From: 惠将 <hyaster.com@gmail.com>
Date: 2010/1/17
Subject: Casual Encounters--22 Flash Games Worth Getting Addicted To
To: kimobook@gmail.com
Sent to you by 惠将 via Google Reader:
Casual Encounters--22 Flash Games Worth Getting Addicted To
via Maximum PC all RSS Feed by Rob Smith on 1/15/10
When you don't have the time or resources to commit to a full-fledged
FPS, strategy game, or RPG adventure, a fun, fast, browser-based game
is sure to satisfy. We reveal our favorites―both current and classic
Five minutes here, a lunch break there, the urge to procrastinate. The
free browser-based Flash game has evolved with the technology,
producing some high-quality time-killers that can interrupt the most
productive of days. With volume comes choices. But you don't want to
waste time browsing―you need the definitive go-to guide to the best of
what's out there. We did the leg (hand and mouse) work for you. Many
sites collect hundreds of these free games―check out Kongregate.com,
Armorgames.com, Gamebrew.com, as examples―but scan our list and you'll
be on the road to fun, free entertainment in no time. Plus, for a hint
of nostalgia, or to get your feet wet with casual gaming, spend some
quality time with classics of the genre, collected in our list of
all-time favorites.
Dark Base III
Alien slaughter-fest
This top-down shooter franchise has been successful enough to spawn
sequels, which says plenty about its quality. RPG-style level-up
mechanics let you improve your abilities and arsenal, which is vital
given the rampaging indigenous life forms intent on eating you and
your hired-mercenary help. Mission progression lets you take on
optional tasks that flesh out the story and provide further
opportunities to earn experience and level up.
(http://www.crazymonkeygames.com/Darkbase-3.html)
Wake Up the Box
Fun with physics
What else are you going to do when you find a box napping on a ledge?
Prod him awake using the weight and shape of various pieces of wood in
a physics-based puzzle, naturally. Mixing spatial challenges,
occasional speed tests, and creative thinking, each of the 20 levels
provides a unique test. If you get stuck, watch the handy video
walkthrough of the optimal solutions.
(http://armorgames.com/play/4839/wake-up-the-box)
Kongai
Whip 'em good
This collectible card game is blended with Street Fighter-like
beat-'em-up mechanics and painted with a classic high-fantasy
cartoon-art style (i.e., uber-buff dudes and improbably proportioned
ladies). You start with three cards, which you're likely to pick for
the artwork since the mechanics take some learning. After a few
practice bouts, you earn new cards and compete in ranked matches
against other folks. Very, very compelling for Magic: The Gathering
types who want a free option.
(http://www.kongregate.com/games/Kongregate/kongai)
Flakboy
Happy to be the gun, spike, mine test subject
Figuring out the most effective method of delivering extreme damage to
poor Flakboy proves incredibly engaging. Poor guy is scared of a
yellow duck, which sets him in motion within a confined room outfitted
by whatever spikes, mines, guns, and trampolines your cash allotment
affords you to buy. The eight levels each require you to inflict more
damage, which forces you to try new weapons as they unlock. Then set
the duck loose and watch Flakboy smear the walls with his own blood!
(http://www.a10.com/game/flakboy.html)
________________________________
Hedgehog Launch
Not a bird or a plane, but a hedgehog
One hedgehog. One elastic launch contraption. Strap-on rocket packs.
It all adds up to an obvious recipe for throwaway fun chasing your
high score. Launch the hedgehog skyward then hope you hit the floating
coinage. The loot is then used to buy upgrades to the rockets, better
launch velocity, a radar device (largely ineffective, as it turns
out), and more. Then you launch again. And again. And upgrade. And
launch. And you'll still be launching 10 minutes after you decided to
stop. (http://www.kongregate.com/games/ArmorGames/hedgehog-launch)
Desktop TD Pro
Stop the critters scurrying across your desk
Tower defense has become the defining casual-game genre for its
classic simple-but-deep mechanics, puzzling challenges, and
characteristic "just one more go" play sessions that last into the wee
hours. And this is one of the best. Inviting in its simple premise and
early level setup, and then excruciating in the grip of vast strategic
options as you place tower types, upgrade as you earn cash, and try to
stop the enemies from exiting the arena. Give it five minutes; it'll
repay you in hours.
(http://www.casualcollective.com/#games/Desktop_TD_Pro)
Red Fluxion
Remember to blink
Your tiny ship has plenty of firepower. Lasers blasting vertically;
shots dispersing horizontally; homing missiles navigating towards
targets. So many targets. Within moments, space is jam-packed with
colorful shapes dispatching swarms, streams, and swirls of damaging
objects not necessarily directed at you, but in such sufficient
quantities to fill the blackness of space with their color. And that's
before you get to the monstrous boss battles that often require fine
mouse control amid the manic shooting gallery action.
(http://www.kongregate.com/games/zestygames/red-fluxion)
Crush the Castle
Flinging rocks for fun and profit
Armed with a powerful trebuchet, it's your mission to launch
projectiles at a castle until you bring the structure crashing down
around the heads of the inhabitants. Kill 'em all, then move on to the
next castle. The game's 24 castles test your skill at timing the
launch for the right speed and trajectory and mixing up ammunition
options, which upgrade as you progress. Complete them all, then have a
go at designing and testing out your own castle conundrums.
(http://armorgames.com/play/3614/crush-the-castle)
________________________________
This Is the Only Level
A many-trick pony
Thirty identical levels. Sounds like a hoot, right? But an incredible
variety of invention makes each level a thoroughly unique or stylized
challenge. This isn't about using different routes from entry to exit,
but interpreting the word clue to fathom the trick to solving a given
level. When you have to refresh your browser to unlock a level, you
know this is something a little bit different, a little bit special,
and worth several do-overs to earn faster times and fewer deaths.
(http://armorgames.com/play/4309/this-is-the-only-level)
Icycle
Is this for total aerodynamics?
Riding along deadly ice caps, across crumbling mountains, through
volcanic tunnels, and amid collapsing buildings is dangerous enough.
Doing it in the buff? Weird. But "naked guy riding a bike" captures
the attention quicker than "random dude on BMX adventure to collect
frozen soap bubbles." And it's totally compelling as the scale shifts
for each level―shrinking the character to a few pixels in some
cases―as he overcomes the obstacles to make the exit. Some levels are
cunningly challenging, others a ride in the park. Naked.
(www.dampgnat.com/icycle)
Finwick
Beyond the call of the mailman's duties
Delivering mail seems like such a mundane summer-vacation student job.
Not in Finwick, where helping the Royal Mail (evidently set in
England) can be very dangerous. This side-scrolling platform and
puzzle game is framed by a story told in quick dialogue blurbs between
characters and set among beautifully drawn (if deadly) forests,
factories, and construction sites. Controlling a second character adds
further puzzle challenge as you set platforms in motion and create
safe routes to deliver one piece of mail.
(http://www.smallgreenhill.com/games/finwick/)
Canabalt
Free running
Now this is extreme parkour… in black-and-white, pixel-graphics form.
You're escaping (from what is unclear) through buildings, across
construction cranes and rooftops, at blistering Usain Bolt�plus-plus
speeds, hitting just one jump key to skip over obstacles or leap
through windows and across gaps between buildings. Scored purely on
the distance you make before face-planting into the side of a
building, you'll keep trying for that longer run, pushed by the
pounding sci-fi movie soundtrack pumping in the background.
(www.adamatomic.com/canabalt)
________________________________
GraveShift 2: The Sewers
Does not stink in the least
The isometric 3D puzzle-adventure game has been around for eons, and
this one brings a colorful style to its Indiana Jones�wannabe
character. You have to navigate through the sewers, picking up gold
along the way, fighting off the rats, skeletons, and more. These
sewers are dangerous, with spike pits and other traps adding to the
challenge as you try to recover King Krump's treasure. The terrific
art style makes it easy to spend hours exploring and figuring out how
to retrieve each piece of treasure.
(http://www.mochimedia.com/games/graveshift-2-the-sewers/)
Ultimate Assassin 2
Metal Gear Flash
This top-down stealth-action game recalls memories of early Metal Gear
sneak, stab, hide, and escape gameplay. It's extremely challenging as
you move your assassin after the green "boss" target through 18
levels. Guards shine their torches and move through the environment in
random directions. Your assassin can call on a brief invisibility (so
long as you don't move) and speed-burst to elude danger. After the
hit, wait for the mission bar to fill before the exit is revealed, and
hope the bad guys don't spot the body and sound an alarm that sends
them into a fast-moving frenzy.
(http://www.games121.com/2009/06/ultimate-assassin-2.html)
A Dralien Day
Lose yourself in a puzzling journey
This tale of a dragon's emergence from an egg and his travels through
puzzle-infested environments is classic point-and-click adventure
fare. Those big doe-eyes implore you to help the little fella through
each area. Rather than pixel-searching for clickable objects, each
interactive element in a scene is handily highlighted, so it's easy to
find the puzzles even if it's not so easy to solve them. A full
walkthrough is available if you happen to get stuck.
(http://www.pencilkids.com/the-vault/a-dralien-day-page/)
Small Worlds
From small beginnings great worlds grow
An entry in the Casual Gameplay Design Competition, this quirky
exploration game packs tons of style into its simple stick-character
and block-graphics presentation. From an initial camera view zoomed in
on your pixel "dude" you move around the world as the camera pans back
to reveal its shape, paths, and direction to the exits. It's more a
game of wonder at the concept than a speed, movement, or
puzzle-solving challenge, but still well worth your attention.
(http://jayisgames.com/cgdc6/?gameID=9)
________________________________
Casual Game Classics
Free Flash games have evolved over the years, but some of the best of
all time have probably contributed to more lost office productivity
than Rick-rolling and dancing hamsters put together
Bloons
A monkey armed with darts popping balloons? Sounds like the perfect
game concept. It's also thoroughly addictive as you work through the
steadily increasing difficulty levels, aiming to pop the target number
of balloons as new obstacles (and power-ups) are introduced.
(http://www.ninjakiwi.com/Games/Bloons-Games/Play/Bloons.html)
Mini-Putt
A quick 18 holes of mini golf can turn into hours of effort to bring
your score down as low as possible. In this classic variant you judge
angles and speed to putt the ball around, through, or over obstacles
and into the hole. (http://www.addictinggames.com/miniputt.html)
3D Pong
See ball, hit ball with paddle. Repeat. Now three full unforgiving
dimensions. (http://www.3dponggame.com)
Bejeweled
Possibly the greatest detriment to office productivity since
Minesweeper! Who would have thought that matching sets of three gems
would prove to be so utterly addicting? This classic puzzler has
spawned a huge number of clones and sequels, and continues to be
played in offices in the world over. (http://www.popcap.com)
Helicopter
Maybe the sound of constant mouse-clicking will make coworkers think
you're being incredibly productive (or have some kind of crazy
twitch). You keep the helicopter flying by pressing the mouse button,
and release it to let it drop. Now just see how far you can make it
through the tunnels while avoiding the obstacles.
(http://www.addictinggames.com/helicopter.html)
Fantastic Contraption
What a head scratcher. The simple premise of building machines is
actually a deceptively addicting physics puzzler. You place the pieces
of the contraption and hope your choices make it, well, fantastic.
It's easy to spend hours figuring out some of the later-level
conundrums. (http://www.fantasticcontraption.com)
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