You’ll find a good mix of games today that include a cartoon style shooter called Jazz Jackrabbit 2, which is similar to the shooter I posted the other week called Abuse, though Jazz Jackrabbit is much more colourful. I’ve also added two of the Incredible Machines series of games (I posted the first in the series months ago) Even more Incredible Machines and Incredible Machines 2, both of those are DOS based, so you’ll need to use DOSBox, but with the instructions posted elsewhere in the games discussion forums on how to set DOSBox up it’ll be worth the effort if you haven’t already. Then more games from the same genre; Gear works; both the original and a re-make; (the original requires DOSBox as well) On top of this I’ve added a great little flight simulator called Blue Max 3D. It’s game play is not as in-depth or graphically as good as the one I posted several weeks ago, called Wings of War, but nevertheless, it’s still a great little game, and finally another shooter called Cellburst. I wanted to add a few more, but I’ve still not recovered details of the games I wanted to post over this period from my recent computer crash; though I know Jazz Jackrabbit and Blue Max were amongst them. The rest were found while trying to find some of the games I’d remembered. Anyway, I do hope you find something of interest from the list of games I’ve posted details of below.
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Gearworks: (re-make)
This is a re-make the C64/Amiga and DOS puzzler obscurity Gearworks (see below). It’s basically a puzzle game where you have to place loads of different sized cogs together to get the point at B to work when you crank the handle at A. You can see more of an explanation below from the original game. This is a cleverly constructed copy of the original with slight improvements in the graphics. You can download it from the following link:
http://www.retroremakes.com/wordpress/2008/12/05/gearworks/
Forums:
http://socoder.net/index.php?showcase=16052
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Gear Works: (the original)
I also found the original Gear Works over on one of the abandonware sites. You need DOSBox to play it though so for those new to the project check out one of the posts that deal with setting up DOSBox to work easily with your computer.
If you like to tinker with puzzle games, then you will definitely want to give Gear Works a turn, so to speak. There is more than enough game play to please even the crankiest puzzle aficionado.
Gear Works challenges you to arrange gears, which come in three different sizes, in such a way as to complete the connection between two or more pre-existing gears. You are connecting the gears to fix one of 12 famous landmarks, such as London’s Big Ben or Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Like other puzzles games before it, or maybe after it, depending on their age, Gear Works displays the next gear to be placed so you can plan at least one move ahead. Lest you think this will be a walk in the park, each floor of a landmark consists of multiple “rooms” that must all be completed before the timer runs out. It doesn’t take long for the difficulty to ratchet up.
There are also some little pests roaming around each level, but as there is no documentation on this game, I do not know what they do. They did not seem to interfere during the levels I tried, but that was the easy, early levels.
In addition to placing gears you have some extra tools at your disposal: guns (I think), bombs, and oil. Again, due to documentations, I will have to guess at some of these. The gun seems to be for shooting the pests, but since they didn’t hinder my play, I didn’t need this. Bombs are for removing any gears placed incorrectly so that you can retry. Finally there is oil that I assume is for oiling the gears, but I do not know in what scenario this is needed.
The game uses the familiar code system to allow continuing the game where you left off; however, a code is only given after completing a landmark, not after completing a “floor.” This means you will need to ensure you allot enough time to complete several puzzles during your playing session.
Gear Works may be just another cog in the long line of puzzle games, but there is plenty of fun to be had here, so grab your tool box and get cranking!
http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/684/Gear+Works.html
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Even more Incredible Machine:
I’ve already posted The Incredible Machine about 2 months ago, and completely missed this and the third release, so here they are today. The download link is near the top of the page to the left of the image. The author asks if you would click on one of the adverts to help pay for he server, but you don’t actually have to do this if you don’t like doing such things. (Personally I thought there was no harm in doing so).
The Even More Incredible Machine is, naturally, the sequel to the very famous and well known Incredible Machine. Although it was released 3 years after the original incredible machine, it features very little changes in elements of gameplay. The main interface is identical to the one in the original Incredible Machine, and the puzzle screen is very similar. They basically just moved the item column from right to left. The only way you could know for sure that you are playing the EVEN MORE incredible machine is by stumbling into new puzzle objects. They added a guy called Mel, an alligator, a nail, and few types of balls. You'd say they would be more innovative, I mean, they did have 3 years to think of something really revolutionary, but unfortunately this is one of those 'Lets recycle it and earn some quick buck' publishing’s. Nevertheless, there are plenty of new puzzles to keep you occupied for a while. If you enjoyed the original series, and didn't get bored, you'll certainly have fun playing the new missions! However, if you already got fed up with the first part, you'll get bored with this one quickly!
http://www.xtcabandonware.com/game.php?id=935
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Incredible Machines 2:
The Incredible Machine 2 is an excellent game from Sierra – and is my favourite puzzle game. Actually, I never get tired of it, because you can always do something new - or try to solve that damn puzzle which has been bothering you for years. In the game you will be able to make your own puzzle or try to solve one of the 130 challenges. Anyway, you won't get bored that easy. You can play head-to-head (against Professor Tim’s cat) or learn to make your puzzles.
For material you can use normal things like walls, balls, scissors, etc., and there are many strange objects, too, like super balls, lava lamps, flashlights or the monkey which starts running when she sees bananas. The other thing is that you can decorate your puzzle by adding wallpapers, planets, stars, flowers, etc. These will not effect your creation. The other funny thing is programming some of the objects. For example, what will be the letter that appears on the screen of the PC or what will be the colour of the laser-activated plug.
It's a good idea to start with some challenges first, if you never played the game. There are 4 difficulty levels. The first one is easy, but then the puzzles get harder to solve. Maybe the coolest thing is that you can skip and choose the puzzle you want to play. For example, you don't have to finish the Easy section but can skip to a puzzle from the Medium Section.
But there is one inconvenience and that is you can't see all the things you can use (especially when you're making your own puzzle), so you must switch pages with objects. But it isn’t that bad. The graphics of this game are good, although they aren't revolutionary or a BS. But the sound is just awesome!!! You can change your song to whenever you want (I think there are 20 songs), and the objects have EFX, too. There is something like multiplayer; actually, this is the head-to-head where the first player is red and the second is blue.
http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/395/Incredible+Machine+2%2C+The.html
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If you like the above type of puzzle game, I highly recommend the Garage games Chain Reaction, and Armadillo Run, both of which are similar games ; and also Blast Miner and Barrel Mania. All these games involve you moving an object from point A to point B using a series of ingenious contraptions. My favourite is Chain Reaction, which is the only 3D game I’ve mentioned, but all the others have something different to offer, making it worthwhile buying all of them if you’re a gaming whore. I can vouch for all of the games below, and have never regretted buying any of them. All the games but Barrel Mania have a levels editor, which imo always adds to the worth of a game, especially if it’s a good one.
Armadillo Run Demo:
http://www.armadillorun.com/ for info
http://www.armadillorun.com/demo/ for download
.
Chain Reaction Demo:
http://www.garagegames.com/products/7/ for information
http://www.garagegames.com/pg/demo.php?id=7 for download
.
Barrel Mania Demo:
http://barrel-mania.en.softonic.com/
.
Blast Miner Demo:
http://www.blastminer.com/download/
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Cell burst:
So you get to customize your own Cell. Start off with a name. Body color and the head color come next. Afro or Spartan helmet on top? Or just a slim pair of shades?
Now you pick the level. Do you want to duke it out on the moon, or hit and run on the pyramids?
Don't forget level difficulty. You'll probably have to start out on Granny - only fools enjoy getting whipped on Extreme.
Make sure you decide whether you want to play Capture-the-Flag or a just a round of the good ol'Brawl. There's also Survivor mode. And five others, but who's counting?
You won't worry about weapons; there will be plenty to choose from. Oh yeah. Don't forget to pick the color you bleed; because when the flamethrower gets you, that'll be the only thing that shows.
96 ways to play and just one common thing: fun!
http://games.softpedia.com/get/Freeware-Games/Cell-Burst.shtml
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Jazz Jackrabbit 2:
This game really should not need any introduction at all. It is the sequel of the ever so popular Jazz Jackrabbit. If you haven't played any of these games or even heard about them, you have been living far away from any civilization. Jazz Jackrabbit is one of the best known and best loved arcade games ever to be made throughout the gaming history.
What is it that makes Jazz Jackrabbit so special?
Many things. The colourful graphics with extreme detail. The voices. The fluid animations. The loveable characters Jazz and Spaz (whom both have special abilities). The hillarious monsters. The many secrets in the game. The interesting level-design.... in short EVERYTHING in the game, but especially the music! If you come across a game that has better music than Jazz, please tell me. The moment you start the game, the music will embrace you in the magic world of Jazz Jackrabbit.
There shouldn't be any reasons to say anything else. In fact, I really do not think anyone will reach the bottom of the review before they have clicked the download button.</blockqueote>http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/294/Jazz+Jackrabbit+2.html
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Blue Max 3D: (7.7Mb)
This is not Blue Max: Aces of the Great War, but a more recent fan based re-make with much better graphics.
http://www.freegamearchive.com/game.php?id=9282
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As it’s Christmas I couldn’t help but add another one.
Pandemonium:
On starting the game you’re given the option of choosing between two characters using the x key. Once you’ve chosen you can then move the character to the starting place by using the S key, then space to enter the game. Movement keys are A for left and S for right, jump to use space, and in game x is used for crouching. You can close the game to desktop by using the Esc key. This is a keyboard based game, though you do have the option to use a joystick.
Once in a while, you come across a game that has this feeling all over it from a summer Sunday afternoon, when you're eight years old, just watched some cartoons on TV, then go and play a game without anything to worry 'bout in the world. Today is your lucky day, because Pandemonium is one of those games.
Pandemonium is a semi 3D platformer. The bright colors and awesome backgrounds make sure that the game is pure eye candy. Although the characters look squary, they're well-done for their time. As you follow the path you have to take, the whole scenery turns along, background included. You'll see things to come in the far distance from some camera angles because of this, and you can see parts you'll visit in the future in that level in the background now and then. If the visual aspect of this game is a let-down, it's because you only like text adventures. Otherwise, you're bound to love the way this game looks.
The game play itself is easy enough. First you choose whether you play with a jester or a girl, then you run around stomping on enemies and collect coins. Get hundred coins and you gain a life. Next time, you'll have to collect a hundred more, so you'll need two hundred coins. Luckily, there're power-ups that temporarily multiply the amount of coins you get by two, so it'll speed it up. Besides that as a power-up, you can also grab an orb that'll give you an aura of light. It enables you to shoot at your enemies, or just shoot, if there are no enemies around. Get hurt and you'll lose it though. A few minor points are the amount of powers. Two powers is just not enough from time to time. Also, but this is rare, the camera gets into such an angle that you can't see what's ahead of you or it gets so dark you don't see whether you're about to walk into a pit or onto some floor.
All levels of this game are nice and long. There's an average of three parts in it. When you die, you will return to the beginning of the part you're in. If it's game over, you can still use the password it gave you to return to the beginning of the level. Sadly enough, there's no way to restart from the beginning of a part of a level, so you will have to go through it again. Not that it's such a drag, as it's still fun to play, but it might get a bit on your nerves if there's a particularly tricky part, or, like in my case, your cursor gets stuck and you automatically kill yourself, no matter what you try. Those cases are unlikely to happen though, and besides, the game gives enough variety to keep enjoying it, no matter if you get stuck or not.http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/252/Pandemonium.html
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