I would point out that a wise woman once said bunnies aren't as cute as everybody supposes, but Easy Joe, a short point-and-click puzzle game from Gamystar, is not only cute... it's pretty darned cute. Joe, our titular (and bunnicular) hero, wants to see the world. Can't say as I blame him, either, because this hip, neon world is as wonderful as it is weird. Each screen represents a little puzzle, and you click on different objects to try to figure out the correct order to proceed. A little experimentation is all that's needed, and there's no way to really get yourself stuck.
So, yes, okay, one glance at a screenshot should tell you that if the gaming world was a buffet, Easy Joe would be a light puff of cotton candy served to you by someone who could only communicate via improvisational jazz. I honestly wish there were more games like this; so gleefully silly and cleanly designed. There's an easy charm to it that makes it the perfect thing to perk you up during a coffee break, even if it isn't going to win any prizes for being intellectually stimulating. (Although I like to imagine the hot dog is watching "Inside the Actor's Studio" on the telly.)
The downside, if there is one, is that the game isn't called "Moderately Challenging Joe" or even just "Longer Than it Takes to Boil an Egg Joe". I would be surprised if the entire thing took you longer than ten minutes to complete, and there's really no reason to go back and play it again unless you just want to hear that toe-tappin', finger-snappin' soundtrack one more time. Still, Easy Joe is proof that you don't have to be epic to be fun, and this funky little gem should bring a smile to your face, unless you're the sort of person who hates joy. In which case, stop reading my articles, Mr Ebert.
Walkthrough Guide
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Easy Joe Walkthrough
Level 1
Click "Start Game"
Level 2
Click Bridge
Click Joe
Level 3
Click TV
Click Table
Click Joe
Level 4
Click Axe
Click Small Bird
Click Box Lid
Click Key
Click Joe
Level 5
Click Top Door-Thing
Click Bone Shirt
Click Dog
Level 6
Click Key Twice
Click Locked Box
Click Chainsaw
Click Tree
Click Elephant
Click Joe
Level 7
Click Joe
Level 8
Click Lever
Click White Box
Click Other Boxes, Top to Bottom
Click Joe
Level 9
Click Dial (Upper-Right)
Click Lever
Click Car
Click Lock
Click Ball
Click Cannon
Click Joe
Level 10
Click Tray
Click Circle
Click Rectangles, Left to Right
Click Fan
Click Joe
Level 11
Click Bird
Click Antenna
Click Joe
Level 12
Click Boat
Level 13
Click The Lower-Right Symbol (This)
Click Arrows (Right to Left)
Click Bottom Symbol
Click Arrow
Click Left Symbol
Click Symbol
Click Key
Click Joe
Level 14
Click Helicopter
Level 15
Click School
Click Helicopter
Level 16
Click Trap Door
Click Joe
Level 17
Click Front Wheel
Click Flag Thing
Click Bowtie
Click Joe
Level 18
Celebrate!
You know, at least one person will need this. Somewhere. After all, there's nothing we can't face except for bunnies.
Posted by: newbie | June 26, 2010 5:48 AM