Cute. A little *too* cute
Quick write-off:
Games come in all sorts, shapes, and colors. Some of them are absolutely intense while others are colorfully creative. Watermelon Bomb is the latter... well, it's halfway there.
It's nothing new, really -- it merely takes the "shoot *object*" games and downgrades it in size and scope. Its design and its plot, cute and harmless as it is, isn't enough to make this anything more than an average game.
Colorful; a gay old time
Newgrounds is notorious for its gimmicks, if they can accurately be called such. Red-heads with uzis? Even the most generic game can achieve a following and great success if the right gimmick is used. And boy, BattlePaint has... something going for it.
It's not a gimmick, per se. You control a single cube and shoot all the other colored cubes as they appear. They explode into paint on contact, which stains the battlefield in whatever colors they are. Let me tell you, it looks amazing. Even though the "characters" are blocks, its no worse than if it were zombies exploding into guts and blood. I can also say that, while slightly irritating, the thumping music helps the intensity.
It's not a hard game to get into, either. Starts off simple, and gradually adds more and more and more and more until you're surrounded by enemy cubes, all willing to die just to get you to lose. But thankfully, every now and again you get a multi-shot ability that kills all in your way (and cleans up the battlefield for ya!). It's a neat twist.
There is no story mode, which to some people might seem like a downer. It's survival mode all the way through. But it's so fun you'll get sick of playing it, I guarantee. Some variety in gameplay or power-ups would be a much appreciated improvement -- multiplayer alone doesn't cut it. But its mindless fun is a huge relief, and loads of fun.
Over-the-top humor, short and sweet
Quick write-off:
As a game, Dead Space Invaders isn't very fun -- it lasts all of ten seconds and isn't very satisfying. But this really shouldn't be seen a game as much as an interactive joke -- it's a somewhat over-clever parody, but it's way better if you see it as such.
Down points for the lack of a replay button and utter lack of content. Still, if you're into it it's worth that one moment... even if the pay-off is just a hearty chuckle.
Very Good Brain-Teaser With Potential
There are games that truly deserve that rare 10 out of 10. Games that push the boundaries, are perfect in almost every way, that deserve to be on top until the next one comes along to knock it off its throne. Sadly, Interlocked is *not* that game. Not to say this isn't a very nice game, with well-thought out puzzles. It could very well be a contender for runner-up, but there's a feeling that this game hasn't quite reached its full potential. It's yet to be the best it can be.
It's presented as a puzzler, based off of puzzles of interlocking blocks that seem impossible to take apart. It's a basic concept, but one that goes far. The graphics are, as such, simple -- they're blocks. But they're 3D -- you can rotate them any which direction, bring the pieces closer or pull them away. Deceptively simple, but brilliant -- no need for an extravaganza! The music does a nice job too; it's pleasant, relaxing, never overwhelming but never quite memorable. You could be taking a bath.
The controls are simple -- you can either rotate the puzzle in any direction or angle, or you can try to move a single piece. Space bar switches between them, the mouse uses them. But the difficulty can deceive you -- especially when you're struggling to move a piece but the angle you're at won't let you. It's not as smooth as desired, but perhaps that's a part of the puzzle. And you'll still feel a tiny bit smarter after solving these puzzles, which is always a postive.
There's something about this game, though. It's very creative, but it feels incomplete. There are still a few bugs to work out -- after trying one of the early puzzles, the blocks started to phase and jerk around into each other. The controls seem like they could be smoother, though they still work well. And despite the hints given out, this game seems like it'd only attract fans of puzzling games, people with a large amount of patience. Not very accessible.
If you're looking for a good brainteaser game, I highly recommend this particular one. It's great, but not excellent; there *are* better puzzle games out there. However, they are so few and far between that it's completely excusable to think this is the best. It's very good, yes. Very deserving it its front page status. But it could always be better -- and the real puzzle is how to improve on this next time.
Something exciting, but just as disappointing
Music fans can, for the most part, rejoice. This is a tool that allows for musical discovery or just for some good listening, one that allows for musical control and great fun in searching the audible landscapes. This could be the very thing all music fans secretly want.
But for everything good that can be said about it... it's just not as exciting as it could be. For a first try this may be forgiven, but this is supposed to be the successor to something better. And while it's useful, it almost tries too hard. It covers many genres and allows for some creativity in making our own lists, but its all spread too thinly -- that could be last.fm's or Youtube's fault, but it doesn't cover as much ground as was implied.
The design itself doesn't have much, either. The first impression given is "This must be from the nineties." It's not stylish, it's not impressive -- it's very plain. I know for something based around audio, visuals shouldn't matter... but it could have been executed a little better.
It's a cute toy, but personally I'd rather just use Youtube or last.fm instead of this app that takes from both.
But... I don't know. A single app that does it for me would be nice.
So, how about you take a look at iTunes' store. Amazon's store. tastekid.com. Music magazines and blogs. They are all important in one another's musical discovery. I want this tool to be fantastic. Just trying to help.
Contradicted, Yet Carried, By Atmosphere
Roman mythology and Greek mythology, will always have a place in media. The sheer depth of material can influence countless people in their creative states. However, there does exist more than enough proof that not everything based of said material can be great, or even inspired.
Not that Astrae Bellum isn't inspired. It really is, and cccplay should get an award for that alone. It goes beyond what an ordinary Flash game would do, taking the stories of old, characters from ages ago, and creating something slightly interesting out of it. The moral -- we are stronger united -- isn't subtle, but it is never forced upon you. By contrast, the music quietly makes its way into your consciousness and mixed with the smooth winter colors used in the background it creates an amazing aura, an atmosphere like few others. In fact, name even just one other game online that does this. Hard, isn't it?
But atmosphere aside, there isn't much to be said about Astrae Bellum. If you've played the board game Risk, you'll get the jist of this. Just build up your mana (troops) and try to take the other stars (countries). A little more strategy is involved in this -- you get to unleash spells (roll dice) that could affect the outcome of the battle. It's kind of boring, actually.
Why is it so boring? We've seen it all before, first of all. Secondly, which is odd, I believe it's also because of the atmosphere. When the aura is as quiet and soothing as this, you're supposed to relax. But you're playing a powerful god trying to conquer stars before your adversary does -- an adversary who is also a god! It doesn't help when there's barely any action going on onscreen -- sparks and stars moving to and fro, maybe a spell animation and sound effect here and there. Where's the stirring music? The visualization of conflict? The feeling of power, the power of gods and their epic confrontations? It's just not there.
It's not an awful game. It's not even bad. Effort has been put into this, lovingly so. You can tell a long time has been put into making this game. But I don't think I could myself recommend it. Sure, try it out. Maybe this is game of the year for you. But for me, there is only calm and relaxation to be had. Not what I want when I'm playing a game.
Online Puzzler Shames Console Games: At Last
Puzzle games are naturally inventive -- at least, good ones are. But this one kicks the inventiveness (and the gravity) up a notch (or down, or left or right, depending on where you need to go). Games on the internet might never be the same.
But why? It's just a basic platformer, right? Use the arrows, go around, solve puzzles. I mean, this stuff is boring compared to "real" games that copy off of Mario.... one might think.
But the atmosphere it creates, with the lack of scenery and a creepy girl voice explaining the game to you, make this a stand out in and of itself. In fact the music is so much a part of the atmosphere that it may not stand out for a good bit of the game, but when it does everything will click and you'll exclaim, "Wow."
The game itself is very remeniscent of Portal: The Flash Version in that it's simple enough for newcomers, but complicated enough to tease the minds of those who so wish to complete the game. As you have to struggle (endlessly, angrily) to solve each puzzle with the built-in environments, your character comes that much closer to escaping the premises (which along with the lone girl voice-over adds much to the Portal comparison).
But this game is its own game, on its own system, made in its own style. That it's only made in Flash is an achievement that should (and rightfully so!) make big-name video game producers feel awful. Why can't they put this much effort and creativity into their puzzle games that for one reason or another all blend together, or simply rehash the same platformer with a new name? For shame!
...here's hoping we get a 3D version of this game for consoles.
Incredibly fun -- classic
Alongside the lower levels of quality featured here on Newgrounds, there are the elite. Not snobby wannabes, no -- those belong on Youtube. We have people who have talent, creativity, and skill to spare -- and within this humble community, there are few who do not know of JAZZA.
JAZZA's Larry series, as much exposure as it gets, doesn't always hit all the marks -- what's up with the fact that Larry has more games than episodes? It's never gotten awful or stale like many contemporaries are claimed to get, but it's not always perfect. Thankfully, that all changes with LARRY: Pup Run.
Intended as an idea to step into Larry's shoes (again, more games than episodes? Really?), this game takes a relatively simple premise and runs with it. Played similarly to old NES racers, you control Larry's pup as you run endlessly around a track, going faster with every sip of beer you drink. The graphics are among the smoothest you'll ever see in Flash, and while generic the music still excites as it should -- if your adrenaline doesn't pump, there may be something wrong with you.
This is a fast, thrilling game that both new players and old gamers can get into easily, one that takes skill but doesn't irritate when you fail (the humor is violent, but few will find it unfunny). An excellent addition to the Larry canon and to Newgrounds in general -- if you have time to kill, kill it with this. You will not be sorry.
Oh Good God
There are some pretty bad things on Newgrounds -- some epically horrible things -- but this takes the cake.
It isn't meant to be bad, like "B." It wasn't made for a laugh. No, what makes this "game" so bad is that you didn't even try, yet you expect people to be kind to it. You say it's your first game, but to still take it seriously. I mean, is it even a game? Did you ever test it out? Was it worth the 2 minutes you took to make it?
No sir, I refuse to waste any more of our time. Please, next time you make a game... just don't, please.
lol, atleast it didn't get turd of the week :P
Interesting, Fast, Addictive... if a tad cruel
The violence against the turtles and the repetitive music is my only problem. The whole game is quite addictive, and allowing people to buy tools to make the combos even bigger is of course great.
The whole "combo timeout" I had a problem with at first, but it eventually made sense to me.
This may be your best game, and I apologize for not writing an actual review for it. I'm having to much fun though.
My name is Jared, I'm 19, and I never fucking learned how to read
Age 33
SCHOOL + ALSO PIZZA
oh shit i didn't fix this
Joined on 7/19/05
Watermelon Bomb 
BattlePaint 
Dead Space Invaders 
Interlocked 
Music Quest 
Astrae Bellum 
Gravinaytor 
LARRY: Pup Run 
Solo Pong 
Epic Combo! 