Sorry about the lack of updates lately everyone. I usually don’t like to leave the blog unattended for too long, but I have had my hands full with wedding planning and an assortment of other random tasks. I’m going to try to get a couple map updates done over the next month (Testing Grounds & Chicada Caverns most likely), before I have to go on a short hiatus for the big day.

In the meantime, why not keep yourself occupied with a great indie game? Ace of Spades is a war game set in a Minecraft-esque block based world. Armed with rifles and grenades and split into opposing factions, players take part in capture-the-flag style matches while building fortifications and structures using multicoloured blocks.

At first glance AoS may simply seem like “Minecraft with guns”, but it quickly establishes a tone and pace quite different from its predecessor.  Frivolously building gigantic structures and running around without a care will only result in easy kills for your enemy (and ire from your team mates). Instead, a more functional approach to construction is encouraged. Bunkers are a necessity to defend your intelligence, and benefit more from being under-built. A small, 5 block wide camouflaged foxhole is infinitely more useful for sniping then a gigantic tower your enemies can spot from miles away.

Bridges, tunnels and other means to expedite transportation usually follow suit once your defenses have been established. Naturally, these constructs are easy targets for your enemies; who will often sneak into your territory simply to grenade your bridges, only to then scamper off into the mountaintops. Once you hit mid-game, a great deal of emphasis is put on capturing enemy bunkers and either dismantling or claiming them for yourself.

Perhaps the best aspect of AoS is the atmosphere. While sneaking around the map a certain paranoia tends to seep into your psyche, as you find yourself carefully inspecting mountainsides for foxholes and enemy soldiers. Once you have become entrenched in your own bunker, it is not uncommon to wait several long minutes for a hapless enemy to wander by; constantly wondering whether or not you’ve staked out the right location, and worrying that someone is sneaking up behind you or about to drop a grenade from above.

The servers have taken a beaten over the last couple of weeks due to an influx of press, but if you have some patience I highly recommend giving Ace of Spades a try. You can download the client and play for free on their bare-bones website. It’s completely free and well worth the download.

April 19, 2011 Michael Retro Arcade 2 comments

I thought that this week I’d take a break from blogging about digital games to talk about a great pen and paper gaming system called Labyrinth Lord.  Published by Goblinoid Games, Labyrinth Lord emulates and re-organizes the rules create by the original Dungeons and Dragons system published in the 70s and 80s.

LL is very streamlined and compact compared to a lot of roleplaying systems out there today (I’m looking at you 4th Edition), while still allowing for a fairly diverse variety of play styles.  All the major archetypes are there (cleric, wizard, fighter, etc…), and the spell and monster listings offer more content than the average player will ever need.

As an added bonus, most adventure modules designed for the original D&D can be used in Labyrinth Lord with a little tweaking – you can run anything from the Tomb of Horrors to the Mines of Khunmar!

November 15, 2010 Michael Retro Arcade No comments

The last time I visited home, my little brother introduced me to a fun little Doom 2 mod called Megaman 8Bit Deathmatch.  As the name implies, the game uses the Doom 2 engine in conjunction with Megaman characters and weapons to create a online multiplayer shooter.

Anyone who is familiar with either of the aforementioned franchises will definitely take some pleasure in this game.  The gameplay doesn’t deviate very much from the original Doom formula, but tosses in tons of Megaman content to create an appropriately 8 bit environment to battle within.  The greatest joy the game provides is the aboslutely ridiculous number of usuable weapons.  So many classic Megaman standbys are available (literally dozens), including favourites such as the Gemini Laser and Bubble Lead.   I spent a good hour playing through the levels, with the sole purpose of finding and utilizing every possible weapon.

October 29, 2010 Michael Retro Arcade No comments

After getting burned out on Starcraft, I began a search for some less micro intensive games to try out.  I did a couple random searches on freeware.remakes.org and eventually stumbled across a fun little game called Desktop Dungeons.

DD is by far one of the most streamlined and compact roguelikes I’ve ever played.  Sessions take between 5 and 15 minutes to complete, and consist of randomly generated single floor dungeons full of power-ups, treasure and dangers.  Monsters must be defeated to gain experience, which increases your attributes and allows you to take on bigger challenges and open new parts of the dungeon.  Players have a broad range of classes and races to choose from, adding quite a bit of variation to a relatively simple concept.

I am reminded somewhat of Minesweeper when playing Desktop Dungeons, due to how much of the game depends on the random placement of volatile elements.  A simple misclick or one wrong decisions can end the game for you, forcing you to restart with a completely fresh arrangement.  There is a certain patience required to complete a level (something I have yet to master).

September 23, 2010 Michael Retro Arcade No comments

I was never much for Flash games, but I was extremely pleased to stumble upon Gamma Bros on Newgrounds a few years back.  Fast-paced action, charming graphics and an 8-bit soundtrack all contribute to a rather excellent gaming experience, reminiscent of Galaga, Asteroids and 1942.

You take on the role of the titular Gamma Bros Buzz and Zap, who work diligently upon a space station near Jupiter.  Every day they must commute back to planet Earth in their spaceships, fending off waves of alien invaders along the way.  It is up to you to guide the brothers safely home through the most dangerous regions of our galaxy!

You can play Gamma Brothers in your browser on the PixelJam website, along with a cavalcade of other Flash games.  There is also an option to download the game to your desktop, and a store where you can by Gamma Bros merchandise.

September 1, 2010 Michael Retro Arcade No comments

The genre of 2D multiplayer shooter is not one rife with titles, so I was very pleased when Gang Garrison was released back in 2008. Originally a simple “demake” of the popular multiplayer game Team Fortress 2, Gang Garrison has flourished with community mods and feedback and has become a well-balanced and enjoyable online 2D shooter. With interpretations of all 9 original classes, many different TF2-inspired environments, and fast-paced, team-based, multiplayer gameplay represented, GG2 is treat for any retro gamer or FPS fan.

TF2 transfers surprisingly well into 2D, with many of the same gameplay mechanics utilized to great effect.  The only thing that is truly missed in the conversion is the ability to sneak up behind and ambush other players, which is patently impossible due to the two dimensional game view.  Another side effect of using 2D environments is the added emphasis on vertical progression.  Players will find themselves jumping upwards and climbing long staircases fairly often to traverse vertically expansive levels.

July 28, 2010 Michael Retro Arcade No comments

Spelunky is a unique little freeware game that will make you want to tear your hair out, scream at the computer screen and murder the game designer.  Despite the blistering difficulty level (or more likely, because of it) Spelunky is one of the most enjoyable and engaging 2D platformers I have played in years.

Spelunky plays out like a cross between Rogue and any number of treasure collect-a-thon games.  You control a brave adventurer tasked with exploring a series of increasingly peculiar caves filled with valuable treasures and dangerous hazards.  Your ultimate objective: make it to the final level of the dungeon, defeat a large boss monster and collect the payoff of a lifetime!

One of Spelunky’s main strengths is its ability to kill you mercilessly and without warning.   Spikes, snakes, yetis, ghosts and lava are all fair game, and one of the game’s great joys is finding new ways to stave off impending death for just a little bit longer.  Each floor is randomly generated when you enter, ensuring that you don’t beat the game through sheer memorization or map-making prowess.

July 8, 2010 Michael Retro Arcade No comments