You can now play the Alien Shooter 2 demo (scroll down for the file) without the time limit using tips provided in this forum thread. (no, it's not a crack)

The FAQ is an interesting read as well. Winners don't use drugs.

Name: Alien Shooter 2
Developer: Sigma Team
Category: Action
Type: Demo
Size: 150MB

Word Krispies is the second offering from Liquid Dragon Studios, this time ditching the action element found in Odyssey: Winds of Athena and favoring word games and brain teasers instead. Cereals with alphabets are added into a bowl of milk periodically, and it's up to the player to form the best words and earn extra points for their efforts.

Letters will disappear if left unused, leading to the loss of a turn. Nothing as fancy as their previous release but works well enough to entertain wordsmiths for an afternoon or two.

Name: Word Krispies
Developer: Liquid Dragon Studios
Category: Puzzle
Type: Demo
Size: 10MB

Gun Arms is a decent effort by Neun with at least two rare traits which are uncommon in most platformers. You get to control a mechanized robot, and the gameplay itself is in full 3D glory. Shoot with the Z key, execute a melee attack with the C key and hold the S key to protect yourself with a shield. This will prevent any sort of damage whatsoever, but unfortunately mobility is restricted when this is in effect.

Flying is only possible outdoors. Double tap the up arrow key to jump, then press the S key to float. To dash, tap a directional arrow key twice. This won't work in some areas though. Choose the third link on the same page to download the trial version.

Name: Gun Arms
Developer: Neun
Category: Platform
Type: Demo
Size: 10MB

Gambare Natsuki-San was an excellent Umihara Kawase Shun clone by DK alpha. The developer has now returned with another unique effort entitled ProjectN. Your ship only has a beam sword for it's tail, which can be swung around for a larger damage perimeter. Users with an analog joypad are at an advantage here, though keyboard owners should probably give this a miss.

The warp drive comes in pretty handy, since some routes are blocked off and the only way to avoid crashing into the walls is by teleporting to the other side. Three stages only.

Name: ProjectN
Developer: DK alpha
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Wicked Ogre Hunt is an alright action game which features artwork much like those found in games by Clover Studio. Your character has to jump over obstacles and shoot at targets to score points. Press the left mouse button to leap, then the same button again while in midair to shoot. Hold the right mouse button to dive.

Keyboard controls are available as well. Only three stages are playable in the demo, and each can be completed in less than a minute. Users on slow connections may want to skip this one, since it's only worth downloading for the sake of novelty.

Name: Wicked Ogre Hunt
Developer: StudioGIW
Category: Action
Type: Demo
Size: 30MB

A new screenshot from Ishisoft's Puyo remake has been posted. [Clockwiser, Pushover review]

Kevin Glass is working on a LocoRoco clone named Loopy Gloop, which runs on Java. Less than 4K in size. (Source: Puppy Games)

RTSoft will release a new 2D game creation engine entitled Novashell soon.

Daniel Remar's Iji is seventy percent done. [Castle of Elite, Retrobattle, Hero, No Friction review]

A list of Bogosoft's cancelled games can be found here. None of them are downloadable.

darthlupi is redoing Sword Fighter Zero. A demo download link is available from the same page. [Airdoo review]

Buster's new game will be released before the end of 2006. [Vacant Ark review]

Pipiru the Archer is a one level demo which showcases pencilled art for backgrounds that wouldn't look out of place in a children's story book.

Hold the Z or X key to shoot an arrow, or press the left arrow key to spin and dodge enemy projectiles. Flaming arrows can be created by firing one through a torch. A dodgy but passable English translation can be selected from the main menu. The Vector download link is placed right at the end of the same page.

Name: Pipiru the Archer
Developer: NOAH
Category: Shooter
Type: Demo
Size: 3MB

Luxor 2 is the new release from MumboJumbo, the Goliath that towers over the rest of it's competition. Gameplay is still practically the same, although each level now has a different background to complement the boredom of matching gems.

There's nary a hint of innovation, which isn't surprising since the last one did so well. No reason to change anything that wasn't broken. Fans of the original will be delighted with it's length, with a total of eighty-eight stages to plunder through. Must be lots of them, judging by the fact that it sold over half a million copies last year.

Name: Luxor 2
Developer: MumboJumbo
Category: Puzzle
Type: Demo
Size: 20MB

Sensational Soccer is the latest football simulation by Si Read which expands on the concept introduced in New Star Soccer 3. Instead of having a single player limited to league and cup games, it's now possible to manage an entire team in single matches, full seasons or quests for silverware.

Certain improvements to the engine are quite subtle. Through passes can now be executed with pinpoint accuracy, allowing for more flamboyant displays of one-touch football. Crossing has been made much easier though offsides happen rather frequently due to improved defence AI.

All player names have been altered slightly since it's not legally possible to replicate them without a license to do so. Still, football fans would have no problems telling apart one teammate from the other since the names and stats just about match their real counterparts.

The game is not without a problem or two though. Training points do not carry over to the subsequent weeks, and it can be rather tiring when repeating sessions with each player in order to improve their skills. But these are just minor issues that the developer will most likely address when updates are released.

Another feather in Si Read's decorated hat and a worthy addition to any footie fan's collection.

Name: Sensational Soccer
Developer: New Star Games
Category: Sports
Type: Demo
Size: 10MB

Reincarnation is a decent vertical shooter that has simple enemy designs and an uncomplicated gameplay system. The player can choose from several weapon configurations before starting a game. Press the Z key to shot, and hold the same button to activate your special beam attack.

The screen is wider than your average shmup, though that does mean more space to navigate in and dodge enemy projectiles. Weapons and shields charge up automatically, so players do not need to worry about collectibles or bonuses. Definitely a good entry point for beginners.

Name: Reincarnation
Developer: Y-NRG
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB

Reviewed by Maenny (www.runtime-hq.com)

Battle for Wesnoth is a very good programmed turn-based strategy-game and it could be commercial. Thank God it isn't. So you will be able to enjoy countless adventures, battles, sieges, or getaways. It doesn't matter if you like multiplayer games or if you prefer single player games: Battle for Wesnoth satisfies every kind of strategy-player. Having homogenously designed graphics and a nice soundtrack, you wont be able to resist the charm of this title...

With about 200 different units, 16 Races and 6 different factions the diversity of Battle of Wesnoth is huge and should serve everyones needs. The maps also are designed beautifully - terrain affects the moving range and battleskills of a unit. You will find items improving your properties. Battle is being evaluated automatically.

Battle of Wesnoth has no sprite-animations, the figures can face in different directions, though. Generally the gfx remind me of boardgames, which I like and which fits the game nicely.

The real challenge lies in the tactical depth of Battle of Wesnoth, which not only consists of killing an enemy unit (well, after all, you HAVE to eliminate all enemy units...), but also to have villages in your command, with the money of which you can buy new units. An important fact is also that you can heal your units in a village being in your possession, and as your units gain experience and improve hereby their skills, it is advisable not to loose your warriors in combat.

Battle of Wesnoth surely is one of the biggest freeware titles out there. If you like turn-based strategy or even RTS-games, you won't forget the day you first heard of Battle for Wesnoth. Because you really are sucked into this rich medieval-fantasy world and will take some time to exit it again...

Read the entire review at www.runtime-hq.com

Name: Battle of Wesnoth
Developer: David White
Category: Strategy
Type: Freeware
Size: 40MB

Takase's Dot Fighters is quite a departure from his previous work. Detailed 2D sprites prominently featured in Arm Joe have now been replaced with characters made out of huge pixels. Their faces are usually made out of several colored squares, with eyes and mouths left out of their portraits to accomodate the new style.

There are plenty of moves to choose from, with devastating ones limited to the amount of Dot Power that you have accumulated during each fight. Only four fighters are available in the latest version, though Quest Mode does include additional boss encounters and bonus rounds.

Only two attack buttons are ever used, but there's plenty of moves to learn and executing them doesn't require excellent memory skills. Press the A key to punch and tap the S key to kick. The escape key can be used to pause the game. Press alt-Enter to play in full screen mode.

Combos are usually initiated by tapping one of the action buttons repeatedly. Additional moves such as air combos, reversals, throws, safe landings and rolls are all here. Recommended for fans of the genre, and well worth the 284MB download.

Download instructions can be found in this post. Mirrors for Dot Fighters can be found in the IG forums.

Name: Dot Fighters
Developer: Takase
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 300MB

[Discuss]

Special Agent is the new platformer by David Newton, who was also the creator of Treasure Tower. This effort only showcases three levels, and there is still much work to be done though entirely playable in it's own with two game modes on offer.

You're cast as a secret agent, entrusted to carry out several mundane missions around the world to eradicate some evil mastermind and put a stop to his nefarious plans. The controls require a bit of practice, since there are two shot buttons mapped to the A and D keys. This allows the player to aim left or right regardless of the direction he is facing. Hold the S key to jump. It's possible to skip the high score submission process by pressing the tab key at the right time.

The 2D sprites are decent enough, and there are no bugs to be found anywhere but it's not really at the top of the list of best platformers released this year. Still, a worthy addition nonetheless.

Name: Special Agent
Developer: David Newton
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB