Journal # 8

Just random posts

[st-walker]

Just got back to playing Skyrim again... and... you know what happens next 😆

[st-walker]

The Frostrune is a point-and-click puzzle and mystery game with its central theme based on Norse mythology. I discovered this game on Google Playts gameplay is closely similar to that of the Cube Escape series but with better graphics and user experience.

In the game, the player takes on the character of Liv, a shipwreck victim who got swept to a mostly deserted island. Spirits of the island's ancestors would show up and guide the player on the quest to solve the mysteries of the island.

In order to 'solve the mysteries of the island', clues, puzzles, and riddles are presented on  the different sectors of the island. Sometimes, specific items would have to be found in order to perform the required task. What makes the game very attractive is its use of mythology as a basis, giving the game a wider scope and unexpected elements to be included.

Additionally, the life-like graphics of the game makes it more appealing for other players (but also disadvantageous for the mobile phone's memory).

The main objective of the player is to solve the riddles and problems presented throughout entirety of the game. Sometimes, these puzzles could get too hard to answer correctly. For this reason, hints are provided for the use of the player.

Essentially, The Frostrune is not a very difficult game to play. What makes it difficult is the gameplay which involves the player having to answer or find a solution to the problem at hand before he or she can advance or move on to the next task.

[st-walker]

Microtrip / A Comet’s Journey

Microtrip is a one-way 2-D platform game wherein the player controls the direction of a character's path. The character in the game is a white blood cell travelling through the bloodstream.

The primary goal is to avoid hitting the germs and viruses along the way and to continuously collect white pellets because as the game goes by, the health meter decreases and only the pellets will increase the health bar.

There are two options available for game control. One is by touching either the left or the right side of the screen to specify where the cell goes. Another is simply by tilting the phone to either direction, depending on where the cell must go. Certain power-ups can be collected in the form of medicine capsules. The first power-up is the Attractor which makes the cell magnetized and attract the white pellets to him. The other power-up is the Repulsor which makes the germs and viruses repelled from the cell.

This game had actually been famous back in high school because a lot of people are playing the game. Most of them said that they liked the game because it is easy to play. Others said that the graphics are nice and appropriate to the game's elements. Whatever the reason, it still is a great game to play.

Moving on from chemistry and biology, the next game is about astronomy. A Comet's Journey is a 2D game wherein players have to plot in the path of a comet in order for it to pass through the objective points on the screen. What makes it challenging is that the game applies the rules of astronomy. For example, when the comet gets too close to a planet or any other body, it becomes attracted to its gravitational pull and when it passes the atmosphere, it loses some of its weight because it degrades.

In order to increase the weight of the comet, fuel points are also laid out in the field. Sometimes it also becomes necessary to release some of the weight of the comet because it also enables the player to recalibrate the comet's path. Once again, it falls on the player's strategy and planning.

Another challenge presented in the game is that there can be multiple bodies in the system. Hitting any of them can destroy the comet and the game would have to restart. Players are given a limited number of comets and once it runs out, the player must purchase them.

A Comet's Journey is actually a very difficult game. It requires a great strategy and visual skills to see where the comet might lead. Timing is also important to know whether the comet might hit another body.

[st-walker]

No Humanity / Atomas

Most of the popular mobile games today have something in common: a simple gameplay. Take Flappy Bird and Color Tap for example. Like these games, No Humanity has a very simple gameplay, to survive for 20 seconds and beyond. The main objective of the game is to avoid the various missile, debris, lasers, and other characters on the screen. It is played by touching on the screen and dragging your piece away from the debris and bullets.

What makes this game very addictive is that although the gameplay is very easy, it is still very easy to lose, then the player would want to try again. Part of what makes the game hard to win is that aside from the bullet hells, some of the obstacles randomly appear around the screen. But then again, this also adds to the thrill of the game.

Players can choose from a wide variety of characters or pieces to use in the game, depending on their preference. Other themes and backgrounds are also available for purchase to change how the scene looks. The game also offers to play against other players but it would require an internet connection.

Anybody can play this game and be addicted immediately with its easy-to-play mechanics and simplistic graphics.

Atomas is a matching game inspired by the elements of the periodic table. But don't let the chemistry reference bring down your expectations for the game because that is as far as it goes.

The gameplay involves placing and arranging 'atoms' to an orbital. The main objective is to not let the orbital be filled to its capacity. Atoms can be removed by combining them with similar atoms using the positive orb. Chain reactions can be triggered to remove more atoms and clear the board.

Aside from the positive orb, other special orbs appear throughout the game. The negative orb allows the player to pick out an atom from the orbital and place it in another location, or change the chosen atom to a positive orb. It depends on the player's strategy and needs. The dark matter orb allows two atoms to be combined with each other. The white matter orb copies the selected orb from the orbital.

The game also offers a purchasable add-on, the antimatter. The antimatter eliminates half of the atoms already on the screen, clearing out space for more atoms to be placed. This game might be hard to understand and master at first, but once the basic rules and gameplay are understood, it could be a great way to pass the time.

[st-walker]

Duet is a single player co-dependence pattern game. The main goal is to control the two synchronized circles through an obstacle course by rotating them either to the left or to the right. Duet’s gameplay comes close to that of Parallel 2 and Parallyzed in a way that multiple characters or game elements move simultaneously with the player’s action.

The difference with Duet is that, aside from the much simpler graphics, it also offers a great variation of obstacles. Every stage adds a different challenge. For example, the blocks can move or shift position, and in one level, blocks become invisible. This variation makes the game very challenging but keeps the player’s attention and interest on playing the game.

The game might get very hard sometimes but if you would inspect the levels closer, there are hidden patterns that emerge from the layout of obstacles and the secret to winning is to keep calm and patient. Sometimes the beat of the background music also drops cues to when to switch and switch the circles. 

[st-walker]

Tap Tap Reborn 2 is a one player rhythm action game wherein players have to tap orbs which corresponds to the beat of the song they chose as it approaches the scoring area (three circles for each lane at the bottom of the screen). The more accurate the tap to the beats, the higher the score the player gets. Also, not missing a beat would trigger a multiplier combo that would enhance the player’s score.

This game changes how people listens to music. The gameplay might be easy but with the other modes (Normal and Hard), the beats would come more often and faster, making it difficult to tap everything at once. Another good thing about this game is that it offers a wide variety of songs available in their songbook (although some had to be purchased with rubies).

An offside of the game is that it requires an internet connection in order to play because (Fun Fact!) the game was sponsored by YouTube and the music video plays alongside the game. A slow internet connection might affect the player’s performance.

Overall, Tap Tap Reborn 2 still is a must-try game for music lovers or of anyone who has time to spare, and a good internet connection.

[st-walker]

Warning: This game could get VERY creepy. Game also includes subtle jump scares. The Cube Escape Series is (as the name suggests... XD) a point-and-click room escape game that tells and unfolds the story of Rusty Lake. Currently, it is the most mysterious and creepy of that game type I have ever played. The main objective of the game is to solve a series of quests and mysteries, and escape the rooms or 'cubes' by using items found around the settings and solving various puzzles.

What makes this game very attractive is the fact that the genre they used, horror and mystery, partnered with the gameplay and sound effects, was very effective and well executed, even with the simple graphics. The puzzles are challenging and at times, VERY hard to solve (thank God for walkthroughs... XD).

Turning the game to a series of games (as far I as I know, it is on its ninth installment) which are in some way connected with each other is also a good strategy to make it more successful because then, players would be more intrigued and hooked up with the story of Rusty Lake.

I have always been a fan of horror escape games and the Rusty Lake Series is one of my most preferred and recommended game, just not for the faint-hearted because the story could get [too] immersive and visual at some point. But as an element of the game, it plays out very well.

[st-walker]

Parallel 2 & Parallyzed

 Parallel 2 is a single player platformer game I found and played on Y8.com (cause I'm running out of games) where the player controls three characters and guides them through an obstacle course so that all three characters can reach the finish line.

The game play might be very easy but what adds a challenge to the game is that the player does not control the characters individually, but simultaneously in such a way that controlling one character to jump also triggers the other two characters to jump as well. The three characters are also separated from each other by barriers and each of them can either have the same obstacle or a different one.

Personally, I enjoy playing games that are similar to Parallel. Aside from being a form of entertainment, it could also activate and make use of the player's critical thinking skills. The minimal yet striking interface also contributes to the overall gameplay of the online game.

As I was saying a few sentences ago, I enjoy playing games similar to Parallel 2 and one such game is Parallyzed. Parallyzed is a single player runner game available on Google Play (not sure if its available on App Store :/). In the game, the player controls the twins, Red and Blue, as they walk (run, rather) through a dream-like setting as Red tries to find a way to save her sister, whom she had accidentally killed out of jealousy.

The challenging part in playing Parallyzed is that there are many rules you have to follow. First is that, in the game, there are orbs that block the way and the player must see to it that the sisters walk through their color (Blue through blue orbs, and Red through... you got it right, red orbs). 

Next is that there are instances wherein obstacles are only for one of the characters and you have to watch the path for both of them. Third, and last, is that there are special orbs that shifts the gravity (one or both of them can be running on the ceiling, for instance).

Parallyzed is actually a very great and challenging game. Its graphics and design are very surreal and appropriate to the theme which makes players want to play it over and over.

[st-walker]

Electric Box is a drag-and-drop style puzzle game that utilizes the concepts of electricity, magnetism, and physics. The main goal of the game is to design an electric circuit that directs the flow of electricity from a source to the load through conductive wires, and using items provided in the inventory to aid in the flow.

Even though the main concept of the game involves concepts on physics and science, the game is still very attractive and fun because of the interactive gameplay and simple graphics.

Aside from the game, the makers of the game also give safety precautions in the game. One such example is that the players are not allowed to attach items to the circuit while the power is on. The game also supports using renewable energy by utilizing items such as wind and water turbines, steam-powered engines, and electromagnets.

Haunt the House is a single player online flash game. The player controls the ghost character in order to achieve the main objective of the game which is to scare away all 30 of the mortal party-goers in the house by roaming (or floating) around, possessing objects, and performing (haunting and creepy) actions.

The gameplay is very easy to understand and the controls are simple (arrow/WASD keys for movement and spacebar for possession). And considering that it is a horror game, the graphics are still designed for younger ages (minus the fact that some of the mortals eventually kill themselves if they got too scared).

The game is actually very entertaining and the wide variety of items and objects the ghost can possess adds a challenge and a diversity to the game. Another thing that adds a challenge to the game is that in the latter part of the game, people start to decrease and spread throughout the house. It gets difficult to drive them away while separate. But still, this is a game I can play if only to pass the time.

[st-walker]

The Mass Effect Trilogy is a single player first person RPG. In the game, the player takes on the role of Capt. Shepard of the Normandy set in an age where humans interact freely with alien life forms and travel to distant planets and galaxies through mass relays. Throughout the trilogy, Capt. Shepard tackles problems with regards to intergalactic peace and salvation.

During missions, players have to accomplish a certain objective while going through out-of-this-world settings to battle both extraterrestrial and human fugitives.

What attracted me the most to this game is its setting and story. Making the game set in various hostile planets in far galaxies make it exciting to see what kind of elements are going to be encountered. The story contributes a large part to why a player would choose to finish the game. 

Lots of characters with interesting [and shady] backgrounds are introduced either as alliance or opponents. It is also not limited to point-and-shoot gameplays but it also has puzzle games, driving mechanisms, strategic factors and missions that require more than combat skills to finish.

The game graphics are also good which also adds to the total experience of playing the game [given the appropriate system requirements to run the game]. Combined with the sound effects, background music and overall gameplay, Mass Effect delivered a wholesome gaming experience for me.

[st-walker]

Triviador is a multiplayer trivia quiz game which is available on Facebook. Players can compete against other players around the world. The main goal of this game is to conquer the map with your armies by correctly answering each question whenever you are challenged by an opponent and protecting your castle from being destroyed.

The mechanics are easy to understand. In the first round, the three players answer the question and whoever got the correct answer first receives two army pieces (the second gets one, and the last gets none) which will then be assigned to a specific country on the map, until the entire map has been occupied.

During the second [and final] round, the players take turn on challenging either an army piece or a castle (as long as it is on the immediate range of your piece) in an attempt to take over that country.

What makes this game fun is that it has a lot of varieties. You can play with different people from different countries and there are also various types of question presented in the game which can be about any topic or genre. It also provides the players with power-ups like hints, guesses and clues.

Mobile Legends is one of the many multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games that had become more mainstream on the gaming industry which also includes League of Legends (LOL), Arena of Valor (AoV), and Defense of the Ancients (DOTA).

In this game, players are grouped into two 5-player teams, each would choose a hero to compete with the other team. To win involves strategy, teamwork, and cooperation, [especially in a game where lagging is the worst enemy] in order to achieve the game’s main goal which is to destroy the opposing team’s base tower while protecting your own.

Each player ‘s hero is equipped with different skills/abilities, they have different roles, and they can be equipped with interchangeable items which makes working with other players difficult and challenging sometimes. I, myself, got hooked with the game when it was first introduced to me because this is also the first MOBA game i ever tried.

[st-walker]

Bookworm Adventures is a reboot of the classic word game Bookworm Deluxe. In this version, players are more actively engaged with their character, Lex, and the other additional characters because unlike the first version, Bookworm Adventures has a plot and more improvements.

In the game, the player assumes the character of Lex, a green worm who guards the Great Library which one day, got transported into a book and found himself battling heroes, villains, and other literary characters by spelling words [he also wears a pair of glasses and a bowtie, if the description is not absurd enough for you].

The fun thing about Bookworm Adventures is that it challenges the players vocabulary and spelling skills through a game which has very simple mechanics, good animation, and well-directed plot that helps engage the players.

[Warning: This game is NOT for the faint of heart. You have been warned.]

Dead Space is a horror, one player, first person RPG (set in a wrecked space ship in outer space, by the way). In the game, the player takes on the role of ..., one of the crew that was supposed to help the wrecked ship. But after a failed landing boarding attempt, the crew ended up being stranded on the ship themselves which they discovered was infested with weird creatures that kill people. So what do they do? Kill them of course.

Throughout the game, there is this mystery factor provided by the game's plot which gives the player a sense of curiosity and makes them proceed with the game. The graphics are good which makes the various jump scares (and random depictions of gore and violence) very effective.

Overall, Dead Space is a very nice game with its plot, special effects, and other elements. The controls would require the players some practice and getting-used-to but once mastered, it would be a good gaming experience.

[st-walker]

For someone looking for new games to try out, the internet is the first place to got to. The internet is a treasure trove of various games because anyone with an internet connection can simply enter a website for games (e.g. Y8, Friv, etc.) and they can find a lot of games they can play. Super Knight Quest and Fragments of Euclid are just two of the games I found online.

Super Knight Quest

Super Knight Quest is a 2-D adventure platformer game. The player takes on the character of a knight which can be manipulated with keyboard controls (WASD for basic movement, Z for jump, X for attack, and C for casting magic). The main objective of the game is to fight and defeat random creatures, warriors, and wizards which the character encounters in the forest setting. A player is given three lives which could be lost whenever an opponent hits the character.

At the end of every level, the player can purchase a special item or a magical potion which can be used on the succeeding levels to help defeat enemy spawns. At the third level, the character encounters a giant creature that acts as the ‘boss’ of the game.

It is a fun and simple game and the gameplay is easy to understand but what adds to the thrill is that there are some obstacles that are hard to get through and the game does not allow the character to regenerate its lives. Its concept is something we could use on the game we plan to develop.

Fragments of Euclid

While Super Knight Quest is a simple game to play, Fragments of Euclid is a difficult and complicated game with a simple gameplay. It is a 3-D puzzle platformer game. The main objective of the game is for the player to escape the various ‘rooms’ he/she enters. Each room has a puzzle in it that once solved, allows the player to proceed to the next one.

The challenging aspect of the game is that aside from the complicated puzzles, the rooms themselves are like puzzles (mazes, to be specific). You would have to search your way through doorways on the ceiling and stairs on the walls while defying gravity and reality.

However, once a player fully understands the concept of the game, it would be less difficult (but still not easier) to go through the rest of the game. It qualifies more as a brain-teaser-meets-must-escape type of game. Overall, the game is superb, fun and challenging (but also very weird and crazy, it can mess with your mind and your eyes).

[pre-party]

[st-walker]

~ Lacie Pound (Bryce Dallas Howard), Black Mirror S03E01 Nosedive

[st-walker]

A large part of my (and my generation’s) childhood consists of old-time cartoons, like Scooby-Doo, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Dexter’s Lab, etc. These cartoons, maybe because of their popularity, have developed game versions online. One such, and my personal childhood favorite, is Scooby-Doo and the Creepy Castle.

Scooby-Doo and the Creepy Castle is a 2-D interactive game based on, you guessed it right, Scooby-Doo. It consists of three levels wherein Scooby saves one of the three missing members of the Gang (Daphne, Velma and Fred) and the Ghost King tries to scare him in every possible way. The player aims to prevent the Ghost King from frightening Scooby-Doo too much. It is played by clicking on objects from the screen with the mouse either to collect it in the inventory or to interact with it. Items on the inventory will be used later on in the game. The player is given three lives, and ‘Scooby Snacks’ can be collected along the way to lower Scooby-Doo’s ‘fright level’.

The game’s mechanics are very easy to understand, but very challenging especially as the game proceeds to the next levels where more obstacles are encountered and the actions become fast-paced. Critical and quick thinking is involved since the player needs to know where, when and how to use an item to help Scooby immediately. It is very accessible to anyone because the is available in Y8 (which contains MANY other great games) and other game sites on the internet.

Overall, it is a very fun and challenging game that can be played by anyone and any age. The mystery and fun factors of the story go well to creating the game and making it more enjoyable.

[heartsnmagic]