General Introduction
Just as I entered Magic Ball 3, the scenery and music reminded me of a Tropical Paradise. The main thrust of this game is to summon the Magic Ball that will undo the sorcerer’s spells and set the items he stole free. At different times during the game, you may even get a surprise which looks like a block with 3 balloons tied to it.
Sound and Music
At the very beginning the music sounds light and airy and gives you the impression that you are in a tropical paradise. Then a little while into the game, the music takes on a rather mischievous tone. It has a kind of Roaring 20’s flavor!
As far as the sounds go, I was a little disappointed. The only sounds that were really noticeable to me were the pirates laughing, the lightning strikes and the cannons firing when the Magic Ball hit an object. In this category I give the rating of 6.
Game Play
It is your job to keep the ball in the water to destroy the pirates and various objects. The more objects you sink, the higher the number of points you earn. There are twenty levels in all. When all of the objects are sunk, you go on to a new level. I found that the game was very addictive to play. I wanted to make sure to sink very single object so I would move on to the next level. If I did not accomplish this, I would just start over until that level was mastered. I the game play arena I give this a high mark of 8.
Graphics
This game is filled with all sorts of graphics. A shark can be seen swimming around in the water. There are also, pirates, pirate ships, rafts, skeletons, magic ball, lightning and keys with 3 balloons tied to the end of it. There are many more graphics that are too numerous to mention. In the graphics department I would give this a standing ovation of 9.
Fun Factor
I thought that this game was just up my alley after I learned how to play it. It had just enough action for a computer game newbie like me. It also immediately grabbed my attention so that I kept coming back to get more of the game. As usual, this game was an instant hit with my thirteen year old daughter so I know that this is surely a winner! In the fun factor category I think Magic Ball 3 deserves a 9.
Final conclusion
If you like a tame computer game with just the right amount of action, then you will certainly want to try Magic Ball 3. I would certainly recommend this game for your people as it is not filled with the terrible violence that so many of the games today are loaded with. You can try your hand at this game by downloading a free session here: http://arcade.reflexive.com/downloadgame.aspx?CID=20964&AID=739
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Friday, February 9, 2007
Penumbria Overture
Penumbria Overture – Gameplay video released
Frictional Games has recently released a video clip showing enemy interactions in the upcoming game entitled Penumbria Overture. Different screen shots can be viewed such as an ice cave, a cage, a generator and a mine just to name a few. The video clip is eerie as are the music and the sound effects. The main objective of this game is to be kept on the edge of your seat at all times! Different enemies are to be defeated using objects that are found in the environment. The player is allowed to make his or her own choices in order to be able to defeat the enemy. You can see a demonstration of this game at YouTube.com. This game will be released in April.
Frictional Games has recently released a video clip showing enemy interactions in the upcoming game entitled Penumbria Overture. Different screen shots can be viewed such as an ice cave, a cage, a generator and a mine just to name a few. The video clip is eerie as are the music and the sound effects. The main objective of this game is to be kept on the edge of your seat at all times! Different enemies are to be defeated using objects that are found in the environment. The player is allowed to make his or her own choices in order to be able to defeat the enemy. You can see a demonstration of this game at YouTube.com. This game will be released in April.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Bookworm Adventure Deluxe
Bookworm Adventure Deluxe
General Introduction
Briefly told, it is your job to defeat the numerous enemies by spelling words. The tiles do not have to connect in order for you to spell a word. The larger the word that is spelled, the quicker an enemy is defeated. As you defeat the various monsters, you fill up your level bar which means that you(Bookworm) become more powerful. When the health meter of the monster becomes empty, it is defeated. Finding treasures have the effects of improving your lightning power automatically. A map is given to show where the different treasures are located. It is the bookworm's quest to find those treasures.
Sound and Music
Overall, I think that the music adequately suits this game. I did, think, however, that the music could have sounded a bit more suspenseful as each monster was eliminated. In the music department I give it a rating of 6.
As far as the sound effects go, I thought they could have been more realistic. Over all of the other sound effects, I think that the snake's hiss and the bird's scream were by far the best! I would have expected the lion to emit a loud roar, but I was disappointed by the sound that came out of its mouth! In the category of sound effects, I would give the Bookworm Adventure Deluxe a rating of 5.
Game play
The computer game was challenging because it specifically tested your spelling ability. It actually made you think before spelling a word because the larger the word that was spelled, the more damage that was done to the enemy. You could also press the scramble button to re-scramble the letters and perhaps give you a better chance to make a larger word, but you had to forfeit your current turn to use this feature. I would give the gameplay feature a rating of 8.
Graphics
The best graphic in the whole game was the little green bookworm. All of the other graphics paled in comparison. That little green worm mesmerized me! As you looked at the waves and the lightning while on board the ship, they did not seem to be very realisticat all. The octopus had only four arms instead of the traditional eight. Aside from the bookworm, the colors of the other graphics could have been more colorful so that they could have stood out more. However, that may have taken away from the bookworm, so perhaps this was done for a purpose. It seemed like to me that the bookworm was always in the forefront while all of the other graphics were in the foreground. The graphics did not seem to have any depth to them such as 3D would give. As I reviewed the game again, I found that the mountain goat was an excellent graphic and was one of the few 3D graphics. In the graphics area, I would give it a rating of 7.
Fun Factor
I thoroughly enjoyed playing this game. Since I enjoy things that stimulate my mind, I felt that I was actually accomplishing something rather than sitting at my chair like a bump on the log. For a computer newbie like myself, this game had just the right amount of action. I also wanted someone else's opinion so I had my thirteen year old play the game. She loved it! The pace of the game was not timed which I found to be a great plus. It gave me time to think of the words I wanted to spell without having to worry whether I would be penalized or not. I would definitely give this an outstanding rating of 10!
Final conclusion
As a former teacher, I would certainly recommend this game for younger age children to help strengthen their spelling skills. Of course, this game would be suitable for most ages both young and old. I would not, however, recommend this game for children below the third grade level. I would definitely recommend purchasing this game! To try a trial version of this game feel free to download a copy here: http://www.reflexive.com/BookwormAdventuresDeluxe.html
General Introduction
Briefly told, it is your job to defeat the numerous enemies by spelling words. The tiles do not have to connect in order for you to spell a word. The larger the word that is spelled, the quicker an enemy is defeated. As you defeat the various monsters, you fill up your level bar which means that you(Bookworm) become more powerful. When the health meter of the monster becomes empty, it is defeated. Finding treasures have the effects of improving your lightning power automatically. A map is given to show where the different treasures are located. It is the bookworm's quest to find those treasures.
Sound and Music
Overall, I think that the music adequately suits this game. I did, think, however, that the music could have sounded a bit more suspenseful as each monster was eliminated. In the music department I give it a rating of 6.
As far as the sound effects go, I thought they could have been more realistic. Over all of the other sound effects, I think that the snake's hiss and the bird's scream were by far the best! I would have expected the lion to emit a loud roar, but I was disappointed by the sound that came out of its mouth! In the category of sound effects, I would give the Bookworm Adventure Deluxe a rating of 5.
Game play
The computer game was challenging because it specifically tested your spelling ability. It actually made you think before spelling a word because the larger the word that was spelled, the more damage that was done to the enemy. You could also press the scramble button to re-scramble the letters and perhaps give you a better chance to make a larger word, but you had to forfeit your current turn to use this feature. I would give the gameplay feature a rating of 8.
Graphics
The best graphic in the whole game was the little green bookworm. All of the other graphics paled in comparison. That little green worm mesmerized me! As you looked at the waves and the lightning while on board the ship, they did not seem to be very realisticat all. The octopus had only four arms instead of the traditional eight. Aside from the bookworm, the colors of the other graphics could have been more colorful so that they could have stood out more. However, that may have taken away from the bookworm, so perhaps this was done for a purpose. It seemed like to me that the bookworm was always in the forefront while all of the other graphics were in the foreground. The graphics did not seem to have any depth to them such as 3D would give. As I reviewed the game again, I found that the mountain goat was an excellent graphic and was one of the few 3D graphics. In the graphics area, I would give it a rating of 7.
Fun Factor
I thoroughly enjoyed playing this game. Since I enjoy things that stimulate my mind, I felt that I was actually accomplishing something rather than sitting at my chair like a bump on the log. For a computer newbie like myself, this game had just the right amount of action. I also wanted someone else's opinion so I had my thirteen year old play the game. She loved it! The pace of the game was not timed which I found to be a great plus. It gave me time to think of the words I wanted to spell without having to worry whether I would be penalized or not. I would definitely give this an outstanding rating of 10!
Final conclusion
As a former teacher, I would certainly recommend this game for younger age children to help strengthen their spelling skills. Of course, this game would be suitable for most ages both young and old. I would not, however, recommend this game for children below the third grade level. I would definitely recommend purchasing this game! To try a trial version of this game feel free to download a copy here: http://www.reflexive.com/BookwormAdventuresDeluxe.html
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Kudos
Kudos
General Introduction
No, folks, it is not the breakfast bar called Kudos but a computer game! In this particular game, you are given the choice from a variety of characters of who you wish to be. Then you are given a small synopsis about your character. You control your character's life one day at a time. There are hidden messages throughout the game explaining how it works. As with anything in day to day life, your character must apply for a job. However, you must be careful that he or she possesses the necessary qualifications and attributes for it. You must pay bills and get the main necessities of life from the wages that you make just as in real life. You earn Kudos points based on the relationships you have. The more friends you have, the more Kudos you earn. However, the relationship has to have a strength of 20% before any Kudos points are earned. You can decide whether you wish to spend time alone or interact with your friends or perhaps improve your education. You can earn more Kudos points by organizing activities that your friends can perform.
Sound and Music
As far as music goes, it seems like good elevator music, that is, easy listening, but after a time it got to be monotonous for me. Therefore, I would only give it a rating of 4. The sound effects, some of which are snoring, a telephone ringing, a cat's meow, a dog's bark and the pitter patter of rain drops were all quite realistic. As a matter of fact, I thought it was our cat that was meowing and not the one on Kudos! The nightclub graphics were kind of cool, but then again, the color was much too drab. To rate these sound effects, I would give Kudos a high rating of 9.
Comment of Game play
When I began to play Kudos, I felt that the instructions were somewhat vague in the beginning. Also, at times I felt the English was a little difficult to understand. If you want to play the game correctly, there is quite a bit of reading to be done. I also got very frustrated as I could not see where to click on the activities that my character could perform. Since I am a newbie to computer games, it has to be spelled out or shown to me in black and white or else I will just not get it! Later on in the day, I went back to play Kudos, and this time I could click my mouse to play a certain activity. Perhaps there was a glitch in the game the first time I played it.
Graphics
I was not particularly impressed with the graphics of this game. I found that they were rather drab...too many grays and blacks were used. It would certainly help to spruce up the game by adding a splash of more color. I would give the graphics a rating of 5.
Fun Factor
This is a mild-mannered game that has very little action in it. It is perfect for someone who does not have the experience of playing computer games. I found that the game was a bit on the boring and dull side. I let my fourteen year old daughter play it, and she had the same opinion as I did. It was certainly not much fun playing the game, and I found that it did not motivate me to continue playing it. I would give the fun factor an overall rating of 3.
Final Conclusion
For those newbies to computer games, this game is perfect for you to ease yourself into other more challenging games. However, for the seasoned computer player, I would definitely not recommend this game. It is not challenging enough and does not have enough action to keep you captivated. I would recommend playing the free version online To download a free version go here: http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=kudos
General Introduction
No, folks, it is not the breakfast bar called Kudos but a computer game! In this particular game, you are given the choice from a variety of characters of who you wish to be. Then you are given a small synopsis about your character. You control your character's life one day at a time. There are hidden messages throughout the game explaining how it works. As with anything in day to day life, your character must apply for a job. However, you must be careful that he or she possesses the necessary qualifications and attributes for it. You must pay bills and get the main necessities of life from the wages that you make just as in real life. You earn Kudos points based on the relationships you have. The more friends you have, the more Kudos you earn. However, the relationship has to have a strength of 20% before any Kudos points are earned. You can decide whether you wish to spend time alone or interact with your friends or perhaps improve your education. You can earn more Kudos points by organizing activities that your friends can perform.
Sound and Music
As far as music goes, it seems like good elevator music, that is, easy listening, but after a time it got to be monotonous for me. Therefore, I would only give it a rating of 4. The sound effects, some of which are snoring, a telephone ringing, a cat's meow, a dog's bark and the pitter patter of rain drops were all quite realistic. As a matter of fact, I thought it was our cat that was meowing and not the one on Kudos! The nightclub graphics were kind of cool, but then again, the color was much too drab. To rate these sound effects, I would give Kudos a high rating of 9.
Comment of Game play
When I began to play Kudos, I felt that the instructions were somewhat vague in the beginning. Also, at times I felt the English was a little difficult to understand. If you want to play the game correctly, there is quite a bit of reading to be done. I also got very frustrated as I could not see where to click on the activities that my character could perform. Since I am a newbie to computer games, it has to be spelled out or shown to me in black and white or else I will just not get it! Later on in the day, I went back to play Kudos, and this time I could click my mouse to play a certain activity. Perhaps there was a glitch in the game the first time I played it.
Graphics
I was not particularly impressed with the graphics of this game. I found that they were rather drab...too many grays and blacks were used. It would certainly help to spruce up the game by adding a splash of more color. I would give the graphics a rating of 5.
Fun Factor
This is a mild-mannered game that has very little action in it. It is perfect for someone who does not have the experience of playing computer games. I found that the game was a bit on the boring and dull side. I let my fourteen year old daughter play it, and she had the same opinion as I did. It was certainly not much fun playing the game, and I found that it did not motivate me to continue playing it. I would give the fun factor an overall rating of 3.
Final Conclusion
For those newbies to computer games, this game is perfect for you to ease yourself into other more challenging games. However, for the seasoned computer player, I would definitely not recommend this game. It is not challenging enough and does not have enough action to keep you captivated. I would recommend playing the free version online To download a free version go here: http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=kudos
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Enchanted Gardens
Enchanted Gardens
General Introduction
From the onset, this game seems like it would be a great game for everyone to play, young or old. Opening up the game you see a bright array of colors that are appealing to the eyes and are excited to get started playing. What you must know before getting involved with this game, however, is that it is mainly a game for puzzle enthusiasts, and those are the types of people would enjoy playing this game the most.
Sound and Music
In Enchanted Gardens, the mood of the game that comes from the music at the beginning is very energizing. It almost entices you to start playing the game from the get go. Also, the music is rather upbeat, and from those characteristics, this game should be rated a 7 for the sounds and music that come from the games.
Game play
Even though the majority of the game is centered around an enchanted garden or forest, the game play is somewhat lacking. Rather than being an exciting game where you can control characters or other features, most of Enchanted Gardens centers on a game of matching, aligning figures and shapes successfully to proceed to the next level of repeating the same process. Of course for those who enjoy puzzle games, Enchanted Gardens is right up their alley. But taking everything into consideration, a 6 is what it is being rated for Game play.
Graphics
The graphics for Enchanted Gardens are surprisingly excellent. The game has bright colors and just by looking at the game you are inclined to play it. Bright greens and yellows are used to make Enchanted Gardens look more attractive, which it does. For graphics, this game is given an 8.
Fun Factor
Just like the game play, the fun factor has something missing, so it is rated a 6. Although this is a puzzle game, something could be added to the game to make it even more interesting. For example, you could be timed while you are trying to get the right sequence of pieces together. But all things considered, Enchanted Gardens is about average for this type of game.
Final conclusion
All in all, Enchanted Gardens is not a bad game and is recommended for anyone and everyone that likes puzzle games. It is easy to understand, easy to play, and actually is very attracting when you throw in the graphics and music that the game is composed of.
Even though the game does have all sorts of variety for the game play, like being able to control characters or even control the background for the game, it still is a very well played game and could be played by anyone that enjoys puzzle games and the ability to think with your mind. You could also think of the game as a type of mini Rubik’s Cube, with the opportunity to align the different shapes and pictures to how they are supposed to be. All that being said, Enchanted Gardens is a very enjoyable game that does make you want to play it over and over again! If you would like to try your hand at this game before making a purchase, then you can download a trial version here: https://fe.trymedia.com/magnus/bbyt.html?contentid=efdc937b050b9a9cc416572813e4dc64%26offering=60m_i_1f%26mv_pc=quar_tms
General Introduction
From the onset, this game seems like it would be a great game for everyone to play, young or old. Opening up the game you see a bright array of colors that are appealing to the eyes and are excited to get started playing. What you must know before getting involved with this game, however, is that it is mainly a game for puzzle enthusiasts, and those are the types of people would enjoy playing this game the most.
Sound and Music
In Enchanted Gardens, the mood of the game that comes from the music at the beginning is very energizing. It almost entices you to start playing the game from the get go. Also, the music is rather upbeat, and from those characteristics, this game should be rated a 7 for the sounds and music that come from the games.
Game play
Even though the majority of the game is centered around an enchanted garden or forest, the game play is somewhat lacking. Rather than being an exciting game where you can control characters or other features, most of Enchanted Gardens centers on a game of matching, aligning figures and shapes successfully to proceed to the next level of repeating the same process. Of course for those who enjoy puzzle games, Enchanted Gardens is right up their alley. But taking everything into consideration, a 6 is what it is being rated for Game play.
Graphics
The graphics for Enchanted Gardens are surprisingly excellent. The game has bright colors and just by looking at the game you are inclined to play it. Bright greens and yellows are used to make Enchanted Gardens look more attractive, which it does. For graphics, this game is given an 8.
Fun Factor
Just like the game play, the fun factor has something missing, so it is rated a 6. Although this is a puzzle game, something could be added to the game to make it even more interesting. For example, you could be timed while you are trying to get the right sequence of pieces together. But all things considered, Enchanted Gardens is about average for this type of game.
Final conclusion
All in all, Enchanted Gardens is not a bad game and is recommended for anyone and everyone that likes puzzle games. It is easy to understand, easy to play, and actually is very attracting when you throw in the graphics and music that the game is composed of.
Even though the game does have all sorts of variety for the game play, like being able to control characters or even control the background for the game, it still is a very well played game and could be played by anyone that enjoys puzzle games and the ability to think with your mind. You could also think of the game as a type of mini Rubik’s Cube, with the opportunity to align the different shapes and pictures to how they are supposed to be. All that being said, Enchanted Gardens is a very enjoyable game that does make you want to play it over and over again! If you would like to try your hand at this game before making a purchase, then you can download a trial version here: https://fe.trymedia.com/magnus/bbyt.html?contentid=efdc937b050b9a9cc416572813e4dc64%26offering=60m_i_1f%26mv_pc=quar_tms
Friday, February 2, 2007
Battlestations: Midway
If Milton Bradley’s gaming gurus have taught us anything, it is that battleships should be sunk. Battlestations: Midway makes sinking the steel giants of the ocean as satifying as hearing someone shout “You sank my battleship!” However, Battlestations: Midway is much more than a game consisting of blowing ships up. It is an interesting blend of real-time strategy and action that does an excellent job of appealing to both genres.
Become a fighter pilot and take to the skies!
Battlestations: Midway takes place during World War II in the Pacific Theater. It is a single-player campaign where you play as Henry Walker. He is a Navy recruit who shows up just in time for the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Your skills as a commander are quickly put to the test in such battles as the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. Between battles you will see how Henry Walker rose through the ranks to become the captain of the aircraft carrier the USS Yorktown. A lot of the time the dialogue in the story seems forced and at times almost comically bad. However, the characters do a good job of personalizing the battles. It is heartwarming to see your recruit going from a tiny PT boat to commanding fleets of ships out on the open ocean. There are 11 missions in all in the single-player campaign. Some of these mission can take almost an hour to complete, but the whole campaign can usually be finished in four or five hours. There are also 10 extra challenge missions, but they are not as exciting as the larger story battles. Despite these bonus missions and a very good multiplayer games which is also included, it is disappointing that the campaign of the single-player is so short.
It is true that all of the battles are battles that take place at sea. However, there is enough variety in the units at your disposal and in the missions themselves that you are provided with a unique experience each and every time you play the game. You usually begin with a handful of units at your command and just a few simple objectives such as defending your airfield or destroying all enemy carriers. For larger battles, you have a tactical map you can look at. By using this map, you can command all of your subs, planes and ships to move and attack. It takes a little while to get used to using the map and commanding many units at the same time. The artificial intelligence in this game works very well, and you do not have to worry about your units not obeying orders or behaving irrationally. This artificial intelligence is so good that in the larger battles, you will find that you are spending about 75% of the time commanding your units from the tactical map.
The other portion of your time will be spent in directly controlling your units which turns out to be a lot of fun. You can do any one of several tasks including captaining a sub as it stalks an enemy ship, man the aircraft guns on one of the battleships, become a pilot and take part in an intense dogfight and more all in a single battle! All of the units have special controls, abilities, weapons and limitations that you will need to learn in order to make the best use of all of your forces. Since this is NOT a simulation game, it will not take you very long to get a feel for each unit you are controlling. If you want to develop a strategy in the game, then you will want to take a hands-off approach.
You are given a few other responsibilities besides that on going on strafing runs and being the commander of a fleet of ships. There ar airfields and shipyards in the game as well as aircraft carriers. You are usually given a choice as to what ship or airplane you wish to issue , as well as want weapons you wish for them to have. If it is your mission to sink a sub, then you will need to send out some dive bombers that are equipped with depth charges. As your units are destroyed, you can keep sending out new ones to take their place.
Become a fighter pilot and take to the skies!
Battlestations: Midway takes place during World War II in the Pacific Theater. It is a single-player campaign where you play as Henry Walker. He is a Navy recruit who shows up just in time for the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Your skills as a commander are quickly put to the test in such battles as the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. Between battles you will see how Henry Walker rose through the ranks to become the captain of the aircraft carrier the USS Yorktown. A lot of the time the dialogue in the story seems forced and at times almost comically bad. However, the characters do a good job of personalizing the battles. It is heartwarming to see your recruit going from a tiny PT boat to commanding fleets of ships out on the open ocean. There are 11 missions in all in the single-player campaign. Some of these mission can take almost an hour to complete, but the whole campaign can usually be finished in four or five hours. There are also 10 extra challenge missions, but they are not as exciting as the larger story battles. Despite these bonus missions and a very good multiplayer games which is also included, it is disappointing that the campaign of the single-player is so short.
It is true that all of the battles are battles that take place at sea. However, there is enough variety in the units at your disposal and in the missions themselves that you are provided with a unique experience each and every time you play the game. You usually begin with a handful of units at your command and just a few simple objectives such as defending your airfield or destroying all enemy carriers. For larger battles, you have a tactical map you can look at. By using this map, you can command all of your subs, planes and ships to move and attack. It takes a little while to get used to using the map and commanding many units at the same time. The artificial intelligence in this game works very well, and you do not have to worry about your units not obeying orders or behaving irrationally. This artificial intelligence is so good that in the larger battles, you will find that you are spending about 75% of the time commanding your units from the tactical map.
The other portion of your time will be spent in directly controlling your units which turns out to be a lot of fun. You can do any one of several tasks including captaining a sub as it stalks an enemy ship, man the aircraft guns on one of the battleships, become a pilot and take part in an intense dogfight and more all in a single battle! All of the units have special controls, abilities, weapons and limitations that you will need to learn in order to make the best use of all of your forces. Since this is NOT a simulation game, it will not take you very long to get a feel for each unit you are controlling. If you want to develop a strategy in the game, then you will want to take a hands-off approach.
You are given a few other responsibilities besides that on going on strafing runs and being the commander of a fleet of ships. There ar airfields and shipyards in the game as well as aircraft carriers. You are usually given a choice as to what ship or airplane you wish to issue , as well as want weapons you wish for them to have. If it is your mission to sink a sub, then you will need to send out some dive bombers that are equipped with depth charges. As your units are destroyed, you can keep sending out new ones to take their place.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Teddy Tavern: A Culinary Adventure
Teddy Tavern: A culinary Adventure
General Introduction
This game was developed by Blue Tea Games. The main objective of this game is to keep customers happy by feeding them as quickly as possible. The happier your customers are the more points you earn. If you keep your customers waiting too long, they get angry and attack you before leaving your restaurant. When a customer orders a dish, you must move Teddy under the ingredient and left click your mouse in order to pick it up. In the beginning of the game as you are receiving you instructions, a comic book format is used.
Sound and Music
There were hardly any sounds in Teddy Tavern: A culinary Adventure. The only obvious sound I heard was that of coins clinking together.
The music changes with each level you progress to. I found that it was quite appropriate for the country that Teddy happened to be in. I also found that the music was soothing and enjoyable. I rated this category a 5.
Gameplay
The main job that Teddy has is to feed his customers who are also bears. Teddy makes different dishes by combining two or more items. For example, if a customer wants a hamburger, then Teddy has to pick up the meat and then the bread. The more the bears eat, the more money Teddy makes. Teddy is able to use this money in order to upgrade his restaurant. The better you get at the game, the faster you progress through the different levels. Lucy the Cat prowls on the restaurant’s roof and every so often drops a lucky charm for Teddy.
Graphics
This game is full of graphics. First of all there are different culinary dishes to choose from. Next you have Teddy and other bears who are the customers. There are money signs, falling leaves, Lucy the Cat, lucky charms and many more graphics. The graphics are not 3D. However the waterfall gives the appearance that it is moving, and the smoke appears that it is rising from the chimney. I give Teddy Tavern: A culinary Adventure an 8 in the graphics department.
Fun Factor
I found this game to be delightful to play. I had to learn the different combination of foods to use in order to make a dish. The more the bears ate, the fatter they became. Who cares as long as Teddy was making money! This game was an immediate hit with my thirteen year old daughter. Of course, she is a bit more coordinated than I am! In this category, I think this game deserves an 8 as well.
Final Conclusion
If you are very good with food preparation, then this game may be your cup of tea! For the computer game newbie, this game has just the right amount of action to it. You will definitely find it challenging to put together the combination of foods and get it to your customers in time. Before actually buying the game, I would recommend you play a trial version. You can download Teddy Tavern: A culinary Adventure here:
http://www.blueteagames.com/TeddyTavern.exe
General Introduction
This game was developed by Blue Tea Games. The main objective of this game is to keep customers happy by feeding them as quickly as possible. The happier your customers are the more points you earn. If you keep your customers waiting too long, they get angry and attack you before leaving your restaurant. When a customer orders a dish, you must move Teddy under the ingredient and left click your mouse in order to pick it up. In the beginning of the game as you are receiving you instructions, a comic book format is used.
Sound and Music
There were hardly any sounds in Teddy Tavern: A culinary Adventure. The only obvious sound I heard was that of coins clinking together.
The music changes with each level you progress to. I found that it was quite appropriate for the country that Teddy happened to be in. I also found that the music was soothing and enjoyable. I rated this category a 5.
Gameplay
The main job that Teddy has is to feed his customers who are also bears. Teddy makes different dishes by combining two or more items. For example, if a customer wants a hamburger, then Teddy has to pick up the meat and then the bread. The more the bears eat, the more money Teddy makes. Teddy is able to use this money in order to upgrade his restaurant. The better you get at the game, the faster you progress through the different levels. Lucy the Cat prowls on the restaurant’s roof and every so often drops a lucky charm for Teddy.
Graphics
This game is full of graphics. First of all there are different culinary dishes to choose from. Next you have Teddy and other bears who are the customers. There are money signs, falling leaves, Lucy the Cat, lucky charms and many more graphics. The graphics are not 3D. However the waterfall gives the appearance that it is moving, and the smoke appears that it is rising from the chimney. I give Teddy Tavern: A culinary Adventure an 8 in the graphics department.
Fun Factor
I found this game to be delightful to play. I had to learn the different combination of foods to use in order to make a dish. The more the bears ate, the fatter they became. Who cares as long as Teddy was making money! This game was an immediate hit with my thirteen year old daughter. Of course, she is a bit more coordinated than I am! In this category, I think this game deserves an 8 as well.
Final Conclusion
If you are very good with food preparation, then this game may be your cup of tea! For the computer game newbie, this game has just the right amount of action to it. You will definitely find it challenging to put together the combination of foods and get it to your customers in time. Before actually buying the game, I would recommend you play a trial version. You can download Teddy Tavern: A culinary Adventure here:
http://www.blueteagames.com/TeddyTavern.exe
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
FIRE FLOWER
Fire Flower
General Introduction
The main thrust of this game is to solve puzzles. You move a puzzle piece over the top of the puzzle board and try placing it on a valid match and waiting a bit. If the puzzle piece matches then it slips in on top of the appropriate match. If you cannot place a puzzle piece, then you can deposit it into the trash can. This is a timed game. You try your best to keep the giant flower alive as long as possible. When the flower runs out of life liquid, the game is over and you must start from the beginning again. After you solve a puzzle, you try to discover the path through the magic labyrinth.
Sound and music
The music in Fire Flower sounded like that of an orchestra. However, it was the same thing played over and over again and began to be monotonous after a time. The music was interspersed by the slashing of cymbals which was cool. The music reminded me that I was marching toward victory of conquering the puzzle.
In this game I hardly noticed any sounds. The only two I really noticed was when I dumped a puzzle piece in the trash can and the clock ticking. Both of these sounds were very realistic. In this department I give the sound and music a rating of 5.
Gameplay
There are three game modes to Fire Flower – adventure, relaxed and arcade. You must first start off at adventure level. It the adventure level and work your way through the other levels. I personally never made it past the is quite difficult to match the flower puzzles with the pieces on the board. As I completed more of the puzzle, the green ball made its way down the path in the labyrinth. If I got too frustrated, I found that I could always pause the game and go back to it. I also felt that there were too many instructions to read and try to digest. I give Fire Flower a rating of 6 in this category.
Graphics
There are not many graphics to this game. The puzzle pieces consisted of three leaf clovers, lilies and some white flower that I was unfamiliar with. There was of course the giant flower which I was trying to keep alive. There was a green labyrinth that a little green ball had to travel down. It would have been cool if the ball could have been some other color other than green. It would have stood out from the rest of the labyrinth. In the graphics department, I gave Fire Flower a 4.
Fun Factor
I did not find this game particularly appealing. It had the same repetitive music and I felt the game was greatly lacking in the sound and graphics departments which could have made the game more tantalizing to play. It was indeed challenging to place the puzzle pieces on the board in the allotted amount of time, and I found that my cognitive ability was really put to the test. I would always seem to run out of time and go back to square 1. My thirteen year old daughter did not like the game at all! I do not think that she had enough patience for it.
Final conclusion
If you are a puzzle freak, then this is definitely the computer game for you! If you are short on patience, then you may want to pass this game by. I would, however, recommend trying out Fire Flower before deciding to purchase it. You may download a trial version here:
http://d.trymedia.com/dm/oceanm/1h_pkg542/t_09er/FireFlower_install.exe
General Introduction
The main thrust of this game is to solve puzzles. You move a puzzle piece over the top of the puzzle board and try placing it on a valid match and waiting a bit. If the puzzle piece matches then it slips in on top of the appropriate match. If you cannot place a puzzle piece, then you can deposit it into the trash can. This is a timed game. You try your best to keep the giant flower alive as long as possible. When the flower runs out of life liquid, the game is over and you must start from the beginning again. After you solve a puzzle, you try to discover the path through the magic labyrinth.
Sound and music
The music in Fire Flower sounded like that of an orchestra. However, it was the same thing played over and over again and began to be monotonous after a time. The music was interspersed by the slashing of cymbals which was cool. The music reminded me that I was marching toward victory of conquering the puzzle.
In this game I hardly noticed any sounds. The only two I really noticed was when I dumped a puzzle piece in the trash can and the clock ticking. Both of these sounds were very realistic. In this department I give the sound and music a rating of 5.
Gameplay
There are three game modes to Fire Flower – adventure, relaxed and arcade. You must first start off at adventure level. It the adventure level and work your way through the other levels. I personally never made it past the is quite difficult to match the flower puzzles with the pieces on the board. As I completed more of the puzzle, the green ball made its way down the path in the labyrinth. If I got too frustrated, I found that I could always pause the game and go back to it. I also felt that there were too many instructions to read and try to digest. I give Fire Flower a rating of 6 in this category.
Graphics
There are not many graphics to this game. The puzzle pieces consisted of three leaf clovers, lilies and some white flower that I was unfamiliar with. There was of course the giant flower which I was trying to keep alive. There was a green labyrinth that a little green ball had to travel down. It would have been cool if the ball could have been some other color other than green. It would have stood out from the rest of the labyrinth. In the graphics department, I gave Fire Flower a 4.
Fun Factor
I did not find this game particularly appealing. It had the same repetitive music and I felt the game was greatly lacking in the sound and graphics departments which could have made the game more tantalizing to play. It was indeed challenging to place the puzzle pieces on the board in the allotted amount of time, and I found that my cognitive ability was really put to the test. I would always seem to run out of time and go back to square 1. My thirteen year old daughter did not like the game at all! I do not think that she had enough patience for it.
Final conclusion
If you are a puzzle freak, then this is definitely the computer game for you! If you are short on patience, then you may want to pass this game by. I would, however, recommend trying out Fire Flower before deciding to purchase it. You may download a trial version here:
http://d.trymedia.com/dm/oceanm/1h_pkg542/t_09er/FireFlower_install.exe
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