Freeware games

[pershainovitsh]

Aurora Wager

"The game is about you (Jebe), your buddy Frits, your neme­sis Fred­erik, and your wager to see who can make it to the North Pole first! By hot air bal­loon, of course. You will have to mas­ter nav­i­gat­ing the air­ways, and explore the world to find the means to ven­ture ever further."



This looks like a cool and relaxed game. It was made for a 7-day game making competition where the theme was "rogue-like". Instead of making a dungeon game with 2d graphics, the team made a game where you're on your own against the harsh environments and anything can happen. There are almost no instructions at all, which makes you learn everything yourself. WASD to move, space to jump, shift to run, left click to use, right click to take/place/drop.

At this point everyone is drooling on their shirts and praying that there's comptetitive or co-operative multiplayer. The developers are testing split-screen audio at the moment, which is a clear indicator of multiplayer being added. I just have no idea how could it work on PC. Hopefully there will be online multiplayer as well.

Competition entry page:
7drl.org/2013/03/17/the-aurora-wage-success/

Link for download:
dl.dropbox.com/u/348111/TheAuroraWager_v3_win.zip

[pershainovitsh]

A journey through the skies

Well, I got very determined to reach the North Pole in The Aurora Wager. I started playing at 22:00 GMT+2. I couldn't land on any island for a while thanks to the winds not being on my side. When I finally could, I found two grappling hooks that I could use to reel myself closer to the islands, if I just could get close enough. But before that I tried to steer the balloon by running to the sides multiple times. It wasn't very useful. I had my compass placed on a railing (there are four pre-determined places to put items on on each side) and decided to move it to the side the balloon was moving to. But I was clumsy and the compass fell of the edge. Quickly I figured out that I could just place the flag on the north side right now and keep placing it so that it faces North.

It got boring so I started playing with some empty boxes and container doors. Soon I forgot to place the flag in the correct place and put it in a container as it was useless. I sailed for hours and all kinds of things happened. After a while I decided to leave the balloon and jump out. I landed on an island (you don't take damage from falling) and the balloon actuallly followed me, so I jumped back in.

After a long while I saw an island with some stuff on it. It took me a long while to get even close to it, but looming in the horizon I saw an island that looked like a volcano. I was 90% sure it was the North Pole. I flew for about half an hour before I realised I wasn't moving at all. So I ascended, hoping it would be windier higher. It wasn't. So I decided to descend, but that didn't work any better. The boxes fell of the edge and the flag started floating upwards. I took it at the last second. As my last resort I grabbed the flag that would hopefully mark my visit on the North Pole and jumped out of the balloon. Once again, I wasn't getting anywhere, so I let go off the flag and went back to the balloon (it was floating around) only to "fall" through the hole in the ceiling in a few seconds. I got back there and used the burner at full power to stabilise the hot air balloon.

I actually did get a bit closer, but then I got pushed even further away by the wind. I managed to land on the island I had seen earlier and anchored myself in with the two grappling hooks. From the island I found a third one. Once again I set sail but knew I was doomed to fail. For the third time I jumped out and watched as the balloon kept going for a while before stopping. I ventured through the thick covering the areas between the islands, only to start falling down. I had been close, or so I thought, but couldn't get there.

It had been three hours since I first took off. I had used just 40% of the fuel I had in my original fuel canister. I had found two more and a small one. My calculations revealed that one gas canister should last for about 6h 40mins.

I'm waiting for a new version where it is actually possible to reach the destination, as well as the split-screen multiplayer mode. A competitive online multiplayer could be fun. This was just an early version.




That was a story of determination, insanity, patience, hope and despair. I could have been doing something better, but somehow the simple ballooning game got my attention and got me addicted. I just didn't want to stop before I had conquered North Pole.

[pershainovitsh]

Here's a short, but pretty cool stealth game, Fragment:
indiegames.com/2013/04/freeware_pick_sci-fi_first_per.html

And here's a Max Payne/John Woo -style 2d shooter, Mayhem Triple:
indiegames.com/2013/04/mayhem_triple_an_indies_own_pe.html
It's pretty short, but there are things that keep you replaying it in New Game+ for a few times.

[sfscriv]

Looks like you pretty much own this thread. Similar to psyco and his video game reviews. I am sure there are many of use who are making purchasing decisions/download decisions and appreciate the posts related to different types of video games. Thanks

[pershainovitsh]

Yeah, I seem to be the only one posting here. Maybe it's not that I'm the only one interested in freeware games, but that I'm (almost) the only one finding them. Of course there are hundreds of freeware titles, but most of them aren't really good.

Does Psyco have a thread dedicated for video game reviews? I couldn't find it at least. I'd be willing to write a couple...short...reviews for a few games I've played recently. A game review thread would be the optimal place for that.

[sfscriv]

Apr 27, 2013 18:13:50 GMT 1 pershainovitsh said:

...Does Psyco have a thread dedicated for video game reviews?

Here are his thoughts on reviewing:
forum.spartanwarfighters.net/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=2498

Apr 27, 2013 18:13:50 GMT 1 pershainovitsh said:

I'd be willing to write a couple...short...reviews for a few games I've played recently. A game review thread would be the optimal place for that.

Just create a separate thread for each game in this board:
spartanwf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=games

[pershainovitsh]

Maybe I'll do that then.

[pershainovitsh]

Memory of a Broken Dimension

This is a pretty weird game. You're a hacker or something.
www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/04/29/command-shrine-memory-of-a-broken-dimension/

Trunked

You are in the trunk of a car. How did you get there? And more importantly, how do you get out? This is played in the browser. I think this is a very well made game. The writing is excellent, and the progression isn't all that linear.
iandaffern.ca/storage/trunked%20final.html

[pershainovitsh]

Papers, please

Have you ever wanted to see how exciting the life of an immigration inspector was in the 80's in a communist state? Well, here's a game for you. Each day your job gets more complicated. There are even some moral dilemmas, and you have to get enough money to keep your family warm and satiated. Inspecting papers isn't very quick until you get used to it, and there's a timer. It's actually a pretty exciting game. It's in beta right now and it just ends without a warning, but it was a refreshing experience.

dukope.com/
(direct download link) bit.ly/161CCGY

[pershainovitsh]

N - The Way of Ninja

Physics-based 2d platforming. You have 90 seconds to beat a set of five levels, but you can get extra time by collecting gold.

From the official website:
"Be warned, N is a highly addictive, sometimes very frustrating game. We've had reports of people throwing their keyboards, smashing their gamepads, busting their laptops, and yet ending up with a satisfied, proud feeling of accomplishment when they've beaten the game. Could there be a connection...? N for life. "

And oh yeah, it is extremely difficult. I was stuck on a level for a day, and I tried it dozens of times. But I kept getting better. I started to see why I was failing. Slowly I started to understand precisely how to beat that one level, and then it was just a matter of execution. Which took dozens of times before it was succesful. I can't even count how many times I've closed the game in frustration, only to try it again a few minutes later. It's frustrating but very addictive.

www.thewayoftheninja.org/n_downloads.html

EGGNOGG

So this is a cover of Niddhogg that captures a lot of the greatness of the original–slapstick two-player fencing with chasing and stabbing and sudden death–while bringing its own ideas to the mix. Swords ricochet when you throw them instead of dropping to the ground, you raise and lower your sword incrementally rather than in stances, everything is a little cuter, etc.

As always, each player wants to reach the opposite end of the map. If you kill your opponent, you have a chance to advance to the next screen, if you’re fast enough. Advance enough screens and you win, that is, you throw yourself into a pool of lava.

You know you won though because the word WINNER flashes across the screen. Defeat means rebirth into this plane of eternal duelists, victory is permanent death. The loser LIVES.

You die in one hit, which encourages mind games. Are they lunging high? Going low? Throwing their sword? Jumping around like a goofball? Everything happens so fast that luck and skill collide and you’re not always sure which played a factor. These constant reversals are joyous.

None of which would matter if it didn’t FEEL GOOD. Not stabbing feels good because you evoke the archetype of the poised musketeer who differentiates themselves from Other People With Swords by Not Stabbing Immediately and Being Fancy For a Few Seconds While Thinking About Sword Science. If you’re good at blocking, you can smirk as they loose their cool and thus gain social dominance.

But failing to kill someone feels good too because the act of a sword blocking another sword causes a metallic ping, a spray of sparks, and a wobble–a delicious sensory nugget of visual, audio, and motion feedback.

And stabbing feels good because they DIE and being stabbed doesn’t feel terrible because you respawn in a few seconds and now they’re in a position of vulnerability, forced to present their back to you in order to make any progress.

At this point you might need to throw your sword to kill them before they escape. Unlike the other emotions in the game, which are mostly based on instantly dying or instantly not dying, throwing your sword is a delayed emotion with lots of swish. This is the video game equivalent of throwing a cracker at someone’s mouth and seeing if they catch it, except the cracker is a sword and they’re trying to get the fuck away from you, you monster. Failure leaves you unarmed, imbuing the swish with the added weight of sacrifice. Gambling with swords.

(text copied from this article: www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/05/19/live-free-play-hard-then-mystical-snake-shit-happened/
The description might be a bit exaggerated. It should be a hilarious same-computer two-player game. I haven't tried it yet.)

www.freeindiegam.es/2013/05/eggnogg-paul-pridham-connor-pridham/



Now I played EGGNOGG with a friend. It was quite possibly the most fun I've ever had with any game. Download it, invite a friend to play it and have an enormous amount of fun!

It actually seems to be a parody of a game called NIDHOGG (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/10/06/impressions-nidhogg/), but NIDHOGG is still in development and can only be played in some indie events, which sucks. I don't know if it will ever be released to the public.

[pershainovitsh]

There's split-screen co-op in Aurora Wager now!

volo-airsport.net/blog/2013/05/the-aurora-wager-v4-and-whats-next/

[pershainovitsh]

Shadow Warrior

3D Realms decided to give the game from 1997 away for free on Steam! That's not just for today of for this week, but forever. Shadow Warrior uses the Build engine and you will notice some similiarities with Duke Nukem 3D. They use the same engine and were developed by the same team.

For a while I've been trying to find a simple game where you just run around and shoot enemies. There are times when I like to hide in a ditch for ten minutes waiting for the optimal moment to strike in Ghost Recon (once Scriv returns, we WILL have a GR event) and then there are times when I like shooting everything that moves.

It doesn't matter that it's 16 years old, it doesn't matter that the guy runs at a speed of 20 miles per hour, it doesn't matter that it's only 2.5D and not really 3d and it uses sprite graphics, it doesn't matter that the resolution is about 320x320. What matters is that it's fun to play and for me it's a refreshing change. And it's not a walk in a park either. I started with the default difficulty (number three of four difficulty levels), but got my ass kicked right away in the first level. After trying for a while, I switched to the second difficulty setting and I'm still having a hard time staying alive. It's not a completely brainless shooter: if I just run into a crowd of enemies, I die. I have to create some sort of a strategy on the fly and quite probably reload a previous save many times before succeeding. But so far, I'm liking it.

There's also a remake in development. I wonder if it'll have the same extremely fast-paced gameplay as the original.

store.steampowered.com/app/238070/?snr=1_7_15__13



Another good fast-paced arcade-like game could be the just released Call of Juarez: Gunslinger. I played the demo, the gunplay felt good, the weapons were powerful and it was fun to play. It's just 15 euros, and for that price it should be worth it. I have a couple of games I own but haven't played yet so I won't buy Gunslinger yet. I'm sure I'll do it at some point.

Demo on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/204450/

[pershainovitsh]

BROFORCE!

Broforce is a hyperviolent action platform game. It features 90′s blockbuster movie action heroes making up the Broforce team- an under-funded vigilante paramilitary organisation – saving the world from satanic alien terrorist investment banker businessmen in non-stop, fast paced co-operative strategic mayhem filled with more action and explosions than anything else, ever.

“People keep talking about making the video game equivalent of The Expendables… how about somebody make a Hollywood version of this? Because this is how I remember 80s action movie heroes to be.”
– KOTAKU, Luke Plunkett

You play as familiar 80's action heroes, such as Rambro, Brommando, Brominator, Brade, Robrocop, and Indiana Brones. They all have their own unique weapon and special ability, and everyone can knife enemies and climb walls with the knife. The gameplay is very simple: all you have to do is reach the end, raise the American flag, jump on a ladder hanging from a helicopter, and fly away as everything explodes. Of course there's a lot of enemies to kill and hostages to save. When you save one, you get an extra life and you switch to another character. I've liked the hectic action the game has. But it's not all mindless action: running and jumping like a headless chicken will just get you shot. Instead, run, jump and shoot around like Rambo!

There is four-player bro-op (co-op) on the same computer, and online multiplayer is going to be added.

Arrow keys to move, z to shoot, x for special ability (mostly a grenade of some type), c for knifing.



Official website:
www.freelives.net/broforce/

Online brototype version:
www.freelives.net/BROFORCE/BROFORCE_WEB.html

Download standalone build from here:
files.humblebundle.com/BROFORCE_Brototype_Windows_Standalone.zip?key=store&ttl=1563199200&t=d2788d3db09f513e0fdc88230e5bd912


Outer Wilds

You play as an astronaut for an alien race discovering the wonders of their solar system. There isn't really anything else to do than just to explore, but that's something I like. It's all in first person, you meet strange people and see strange planets. It's a short game (do play it again a couple of times to see everything!), but I enjoyed every second of it. The controls are pretty weird, but you get used to it. The developer actually recommends a Xbox controller, and only Xbox buttons are mentioned within the game.

alexbeachum.com/archives/258

[pershainovitsh]

First of all, I can't stress it enough, PLAY BROFORCE, and if at all possible, with someone on the same computer. It's a really great game, and it's been updated a couple of times. The beta and the full version will cost about 15$, and the full version includes much more features, levels, online multiplayer (which the "brototype" may get) and all sorts of cool stuff.

Stealth Bastard

It's quite a difficult fast-paced 2d stealth game. There's a Deluxe edition with loads of new levels, but I've been playing the old free version.


Here's Total Biscuit, aka The Cynical Brit playing it. I actually haven't wathed the video, but he makes good videos and it should show the gameplay in all its glory.


Official site:
www.stealthbastard.com/

Download link:
stealth109.s3.amazonaws.com/StealthBastard-1.10.exe

[pershainovitsh]

Here's Superhot; a game designed for the 7dfps competition (where people had seven days to make a FPS game). The idea is that when you don't move, time moves very slowly, and when you do move, time flows at the normal pace. There are only a few levels, but it's an awesome idea, the gameplay is fun, and the devs are working on more content.

blue-brick.com/SUPERHOT/#play


Detective Awesomepants

A game designed for the Ludum Dare game development competition, where the theme was "10 seconds". The games could be about anything, as long as there was something lasting 10 seconds. You are Detective Awesomepants, a great detective, and your job is to solve a number of murders... And you have 10 seconds to solve each murder! It's a funny, but short game.

matthewvroman.com/dev/ld27/index.html