Other Age is a rather amusing dating simulation which requires the use of an internet browser to run. The silliness is cranked up pretty high in this one, and though the adventure itself is rather short there's at least a couple of endings to discover.

Will only interest fans of ren'ai games.

Name: Other Age
Developer: Zeiva Inc
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

In Imaginary Realm 2 - Absolute Scenario, your task is basically to help Orem to get the best costume and win the contest. You will get different ending depending on which costume you choose.

Chalk this up as one of those weird finds.

Name: Imaginary Realm 2 - Absolute Scenario
Developer: Zeiva Inc
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Forces is an original genre game made by an 11th grader named Adam Bielinski. It is considered to be one of the best examples of Turing developed games, rivaling Coutsos's Evasive Maneuvers.

You make sparkles on the screen using the mouse, and then click to shoot the objects you drew. Calculation of damage is based on the location of both your circle and the drawn objects. The closer they are to you, the faster they fly out.

Name: Forces
Developer: Adam Bielinski
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Sword of Fargoal is a roguelike game, with the player controlling an adventurous warrior attempting to reclaim the titular sword from the depths of a monster-infested, randomly-generated dungeon. The sword is placed randomly somewhere between the fifteenth and twentieth dungeon level.

Name: Sword of Fargoal
Developer: Jeff, Paul, Elias
Category: RPG
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Adventure

Another AGS adventure game abandoned by buloght. [warning: image heavy thread; buloght's past projects]

Explanation by buloght - A project set in Transylvania ... I had about 12/24 rooms pixelled and all of them sketched, story, design and puzzles 100% finished.

Sam and Max Episode 3 walkthrough posted over at Gnome's Lair.

New FTG art posted. [The White Chamber: International Edition]

Some very interesting homemade box arts made for Spooks, Heartland Deluxe and Ben Jordan. [Spooks, Heartland Deluxe, Ben Jordan Case 1 Deluxe review]


Shooters

New site for Clean Asia opens. [Clean Asia review, past projects by cactus]

Excellent Bifurcation updated with an additional level, music and sound effects. [Excellent Bifurcation review]

Pixel's desktop page updated with an image of several enemy ships from his upcoming vertical shooter.

Orange-Juice (Suguri) is currently working on a new vertical shooter entitled Junpyon. [scroll down to view screenshots]

No miss gameplay video from Marvellous Twilight posted.

Platformers

The Podunkian interviews Bogo, creator of Lyle in Cube Sector. [The Underside preview video, Lyle in Cube Sector, Merry Gear Solid review]

Also reported by Total Klik; the next Spud's Quest update will include:
- new land/puzzles/items
- two new temples
- flute
- push/pull blocks
- better ending
- scrolling text boxes
- at least ten hidden emeralds
- more sidequests
- more coins
- improved dialogue

Team GrisGris recently released a demo for their new platformer, TetraBash. [Dread Lock review, Thunder demo]


Miscellaneous

mrkwang interviews the lead designer of Bookworm Adventures.

New screenshots from Switchball added to Atomic Elbow's web site.

FAQ updated with new instructions on how to navigate and download files from Vector.

News about another Remakes Competition can be found here.

PDRoms is currently running a competition in which participants are required to create LCD style games. Cash prizes offered.

GameDev.net hacked.

Reversed is a decent vertical shooter with some impressive effects and pretty fun gameplay, though the current version is missing sound effects. Power-ups resembling the ones found in Cho Ren Sha 68K can be collected for a firepower boost or multiplier increase.

Press the Z key to shoot and use the X key to activate your special weapon. Your shot can be upgraded three times, while the multipler maximum count is ten.

Name: Reversed
Developer: Kvalsternacka
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

"Se enemy is weaken" is a turn-based strategy game, where two factions, the GOOD GUYS and the BAD GUYS, fight each other. The objective always is to destroy an enemy building by placing a dynamite near it.

Features:

- 9 different units, each with a special ability.
- 4 different maps with detailed graphics
- build turrets and tankbarriers
- play hotseat on one computer or per Email
- easy to use interface
- extensive sounddesign and music.
- Easy to understand gameplay with a huge tactical possibilities.

"Se enemy is weaken" was created by Manuel Schmitt. The voice was recorded and spoken by Corpus Callosum .

"I wanted to make a game, playable per email and really easy to use. I like the idea of multiplayer games, which don't need a running server. With a PbEM-game (Play by E-Mail) you can enjoy a tactical wargame with your friends and play it when you have time to, any hour a day. Many of the Email-games out there, though, don't have a graphical interface, sometimes they only work with text. I wanted to create a PbEM-game with nice graphics and good sounds. And as I enjoy very much the freeware title ENEMY TERRITORY I decided to orient my gameplay to that game. It definitly has evolved to something of his own, but some elements are recognizable..."

The title gives a hint to the game "Enemy territory", where 'The enemy is weaken' is one of the available chat-macros. The 'S' instead of the 'th' is just a silly gag to make fun of the german accent. You can hear the chat macro when starting the game.

In future versions of the game the gameplay of enemy territory shall be adapted further: there shall be vehicles one team has to safely bring to their homebase, there will be the possibility to steal gold crates or something similiar and maybe you will be able to cunstruct bridges and destroy these...

Title: Se enemy is Weaken
Developer: Runtime Entertainment
Licence: Freeware
Size: 12MB

In Clean Asia, the eyes of mankind has decided to leave their hosts and take over the earth. Their first move was to escape to the moon, where they developed their hostile weapon technology. Ten years later they return and forcefully take over some prominent countries in Asia. Thailand and New Korea has both succumb to the hostile threat, while China insists on dealing with the eyes themselves and refuses any helping hands from around the world.

America sends a pair of pilot twins with extraordinary sixth senses to battle against the evil eyes. They both have designed their own space ships that seems to be about the only thing in existance that can be used to battle these terrible fiends.

It has three levels and two selectable ships with distinct controlling differences and abillities, fourteen bosses and ten regular enemies.

Name: Clean Asia
Developer: cactus
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Force Majeure is a horizontal scrolling shooter by Swedish indie-developers Monokey, originally made for the Shmup-Dev Autofire 2007 Competition. A lot of inspiration for this project has been absorbed from games like Progear or In the Hunt. Both keyboard and gamepad movement are supported.

Choose from two lethal and sexy pilots, each one with their own fighter. Bravo's fighter is faster but does not do as much damage as Choke's one, who tends to be a bit slower. Bravo's subweapon is a rocket, fired from the bottom of the ship and then traveling forward, while Choke has a megaton bomb which is simply dropped on enemies. Also take a look at the monitor under the pilots. It will show you were the weak spot on their plane is. This is the spot were you don't want any enemy bullets.

The demo version of Force Majeure only consists of one stage for you to beat. The slow moving green carrier ships carry a power up. Power ups marked P will level up the cannons, while power ups marked A enables the side arm for your fighter. A second player can join any time by pressing the player 2 start button, but do configure the keys or buttons first.

In order to score high in this game you can't just blindly roaming around and shooting enemies. You will need to earn medal multiplier points to reach the true score levels. The medal multiplier is located in the lower corner of the screen. At first you won't see anything but when you start to get multiplier points you will notice how a medal with appear and if you're really good it will evolve.

By shooting down an adversary, any fresh bullets fired by the enemy will dissolve and add multiplayer points to the player. However the fastest way is to stay really close to an enemy and shoot the finishing bullet. If you are successful you will hear a metal sound and multiplier points will be added. Watch out though, you don't wanna get too close when the enemy starts shooting and crashing into you.

When you are hit by an enemy or an enemy bullet you will lose all your multiplier points and your medal multiplier level will be reset to zero again. Extends are given at fifty thousand points and then at every seventy-five thousand points.

Name: Force Majeure
Developer: Monokey
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Flyout is a vertical shooter by Foppy, creator of the equally superb action game Gridfire. Guide your ship in a never-ending flight upwards, while collecting the occasional health packs hidden in precariously-placed boulders and blowing up tiny little sprites bent on halting your noble journey to space.

Maximum power-up level is five, as indicated by the lightning symbol on the top right. Increase this by collecting upgrades from a guy standing next to a Dutch flag. Touching the wall does not damage your ship, but watch out for other hazards.

Hold the Z key to shoot, or press the M key to toggle music.

Name: Flyout
Developer: Foppy
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB

A list of the best freeware platformers released last year, in (more or less) alphabetical order. Click on title for permalink. Instructions on how to unzip .RAR and .LZH files can be found in this FAQ.

- Cave Story was released in 2004, translated in 2005 (sorry, guys)

1. A Game with a Kitty 2: Darkside Adventures
2. Gambare Natsuki-San
3. Goonies 20th Anniversary, The
4. Lyle in Cube Sector
5. Knytt/Within a Deep Forest
6. Noitu Love and the Army of Grinning Darns
7. Painajainen
8. Poyo
9. Spud's Quest
10. Treasure Tower
11. La-Mulana (special mention)

For the sake of completeness: Satan Sam, Vivid Conceptions, ... (Suggest/comment)

Reviews



1. A Game with a Kitty 2: Darkside Adventures

A Game with a Kitty 2: Darkside Adventures is the latest platformer release by Bernie, featuring a much improved gameplay engine and plenty of secret locations to discover. You take on the role of an Arch-Chancellor on a quest to retrieve the lost crown, which equates to plenty of jumping and throwing stuff around.

The protagonist of the story can use the stars collected as weapons, but his inventory capacity will only allow up to thirty of them to be stuffed into his deep pockets. Special skills are awarded for surviving boss encounters, though certain jumps are pretty difficult to execute properly. Only four major locations in total, with an average of four to five short levels assigned to each.

There are several tough puzzles to figure out but nothing too perplexing with a bit of thought. Needless to say, a recommended download for fans of classic NES titles especially the Mario series.

Name: A Game with a Kitty 2: Darkside Adventures
Developer: Bernie
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC
Size: 14.7 MB
Difficulty: 4/5
Rating: 9
Direct download link: http://www.origamihero.com/agwak2da.exe
Other platformers by Bernie: Skyhammer, A Game with a Kitty

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2. Gambare Natsuki-San

Gambare Natsuki-San is an excellent puzzle platformer by Alpha Secret Base, borrowing a few elements from an obscure PSX game called Umihara Kawase Shun. The rope has been replaced with a metal gadget, able to extend and grab on to walls and ceilings.

Press the Z key to activate it, and use the directional keys to move around while holding down the same button. Jump using the X key, and tap the C key to bring up the pause window. Selecting the third option from the main menu will take you to the tutorial, complete with demonstration regarding controls and advanced techniques.

The objective of the game is to collect all food items, while avoiding water and contact with spikes. It's entirely possible to finish all fifty levels in one sitting. Very addictive and highly recommended.

Name: Gambare Natsuki-San
Developer: Alpha Secret Base
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC
Size: 9.41 MB
Difficulty: 3/5
Rating: 8
Direct download link: Click here

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3. Goonies 20th Anniversary, The

The Goonies 20th Anniversary is an excellent remake of the console classic by Retro Remakes competition veterans. Your quest involves saving a group of local kids trapped in an underground cave, and perhaps stealing a bit of loot while you're at it. You can punch at the enemies to protect yourself and collect vitality drinks to restore health.

Like most platformers, there are a number of keys to collect in each stage though your character can only carry one at any time. A save function can be accessed from the main menu by pressing the k and control key at the same time. OSX and Linux versions are available as well.

Name: Goonies 20th Anniversary, The
Developer: Brain Games
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC, Mac, Linux
Size: 11.6 MB
Difficulty: 2/5
Rating: 7
Direct download link: http://goonies.jorito.net/download/theGoonies.zip

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4. Lyle in Cube Sector

Lyle in Cube Sector is a platformer that is reminiscent of the classic Metroid series in more than a few ways. Exploration is a key element in this game, as you seek out the culprit responsible for the kidnapping of Lyle's lovable kitten.

The protagonist starts off with no possession or special skills, but will soon acquire the ability to pick up blocks and use it to eliminate enemies or jump twice as high. Things begin to unravel pretty quickly once you have learnt a trick or two, plus there are many rooms to explore and secrets to discover.

Don't be put off by the retro graphics, this is one quality effort that fans of classic platform games should not miss.

Name: Lyle in Cube Sector
Developer: Bogosoft
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC
Size: 1.14 MB
Difficulty: 4/5
Rating: 8
Download page: http://www.sitesled.com/members/bogo/lyle.html

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5. Knytt/Within a Deep Forest

The story of Knytt begins with an abduction and a crash landing on some unfamiliar planet, which means plenty of land to explore although there's hardly any interaction with other creatures. Save points are easily accessible, Knytt will glow red when in danger, and the shining beam of light will assist your search for the necessary repair items.

There's about sixty screens worth of adventure which equals to roughly an hour or two of play. Of course, this isn't a Nifflas production without several unlockables and secrets to reward the curious.

In Within a Deep Forest, you control a bouncing ball made out of different materials which is always in perpetual motion throughout the entire game. Starting off with the basic blue, your jump height will change depending on the type of ball in use. A comprehensive tutorial provides all the information you need, while solutions to most puzzles can be found in the forums. Press F1 to play in full screen mode.

Name: Knytt/Within a Deep Forest
Developer: Nifflas
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC
Size: 20 MB (each)
Difficulty: 3 and 5 respectively
Rating: 7
Direct download link: Knytt, Within a Deep Forest

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6. Noitu Love and the Army of Grinning Darns

Controls in Noitu Love and the Army of Grinning Darns are stripped down to basics, featuring the standard punch and jump plus two more attack variations assigned to both the left control and shift key. Much like Capcom's Mega Man series, you get to utilize certain devices to change form and access special powers. The first few levels may seem repetitive but the game does get better after the second stage.

Most of the highlights occur during boss battles, where each leader has to be defeated using different strategies. The final boss encounter is simply amazing, even when compared to other platformers freeware or otherwise. A word of advice, you'll miss out on quite a bit if the easy difficulty setting is chosen. Press alt-Enter to play in full screen mode.

Name: Noitu Love and the Army of Grinning Darns
Developer: Joakim Sandberg
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC
Size: 7.58 MB
Difficulty: 4/5
Rating: 8
Direct download link: http://www.konjak.org/noitulove.zip

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7. Painajainen

The developers of Painajainen had noted that this platformer was partly inspired by both of autofish's earlier efforts, namely seiklus and velella. Made in two weeks for a Finnish game competition, it chronicles the story of a boy trapped in his own dream.

Finding and getting butterflies to follow your character grants you special powers, with subtle hints on each ability provided on the same screen. Press enter to access the map and a progress chart. A few bugs exist but can easily be solved by pressing the E key for a quick return to the starting point. The save game area is located just next to it.

Name: Painajainen
Developer: Virtanen Games
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC
Size: 5.09 MB
Difficulty: 1/5
Rating: 7
Direct download link: http://koti.mbnet.fi/erkkavir/Painajainen.zip

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8. Poyo

From the wonderful world of Game Maker comes Poyo, a new platforming adventure which took Lazrael only one month to complete. You control the main character using the arrow keys, but most of the puzzles in the game can only be solved by figuring out the proper way to utilize your warp ability. Tap the X key to jump and use the Z key in conjunction with a directional arrow key to dash past traps or activate switches.

Press the down arrow key while standing in front of another creature to start a conversation. Instructions are printed on a text file which can be found in the zip package.

The F4 key can be used to switch between windowed and full screen mode. Features forty-five levels and six boss encounters.

Name: Poyo
Developer: Lazrael
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC
Size: 4.22 MB
Difficulty: 3/5
Rating: 8
Direct download link: http://lazrael.avalanchestudios.net/crap/Poyo_Official_1.zip
Other games by Lazrael: Super Haunted Insomnia Tower, Starlit Zone Fighter, Pozzo - Jello Crusade, Flapper

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9. Spud's Quest

Dizzy has had it's fair share of halfhearted remakes. With Spud's Quest, fans no longer need to endure such indignity though our lovable egg has now been replaced with a protagonist named Spud. You can only carry three items at any time, so expect a lot of backtracking in this game.

Name: Spud's Quest
Developer: Chris Davis
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC
Size: 4.04 MB
Difficulty: 4/5
Rating: 7
Direct download link: http://total-klik.net/file.asp?action=dload&file=16

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10. Treasure Tower

Treasure Tower is a game by David Newton that mixes a bit of WarioWare gameplay with platforming elements. Guide a noble knight through twenty rooms to reach the top of a tower and collect the treasure.

Most of the actions available to you can be carried out by using the arrow keys. Press up to enter doors or activate switches. Tap the left shift key to jump. Run over items to collect them.

You begin each game with 36 seconds on the clock, which can only be replenished by collecting food. Running into obstacles such as spikes or ghosts will cause you to lose valuable seconds.

Name: Treasure Tower
Developer: David Newton
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC
Size: 4.29 MB
Difficulty: 3/5
Rating: 7
Direct download link: http://wired.st-and.ac.uk/~wong/treasuretower/treasuretower.zip
Other platformers by David Newton: Special Agent

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11. La-Mulana (special mention)

La-Mulana is a freeware free-roaming platformer game designed to look, sound, and play like a classic MSX game. It's heavily influenced by the classic Konami MSX game 'The Maze of Galious' and anyone who has played that title will probably recognize the similarities very quickly. You play the whip-wielding Indiana Jones-esque archaeologist Lemeza Kosugi as he investigates the ancient ruins of La-Mulana in an attempt to find its treasure and one-up his father, who is trying to get the same treasure as well.

The game is huge, with many different areas to explore and dozens of items and weapons to find. Each area has a large variety of puzzles and traps and you need to solve the puzzles in each area to discover the Ankhs and Ankh Jewels, which allow you to fight the eight Guardians of the ruins. To solve the puzzles you'll need to be able to read the tablets scattered throughout the ruins, which will require a Hand Scanner and translation software for the portable MSX that Lemeza has brought along on the adventure. Your Hand Scanner will also allow you to find items and search the bones of less fortunate adventurers.

Name: La-Mulana
Developer: GR3 Project
Release: 2005 (translation - 2007)
Type: Freeware
Platform: PC
Size: 6.11 MB
Difficulty: 6/5
Rating: 9
Direct download link: http://agtp.romhack.net/extra/LA-MULANA.zip
Translation patch: http://agtp.romhack.net/download/la-mulana-patch.zip

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