Archive for October, 2009
Impressions: Shark’s Treasure: The Quest of the Mermaids
Posted by: | CommentsThe iPhone/iPod Touch’s built-in accelerometer can be used for a myriad of different things, but it’s mostly made use of by game developers to add motion control to their games. Whether its tilting, turning, or even the occasional shimmy and shake some games often have such controls unwillingly grafted onto perfectly fine mechanics, while others practically beg for this type of control scheme. While it may not be any kind of fabulous, Shark’s Treasure: The Quest of the Mermaids is a pleasant little diversion for Apple’s platform that makes the most of the unit’s inherent controls and offers tremendous value for its guppy-like asking price.
Impressions: Tornado Outbreak
Posted by: | CommentsMove over, Prince – there’s a brand new Katamari blowing into town. Or at least something like it. We’re not talking about Namco’s clump-collecting classic per se, actually. Just Konami’s new Tornado Outbreak, a fascinating release that offers many of the very same elements that we love about the Katamari franchise, coupled with solid controls and a look and feel that’s uniquely its own. Don’t be fooled by the game’s otherwise intimidating name, as this was a definitely a nice surprise that meteorologists didn’t see coming.
Impressions: Fun Booth
Posted by: | CommentsThe iPhone and iPod Touch are platforms that you can always expect to see plenty of fun little apps that you probably wouldn’t see anywhere else, except for maybe Nintendo’s DSi, but that’s another story. One of these particular apps is Fun Booth, the expanded webcam software sequel from Spoonjuice for the iPhone/iPod Touch. It’s not actually a game, but of course with the right images and the right sense of humor, you can have quite a bit of fun with it.
Impressions: The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road
Posted by: | CommentsWhen Dorothy was whisked away into the whimsical land of Oz so many years ago, I was entranced. As a child I never failed to watch the original film (with with Judy Garland) to no end, simply to recite my favorite scenes as I became steadily engrossed in a magical fantasy world inspired by L. Frank Baum’s masterpiece. As I entered my teenage and adult years I also became deeply entangled within the twisted variations of the classic tale, as well as riffs on Alice in Wonderland and Snow White, enjoying the distortions and alternate universes others had created based on such a simple, yet complex and allegorical tale. When I heard that publisher XSEED would bring the Japanese-influenced The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road (originally RIZ-ZOAWD), I knew it was a game I’d certainly be adding to my library. Anime + RPG + The Wizard of Oz? Yes, please!
Editorial: Chainsaws and Severed Heads: The Appeal of the Horror Genre
Posted by: | CommentsHaunted houses, tales of gruesome deaths and vengeful spirits, terrifying movies, and midnight jaunts are all a part of the Halloween experience. People are simply fascinated with scaring themselves out of their wits, and they’ll take the experience of true fear in any form they can get. This fixation carries over into the gaming industry as well, catering to thrill seekers (such as myself) by producing titles that seek to elicit blood-curdling screams from their players. But why? What prompts an average Joe to actively seek out video games that could cause his heart to beat rapidly, his blood pressure to rise, and the potential of soiled underwear?