Have we got an oddball assortment for you this week, my dear less-than-three'd readers. Physics puzzles meets classic arcade action. A magical puzzle platformer where the snap of your fingers can change your surroundings. The story of two young people caught up in bad relationships and a perplexing gold-based economy. And who wouldn't want a magical bullet-barfing flying sea turtle?
- Love in the Dumpster - AnotherKind took first place in the Jennifer Ann Group's Teen Dating Violence game design contest with this strange but interesting adventure game, and though the gameplay is a bit... strange... the message is clear. It deals with two young people, both in emotionally and mentally abusive relationships and unable to recognise it. It's not a cheerful topic, and some odd gameplay designs and stilted dialogue make this one a bit too clunky, but Love in a Dumpster's aim is to educate, and for some its story of two people unable to see the forest for the trees in a relationship where heartache doesn't come from fists will still resonate.
- LittleBigMansion - It's just a prototype, but Krisjet Game Design's puzzle platformer about a magician who can swap the size of two objects with a snap of his fingers is so clever it's still more than worth playing. Click on two different objects to cause them to exchange sizes... meaning, you can click on a smaller object in the room and then on a large obstacle to shrink the obstacle and make the other object grow. The movement and jumping feels a bit finicky and sleepy, but it makes use of its concept in such neat ways you'll be crossing your fingers for a full game like us.
- Wild King - La Ventanita provides this clever twist on a classic scrolling arcade shooter. The twist isn't the magic flying turtle, or the snail with the revolver. It's that all projectiles, your bullets included, ricochet, and you need to use this to reach obstacles and enemies in places and directions you can't manually aim. It's on the slow side, but a great style and oddball premise make this one worth checking out.
- Puzzle Rescue Prime - YZIGames's Tetris-like physics puzzler looks sort of familiar, but it's still fun. Trace paths between three or more of the continuously falling shapes to remove them from the screen, using the cash that nets you to buy power-ups to help if you get into a sticky situation. The physics occasionally feel like they're getting in your way instead of just adding to the challenge, with some objects landing in such a way that an extra pixel's width means you can't connect them to their neighbours. But with an old school design and some toe-tappin' retro music, it's a fun little arcade treat to pass the time.
Little Big Mansion is ace!
Really great!
LittleBigMansion is very nice. Can't wait for more levels.
Love in the Dumpster features characters who, apart from making bad relationship choices, are completely incapable of saying "I'm going to need train fare, and I have no money, so I'm going to stop at the ATM _before_ I go all the way to the train."
I think Love in the Dumpster is a stronger game than the last one. It showcases a lot of symptoms without having to take the point of view of a very unsympathetic abuser. And there's more to actually do instead of having amnesia and clicking on things in your apartment.
I wish Love in the Dumpster had more choices than one. After the initial conversation, I walked away not wanting to be associated with such a person. I wish I could meet up with other people, talk to a counselor at the high school, report the girl to the police, etc. There. I made some good life choices and wasn't rewarded for them!
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