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Mini Demo Reviews

The long hot summer is officially here and aside from E3 not a lot has been catching my attention recently. Perhaps the lack of exciting new games is a ploy by the ice-cream men  to make us all go outside and see some real sunlight. Or maybe all of the developers just thought “Sod it, its too hot! Lets go to a water park…” and have left their respective offices in search of summer merriment. I suppose its probably more likely that everyone is simply saving their new releases until prime Christmas present buying season, but I like my reasons better. At least they had ice-cream.

Ice cream and water parks aside I am still left with a problem. How do I fill the long pre-Christmas gaming void in the summer months ahead. The sun is all well and good for a while, but how am I meant to entertain myself when extremely hot, sunburnt and more likely than not feeling just plain Lazy? I needed a solution, and luckily I soon had a plan. Indie games. Indie game manufactures don’t stop because of the heat and even better than this I don’t even need to venture out of my relatively cool flat for new content. One problem though, which to buy? With so much Downloadable content available on live how do you chose which Indie title is most deserving of your hard saved Microsoft points? I feel some mini reviews coming on…

Avatar Paintball

I thought it only right to start my mini review series with the game currently holding the title of most popular download, Avatar paintball. Within seconds of downloading this demo it was clear that this game simply does what it says on the tin. You, in the form of your Avatar play paintball. A basic point a shoot game, you run around the local landscape (in this case a small town) shooting anything which moves. The graphics of the game are styled to be in keeping with the Avatars, making the overall experience simple but pleasing.  In the main game you have the opportunity to use power ups and purchase better paintball guns, but apart from this it would seem that this game stays relatively simple. Point, shoot, redecorate.

A small downside though. Although the full game looks like it could be quite good fun I must say that the demo version of Avatar Paintball was one of the most disappointing. Unlike the main game where you can play against multiple characters online, the demo consists mainly of a practice mode where you are allowed only to shoot at static targets, or walls, both are equally entertaining. Another annoying part of the demo was that the Y, B and A buttons all take you to a separate menu to purchase the game. I constantly found myself trying to jump and instead being taken to the buy game screen, which wouldn’t be a problem if you wanted to purchase this game, but made for a very annoying Demo. Though this game was very dull when played alone, it is easy to see that its main potential is when played with large groups. The game allows for up to 16 players using live, so if you like simple, yet addictive multiplayer gaming this one could be for you.

Cost: 240G
Developer: Digital DNA
Players: 2-16
Star Rating: 3
Final comments: One to play with friends online, don’t bother with the free demo!

Baby Maker extreme

Next in the Top downloads chart was baby maker extreme. An interesting title, and one which had me very curious. Rated 3/3 for mature content I was pretty much convinced that there would be some form of behind the bike shed action, I was however quickly proven wrong. The demo takes place in a hospital delivery room, the key aim being to shoot a baby (or your Avatar, your choice) as far across the room/hall/reception/canteen as possible. This is done by first timing your contractions by pulsating the triggers, before mashing the B button to build up maximum power before releasing. Extra points can be gained for hitting small objects with the baby as it is airborne, and a boost button aids your flight when hit at the optimum moment.

Despite this games eye catching title I must say that after only a short time the Demo got quite boring. When the novelty of catapulting a baby across a hospital wears of you are left with a very basic game which consists mainly of button mashing, and though this game can be a fun one to challenge your friends/Flatmates/Slightly confused Neighbors too the demo is again not that much fun when Played alone. I suppose I could have gravely misjudged this game, after all I did only play the demo and there could be other more entertaining mini games included with the full version. However if this demo does represent the best which Baby maker Extreme has to offer I would say save your points for something a little more inventive and with a slightly more accurate title.

Cost: 80G
Developer: Stegosaurus games
Players: 1
Star Rating: 4
Final comments: Fun for the first five minutes but judging by the demo we have probably seen it all before.

Avatar Ninja

After playing Avatar paintball I expected that Avatar Ninja would be a similar concept. Play as your Avatar, beat up your online friends. I could not however have been more wrong. Unlike the 16 player free for all that is Avatar paintball, Avatar Ninja challenges you to a series of structured reaction based tasks which can be completed alone or against an online challenger. In the demo you must tap A in time with a set rhythm in order to make Ninja you run the length of a ling side-Scrolling pathway collecting gold and silver coins. As you run you must use the X, Y and B buttons to dodge various objects which appear in your way, whilst all the time maintaining the rhythmic tapping of A.

Like most of the other online Indie games Avatar Ninja has a simple concept. However unlike some of the other games I trailed this game has quite a high addiction factor and is still quite entertaining when played alone. After a couple of goes at this demo I began to challenge myself to reach the automatic Demo cut off point at level five, and if the demo was this addictive I can only assume that the rest of the game is quite entertaining. The free online Demo gives a pretty good trial of this game, and if you like the demo at only 80G this game is not exactly going to break the bank.

Cost: 80G
Developer: Milkstone Studios
Players: 1
Star Rating: 4
Final comments: Quite fun and addictive, not at all bad for 80G

Try not to fart

Out of all of the Indie games I tried this week ‘Try not to fart’ was without a doubt both the most entertaining and the most addictive. Using the winning combination of naively drawn characters and adult themes the story is simple. You are on a date with a girl when you feel the need to…well…lets just say you need to deal with some gas. Not wanting to offend your new lady friend with your windy ways the aim of the game is to hold it in. At all costs. In order to keep your dating dignity you must press and hold multiple buttons (Including RB, LB, RT, LT, X, Y, B, and A) releasing them only when prompted to do so. If you succeed in this task you will have charmed your way towards a second date. However if you miss a button, or release a button at the wrong time a green gas cloud starts to fill the room, and if this gas becomes too thick you will simultaneously offend your date and lose the game.

Reading this you may be thinking that this game seems easy, but by the end of the three level demo the random and varied combinations of buttons this game throws at you makes it not only quite hilarious but also deceptively challenging. Watching this game you may wonder why anyone would fail it, but play some of the later levels and you will realize that ‘Try not to fart’ closely resembles playing a game of finger twister with your 360 controller. Add to this the distraction of the random date night dialogue and we have what I think is the perfect mix of addictive mini games and childishly adult humor. I Love this game. There I have said it. These things are better out than in anyway…

Cost: 80G
Developer:Silver Dollar Games
Players: 1
Star Rating: 3.5
Final comments: My favorite!

Apple Jack

It would be foolish to comprise an Indie game review without including at least a couple of Platform based games. The first I chose to trial was Apple Jack. Unsurprisingly you play this game as…well…Apple Jack, a feisty young go getter with an apple on his head…or is the apple actually his head…I am still unsure…if you know please tell me. Anyway, in true platform style you must battle through over 100 colorful 2D levels in order to rescue your beloved lost dog. It is not however all blue skies and Orchards. Along your way you will encounter a number of enemies which you must destroy by picking up and throwing at each other. The fact that each enemy can only be destroyed by another, and the enemies can only be moved in certain ways means that this game is in essence as much of a puzzle game as a true platformer. Oh and did I mention that in this game washing machines are classed as enemies? I always knew they were evil…

I enjoyed Apple Jack and after playing the demo have a feeling that the full game will provide a lot more entertainment hours than a lot of the other inexpensive Indie games. Whats more, the free online Demo consists of several levels of the full game ending only with a time out, making it well worth the 2 minute download time.

Cost: 80G
Developer:My owl software
Players: 1
Star Rating: 4.5
Final comments: A nice platform game with lots of levels.

Bloody death

Now to a slightly more confusing Indie game, Bloody death. Though I can stand any level of gore within gaming, I must admit that I am not the worlds biggest fan of horror movies. I don’t like creepy tension building music, I don’t like jumpy filming and above all I don’t like high levels of gore (That is unless I am causing it, that is somehow ok). You can therefore understand that when I loaded Bloody Death and saw that it was quick time event game set in a fully fledged horror movie I nearly pressed the big glowing X-box button to flea to online safety. Resisting the urge to escape to the home screen I ventured on, trying to ignore the creepy music and thankfully the game soon loaded. I was met by the scene of a terrified girl in a white nightdress cowering behind an old sofa. In the doorway stood a dark bloodstained figure, holding a carving knife. Bodies littered the floor. After a good look around the room the game informed me that quicktime events would determine weather I was to live or die. I waited patiently for my first challenge.

Then after a short pause the game presented me with a single quicktime event, the successful completion of which prompted the murder to walk away allowing my character to continue with her evening of behind the sofa crying. It cannot be denied, this was a little bit of an anti-climax. I don’t know if it was the shoddy acting (sorry actors!) or the lack of interaction which let this game down. All I know is the loading screen seemed far more scary than the game itself, and this cannot be a good thing. I expect that the full version of this game is a lot more frightening, and It can be safely assumed that the quicktime events will get faster as you progress. To me however even if the game became truly terrifying and a lot faster it would still be more of an interactive visual event than a game. If anything Bloody Death was more of an interactive movie, so If you find yourself craving cheesy horror and like the idea of multiple outcomes this could be one for you.

Cost: 240G
Developer: MonkeyWare Studios
Players: 1
Star Rating: 2
Final comments: A cheesy interactive horror movie and comparatively quite expensive.

Miner Dig deep

I decided to end my mini review session with Miner Dig Deep, for no other reason than it is the most chilled out of all of the games I tried and thus won’t wind you up before bedtime. Another single player game, you play as a teeny little miner who must use his trusty pick axe and lantern to uncover as much treasure as possible. In the demo you are given the starts of a basic mine, which you can then use to uncover treasures of varying value. These treasures can be traded in for lantern fuel, ladders, better tools or even lifts, which in turn allow you to go back into the mine and uncover more wonderful treasures. This game is made more interesting by the fact that your time in the mine is limited by the gas level of your lantern. Dig too deep or for too long and your light will extinguish, meaning that in this game you must balance your gold lust with good timing.

Very cute and not too challenging this game is definitely one for chill out time. Though it did not have the excitement factor or hilarity of some of the other games Miner dig deep left me with an undeniable urge to download the full game simply because of the strong sense of investment I had developed in fulfilling the gold based dreams of my little mining friend. Your probably getting the feeling that I was more than a little attached to my miniature miner and his funny little walk…this seems like a good place to end my Indie reviewing spree.

Cost: 80G
Developer:Robir
Players: 1
Star Rating: 4.5
Final comments: A cute chilled out little game which makes me want to go out digging.

And there you have it. If you want to play alone then Apple Jack and Miner Dig Deep seem to have the most content for your money. If you have friends over then taking turns on Try not to fart is my pick for entertainment value and if you are one for online multiplayer challenges then it looks like endless Avatar paintball matches could be for you.

Oh and I Maed a gam3 w1th zombies 1n it!!!1 is also worth checking out. A bit like Geometry wars but with Zombies and those virtual snakes we all remember from old Nokia phones. Still, if none of this floats your boat I suggest Frisbee in the park of Hibernation until the winter. Both are also good options.

Until next time,

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