Fugdale’s Funhouse

Review: This game definitely falls in a certain genre of puzzler. Many similar games such as Orbox B share the same basic principle. You guide an object around a course of blocks, walls, traps and warp stations to reach a goal. The edges of the course lead out into oblivion, so you have to carefully plan which direction to send your object so that it hits a wall and lands where you can guide it to it’s next step on the path. With Road Blocks 2, designer Mike Gannon has come up with several unique obstacles, which I haven’t encountered in other iterations of this sub-genre.

His traps include goopy orange pits and endless tube loops which you can get stuck in. The objects and obstacles he provides include, ice cubes which crack each time you hit them and eventually break up; diamonds which move one step in whichever direction you hit them; sticky circles which stop you from moving in any direction; and random target-like warp pads scattered about some of the courses. These obstacles provide new and fresh ideas to this type of game and keep players on their toes.

The game includes 4 different play modes, including a wild space mode in which you have large gangly devices which move around when you touch them and impede your progress through the course. The first 5 courses on each mode won’t give most gamers too much trouble, but some of the later courses really provide a puzzling challenge. Like most games of this genre, starting over after dying is quick and easy. So if you don’t give up, you will eventually discover the correct pathway. Luckily on many of the courses, you have several options available to you, and often more than one goal can be reached. The ball you move about has a certain rubbery quality to it and the animations and sound effects really add to the complete design. I really enjoyed moving the ball around the screen even when I couldn’t quite discover which route to take. For those who get stuck, a single password will save your progress on all four game modes, so make sure you write it down before you close out of the game and you can pick back up where you left off next time.

Road Blocks 2 may not win any awards for break-through game design, but it definitely is one of the best of it’s type out there.

Review: In this sequel to Wone, (reviewed here), you face greater challenges with the same familiar concept. Sean Cooper, who incidentally has a fantastic flash-based website, threw in a few more bells and whistles in this version of the game. You will first notice the vast number of levels included in the game–19 total, ranging from warm-ups to the impossible. The courses display on a grid and as you complete levels you will open up a few others to choose from. Each level has it’s own challenges and tricks.

Game play feels very similar to the first version. You control a single tire or wheel. As you press left or right on the arrow keys your tire will roll in the same direction and pick up momentum. Use the ramps and curves on the course to propel your tire to other areas up above or down below. Along each course lie several gold bubbles. Collect all of them on a course to unlock the exit doorway. Then you must reach the exit and press the ‘x’ key to get out. Along the way, look for special gold stars tucked away in hard-to-get-to areas of each course. Additionally, you might luck out and find four colored squares hidden somewhere in the game, but not necessarily on each level.

The mechanics of the wheel feel very responsive. You can pick up speed pretty easily and when the wheel spins and hits a surface it rebounds and skids with a screeching sound. It reacts very realistically to its environment. Sometimes trying to reach certain areas of each course can really get your blood boiling. Even the first few levels hold quite a challenge, so prepare yourself for many attempts at getting through each course.

This game does give you a little help this time. On some levels you can grab a bungee chord and use your space bar to shoot it into the air to attach to the ceiling (like Spiderman). Then you can climb and descend easily and swing back and forth to reach other areas. This addition provides a whole new dynamic to an already great game. But, with this new feature, come further dangers. Since you now have the power to latch on to what’s above, you must remain aware that often nothing lies below to catch you; so make sure you keep that bungee active.

Everyone should try the Wone games at least Wonce (get it?). They may not appeal to some gamers, but others will love the challenge. I happen to love the game, but Wone2 has not treated me very nicely so far. I’ve still to get past the easy levels, so I cannot report about what other surprise lurk in the higher levels. Why don’t you give it a try and report back?

Review: This drawing game may give you nightmares. Well, at the very least, you might have a heck of a time getting past the first 5 or 6 levels without a great deal of concentration and a steady hand. You have a course and a few moveable obstacles to work around or through. Use your mouse or graphic tablet to draw a path for your ball to follow, to make it to the star at the end. Then hit the space bar and send your ball forward on it’s path to the star.

If you only had to do that, you would ace every course, but each level requires you to work around lumbering obstacles. Some large objects obstruct your pathway several times. When you get around it one direction, you have to quickly move the object to avoid the ball later down the path. Other objects only move in one direction or only rotate.

You face three challenges on each level. First, you must determine your path carefully in order to take into account all the various obstacles. Second, you must use your very steady hand to draw a clean path. Draw your line as economically as possible because you can run out of ink before reaching the star. Finally, you face the challenge of keeping your ball safe as it travels along the path. If you come too close to a wall or object the ball will burst.

This simple concept makes for an excellent challenge and I do mean challenge. Prepare to die a lot, almost to the point of trying your patience. The background music seems lively at first, but after you’ve popped your ball for the umpteenth time, it starts to grate a little. Still, you have to give the designer(s) credit for coming up with a unique game, which truly forces you to earn your way through it. I still find myself stuggling on level 5. Tell everyone about your success.