Fugdale’s Funhouse

Object: Guide the ball from start to end through a course of angled mirrors. Collect all coins along the way.

Review: This inventive puzzler looks similar to multitudes of other puzzle games out there, such as Orbox B or Cubeoban. The difference in this is that you aren’t simply pushing a cube around, but have a ball that bounces off of cleverly placed angled mirrors. The ball starts on the square marked with an ‘S’ and you must maneuver the mirrors so that the ball bounces through the course and collects all the blue coins and then exits the course on the square marked with an ‘E’. On most courses you can start the ball bouncing around and then manipulate the mirrors to guide it where you want to go. However, some levels require you to map out the course in advance because once the ball starts all mirrors get frozen in place.

Each mirror rotates in one of two settings and you can change the angle right before or after the ball hits it to get it to go in a new direction. Some silver colored mirrors are permanently fixed in place. However, each level features unique ways of utilizing the fixed mirrors. In some levels, the silver mirrors stay put altogether. In other levels, a button my auto rotate all the fixed mirrors or they might just rotate on their own at random intervals. To add to the puzzling mix, you will sometimes have other obstacles, such as blocks that move in certain directions when the ball hits them. Each level has a seemingly different strategy involved in solving it.

This puzzler features progressively more difficult levels and each level comes with a passcode so you don’t have to start over next time you play. I found the first 8 or 9 levels pretty easy to get through and then things get a little tougher. The game mechanics feel smooth and responsive and the puzzles aren’t so tough or frustrating that you will give up right away. In fact, they sort of make you want to keep going. Because the courses are contained with boundaries, you don’t have to worry about flying off the edge of the course or ‘dying’. The ball will sometimes get stuck in a holding pattern, but on most levels you can just keep flipping mirrors until you get the ball where you want it to go. On those few courses where your ball gets stuck in a permanent loop, you can always start over by clicking on the start square. This will reset the course to it’s original position.

Object: Send five eager hamsters flying as far across the field as you can.

Review: Wind your hamster up; fling him into the air and smack him out of the ballpark. You control the launch. Your timing and trajectory control how far your little critter flies. Simply press the mouse button once to launch your hamster, then again to release the cushioned sling-shot, which smacks the furry rodent into the air. If you catch a good angle you will hit rocket launchers and particle accelerators and other fun devices, which increase the length of your flight. After you have shot 5 hamsters onto the field, you’ll receive your final score.

This game has a ton of cute factor. Even the most unskilled players will enjoy the mindless challenge. Despite the ease of play, if you want to propel your hamsters more than about 20 feet, you’ll have a bit of a challenge triggering the ‘whack’ at just the right time. The game gives you a mild musical build up to launch and no matter how weakly you launch your hamster, you’ll feel a gush of exhilaration when Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries blasts in your ear all of a sudden.

Finally, a game that puts hamsters to good, wholesome, constructive use!