios have been smoking lately, but this trippy little platformer game even gave ME the munchies.

As with most games from Flipline Studios, the art is fantastic, giving a lot of variety in the levels, and a bunch of interesting characters ranging from stylized people, to killer onions and hamburgers.

The sound and music is as good as we’ve come to expect as well. The sound effects are all fitting and high quality, and the music doesn’t get old even after playing for an hour. The stage select music is even a bit of a throwback to ‘Super Mario World’ on the SNES.

Playing the game is easy… perhaps too easy. It’s typical run and jump, but you also get a pizza paddle you can use to bash baddies (and swat cheese loogies at the pizza monsters), throw pepper bombs (which are bottles of crushed peppers), and use your chef’s hat to like a parachute to glide through the air.

The goal in the game is to turn all the pizza monsters in each level back into pizza pies, so that you can carry them and become heavy enough to lift a pully-based cage that is holding valuable customers within.

Like I mentioned, it’s a pretty easy game, unless you go out of your way to collect every coin and kill every enemy. The only thing that makes it challenging is the unusual control scheme. Having Z and X as action buttons, with SPACE as the jump key takes a bit of getting used to for people more comfortable with using keys in the same row. Of course if you have JoyToKey (which lets you emulate keyboard input with a gamepad), it’s not an issue at all.

The fact that it’s so easy is great for casual gamers, especially when you combine the fact it saves your game progress for you. If you just want to play something that’s not a puzzle game or a gadget game fro a few minutes on a break, or whatever, this is a good game to roll with.

Hardcore players, however, might want to pass on this one.

All-in-all, I thought it was fun, and it had an interesting look and concept (even if it didn’t make any sense).

Of course, I’m sure they said the same thing about Mario back in the day too.

[ Play Papa Louie ]

No, not a Flash game, but it involves winning MONEY, so I’m linking it. Quoted from the site:

http://www.sfu.ca/cstudies/arts/philosopherscafe/crostic.htm

“The numbers below are a code. If you crack it before anyone else you will win the amount of money shown at the minute your correct entry is opened. The current prize amount is shown above and goes down by 8 cents every hour ($2 a day, $14 a week). The prize money started at $600 at 12:00 am, January 1, 2007 and will be reduced until 11:59 pm on August 31, 2007. After August 31, the code will be changed and the prize will go back up to a high value.

The solution is a single sentence, read from left to right. It’s a funny quote from an American humourist, followed by his/her name. No punctuation is included. NO HINTS WILL BE GIVEN, no correspondence will be entered into. If you are close to solving the previous code, don’t give up because the decoding procedure is exactly the same.

The correct answer is in a sealed envelope held by Simon Fraser University. No one but the code’s deviser and one SFU representative knows the decoding procedure.

To win you must write out the quote and the speaker’s name in full AND explain in detail how you arrived at the answer. Please send your answer and explanation to the attention of Julie Rubin, Continuing Studies, 515 West Hastings St, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5K3 or email to interdisciplinary-cs@sfu.ca.”

23 38 92 52 67 39 15 15 53 77 35 51 28 45 84 67 11 52 19 58 28 76 77 67 14 15 71 66 51 93 76 76 34 55 37 78 55 19 29 67 78 77 54 77 93 91 28 15 51 74 28 35 94 78 57 19 73 93 28 79 53 72 35 94 57 94 25 43 71 33 26 51 17 35 76 79 17 35 58 31 18 15

No idea how legit this is, so play at your own risk and drop me some beer money if you win.

[ Crack The Code ]

Since the dawn of video-games, one genre has remained true over the years. Side-scrolling shooters have evolved from the days of Defender, to fully immersive adventures like Gradius and R-Type. Drakojan Skies picks up the torch and keeps the genre flying in the RIGHT direction. (See what I did there? ‘Cuz you fly right… hello… is this thing on?)

The visuals in this game are outstanding. The variety and detail in the spacehips alone is amazing, as are the weapon effect. What really took my breath away was the rendering and interaction of the levels themselves. There’s so many fine touches in the presentation. Buildings explode as you pass them, while the city in the background is alight with fire. Particles fall as giant robots walk on the ceiling before crashing through to attack. You just have to see it to take it all in.
The sound is also fantastic. There’s a lot of variety in the weapon sounds and explosives, and the soundtrack is a much appreciated break from the over-used electronic crap most other web-based shooters use. Heavy guitars are MUCH better suited for this type of game.

The awesome gameplay is what seals the hat-trick. Sure, you pretty much just move around the screen and shoot, but between the fact you can use a variety of ships, the ability to use (and upgrade) multiple weapons, and the way the environment itself interacts with the gameplay, it feels like you are actually in the middle of a war.

You aren’t even flying solo a lot of the time, you see (and try to protect) friendly mechs and vehicles in a few of the levels, and the fact there is actually a well-written story throughout the game makes it that much more immersive.

With oldschool gameplay, and modern presentation and storytelling, this game should appeal to anyone with a pulse. The bar for web-games has been raised again.

[ Play Drakojan Skies ]

The Super Flash Bros have brought back James, and this time charging him with the most important of missions, going under cover in the circus to help fight the mistreatment of the baby animals, or something.

As usual the art and animation is top notch though there’s not much to the game. The animation goes well with the different things you have to bounce and swing off of, which you will be doing a lot.

The music they picked could not of been any better. Also, no annoying sound effects, or much of any for that matter. I think that was a good choice as it could’ve made it worse.

Using just the RIGHT, LEFT and UP arrows you must guide James and collect the poor mistreated animals while trying to get to the cannon at the end of the level. Successfully completing the level unlocks two bonus mini games. Myself, I would’ve liked to see more levels and evil clowns etc, but for a good little time waster it’ll do.

[ James The Circus Zebra ]

One of the great things about web-games is they allow you to waste time between classes, at the office, your day off…etc. But why should you be the only one who gets to enjoy this glorious act of procrastination?

Multiplayer web-games have always had a certain appeal, because they aren’t as hardcore as their console and pc counterparts, but you can only play the same chess, card, and billiards games so long before you crave something new.

Well… it’s time to grab a buddy, or co-worker, and get ready to waste hours (that could be used for something productive); Quadradius is here, and it’s taking names!

This is one of those games that you really can’t judge just by looking at it. Sure the art is really nice, considering this is loosely based on checkers/chess type gameplay, but there’s so much more to it then what you see.

And who cares if there’s no music, that’s why you have Winamp and iTunes. The sound effects are all present, and the lack of background noise makes it easier to hear the guy in the next cubicle cursing as you school him in the strategic arts.

The gameplay… well, it’s easy. You take turns moving your pieces, horizontally or vertically, one square at a time. If you jump on one of the other player’s pieces, you destroy it. And you keep going until only one player has pieces left.

Even if that was all you did in this game, it would be fun. But no… you can also collect powerups that not only give you destructive powers, they allow you to manipulate the game-board itself! This is where it gets challenging.
The infinite strategic options you are given based on what powerups you collect make this game unique every single time you play. You won’t find people using the same ‘cheap’ solution over and over, and sometimes when you think you are winning, all it takes is one crazy power to turn the tide.

The interface is a little ‘techie’ and might be hard to figure out at first, but once you get past that (which shouldn’t take long), the only concern you will have is what powerups your opponent is harboring.

The only problem I had was finding someone to play against. Seems like a lot of people just sit in the lobby and idle and ignore you when you click on their name to play. Make sure to drag someone with you when you want to play it.

It’s fun…. REALLY fun… perhaps one of the best multiplayer web-games around today.

[ PLAY IT RIGHT NOW!!!! ]

Wreckanoid by Aaron Worrall is not only a beefed up Arkanoid clone, it also doubles as a Wii browser based game in silky and touchable internet silkiness.

Created for WiiCade, this is way to much fun, even without having the silly Wii dealio. I must say, having gravity and using the force at which you hit the ball with the paddle is simple yet genius add ons to this 532 year old game. As with any good Akranoid clone, you can and will find yourself stuck for a couple minutes trying to get the ball through the unbreakable objects. I’ve never found myself playing this style of game sober, so that may just be me.

Graphic wise, standard Akranoid. While anything will look good in flash compared to something made 30 years ago there’s been so many clones of this I was expecting better, since the game play is so awesome. Granted, Aaron is a coder, BUT STILL. I’ve been waiting for months to review a game with baby blood fountains, =(. While lacking nothing the original didn’t have, and having a bit more, needed that lil extra other clones have have, for me at least.

Sound wise, nothing unenjoyable. There’s a nice sound off button in the lower right corner but I didn’t need to turn it off. There’s some nice epic audio, pending what you do. You’ll see.

I’ve seen Wii vids. Laughed at how stupid people looked. Played this. I want a Wii now. No idea why I’ve not let myself think more into why it’d be good game play. Maybe I just miss my 2 buttons and arrow pad. ANYWAYS, I’ve barley touched on this game. While you COULD say “it’s just Arkanoid”, you’d be doing it a great injustice. With several modes of play, great power ups and much time to waste over such a small file size, screw writing more about it, I’m off to play it more, haha. YOU CAN COME TOO, IT’LL BE OK…

[ Play Wreckanoid ]

Vorticube by BDS Flash and Tasty Lamp is a 3dish ball bouncer where you must collect blocks and avoid the mines.

While pretty, the art is fairly basic, with decent animation. I think if you would be going for something more pleasing to the eye, you might use road kill or baby arms. It would be more interesting then just blocks, but maybe that is just me. Over all the art is good but the look of the game could be better.

What kept me playing was the gameplay. Even with it on easy it’s like trying to steer a 3 wheeled stroller with a couple of retarded pit bulls in it. VERY CHALLENGING.

While frustrating at first, it does not take to long to master (and you better since more and more mines get added). With the game being timed for each level, it helps starting on easy first. Using the arrows to move around with W and S to go up and down is a good idea but I wish it was reversed, or have the options to customize buttons. Much thanks for the pause button, though.

The music and sound effects went well with the game, but it really could have used a sound toggle option, being it’s almost (or at least should be) a standard for flash games now-a-days.

With high scores and the addictive challenge of the game, the weak level art, and lack of sound toggles can be overlooked and you can spend a good amount of time cursing as you try to maneuver your stroller around in this “good but could be even better” game. Heres hoping for a part 2 to this.

[ Play Vorticube ]

I m currently in the process of making some changes to the site’s content databases in order to prepare for a major update to the overall site that will be happening within the next few months. You may or may not experience some load errors today as I get things ready.

Of course if that is the case, you probably wouldn’t be reading this, would you?

In other news, we have started looking for any talented writers who want to help out with WGM by providing a couple of quality articles on a monthly basis.

We’ve already recruited a handful of people with a lot of potential, but if you think you have something to offer, please take a few minutes and fill out an application in our forums.

I know puzzle games are typically supposed to be all cute or shiny with colorful tiles and all that other vibrant crap that supposedly makes them appealing to girls, but it’s always a refreshing change when we get a puzzle game that looks more like an action game.

Mindfields 2204 is a brain-busting puzzle game where you essentially place tiles on a grid-based level to direct a tank through various perils in an attempt to capture the world’s most valued military targets…. FLAGS!!!!

The art in this game isn’t that impressive. The terrain looks like what Advance Wars may have looked like had it been an 8-bit NES game rather than a GBA game. The tank, mines and turrets are all rather plain as well, but I’ve seen plenty of games with way worse art. At least you can tell what everything is supposed to be.

The sound isn’t so bad… basic effects, nothing fancy. It only uses one looping music track. It’s a pretty subtle one and doesn’t make your ears bleed in any way.

It took me a little time to really get this gameplay down, but not so long that I gave up on it. Once I did figure it out I kept playing and playing until, before I knew it, I had beaten it.

Basically you play with the mouse and you drag tiles onto the map. When you are ready the tank will drive on it’s own in whatever direction it’s facing. If it hits a tile with an arrow, it will change direction. You also have tiles that trigger the cannons and force fields on the tank so you can get past the mines and laser turrets that are diligently guarding the precious flags.

The challenges of each level keep you thinking, and you feel REALLY good when you finally solve them.

The only gripe I really have with this game is the speed. It would be nice if the tank went a bit faster so you didn’t have to wait as long to find out of you screwed up or not.

I would really love to see a more polished version of this game, perhaps as a sequel. It’s a ton of fun, and it really could be a contender as a fully produced game.

[ Play Mindfields 2204 ]

Once again, I’m here to review what I feel is a brilliant hybrid of game-styles I absolutely love. Gateway is a brain teaser that mixes the gameplay and controls of point-and-clicks like monkey island, with the level-based puzzle solving of games like chip’s challenge.

The art in this game is designed to look low-poly 3D. It’s not detailed in any way, and the animation is pretty minimal, but this simplified approach is rather quite pleasing, much like Apple’s design approach in their hardware.

The sound also has a simplistic elegance. The buttons, objects and footsteps are all fitting, and the music has been bypassed for more of an eerie ambiance. That, mixed with the minimal level art, draws you into a void-like atmosphere that you really do want to escape from.

The gameplay is very easy to pick up. All you do is click where you want to walk, click on things you want to use, and…well… that’s about it! But if you aren’t too bright, the first few levels will tell you exactly how to click on stuff.
The levels are brilliantly designed, each one forcing you to use your brain to figure out what you need to do to progress. I especially loved some of the later levels where you spy on this house and watch other block-people moving around.

There is some degree of frustration in the collision. A lot of the time if you are near a wall or edge, and you click to walk in a straight line, your block-man won’t move. Kind of like guiding a fat, blind man with no arms, through a narrow hallway, only not nearly as funny. It’s a minor annoyance most of the time, and you just need to click a little closer to get unstuck.
About the only thing stopping this game from getting a much higher score is how short it is. There’s only around 10 levels or so to figure out, and if you are smart each one will only take you a few minutes at most.

If you aren’t the brightest crayon in the box, there is a save feature so you can spend as long as you need figuring out each level, and you can always pick up where you stopped at any time.
I’m really hoping to see a sequel or an expansion of some kind, because I really enjoyed the challenge and style of this game. Now… where did that armless, fat-ass, blind guy I was looking after go?

[ Play Gateway ]