100 Word Review - #K9 - Zen Bound 2

The safe word is "Untie me this instant!"

Zen Bound 2

Genre - Casual, Indie

Metascore - 80% (iOS)

Developer - Secret Exit Ltd.

Other Games by Developer - N/A

Kris' Playtime - 3 hours

I do like games like this, I end up playing them for hours! Normally, some great music will elevate this style of game no end but ZB2 leaves something to be desired in that department. Once you realise that you can use the scroll wheel and right button (it's not in the tutorial) you are able to reach that meditative state where you're both not paying attention and enjoying yourself. Manipulating 3D objects in 2D space is always going to be a challenge but I think ZB2 pulls it off. Probably another one that's more intuntive in a mobile context.

Kris' Score - 6/10

100 Word Review - #K8 - Atom Zombie Smasher

 "Pew, pew! Pew, pew! Take that you yellow dots!
Mwahaha!" Need I say more?

Atom Zombie Smasher

Genre - Strategy, Indie

Metascore - 75%

Developer - Blendo Games

Other Games by Developer - Air Forte, Flotilla

Kris' Current Playtime - 0.8 hours

Despite being based around zombies again (are we not done with zombies yet?) I love this game. This game is listed under RTS but I prefer to think of it as tower defence with a new twist. This is truely one of the better indie games to have come around in the last few years. It is such great fun to find new ways defending your (procedurally generated, geek thumbs up there) city from of hoards of yellow dots whilst saving your pink dots, with a little humour thrown in from the creators to keep you chuckling along for hours.

Kris' Score -  8/10

100 Word Review - #K7 - Lucidity

This might be taken from the game.
I'll probably never know...

Lucidity

Genre - Family, Casual

Metascore - 59%

Developer - LucasArts

Other Games by Developer - Star Wars: Dark Forces, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

Kris' Current Playtime - 0.1 hours

It's going to be difficult to call this one a review. I barely got out of the gate with Lucidity before I stopped playing to go and do anything else. I really like puzzle platformers (despite some of the low scores that I have given them) but this one just had nothing in the opening to get me going. The moral of the story for me is "just because a game is on sale, doesn't mean that you should buy it, no matter how cheap". I might try it again but the first impression made me uninstall it straight way.

Kris' Score -  2/10 

100 Word Review - #K6 - Toki Tori

 Probably really good as a commute timewaster

Toki Tori

Genre - Indie, Casual

Metascore - 80%

Developer - Two Tribes

Other Games by Developer - EDGE, RUSH

Kris' Current Playtime - 3 hours

This is a game that I bought one day because I was bored and it was very cheap. I didn't really expect much out of it and to be honest it isn't going to be winning an innovation awards any time soon. Having said that, it does add a new dimension to what is essentially Sokoban puzzles. It's quite good for whiling away some time but I think is better suited to the platform of it's roots; mobile. Having this game on Game Boy Colour or your iPhone makes sense. Your super beefy gaming rig PC however? Not so much.

Kris' Score - 5/10

100 Word Review - #K5 - Puzzle Bots

Using the pushing robot to push the book over?
Ground breaking.

Puzzle Bots

Genre - Adventure, Indie

Metascore - N/A

Developer - Lively Ivy

Other Games by Developer - N/A

Kris' Current Playtime - 0.2 hours

I went into this game with high hopes hoping that I was going to get something a little like the 'Professor Layton' series but much less talking and more puzzles. I was wrong. I didn't get any of those things. I think this would make a fun game for kids who like puzzles but just isn't engaging enough to keep adult wanting to play it all of the way through. Maybe it got harder as the game went on but the game never made me want to get that far. Unskippable chatting from the backdrop humans doesn't help much either.

Kris' Score -  4/10

100 Word Review - #K4 - VVVVVV

8-bit retro style never gets old for me

VVVVVV

Genre - Action, Indie

Metascore - 81%

Developer - Terry Cavanagh

Other Games by Developer - N/A

Kris' Current Playtime - 0.8 hours (on Steam)


I orignally played this as a flash demo and fully enjoyed it without realising that it would become a full (although both short and long) game. This is another one of those "twitch" platformers that rewards you for bouncing through obstacles for 5 screens without going wrong. The game is short because the world isn't particularly large. At the same time the game is lengthened by the fact that you end up repeating sections over and over. I don't mind a challenge in a game but for me there was too much of the "try, fail, try" playtime stretcher.

Kris' Score - 5/10

100 Word Review - #K3 - Eufloria

Tranquillity and good game play is a recipe for burning time

Eufloria

Genre - Strategy, Indie

Metascore - 63%

Developer - Rudolph Kremers & Alex May

Other Games by Developer - N/A

Kris' Current Playtime - 3 hours

Personally, there are 2 things that make this game interesting. The first is that the combination of the 'easy to pick up but hard to master' gameplay and the soothing music make this game so easy to play. It's very entrancing. After first installing it, I sat playing for hours and didn't realise how much time had passed. The second interesting part is the games visuals. The minimalistic design which is underpinned by some clever fractal algorithms makes something that is very plain also beautiful. The simple beauty adds to the ease of play and draws you in for hours.

Kris' Score - 7/10 

100 Word Review - #K2 - Portal 2

The multiplayer is good too

Portal 2

Genre - Action, Adventure


Metascore - 95%


Developer - Valve


Other Games by Developer - Portal,  Left 4 Dead 2,


Kris' Current Playtime - 16.1 hours

It is a bit obvious but this is my favourite game of last year. It was the perfect sequel to an amazing game. I like that there were new game constructs such as the gels but not too much to take away from the portaling heart. The story and comedy definitely need a big mention as they elevate a clever puzzle game into a true fan favourite. Everytime I see or hear Steve Merchant, I now think of Wheatley. GLaDOS is as funny as ever and I loved the idea of Cave Johnson. A truly modern classic in every respect.

Kris' Score - 10/10

100 Word Review - #K1 - Machinarium

The quirky humour adds a lot of value

Machinarium

Genre - Adventure, Indie

Metascore - 85%

Developer - Amantia Design

Other Games by Developer - Samorost2

Kris' Current Playtime - 5.4 hours

I've had little to no luck with point and click adventurers; I just don't have the time or patience. 'Machinarium' is the only one that I have played from start to finish. It is quite short but that is made up for with the beautiful art style and the warm and fuzzy feelings that you get for the main character. I ended up using some hints but regret it, the puzzles aren't that hard and the game can easily be completed in an evening. Unless you spend most of your play time just staring at the backdrops like I did.

Kris' Score - 8/10