Mop of Destiny is a commendable 4E5 entry by Drilian featuring classic platformer qualities, especially from Konami's Castlevania series. Unfortunately it's difficulty may deter many from persisting to the fifth and final stage.

The titular mop can be swung to defend yourself, while defeating enemies will award souls which can be bargained for additional weapons or items which restore health.

A definite shoo-in for the first prize, but only because most other entries are below average and offer little competition.

Name: Mop of Destiny
Developer: Joshua Jersild
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 30MB

Acid Factory is an alright action game hosted by Miniclip, featuring pixel work by the famous Army of Trolls. Your main objective is to assist the hapless Harry as he seeks to collect enough batteries to power up the escape portal in each room.

Boxes can be pushed around and into acid pools, which allow for access to areas previously unreachable. Progress is automatically saved, hence players are able to resume from any stage previously attempted. Decent effort, but a little short on gameplay.

Name: Acid Factory
Developer: Miniclip
Category: Action
Type: Flash
Size: 1MB

BIntruders is the latest Space Invaders remake by BGames, developer of the Lethal Judgment series among other releases. Could possibly be the best one yet, with graphics to match even commercial titles. Yet the gameplay balance is severely lacking. Power-ups tend to get mixed up with enemy shots too often, plus collision with other objects are not properly relayed to the player.

Difficulty aside, anyone willing to give it a go won't be disappointed with the amount of content in this game. Unfortunately patience is a pricey commodity even for a quality freeware such as this.

Name: BIntruders
Developer: BGames
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 60MB

T.H.E. is a rather bland vertical shooter with some decent bullet patterns but largely uninspiring backgrounds and enemy sprites. It's also slightly confusing to see a shmup with an autofire option in a 4E5 competition as well.

An alright effort by the author, although shmup veterans won't find anything new here.

Name: T.H.E.
Developer: Beer Hunter
Type: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

The results are out. Scroll down for the judges' thoughts on each entry, or proceed here for the download links.

(Source: Retro Remakes)

Ovine by Design releases a new gameplay video (right-click to save) of their upcoming release, Driller.

The Pyramid soundtrack and other Pug Fugly releases can be acquired from this page.

Plus or Minus is a rather unique game where the player is given a magnet to push or attract particles. These particles will gather around said item, with the game ending only if a piece stops outside the ring.

The strategy is to make positive and negative particles collide with each other while building up your special attack gauge in the process, which can be unleashed by pressing the right mouse button.

Name: Plus or Minus
Developer: rale
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

The Complex is an interesting take on the competition theme of magnets, in which your objective is to guide the central character out of a government building while avoiding the attention of automated security systems.

There are plenty of magnetic equipment placed around the facility that may affect the flight of projectiles. Standing behind one of these may offer temporary protection from a hail of bullets, hence quick thinking and a certain amount of experimentation will uncover the correct solution to each area.

Won the top prize in a recent 72 Hour Game Development Competition.

Name: The Complex
Developer: GameDev Guys
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Mag-Man is a decent Bomberman clone by Team Calypson which showcases fantastic sprite work but slightly disappointing gameplay. By using the Mag-Gun's magnetic force, balls and bombs can be pushed around or pulled towards your character though the controls are far too erratic for these special abilities to be of any practical use.

Would have finished first in a beauty contest but manages a respectable third in the 72 Hour Game Development Competition.

Name: Mag-Man
Developer: Team Calypson
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Sam and Max Episode 2 - Situation: Comedy Walkthrough (Spoiler Free)
Published by Telltale Games

At the office

1. Exit the office and head for Bosco's convenience store.

2. Quit the conversation with Bosco.

3. Try to grab the SHAVING CREAM on the table to your right.

4. Exit the store and chase after the skinbodies in your car.

5. To stop the skinbodies, click on the gun icon on the bottom left of the screen.

6. Watch for a manhole which appear periodically in the middle of the road.

7. Shoot at the skinbodies to make them swerve into the manhole.

8. Timing is important, you need to get it just right to retrieve the SHAVING CREAM.

9. Now head for the TV studio.



At the TV studio

Easter Egg - A prop from the Bone: The Great Cow Race makes an appearance.

1. Talk to the director.

2. Ask about what she's doing, then request for an audition.

3. When the audition starts, use the SHAVING CREAM on Sam.

4. Next, use the TEAR GAS GRENADE LAUNCHER on Max.

5. After passing the audition, use the sitcom door to enter the next room.

6. During the conversation, tell the director to start taping.

7. Grab the LAMPSHADE and put it on the cow's head.

8. Featherly will enter the room, answer 'Our chef.'

9. Grab the PLATE from the table on your right.

10. Use the PLATE on the cowpie to trigger the next question.

11. Answer 'Moo Goo Gai Pan, a delicious food', when asked.

12. Max will deliver his line and Sam will receive the MIDTOWN COWBOYS CLIP.

13. Use the door on the left to meet the Soda Poppers again.

14. Head right and grab PEEPER'S LYRICS from the top of the apple crate.

15. Enter the Midtown Cowboys set. Go right and use the game show door.

16. Sam and Max will converse with Hugh Bliss automatically.

17. Ask Hugh to perform a magic trick, then state the color green.

18. Now ask Hugh for a group PHOTO together with Sam and Max.

19. End the conversation with Hugh.

20. Click on the left podium to start the game show.

21. When the show ends, grab the CARDS from the podium on the right.

22. Now use PEEPER'S LYRICS on the card slot.

23. Click on the podium to your left again to start the game show.

24. Answer the easy question to earn yourself a million food stamps.

25. Head back into the Midtown Cowboys set.

26. Use the cooking show door which is situated on your right.

27. Click on the pot, pan, plate or bowl to start cooking.

28. Choose to make a CAKE.

29. Select any ingredient (minimum one), then click on the oven icon.

30. You'll now have the CAKE in your possession.

31. Head out of the TV studio and drive back to the office.

32. Enter Sybil's place.

33. Give Sybil the PHOTO and she will print the newspaper.

34. Grab a copy of ALIEN LOVE TRIANGLE TIMES, just outside the store.

35. Enter the store and ask Bosco to sell you the VOICE MODULATOR.

36. Pay using your FOOD STAMPS.

37. Head right, then use the CAKE on the condiments.

38. Condiments are located under the Not'chos poster.

39. Head back to the TV studio.



Embarassing Idol

1. Give Whizzer the CAKE WITH KETCHUP ICING. He will leave the set.

2. Use the VOICE MODULATOR on Sam, then use the microphone to sing.

3. You will win all votes from the remaining judges.

4. The director will award Sam a RECORDING CONTRACT.

5. Now you have the CONTRACT, CLIP and NEWSPAPER required to see Myra.

6. Enter the game show set and use the talk show door on the right.

7. Ask for permission to be on the show during the conversation with Myra.

8. Tell her about the CONTRACT, CLIP and NEWSPAPER in your possession.

9. She will then allow Sam and Max to be on her show.

10. Tell Myra that you would rather relive your Embarassing Idol glory.

11. You will now get a chance to access your inventory.

12. Use the VOICE MODULATOR on Sam, then quickly use the BANJO.

13. Talk to Myra about the picture in the Times after the cutscene.

14. Tell her that someone else was involved as well.

15. Choose Bessy the Cow when quizzed about it.

16. Watch the ending!

For more news on upcoming Sam and Max episodes, visit Telltale Games.

Some bits and pieces from the Adventure Developer Online Conference 2006 and adventure games in general. Click here for the complete list of participants.

Telltale Games
Three tracks from Telltale's Sam and Max series were made available for download today.
Here's a browser-based text adventure by Deirdra Kiai.

Wadjet Eye Games
The Blackwell Legacy will be released on Dec 16. [screenshots]
Dave hints on a sequel to The Shivah.

Nucleosys Digital Studio
A new adventure game creation engine entitled SCream is now available for download. Free to use for non-commercial projects.

Naphtalite Productions
Kaptain Brawe will consist of two episodes. The first will be released on February 2007.

As mentioned earlier, the download link for Typhoon 2001 has been removed. There is another project from the same author entitled Dogfight - Battle in the Skies. Unfortunately the lack of an option to change all text to English will deter most from trying it out.

Update: Typhoon 2001 gets Jeff's approval. Expect the download link to be restored soon.

A nice little flash game by GameDesign, World Map will test your geography knowledge thoroughly with a set of twenty questions about countries and map locations.

Definitely one for the kids or academics.

Name: World Map
Developer: GameDesign
Category: Puzzle
Type: Flash
Size: 1MB

GR3 Re-DEATH is a Gradius clone by the team that released La-Mulana, a cult favorite among many even though the game was never translated. As hinted by the developers, this version would only be available for exactly one month since the web site will be taken offline soon.

A Java-enabled machine is required to play. The scrolling is poor though most of the power-ups from Konami's hallmark series do make their appearance. Perhaps one for the collection but doesn't serve much purpose besides that.

Name: GR3 Re-DEATH
Developer: GR3 PROJECT
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Adventure

New screenshots for The Infinity String added.

Heartland Deluxe updated to version 1.1. [Heartland Deluxe review]

Shooters

Kenta Cho's Titanion updated to version 0.2. Now includes modern mode in addition to classic.

Blue Wish Resurrection updated to version 1.00. [direct download link, BWR, Eden's Edge, Blue Wish, Green Wind review]

Click on news for more info about Pixeljam's next project. [games.pixeljam.com, Gamma Bros review]

Translated by Shih Tzu: OMEGA of Every Extend fame working on a 360-degree vs. shooter. No title yet. [Twintower review]

Postman describes another day at work, plus Gradius on the PS3.

Platformers

A one level demo for The Curse of Kaumaha 2 was recently released. [TCOK download link]

Here's an interview with Nifflas, creator of Within a Deep Forest.

Miscellaneous

Pictured on the right is a screenshot from The Spirit Engine sequel.

GameDev.net's Four Elements V final submission date is on the 30th of November. Mop of Destiny is one entry to keep an eye on.

Any fans of The Sentinel here?

Two members from the Beats of Rage development team were recently interviewed by Destructoid.com.

BIntruders also reviewed by Postman. [BGames web site, Lethal Judgment 3, Lethal Judgment 2 review]

Anyone familiar with Tempest would definitely want to grab a copy of Typhoon 2001. Use the left and right arrow keys to move the ship around the stage, and hold the space key to shoot. A superzapper can be used by pressing the enter key. Avoid spikes when warping to the next level.

Not a standard vertical or horizontal shooter but quite simply one of the best freeware Tempest remake yet. Ace, indeed.

Name: Typhoon 2001
Developer: Thorsten Kuphaldt
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 3MB

An homage to SCI's SWIV, Switchfire features excellent 3D graphics and a simultaneous two player mode as well. Different vehicles are assigned to each player, with one handling the jeep while the other controls the helicopter.

The demo is awfully short and day to night transition is slightly unrealistic though the gameplay itself is decent enough. Controls are a bit awkward, with the arrow keys assigned by default to the first player but shots are managed by holding down either mouse button. A manual in the installed game directory provides adequate information on standard key mapping.

A worthwhile download for anyone with the excess bandwidth to spare.

Name: Switchfire
Developer: Frogster Interactive
Category: Shooter
Type: Demo
Size: 150MB

Commando is a Metal Slug clone with great graphics and pretty decent gameplay as well. Keyboard controls can be configured via the options menu, which does solve the problem of players clicking outside the window and disabling character movement by mistake.

The health gauge is a plus, though missing a jump still manages to prove deadly in many areas. Grenades can be replenished by breaking ammunition boxes, which also reveals additional weapons and bonus items.

Name: Commando
Developer: Miniclip
Category: Action
Type: Flash
Size: 1MB

PanicBCN is a decent platformer in the style of arcade classics such as Snow Bros. and Bubble Bobble. Simply beat on your enemies repeatedly with a hammer in order to complete each level, while collecting fruits and coins to boost your health gauge.

Walking over stunned enemies will knock them out as well. Hold the action button for a few seconds before releasing it for a special attack, although this move requires a recharge in between uses. Progress is saved every five stages.

Name: PanicBCN
Developer: EsperitVJ
Category: Platform
Type: Demo
Size: 20MB

SiL is a 3D puzzler by Fathammer Games, also the developer of the freeware vertical shooter entitled Angelfish. The game involves rotating 3D objects to match their silhouettes in the background before time runs out, hence it's chosen name.

Unfortunately this production runs out of steam rather quickly even with over a hundred different items and wonderfully crafted locations.

Name: SiL
Developer: Fathammer
Category: Puzzle
Type: Demo
Size: 5MB