<![CDATA[PwnEm.com - Gamer Forum for Gamers that PWN @ Gaming! - All Forums]]> http://www.pwnem.com/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:31:46 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[RUSE Public Beta - Now Available]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-ruse-public-beta-now-available Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:23:51 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-ruse-public-beta-now-available


Not exactly my cup of tea but someone may wish to play it.

By the way, as of now, the beta will last 27.8 more days.]]>


Not exactly my cup of tea but someone may wish to play it.

By the way, as of now, the beta will last 27.8 more days.]]> <![CDATA[Fret Nice Review]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-fret-nice-review Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:44:10 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-fret-nice-review Platform: Xbox Live Arcade (reviewed) / Playstation Network
Price: 1200 MSP / $15 USD
ESRB: Everyone
[Image: fretnice-review.jpg]
Your character isn't the only one with a guitar in this fun yet frustrating at times platformer.

Gameplay:
As you would expect from the game's title, it revolves around music with an emphasis on guitars but what makes this platforming game special is the fact that you can actually play it with such a peripheral which in my case was my Guitar Hero X-plorer. In theory, any guitar that worked with Rockband/Guitar Hero should be compatible as well. Before you jump up in excitement I'll be upfront and say that while the guitar controls certainly work, being cool doesn't necessarily mean effective. I managed to play the first half of Fret Nice (6 levels) using only the guitar control scheme but then gave up as it unfortunately became too frustrating due to the way level progression worked and ended up using my Xbox 360 controller instead which made it much more enjoyable and a lot less frustrating. The way the level progression works is that in order to unlock levels, you need to have a certain amount of medals accumulated, each level has a total of 8 medals (except for the bonus levels which only have 2) that can be earned but due to the nature of acquiring them, it's pretty much impossible to get all of them at once and at times, even getting 2 at once is quite the task. Also, getting the score and time limit medals require precision which is not easy to achieve using the guitar control scheme hence why I had to stop using it. In case you're wondering how the guitar controls actually work, the game has a pretty good diagram depicting this but I'll give you a quick overview if you don't feel like checking it out for yourself, the first fret all the way on top is used to move the character to the left and the third fret is used to move to the right if you're right handed. The guitar has to be tilted to make the character jump and in order to attack enemies, you need to be up in the air and strum while hitting the appropriate fret keys to "kill" them which brings me to discuss another unique aspect of the game, the combat system.

The combat system is rather hard to effectively describe with words as the best way to "get it" is to experience it for yourself which can be done free of charge if you get the demo but I'll give it a shot anyway, every enemy with the exception of a few select creatures, is basically a round faced monster that has weird facial features such as multiple eyes with no mouth or perhaps a single eye with a mouth with 3 "horns" amongst other strange combos and in order to defeat them you must mimic their appearance by hitting the appropriate frets. If the enemy has 4 eyes, you'd hit the same fret (which using the controller scheme could be several buttons, let's say RB) 4 times continuously and that would destroy it. If there are multiple enemies with different appearances you could try to conjure up a combo that would eliminate all of them so if there was a creature with 2 eyes and another with 1 eye and a mouth, you could press RB twice then LB once which would eliminate both of them assuming that they were within your attack radius that's depicted by a red line drawn from your character to them. Try to avoid getting to close to an enemy as well as coming in contact with one will drain your health bar and once it's completely drained, you'll have to use one of the remaining credits (3 for each level). This type of combat is definitely weird at first but after a while you'll get used to it and find it be a pretty cool way to take down enemies since it introduces something that's traditionally not found in platformers as you typically defeat enemies by jumping on them or using a weapon directly which isn't the case in Fret Nice.
[Image: fretnice-s1.jpg]
Moving on from the technical aspect of the gameplay, the game offers what you'd expect from a 2D platformer with the exception of the combat system and the extensive amount of hidden items found in each level. It's not mandatory to collect any of them but as mentioned earlier on in the review, you do need to rack up quite a bit of medals in order to unlock future levels (50 in total to unlock the 12th and final level) so it's a good idea to at least attempt grabbing certain items such as the newspapers hidden in each level that are often found by pulling a lever and rushing to the newly opened area before the gate is closed in order to grab it as that's a relatively easy way to earn a medal. As far as completing each level goes, the ones without a boss simply require you to make it to the very end alive by clinging onto a rescue rope from a green helicopter that's waiting for you which reminded me of the flag poles from the Mario Bros. series. After completing a level you'll earn a medal for doing so and some cash as well which you can use to purchase clothes/guitars for your character, unlock bonus levels, or upgrade your fret attack range (which I highly recommend) from an unlocked store. Some other cool things to expect from the game include being able to ride mining carts found in certain levels, trapeze ropes, utilizing power-ups such as the ability to fly, an attacking toy helicopter, flaming boots, and bubble gum.

[Image: fretnice-s2.jpg]
Speaking of boss fights, above you'll see one of the several bosses found in the game which for the most part were fairly enjoyable battles. The only problem I found was the lack of instruction in defeating each one which considering that this game could be aimed at a younger crowd, was disappointing as it took quite a bit of trial-and-error to figure some of them out. The only boss I was unable to defeat was the final one as I couldn't manage to get past the second-half of the battle since the first-half kept draining my credits. Due to this, I wasn't able to test out the hard difficulty since it required completing the game in order to unlock it.

Before proceeding to the next segment, I'd like to mention another worthy feature of the game, the offline drop-in cooperative play which does not support split-screen since both characters must be within a close range. When a player joins in, a credit will be used up so it's important to keep that in mind. This was only tested for functionality but it seemed fun.

Graphics & Audio:
Aside from the innovative control scheme, the impressive but strange artwork style of the game definitely stood out in a positive manner. Each level design was also distinct despite some of them sharing similarities which gave the game a fresh appearance each time a new level was played. As for the music, the soundtrack blended well with the game but it wasn't anything breathtaking, the same goes with the sound effects. The visuals were definitely one of the golden frets of the game.

Replay value:
Every level including the bonus levels (12 regular + 8 bonus) featured it's own leaderboard for both single player and cooperative play which will give score fanatics something to strive for. Completionists will also rejoice as the game has A LOT of hidden items and medals to unlock which should serve as a good reason to replay it. If you're not a score fanatic nor a completionist on the other hand, after the first playthrough you'll probably have enough of the game unless you decide to play it cooperatively as collecting those items or getting a high score is definitely tedious and not for everyone. In regards to the harder difficulty, those who do manage to defeat the final boss will get a chance to give this a go as well and could possibly end up warranting another playthrough if a player has the will to do so. Last but not least, achievement hunters will have to replay the game in order to fulfill their 200/200 due to one of the achievements requiring the completion of the game under the hard difficulty and another being clearing every level with the guitar.

Overall:
This game is without a doubt a good attempt to make use of the guitar peripheral outside of the music genre, however, in the end is just an attempt, rather than a successful execution of the concept. As stated earlier on in the review, the guitar controls indeed worked from a theoretical perspective but sadly failed in actual practice as they weren't very feasible in level progression once you've made it past the first half of the game. Once you've put the guitar controls aside though, Fret Nice is a solid 2D platformer that's quite fun despite it's frustrating moments and introduces not only an innovative combat system but a fantastic array of colorful environments as well. Those with a lot of time on their hands and the patience to collect everything will enjoy the completion aspect of the game and definitely get their money's worth. Daring players who are up to the challenge might also enjoy attempting to complete the game entirely with their guitar which might result in fractured bones or hardware damage as a result of frustration - so proceed with caution as in my opinion, Fret Nice + Guitar = Fret Frustration. To each his own though, as far as the trial goes, the first level is pretty much a tutorial and unfortunately doesn't show off the game's potential but it does give you a good feel of the controls so at least you'll know what to expect from that.

Pros:
+Fantastic artwork
+Varied level design
+Nice music
+Innovative controls & combat system
+Boss fights were enjoyable
+Customizable characters (purchase new clothes etc.)
+Cooperative play (offline only)
+Replay value for those who seek it

Cons:
-Guitar controls worked but weren't too smooth (quite sad as it was one of the game's main draws)
-Boss fights lacked instruction (some useful hints would have been appreciated especially for the last boss)
-The level progression system was both tedious and frustrating at times, 45 medals instead of 50 for the 12th level would have been more realistic for the average player's patience
-While a 1200 MSP price tag is reasonable, non-completionists and solo players will probably find it harder to justify that price, 800 MSP seems like a much more feasible price instead
-No online cooperative play, would of helped justify the price tag for sure

Fret Nice gets a 7/10 due to it being a good 2D platformer but it's flaws can't be ignored such as the "meh" guitar control scheme, frustrating at times level progression, and the not-so-appealing price point for the average player. If you don't have a guitar, you're not missing out on much as the regular controller plays a lot better but if you do have one, give it a shot despite it not being perfect just for the experience as like I've emphasized many times, it DOES work, just not as good as I would have hoped.

This game was obtained from the developer rather than purchased, for review purposes. ]]> Platform: Xbox Live Arcade (reviewed) / Playstation Network
Price: 1200 MSP / $15 USD
ESRB: Everyone
[Image: fretnice-review.jpg]
Your character isn't the only one with a guitar in this fun yet frustrating at times platformer.

Gameplay:
As you would expect from the game's title, it revolves around music with an emphasis on guitars but what makes this platforming game special is the fact that you can actually play it with such a peripheral which in my case was my Guitar Hero X-plorer. In theory, any guitar that worked with Rockband/Guitar Hero should be compatible as well. Before you jump up in excitement I'll be upfront and say that while the guitar controls certainly work, being cool doesn't necessarily mean effective. I managed to play the first half of Fret Nice (6 levels) using only the guitar control scheme but then gave up as it unfortunately became too frustrating due to the way level progression worked and ended up using my Xbox 360 controller instead which made it much more enjoyable and a lot less frustrating. The way the level progression works is that in order to unlock levels, you need to have a certain amount of medals accumulated, each level has a total of 8 medals (except for the bonus levels which only have 2) that can be earned but due to the nature of acquiring them, it's pretty much impossible to get all of them at once and at times, even getting 2 at once is quite the task. Also, getting the score and time limit medals require precision which is not easy to achieve using the guitar control scheme hence why I had to stop using it. In case you're wondering how the guitar controls actually work, the game has a pretty good diagram depicting this but I'll give you a quick overview if you don't feel like checking it out for yourself, the first fret all the way on top is used to move the character to the left and the third fret is used to move to the right if you're right handed. The guitar has to be tilted to make the character jump and in order to attack enemies, you need to be up in the air and strum while hitting the appropriate fret keys to "kill" them which brings me to discuss another unique aspect of the game, the combat system.

The combat system is rather hard to effectively describe with words as the best way to "get it" is to experience it for yourself which can be done free of charge if you get the demo but I'll give it a shot anyway, every enemy with the exception of a few select creatures, is basically a round faced monster that has weird facial features such as multiple eyes with no mouth or perhaps a single eye with a mouth with 3 "horns" amongst other strange combos and in order to defeat them you must mimic their appearance by hitting the appropriate frets. If the enemy has 4 eyes, you'd hit the same fret (which using the controller scheme could be several buttons, let's say RB) 4 times continuously and that would destroy it. If there are multiple enemies with different appearances you could try to conjure up a combo that would eliminate all of them so if there was a creature with 2 eyes and another with 1 eye and a mouth, you could press RB twice then LB once which would eliminate both of them assuming that they were within your attack radius that's depicted by a red line drawn from your character to them. Try to avoid getting to close to an enemy as well as coming in contact with one will drain your health bar and once it's completely drained, you'll have to use one of the remaining credits (3 for each level). This type of combat is definitely weird at first but after a while you'll get used to it and find it be a pretty cool way to take down enemies since it introduces something that's traditionally not found in platformers as you typically defeat enemies by jumping on them or using a weapon directly which isn't the case in Fret Nice.
[Image: fretnice-s1.jpg]
Moving on from the technical aspect of the gameplay, the game offers what you'd expect from a 2D platformer with the exception of the combat system and the extensive amount of hidden items found in each level. It's not mandatory to collect any of them but as mentioned earlier on in the review, you do need to rack up quite a bit of medals in order to unlock future levels (50 in total to unlock the 12th and final level) so it's a good idea to at least attempt grabbing certain items such as the newspapers hidden in each level that are often found by pulling a lever and rushing to the newly opened area before the gate is closed in order to grab it as that's a relatively easy way to earn a medal. As far as completing each level goes, the ones without a boss simply require you to make it to the very end alive by clinging onto a rescue rope from a green helicopter that's waiting for you which reminded me of the flag poles from the Mario Bros. series. After completing a level you'll earn a medal for doing so and some cash as well which you can use to purchase clothes/guitars for your character, unlock bonus levels, or upgrade your fret attack range (which I highly recommend) from an unlocked store. Some other cool things to expect from the game include being able to ride mining carts found in certain levels, trapeze ropes, utilizing power-ups such as the ability to fly, an attacking toy helicopter, flaming boots, and bubble gum.

[Image: fretnice-s2.jpg]
Speaking of boss fights, above you'll see one of the several bosses found in the game which for the most part were fairly enjoyable battles. The only problem I found was the lack of instruction in defeating each one which considering that this game could be aimed at a younger crowd, was disappointing as it took quite a bit of trial-and-error to figure some of them out. The only boss I was unable to defeat was the final one as I couldn't manage to get past the second-half of the battle since the first-half kept draining my credits. Due to this, I wasn't able to test out the hard difficulty since it required completing the game in order to unlock it.

Before proceeding to the next segment, I'd like to mention another worthy feature of the game, the offline drop-in cooperative play which does not support split-screen since both characters must be within a close range. When a player joins in, a credit will be used up so it's important to keep that in mind. This was only tested for functionality but it seemed fun.

Graphics & Audio:
Aside from the innovative control scheme, the impressive but strange artwork style of the game definitely stood out in a positive manner. Each level design was also distinct despite some of them sharing similarities which gave the game a fresh appearance each time a new level was played. As for the music, the soundtrack blended well with the game but it wasn't anything breathtaking, the same goes with the sound effects. The visuals were definitely one of the golden frets of the game.

Replay value:
Every level including the bonus levels (12 regular + 8 bonus) featured it's own leaderboard for both single player and cooperative play which will give score fanatics something to strive for. Completionists will also rejoice as the game has A LOT of hidden items and medals to unlock which should serve as a good reason to replay it. If you're not a score fanatic nor a completionist on the other hand, after the first playthrough you'll probably have enough of the game unless you decide to play it cooperatively as collecting those items or getting a high score is definitely tedious and not for everyone. In regards to the harder difficulty, those who do manage to defeat the final boss will get a chance to give this a go as well and could possibly end up warranting another playthrough if a player has the will to do so. Last but not least, achievement hunters will have to replay the game in order to fulfill their 200/200 due to one of the achievements requiring the completion of the game under the hard difficulty and another being clearing every level with the guitar.

Overall:
This game is without a doubt a good attempt to make use of the guitar peripheral outside of the music genre, however, in the end is just an attempt, rather than a successful execution of the concept. As stated earlier on in the review, the guitar controls indeed worked from a theoretical perspective but sadly failed in actual practice as they weren't very feasible in level progression once you've made it past the first half of the game. Once you've put the guitar controls aside though, Fret Nice is a solid 2D platformer that's quite fun despite it's frustrating moments and introduces not only an innovative combat system but a fantastic array of colorful environments as well. Those with a lot of time on their hands and the patience to collect everything will enjoy the completion aspect of the game and definitely get their money's worth. Daring players who are up to the challenge might also enjoy attempting to complete the game entirely with their guitar which might result in fractured bones or hardware damage as a result of frustration - so proceed with caution as in my opinion, Fret Nice + Guitar = Fret Frustration. To each his own though, as far as the trial goes, the first level is pretty much a tutorial and unfortunately doesn't show off the game's potential but it does give you a good feel of the controls so at least you'll know what to expect from that.

Pros:
+Fantastic artwork
+Varied level design
+Nice music
+Innovative controls & combat system
+Boss fights were enjoyable
+Customizable characters (purchase new clothes etc.)
+Cooperative play (offline only)
+Replay value for those who seek it

Cons:
-Guitar controls worked but weren't too smooth (quite sad as it was one of the game's main draws)
-Boss fights lacked instruction (some useful hints would have been appreciated especially for the last boss)
-The level progression system was both tedious and frustrating at times, 45 medals instead of 50 for the 12th level would have been more realistic for the average player's patience
-While a 1200 MSP price tag is reasonable, non-completionists and solo players will probably find it harder to justify that price, 800 MSP seems like a much more feasible price instead
-No online cooperative play, would of helped justify the price tag for sure

Fret Nice gets a 7/10 due to it being a good 2D platformer but it's flaws can't be ignored such as the "meh" guitar control scheme, frustrating at times level progression, and the not-so-appealing price point for the average player. If you don't have a guitar, you're not missing out on much as the regular controller plays a lot better but if you do have one, give it a shot despite it not being perfect just for the experience as like I've emphasized many times, it DOES work, just not as good as I would have hoped.

This game was obtained from the developer rather than purchased, for review purposes. ]]> <![CDATA[Portal 2 confirmed!]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-portal-2-confirmed Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:52:02 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-portal-2-confirmed <![CDATA[Red Faction Guerrilla speed bug.]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-red-faction-guerrilla-speed-bug Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:42:40 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-red-faction-guerrilla-speed-bug <![CDATA[Killing Floor Server]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-killing-floor-server Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:13:44 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-killing-floor-server 205.234.153.2:7707

Alternatively, you can also access the server by using the much easier to remember IP format by typing the following instead:
kf.pwnt.tv

Server status: ONLINE
Game mode: Specimen Versus
Difficulty: Hard

*NOTE* This server supports perks but doesn't level them. Every human player will have the same perk level which is determined by the difficulty and at the moment is level 5.

Please use this thread only for issues related to the server status as well as general questions related to how to play the versus mode. Bugs and other issues related to the versus mutator should be addressed in the official support thread found HERE instead as we simply utilize the mutator rather than develop it.

To report abusive players or maps incompatible with versus mode please make a new thread in this section.]]> 205.234.153.2:7707

Alternatively, you can also access the server by using the much easier to remember IP format by typing the following instead:
kf.pwnt.tv

Server status: ONLINE
Game mode: Specimen Versus
Difficulty: Hard

*NOTE* This server supports perks but doesn't level them. Every human player will have the same perk level which is determined by the difficulty and at the moment is level 5.

Please use this thread only for issues related to the server status as well as general questions related to how to play the versus mode. Bugs and other issues related to the versus mutator should be addressed in the official support thread found HERE instead as we simply utilize the mutator rather than develop it.

To report abusive players or maps incompatible with versus mode please make a new thread in this section.]]> <![CDATA[Spy Fox in Dry Cereal Review]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-spy-fox-in-dry-cereal-review Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:04:06 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-spy-fox-in-dry-cereal-review [Image: 184630-spyfox_large.png][Image: SpyFoxinDryCereal.jpg]
Quote:William The Kid has stolen all the dairy cows in an effort to take over the dairy industry. SPY Corp has sent their top agent, Spy Fox to stop William's plan of dairy destruction. Monkey Penny (who gives Spy Fox important clues), Professor Quack (gives Spy Fox his inventions) Walter Wireless (who helps Spy Fox track down William The Kid's hidden fortress) and Mata Hairy (who gives Spy Fox the passwords) help out Spy Fox on his mission. Along the way he meets villians Artemis J. Bigpig (villainous "go fish" player), Russian Blue (seductive owner of the SS Deadweight), and Hong Kong Doodle (NOG's top martial arts master) and of course, William The Kid himself. Set in the Greek island of Asodopolos, Spy Fox gets clues from the inhabitants of the island, and aboard the suspicious SS Deadweight. It's up to Spy Fox to stop William's plans to make dairy milk go bad.

So I post this because this was the number one computer game that I grew up with and I consider it important enough to share with the world. ;D I must have played this game hundreds of times every time I visited my Grandma's house. It's always had a special place in my heart, and I hadn't played it in years (The game was lost a while ago) so when I saw that it was coming out for the Wii I knew I had to have it! I got it as a Christmas present from my awesome brother and I started playing it the same day. It's exactly as awesome and entertaining as I remember it. I'm even stuck at one part! This game is made for six year olds!! [Image: lol.gif]

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you guys have played this game or had a little sibling that played it. I definately recommend it to anyone though if you're looking for some family Wii fun. Its got enough jokes to keep even the adults entertained! It also has like, six alternate missions that it rotates through so you can play it over and over again!

When I bought the game, I literally played it for about 8 hours straight, just trying to get through all the alternate missions. I even bought the sequel games to Spy Fox (which pale in comparison to the original version).]]> [Image: 184630-spyfox_large.png][Image: SpyFoxinDryCereal.jpg]
Quote:William The Kid has stolen all the dairy cows in an effort to take over the dairy industry. SPY Corp has sent their top agent, Spy Fox to stop William's plan of dairy destruction. Monkey Penny (who gives Spy Fox important clues), Professor Quack (gives Spy Fox his inventions) Walter Wireless (who helps Spy Fox track down William The Kid's hidden fortress) and Mata Hairy (who gives Spy Fox the passwords) help out Spy Fox on his mission. Along the way he meets villians Artemis J. Bigpig (villainous "go fish" player), Russian Blue (seductive owner of the SS Deadweight), and Hong Kong Doodle (NOG's top martial arts master) and of course, William The Kid himself. Set in the Greek island of Asodopolos, Spy Fox gets clues from the inhabitants of the island, and aboard the suspicious SS Deadweight. It's up to Spy Fox to stop William's plans to make dairy milk go bad.

So I post this because this was the number one computer game that I grew up with and I consider it important enough to share with the world. ;D I must have played this game hundreds of times every time I visited my Grandma's house. It's always had a special place in my heart, and I hadn't played it in years (The game was lost a while ago) so when I saw that it was coming out for the Wii I knew I had to have it! I got it as a Christmas present from my awesome brother and I started playing it the same day. It's exactly as awesome and entertaining as I remember it. I'm even stuck at one part! This game is made for six year olds!! [Image: lol.gif]

Anyway, I was wondering if any of you guys have played this game or had a little sibling that played it. I definately recommend it to anyone though if you're looking for some family Wii fun. Its got enough jokes to keep even the adults entertained! It also has like, six alternate missions that it rotates through so you can play it over and over again!

When I bought the game, I literally played it for about 8 hours straight, just trying to get through all the alternate missions. I even bought the sequel games to Spy Fox (which pale in comparison to the original version).]]> <![CDATA[The GFX Group]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-the-gfx-group Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:53:31 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-the-gfx-group Here is my contribution for now:
[Image: difxxbzlmxfgahco.png]
Desktop Pic: 1024x768
[Image: difxafzjrtxgdjqb.png]]]> Here is my contribution for now:
[Image: difxxbzlmxfgahco.png]
Desktop Pic: 1024x768
[Image: difxafzjrtxgdjqb.png]]]> <![CDATA[World of Tanks]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-world-of-tanks Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:09:33 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-world-of-tanks
It's currently in region-based closed beta apparently but you can get an idea of what to expect from some of the screenshots on their website: http://www.worldoftanks.com/gallery/screenshots/1

Check out the awesome teaser trailer as well:


From the looks of it, seems to require a decent rig but it is an interesting concept as I don't recall a similar MMORPG existing. The closest thing I've seen are air combat games like WarHawk and games where tanks are supported but not the main aspect of the game (Battlefield and so on).

I'll see if I can get us some beta keys for those who are interested.]]>
It's currently in region-based closed beta apparently but you can get an idea of what to expect from some of the screenshots on their website: http://www.worldoftanks.com/gallery/screenshots/1

Check out the awesome teaser trailer as well:


From the looks of it, seems to require a decent rig but it is an interesting concept as I don't recall a similar MMORPG existing. The closest thing I've seen are air combat games like WarHawk and games where tanks are supported but not the main aspect of the game (Battlefield and so on).

I'll see if I can get us some beta keys for those who are interested.]]> <![CDATA[Avatar Showdown Mini Review]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-avatar-showdown-mini-review Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:49:19 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-avatar-showdown-mini-review Platform: Xbox Indie Games (Xbox 360)
Price: 80 MSP / $1
[Image: avatarshowdown-review.jpg]
Finally, a game that allows you to fight with avatars, well sort of...

Overview:
Unfortunately, a Mortal Kombat style game with avatars will probably never be possible unless Microsoft changes their policies therefore developers are rather restricted with what they can do when it comes to avatars brawling but that didn't stop the team at JForce Games from giving it a shot while still playing by the rules. In Avatar Showdown you play as your Xbox 360 avatar and take on AI controlled avatars parodying several celebrity figures in single player in a showdown to see who has the quickest reflexes. When the target appears on the screen you have to press any button as fast as possible in order to do it within the specified time limit shown on the right via a small indicator, if you happen to do it at the same exact time as your opponent, it will be a tie and you'll have to do it again. As for when the target appears, the game randomizes this in order to prevent you from "cheating" but you can try to speculate it by hitting the button right when you think it will show up. If you successfully hit the target within the grace period your avatar will deliver a free face punch to the opponent and if you happen to hit it exactly when it appears you'll knock them out Chuck Norris style instead. The AI reflex times are fixed and gradually get harder as you get closer and closer to the final boss which will guarantee you several laughs along the way due to the rather humorous pop culture references found in the game.

The game also supports both online and offline 2 player multiplayer. It works exactly like single player except that the AI avatars are replaced with real human players portrayed by their avatars and instead of having a fixed time to strive for, the winner will be determined by which player has the quickest reflexes when the target appears. I found the online play to be fairly entertaining, knocking out some rich punk with avatar DLC that I could only dream of buying was definitely satisfying. As expected though, after a few rounds you'll probably get bored unless you find someone who's really competitive to play with and as far as single player goes, it was a relatively short experience but the unlocked hard mode is kind of challenging so it should extend the game's single player experience a bit although sadly won't be as amusing the second time since you'll already know all the jokes. With that said, for only a $1 you won't feel cheated assuming you enjoyed the trial and want a few more laughs plus something to kill time with either solo or with a friend.

Pros:
+Great use of avatars
+Easy to learn and great for fighting boredom
+Online/offline multiplayer
+Humorous most of the time (a few lulz guaranteed)
+Good price

Cons:
-Apparently only one of the celebrity figures in the game had multiple phrases, others should have had a few as well to keep it more interesting
-After completing single player it pretty much becomes a multiplayer only game that's only amusing for a couple of rounds
-Not much innovation aside from the avatar implementation (which was done quite well) as reflex games are nothing new
-Same bland background throughout the whole game
-If you're not familiar with American pop culture most of the jokes probably won't make sense although several of them are Internet memes so you might have seen them online before [not an issue for me but I thought I'd point it out for the non-Americans reading this]

At the end of the day, Avatar Showdown is still far from perfect but is certainly a nice addition to the Xbox 360 avatar game library and can be considered a good game for the value it provides at only 80 MSP.

If you're still not convinced of at least giving the trial a shot, maybe the screenshot below will change your mind:
[Image: avatarshowdown-s1.jpg]

Some players have reported their game crashing after a few rounds while playing the online multiplayer, I personally did not encounter this so I can't comment much on the issue except that JForce Games has acknowledged the issue and is working on a fix. Apparently only certain individuals are affected so hopefully if you do get the game right now before it's patched, it won't affect you either. To the best of my knowledge, single player and offline multiplayer don't have any problems.

This game was obtained from the developer rather than purchased, for review purposes.]]> Platform: Xbox Indie Games (Xbox 360)
Price: 80 MSP / $1
[Image: avatarshowdown-review.jpg]
Finally, a game that allows you to fight with avatars, well sort of...

Overview:
Unfortunately, a Mortal Kombat style game with avatars will probably never be possible unless Microsoft changes their policies therefore developers are rather restricted with what they can do when it comes to avatars brawling but that didn't stop the team at JForce Games from giving it a shot while still playing by the rules. In Avatar Showdown you play as your Xbox 360 avatar and take on AI controlled avatars parodying several celebrity figures in single player in a showdown to see who has the quickest reflexes. When the target appears on the screen you have to press any button as fast as possible in order to do it within the specified time limit shown on the right via a small indicator, if you happen to do it at the same exact time as your opponent, it will be a tie and you'll have to do it again. As for when the target appears, the game randomizes this in order to prevent you from "cheating" but you can try to speculate it by hitting the button right when you think it will show up. If you successfully hit the target within the grace period your avatar will deliver a free face punch to the opponent and if you happen to hit it exactly when it appears you'll knock them out Chuck Norris style instead. The AI reflex times are fixed and gradually get harder as you get closer and closer to the final boss which will guarantee you several laughs along the way due to the rather humorous pop culture references found in the game.

The game also supports both online and offline 2 player multiplayer. It works exactly like single player except that the AI avatars are replaced with real human players portrayed by their avatars and instead of having a fixed time to strive for, the winner will be determined by which player has the quickest reflexes when the target appears. I found the online play to be fairly entertaining, knocking out some rich punk with avatar DLC that I could only dream of buying was definitely satisfying. As expected though, after a few rounds you'll probably get bored unless you find someone who's really competitive to play with and as far as single player goes, it was a relatively short experience but the unlocked hard mode is kind of challenging so it should extend the game's single player experience a bit although sadly won't be as amusing the second time since you'll already know all the jokes. With that said, for only a $1 you won't feel cheated assuming you enjoyed the trial and want a few more laughs plus something to kill time with either solo or with a friend.

Pros:
+Great use of avatars
+Easy to learn and great for fighting boredom
+Online/offline multiplayer
+Humorous most of the time (a few lulz guaranteed)
+Good price

Cons:
-Apparently only one of the celebrity figures in the game had multiple phrases, others should have had a few as well to keep it more interesting
-After completing single player it pretty much becomes a multiplayer only game that's only amusing for a couple of rounds
-Not much innovation aside from the avatar implementation (which was done quite well) as reflex games are nothing new
-Same bland background throughout the whole game
-If you're not familiar with American pop culture most of the jokes probably won't make sense although several of them are Internet memes so you might have seen them online before [not an issue for me but I thought I'd point it out for the non-Americans reading this]

At the end of the day, Avatar Showdown is still far from perfect but is certainly a nice addition to the Xbox 360 avatar game library and can be considered a good game for the value it provides at only 80 MSP.

If you're still not convinced of at least giving the trial a shot, maybe the screenshot below will change your mind:
[Image: avatarshowdown-s1.jpg]

Some players have reported their game crashing after a few rounds while playing the online multiplayer, I personally did not encounter this so I can't comment much on the issue except that JForce Games has acknowledged the issue and is working on a fix. Apparently only certain individuals are affected so hopefully if you do get the game right now before it's patched, it won't affect you either. To the best of my knowledge, single player and offline multiplayer don't have any problems.

This game was obtained from the developer rather than purchased, for review purposes.]]> <![CDATA[Pwnem World (MMO)]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-pwnem-world-mmo Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:26:31 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-pwnem-world-mmo Offline - Development Stage
A free MMO made for Pwnem! The games name is Pwnem world and it is currently in beta stages. I will give more information on release when it is ready.
Staff set up will be up to Gamer if he wants it. I am just choosing the Mappers and Testers while it is being made.
We still need a few more mappers, must be a veteran or staff member.
All veterans and staff members will get to be the first beta testers if they so choose.

Also... can someone please sticky this.
Thanks,
HornyPixels
Map List:
•Starting Field
•Frio Town South
•Frio Docks
•Frio Town Main
•Frio Town Gate (Coming Soon)
•Jail
Updates:
(March 2nd, 2010)
•New Maps
•Jail added
Quest List
None at the moment sorry! We are still working on mapping!
Mappers and Testers:
•SatansPriest
What is Jail?
Jail is for those that break the rules, instead of banning for the first or second offenses, their character will just be jailed for a period of time. If you are jailed, and you log out, and back in, you will re log into jail. The ONLY way to leave jail is to complete your sentence.]]> Offline - Development Stage
A free MMO made for Pwnem! The games name is Pwnem world and it is currently in beta stages. I will give more information on release when it is ready.
Staff set up will be up to Gamer if he wants it. I am just choosing the Mappers and Testers while it is being made.
We still need a few more mappers, must be a veteran or staff member.
All veterans and staff members will get to be the first beta testers if they so choose.

Also... can someone please sticky this.
Thanks,
HornyPixels
Map List:
•Starting Field
•Frio Town South
•Frio Docks
•Frio Town Main
•Frio Town Gate (Coming Soon)
•Jail
Updates:
(March 2nd, 2010)
•New Maps
•Jail added
Quest List
None at the moment sorry! We are still working on mapping!
Mappers and Testers:
•SatansPriest
What is Jail?
Jail is for those that break the rules, instead of banning for the first or second offenses, their character will just be jailed for a period of time. If you are jailed, and you log out, and back in, you will re log into jail. The ONLY way to leave jail is to complete your sentence.]]> <![CDATA[Favorite avatar game?]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-favorite-avatar-game Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:47:55 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-favorite-avatar-game
Also, the free racing game that Microsoft is supposedly going to release looks like it could put the avatars to good use as well so I'll be looking forward to it especially because of the price tag or the lack of it to be more precise.]]>
Also, the free racing game that Microsoft is supposedly going to release looks like it could put the avatars to good use as well so I'll be looking forward to it especially because of the price tag or the lack of it to be more precise.]]> <![CDATA[Yakuza 3]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-yakuza-3 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:29:43 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-yakuza-3
Here's a gameplay video of the Japanese PSN demo:


While it's been out in Japan for a while, it's going to be finally released soon in the US/EU region. Anyone played the import version or looking forward to it?

I'll be keeping it in mind for when I get my hands on a PS3...]]>
Here's a gameplay video of the Japanese PSN demo:


While it's been out in Japan for a while, it's going to be finally released soon in the US/EU region. Anyone played the import version or looking forward to it?

I'll be keeping it in mind for when I get my hands on a PS3...]]> <![CDATA[New Game]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-new-game Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:14:49 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-new-game I am asking permission to do this... also i would like some help!]]> I am asking permission to do this... also i would like some help!]]> <![CDATA[Fill In The Blanks 28]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-fill-in-the-blanks-28 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:33:04 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-fill-in-the-blanks-28
_ _ _ _ _ _]]>
_ _ _ _ _ _]]> <![CDATA[Signature and Avatar Shop]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-signature-and-avatar-shop Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:43:23 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-signature-and-avatar-shop [Image: flyingacewrk.png]

Welcome to my Signature and Avatar shop where I will happily take requests and complete them to the best of my ability.

My main specialty is is quoted banners with pictures from almost anywhere but I can do blended art banners as well but no animatons.

Sigs: 120 Pwn$
Avvies: 30 Pwn$
Signature Examples
Spoiler (Click to View)
Avatar Examples
Spoiler (Click to View)

Please:
- Give credit to the author of the image and maybe a link back to here.
- Be specific as to what you would like to be done Including posting any art that you would like included.
- Save completed images to your computers or you own ImageShack or PhotoBucket as mine is becoming full and may require some images to be deleted.
- Note: that I will try my best to complete requests in a timely manner but with study and work time may be at a premium.
- Also Note: that images produced may be added to this post for more examples

*Thread pretty much coppied form MTGDarkness in a fit of boredom]]> [Image: flyingacewrk.png]

Welcome to my Signature and Avatar shop where I will happily take requests and complete them to the best of my ability.

My main specialty is is quoted banners with pictures from almost anywhere but I can do blended art banners as well but no animatons.

Sigs: 120 Pwn$
Avvies: 30 Pwn$
Signature Examples
Spoiler (Click to View)
Avatar Examples
Spoiler (Click to View)

Please:
- Give credit to the author of the image and maybe a link back to here.
- Be specific as to what you would like to be done Including posting any art that you would like included.
- Save completed images to your computers or you own ImageShack or PhotoBucket as mine is becoming full and may require some images to be deleted.
- Note: that I will try my best to complete requests in a timely manner but with study and work time may be at a premium.
- Also Note: that images produced may be added to this post for more examples

*Thread pretty much coppied form MTGDarkness in a fit of boredom]]> <![CDATA[Guess That Game PS1 Edition 2]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-guess-that-game-ps1-edition-2 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:51:39 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-guess-that-game-ps1-edition-2
[Image: ps1g_2.jpg]

No hints until the 3rd guess.

Answer: Yu-Gi-Oh Forbidden Memories]]>
[Image: ps1g_2.jpg]

No hints until the 3rd guess.

Answer: Yu-Gi-Oh Forbidden Memories]]> <![CDATA[Kaleidoscope Review]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-kaleidoscope-review Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:23:52 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-kaleidoscope-review Platform: Xbox Indie Games (Xbox 360)
Price: 240 MSP / $3
[Image: kaleidoscope-review.jpg]
Do you love platformers or perhaps even hate them because they're often too hard? If so then keep reading as this game could end up being your next purchase.

Gameplay:
In this game you take on the role of Tint, a peaceful dark colored creature, who must restore color to his planet by collecting all the gems scattered throughout each level. Every level excluding the last 3, has a total of 3 differently colored gems that need to be retrieved. There are multiple paths located in every level that each lead you to one of the particular gems, in the early levels these paths are rather obvious but as expected, they are a bit harder to locate in the later levels. After a gem has been located, the game will take you back to the level selection map where you'll see all the currently unlocked levels and have the option of replaying that level again to get the remaining gems or go to another one instead. The game technically forces you to collect all 3 gems in each level as it's impossible to unlock all of the remaining levels without having enough gems to do so but it does let you proceed to some new levels without fully completing a couple of the previous ones. I imagine this was done to help with the repetitiveness as in order to collect all 3 gems, you have to successfully replay the same level 3 times by getting a different gem each time.
[Image: kaleidoscope-s1.jpg]
Now that you've gotten a general idea of the object behind the game it's time to talk about the gameplay mechanics which are what truly make Kaleidoscope stand out from the crowd. As expected from a platformer, Tint has the ability to jump and instead of using weapons or power-ups, he/she (game doesn't specify which gender) also has 3 distinct abilities to assist in obtaining the gems found in each level. These 3 abilities are denoted by a different colored circular meter which displays how much of each is left. Upon using one of the abilities (which are triggered by pressing the button on your controller with the same color as it) the meter will go down but will regenerate itself by either collecting an appropriate color orb or by not using that ability. The blue ability gives Tint a speed boost which comes in handy when having to make long jumps across certain platforms while the red ability triggers a red shield around Tint protecting him/her from enemy damage (doesn't help against environmental dangers though) and the yellow ability allows Tint to sort of glide while already in the air which comes in handy with certain platform jumps as well. As for health, Tint has no health or set amount of lives. When Tint dies (one hit KO) he/she will respawn in one of the automatically created checkpoints and will not have any lives deducted which means that there's no game over screen nor frustrating level restarts making this game a rather relaxing experience to a certain extent. The game also saves your progress (as in levels and gems unlocked so far) so you don't need to worry about having to complete it all at once.
[Image: kaleidoscope-s2.jpg]
The environment interaction in particular is definitely the shining point of the game as every level has a dark feel to it at the very beginning since it lacks color but after Tint has collected the colored orbs scattered throughout it, the environment will gradually breathe with colorful life once again, the same holds true for certain enemies. There are these creatures that reminded me of the much hairier version of goombas from the Super Mario Bros. series that are initially black and white until you stomp on them and give them color once again which at that point, will no longer be enemies as being touched by them will not harm you at all anymore. There are also plant-like enemies that will shoot what appear to be seeds towards Tint that can be guarded against using the red shield ability or simply dodged. Both enemies are relatively easy to deal with, what's hard is overcoming certain obstacles present in some of the levels. Despite the game being a relaxing experience most of the time, in the later levels there are segments where you must "fall down" from a cliff while avoiding spiked platforms below and navigating carefully as you keep descending in order to reach one of the gems. That's where I actually became somewhat frustrated as it was rather hard to avoid colliding with the spiked platforms and it kept setting me back to the very top again. Aside from that, most of the other obstacles were relatively easy to overcome although a few were tricky the first time so there was still somewhat of a challenge involved. In terms of level variation, each level is relatively distinct and as you progress through the game, so do the environments found in each level. The later ones are much darker at first and even the form of the gems change, in some of them the gems are replaced by lanterns that you must set off by bumping into them while in the final levels you must close some black holes which I won't get into to not spoil the game. That variation definitely helped keep the game's charming presentation alive although it's important to note that I completed the game through the course of about a week or so by only playing about less than a half-hour each day on average rather than all at once due to time constraints. In my opinion, that's the best way to approach Kaleidoscope due to it's relaxing atmosphere unless you have the time to tackle it all at once to get it finish the experience.

Graphics & Audio:
This game features stunning 2D artwork and impressive non-morbid dark/colorful environments. As for the audio, the soundtrack does an excellent job at blending in with the game's atmosphere and is actually available as a free download HERE while the game's sound effects get the job done.

Replay value:
While there are no additional difficulties nor unlockables after you've completed the game aside from some awards AKA "unofficial achievements" that might inspire a completionist to give the game another go assuming they didn't get them all during their first run, there is an option to reset your saved progress and start a new game. This raises the question, is it worth doing so? I generally replay a lot of platformers for the sake of enjoyment rather than any extra unlockables received after the first completion but with this game in particular, I felt that the first playthrough was enough. The fact that you need to replay each level at least 3 times to fully complete it does seem to drag on the second time so I can only see myself giving it another go to perhaps get some of the remaining awards when I'm feeling up to it. It's not necessary to start a new game to get all the awards though as after completing it, you can still go back to any level and replay it again.

Overall:
At only 240 MSP, you can't go wrong if you like platformers and want to try something unique. The game definitely does seem to be targeted at the casual gamer crowd/kids but can certainly be enjoyed by others as well. Don't let the "cute" appearance trick you into thinking it's some crappy kiddy game nor that it's ridiculously easy either as there is some challenge to it as mentioned before. In the end Kaleidoscope successfully delivers a both relaxing and charming platformer with memorable environments but does suffers a bit from repetitiveness as a result of its level completion mechanics which can be overlooked by its more positive elements. As long as you're not expecting a difficult platformer or one filled with gore/violence, it's safe to say that Kaleidoscope will not disappoint despite its minor flaws.

Pros:
+Excellent 2D artwork
+Great soundtrack
+Fantastic environment (12 levels in total)
+Level variation
+Great price
+Generous checkpoint system
+Awards

Cons:
-Even though each level is distinct, the fact that you need to replay each of them at least 3 times to collect all the gems does create a bit of repetitiveness although to be fair, there are also 3 distinct paths for each gem so technically it's not the same exact procedure for every gem
-While the game featured level variation and introduced some new obstacles along the way, it would have been nice to have encountered at least a significantly memorable puzzle or two along the way especially in the last level
-Low replay value unless you're a true completionist

In closing, Kaleidoscope gets a well deserved 8.75/10 and should be taken into consideration by any platformer fan at the very least. The trial was a very accurate preview of the game in terms of what to expect but does lacks a lot of the charming aspects found later on in the game so it's possible that you might still be impressed even if you didn't like the trial as much. Much kudos to the developer for creating this.

This game was obtained from the developer rather than purchased, for review purposes. ]]> Platform: Xbox Indie Games (Xbox 360)
Price: 240 MSP / $3
[Image: kaleidoscope-review.jpg]
Do you love platformers or perhaps even hate them because they're often too hard? If so then keep reading as this game could end up being your next purchase.

Gameplay:
In this game you take on the role of Tint, a peaceful dark colored creature, who must restore color to his planet by collecting all the gems scattered throughout each level. Every level excluding the last 3, has a total of 3 differently colored gems that need to be retrieved. There are multiple paths located in every level that each lead you to one of the particular gems, in the early levels these paths are rather obvious but as expected, they are a bit harder to locate in the later levels. After a gem has been located, the game will take you back to the level selection map where you'll see all the currently unlocked levels and have the option of replaying that level again to get the remaining gems or go to another one instead. The game technically forces you to collect all 3 gems in each level as it's impossible to unlock all of the remaining levels without having enough gems to do so but it does let you proceed to some new levels without fully completing a couple of the previous ones. I imagine this was done to help with the repetitiveness as in order to collect all 3 gems, you have to successfully replay the same level 3 times by getting a different gem each time.
[Image: kaleidoscope-s1.jpg]
Now that you've gotten a general idea of the object behind the game it's time to talk about the gameplay mechanics which are what truly make Kaleidoscope stand out from the crowd. As expected from a platformer, Tint has the ability to jump and instead of using weapons or power-ups, he/she (game doesn't specify which gender) also has 3 distinct abilities to assist in obtaining the gems found in each level. These 3 abilities are denoted by a different colored circular meter which displays how much of each is left. Upon using one of the abilities (which are triggered by pressing the button on your controller with the same color as it) the meter will go down but will regenerate itself by either collecting an appropriate color orb or by not using that ability. The blue ability gives Tint a speed boost which comes in handy when having to make long jumps across certain platforms while the red ability triggers a red shield around Tint protecting him/her from enemy damage (doesn't help against environmental dangers though) and the yellow ability allows Tint to sort of glide while already in the air which comes in handy with certain platform jumps as well. As for health, Tint has no health or set amount of lives. When Tint dies (one hit KO) he/she will respawn in one of the automatically created checkpoints and will not have any lives deducted which means that there's no game over screen nor frustrating level restarts making this game a rather relaxing experience to a certain extent. The game also saves your progress (as in levels and gems unlocked so far) so you don't need to worry about having to complete it all at once.
[Image: kaleidoscope-s2.jpg]
The environment interaction in particular is definitely the shining point of the game as every level has a dark feel to it at the very beginning since it lacks color but after Tint has collected the colored orbs scattered throughout it, the environment will gradually breathe with colorful life once again, the same holds true for certain enemies. There are these creatures that reminded me of the much hairier version of goombas from the Super Mario Bros. series that are initially black and white until you stomp on them and give them color once again which at that point, will no longer be enemies as being touched by them will not harm you at all anymore. There are also plant-like enemies that will shoot what appear to be seeds towards Tint that can be guarded against using the red shield ability or simply dodged. Both enemies are relatively easy to deal with, what's hard is overcoming certain obstacles present in some of the levels. Despite the game being a relaxing experience most of the time, in the later levels there are segments where you must "fall down" from a cliff while avoiding spiked platforms below and navigating carefully as you keep descending in order to reach one of the gems. That's where I actually became somewhat frustrated as it was rather hard to avoid colliding with the spiked platforms and it kept setting me back to the very top again. Aside from that, most of the other obstacles were relatively easy to overcome although a few were tricky the first time so there was still somewhat of a challenge involved. In terms of level variation, each level is relatively distinct and as you progress through the game, so do the environments found in each level. The later ones are much darker at first and even the form of the gems change, in some of them the gems are replaced by lanterns that you must set off by bumping into them while in the final levels you must close some black holes which I won't get into to not spoil the game. That variation definitely helped keep the game's charming presentation alive although it's important to note that I completed the game through the course of about a week or so by only playing about less than a half-hour each day on average rather than all at once due to time constraints. In my opinion, that's the best way to approach Kaleidoscope due to it's relaxing atmosphere unless you have the time to tackle it all at once to get it finish the experience.

Graphics & Audio:
This game features stunning 2D artwork and impressive non-morbid dark/colorful environments. As for the audio, the soundtrack does an excellent job at blending in with the game's atmosphere and is actually available as a free download HERE while the game's sound effects get the job done.

Replay value:
While there are no additional difficulties nor unlockables after you've completed the game aside from some awards AKA "unofficial achievements" that might inspire a completionist to give the game another go assuming they didn't get them all during their first run, there is an option to reset your saved progress and start a new game. This raises the question, is it worth doing so? I generally replay a lot of platformers for the sake of enjoyment rather than any extra unlockables received after the first completion but with this game in particular, I felt that the first playthrough was enough. The fact that you need to replay each level at least 3 times to fully complete it does seem to drag on the second time so I can only see myself giving it another go to perhaps get some of the remaining awards when I'm feeling up to it. It's not necessary to start a new game to get all the awards though as after completing it, you can still go back to any level and replay it again.

Overall:
At only 240 MSP, you can't go wrong if you like platformers and want to try something unique. The game definitely does seem to be targeted at the casual gamer crowd/kids but can certainly be enjoyed by others as well. Don't let the "cute" appearance trick you into thinking it's some crappy kiddy game nor that it's ridiculously easy either as there is some challenge to it as mentioned before. In the end Kaleidoscope successfully delivers a both relaxing and charming platformer with memorable environments but does suffers a bit from repetitiveness as a result of its level completion mechanics which can be overlooked by its more positive elements. As long as you're not expecting a difficult platformer or one filled with gore/violence, it's safe to say that Kaleidoscope will not disappoint despite its minor flaws.

Pros:
+Excellent 2D artwork
+Great soundtrack
+Fantastic environment (12 levels in total)
+Level variation
+Great price
+Generous checkpoint system
+Awards

Cons:
-Even though each level is distinct, the fact that you need to replay each of them at least 3 times to collect all the gems does create a bit of repetitiveness although to be fair, there are also 3 distinct paths for each gem so technically it's not the same exact procedure for every gem
-While the game featured level variation and introduced some new obstacles along the way, it would have been nice to have encountered at least a significantly memorable puzzle or two along the way especially in the last level
-Low replay value unless you're a true completionist

In closing, Kaleidoscope gets a well deserved 8.75/10 and should be taken into consideration by any platformer fan at the very least. The trial was a very accurate preview of the game in terms of what to expect but does lacks a lot of the charming aspects found later on in the game so it's possible that you might still be impressed even if you didn't like the trial as much. Much kudos to the developer for creating this.

This game was obtained from the developer rather than purchased, for review purposes. ]]> <![CDATA[Sin & Punishment 2]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-sin-punishment-2 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:53:40 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-sin-punishment-2
With that bit of history out of the way, check out this trailer for the sequel which looks extremely promising:


Anyone else looking forward to it?]]>
With that bit of history out of the way, check out this trailer for the sequel which looks extremely promising:


Anyone else looking forward to it?]]> <![CDATA[Going Offline]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-going-offline--3936 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:41:34 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-going-offline--3936
And since I don't have any internet at home, i'm gonna be stuck without it for a while until I move into a place in town..

So as such, I'm gonna be offline for a few weeks maybe..

Have fun all! And see ya's next time.]]>
And since I don't have any internet at home, i'm gonna be stuck without it for a while until I move into a place in town..

So as such, I'm gonna be offline for a few weeks maybe..

Have fun all! And see ya's next time.]]> <![CDATA[Time for Great Fun!!!]]> http://www.pwnem.com/t-time-for-great-fun Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:00:16 -0600 http://www.pwnem.com/t-time-for-great-fun