Verdict: Really Fun!
In a Nutshell: A rich and surprising 2D action side-scroller
“In Shadow Complex, gameplay is centered on exploration and fast-paced combat as you gather game-altering power-ups and an arsenal of futuristic weapons to overcome obstacles, thwart legions of enemies, and delve into a mysterious open game world. The original single-player adventure is set in a compelling universe based upon the best-selling novel, Empire, by Orson Scott Card.”
Verdict: Great game!
In a Nutshell: Sequel to the original MUA – the heroes’ Civil War gets more complicated when a new threat emerges!
“The Marvel Universe is being torn apart. You and your tema of marvel Super Heroes help Nick Fury launch a secret preemptive strike against Latveria and Lucia Von Bardas only to have to thwart her retaliatory attack on New York City.
Coupled with oter Super Hero incidents, public sentiment turns against Super Heroes. The Superhuman Registration Act becomes law and Super Heroes must register as weapons of mass destruction and become licensed government agents with the United States government.
Lines are drawn as Iron Man leads the Pro-Registration side while Captain America leads the Anti-Registration side. You must pick a side and fight to determine the fate of the Marvel Universe and humankind.”
Verdict: delightful
In a Nutshell: This is a point-and-click adventure about a robot trying to save his girl and the leader of the city and was one of the 2009 PAX 10.
“Machinarium is an independent puzzle / adventure game developed by the makers of popular web-games Samorost and Samorost2. A little robot who’s been thrown out to the scrap yard behind the city must return and confront the Black Cap Brotherhood and save his robot-girl friend. The game takes place in a strange rusty metallic city populated only by robots. The story is about a little robot who has been unjustly thrown out to the scrapyard behind the city. In the game he returns to the town where he meets the bad guys from Black Cap Brotherhood – they are just preparing a bomb attack on the central tower where the town ruler has residence in. Of course our hero must stop them and also rescue his friend robot-girl.”
Verdict: soooo relaxing
In a Nutshell: Physics game about cell-like creatures and was one of the 2009 PAX 10.
“Enter the ambient world of Osmos: elegant, physics-based gameplay, dreamlike visuals, and a minimalist, electronic soundtrack.
Your objective is to grow by absorbing other motes. Propel yourself by ejecting matter behind you. But be wise: ejecting matter also shrinks you. Relax… good things come to those who wait.
Progress from serenely ambient levels into varied and more challenging worlds. Confront attractors, repulsors and intelligent motes with similar abilities and goals as you.”
Verdict: Rich!
In a Nutshell: This is an update to the classic platform puzzler of racing to collect all the gold before the baddies catch you.
“It’s an all-new Lode Runner gold mine — 3-D graphics, frenzied 2-D action, lodes of modes, 220 levels, multiplayer options, puzzles, a level editor and more! Run, climb, blast blocks, outsmart enemies and grab the gold on your own or with a partner. It’s classic action with “lodes” of new twists.”
Verdict: A delightfully new puzzler experience.
In a Nutshell: George Washington riding a pegasus over a UFO occupied by a ninja. Scribblenauts.
The goal is simple — help our hero Maxwell reach the starite by solving each challenge — but the mission before you can range from straightforward to downright tricky! To catch the Starite, write any object you can think of and watch as it comes to live. Try another word and watch as a completely different scenario unfolds right before your eyes. How you play and whatever object you put into use is completely up to you!
Verdict: my new favorite RTS
In a Nutshell: This is an upgrade/expansion to a very large space RTS.
“In Sins of a Solar Empire, you are the leader of a civilization embroiled in a galactic war, fighting for the survival of your entire race against relentless foes. Your success will depend entirely on your ability to manage your empire and command your vast fleets of starships to victory. Sins of a Solar Empire is a “RT4X” game, blending the epic strategy and empire management of the 4x genre with the fast-paced and tactical elements of a real-time strategy title. “
Verdict: Groovy!
In a Nutshell: Jump, hop, and splat to the groovy beat as you bring a glorious array of color to a series of drab gray cityscapes.
“A mischievous and unlikely hero, only de Blob can flip, bounce, and smash his way past the all-powerful I.N.K.T. Corporation to launch a revolution and save Chroma City from a future without color. Battle against massive tank battalions, speedy I.N.K.T. racers and elite Inky soldiers on your quest to free the citizens of Chroma City.”
Verdict: loved every minute of it
In a Nutshell: Defense Grid: The Awakening is a 3-d tower defense game that feels a lot like Starcraft.
“Defense Grid: The Awakening is a unique spin on tower defense gameplay that will appeal to players of all skill levels. A horde of enemies is invading, and it’s up to the player to stop them by strategically building fortification towers around their base. Beautiful environments, spectacular effects, and a dynamic, engaging soundtrack bring the world to life. The controls are intuitive and the gameplay is deep — the special attacks and properties of each tower work together to provide many ways to succeed.”
Verdict: refreshingly irreverent
In a Nutshell: Kingdom Elemental: Tactics is a slimmed down real-time strategy focusing on unit selection and combat.
“KE:Tactics takes core game play elements from real-time strategy, tactics, and role-playing games and combines them into a game that is painfully easy to pick up and play without committing your entire life, unless you have no life…in which case you may not find Kingdom Elemental to be an adequate substitute.”
