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31Oct/11Off

Review of Whack The Dead, Free Mac Game

Whack the Dead for macArcade games are back and they are making a big splash! No strategy, no searching and no puzzles to solve, just whack away at the zombies, ghosts, moles, guns and snowmen as they pop up from their cemetery plots, but be quick about it because they go back down just as fast as they appear. A take on the retro hit-the-mole-on-the-head-with-a-hammer game. Whack the Dead is ripe for the Halloween season on your Mac computers, iPhones, and now, iPads.

The goal is to whack as many green zombies as you can and garner as many points as possible. However, if you should whack the living lady, the cemetery man (both with skin tones of the living) and the normal brown moles, you’ll lose points. You can see that some of the moles have glowing zombie eyes and you will need to whack them. Power ups will gain you weapons for extra points and time. The sound effects are realistic so you will know you got the pistol versus the shotgun bonus. Grab the grenade and click on it at the lower left corner to activate and destroy all the zombies in one go.

Whack the Dead for macYou know you loved whacking the moles with the hammer. You got out your frustrations and stress out by merely hitting those dusty brown creatures on the head. Now you do not have to go to the arcade (if they still have them) to release your irritations and oppressed feelings. You can whack zombies (the new moles) to get the same relief and fun out of slamming the undead. The cartoon characters are just scary enough to make the zombies different from the living. There’s no fear factor involved in this game even with the eerie music (it’s not overwhelming and you can shut if off). I suggest you keep the sound effects on so you know by hearing the gun and explosions what you have or even the agonizing yell from the living people you accidentally whack. The snowmen will freeze all so you can whack them good if they are zombies. Get the guns and grenades for extra time and higher scores. Keep in mind that the points you earn vary based on which weapons you've used!

Whack the Dead is nothing new but rather, a different digital twist on the classic game yet updated and loads of fun. Every now and then you need to really unwind with a minimal thinking game so you can clear your mind and any annoyances you may be encountering at the moment. So, whack away, take a break from problem solving, and enjoy the fun in this action arcade game full of surprises in time for your Halloween treats. Post your high scores on Twitter and Facebook to compete against your friends and family.

It’s free on your Mac but Whack the Dead is only 99 cents for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch at the App Store. This spooky game is brought to you by Indie developer Phelios with art and design by DoomCube.

Features of Whack the Dead:
-Fast, Fun Zombie Arcade Game
-Many Powerups
-Great Artwork, Music and Sound Effects

Rating: ★★★½☆

22Oct/110

Phantasia Review

phantasia

The magical forest of Phantasia is under siege by the evil wizard who captured and encapsulated the peaceful nation of dwarves in bubbles in his ominous towers in his dark and dingy castle. Alas, one, lone dwarf managed to escape and find you to assist him in rescuing his fellow citizens. It is up to you to save the lives of these wonderful dwarves and bring them back to the land of Phantasia.

If you should accept the challenge, you will be shooting balls up to where the dwarves are encased. You shoot at 2 or more of the like color balls to pop the bubbles, release the dwarves and catch the gold and silver coins. The coins will Phantasia miniboost your score. The dwarf who found and convinced you to help him will provide you with bubbles on the lower left of the screen. You will see the colors of the balls coming down the conveyor belt so you can strategize your next move. The castle is large and there are many levels to conquer in this game.

The power-ups are the bombs (will destroy the balls around the area you shoot), fireballs will shoot straight up and rid all the balls in its path, one color ball (changes color of one ball), change balls, one row destroyer. In addition to the bonuses, there are stone balls to block your successful rescue. Of course, the bubbles on the game board are continuously descending to prevent you from winning. This action is similar to the Mac game Abundante!

This arcade game is a fun way to spend a few hours in the afternoon with the kids or alone. Keep an eye out for the funny characters popping in and out of the top and bottom of the screen.  The play is easy enough for children and casual gamers, and the story line is amusing. I think the only thing that bothered me was the pleading of the dwarves in the bubble. You feel a little guilty when you do not save them fast enough because you are trying to figure out the best possible way to release the most balls. So shoot away and save the nation of dwarves in the land of Phantasia.

Features of Phantasia:
-Valuable Coins
-Bonuses
-30 Unique Levels
-Hall of Fame

Rating: ★★★☆☆

18Oct/110

Mystic Emporium Review

Mystic Emporium1

Mystic Emporium is a shout out to the Harry Potter theme of witches, wizards, and spells. This fun and crazy sim play incorporates your love of witchcraft, wizardry, magic potions, ancient artifacts, and unusual ingredients.

Lilly is a witch who worked many years at the Grand Magus Library saving all her earnings so she can start her own magic shop. She finds the perfect store on Wizard Row Market, a lane of magic shops similar to Harry’s Diagon Alley. Lilly will need to work hard to make monthly payments on her new shop in order to stay in business.

Yes, this is your usual sim play where you must keep your clients happy by quickly working your magic to create the requested potion or object. Your goal is to earn enough money before the end of each day. The time is displayed through the posted clock. Initially your clients will come in slowly, you click on your first customer to find which potion they desire. The answer is revealed in the bubble next to the witch, ogre, vampire or wizard. Click on the recipe book Mystic Emporium3(upper right corner), click on the cauldron and it will display the needed ingredients. You click on the ingredients (Lilly can only carry 2 at a time, even a witch has 2 hands), click once again on the cauldron to place the contents and then click on the fire to start the spell. When the potion is done, click on it, click on the customer to deliver, and finally click on the money to receive the payment for your hard work. As you know by now, this simple play gets more difficult as the levels increase. You must be up to the challenge of meeting your goals and keeping your unusual guests happy by quickly and smartly developing the magic potions.

As in the other sim Mac games, you will get many helps, some are strange and odd but all are beneficial. A creature is there to dispose any unwanted items. The magic shop will buy you newer and faster cauldrons, faster shoes and much more. In addition, there are match side games to enjoy in between your main plays. You click 4 or more grouping of likeMystic Emporium4 tiles to destroy. Completing the match game successfully will win you a magical charm.

Mystic Emporium is like many sim plays such as Ice Cream Craze and Cooking Dash, but it has its own magical charm and witchy appeal especially for Harry Potter fans. The play is easy to learn, the artwork bright and colorful, and the game is enjoyable. Wave your magic wand and spin your necromancy for the good of the shop and keep your clientele happy or they’ll turn you into a toad. Ribbit.

Features of Mystic Emporium:
-Own a Magic Shop
-30 Magic Items
-Earn Trophies and Magic Charms

Rating: ★★★★☆

9Oct/110

Titan Attack Review

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download Titan Attacksbuy Titan Attacks

Take a blast from the past with Titan Attack, as Space Invaders returns revamped and more intense than ever. Instead of popping in quarters to a machine, now gamers can easily start up a crusade against the alien onslaught in the comfort of their own computers. The classic scrolling across the bottom of the screen shooter has the same feel as the classic Space Invaders but with an arsenal of new twists that has gamers gunning for more.

In Titan Attacks the fate of the world lies in the hands of a lonely tank left running back and forth trying hard to repel an alien barrage. That tank has slow left to right movement, a single laser beam, and 2 bars of health. Doesn't seem like a lot as the alien enemy seems to evolve and expand at every chance it gets. The solution to the dilemma: Upgradeable tank with the money from killing aliens. Simple yet an effective way to get me to play the game more and more. Each level I finish I see how much money I need for more shields, bombs, cannons, or lasers, or a faster moving tank. It's addicting. On top of the weapons shop a high score bulletin to top off a meticulously played game seals the deal for gamers to fight for the human race.

Titan Attack has a look that is new and sleek but a feel that is comfortable and recognizable. Game play-wise a score multiplier adds to the need to continue playing the game because it only increases if the tank does not take damage and kills aliens. As more aliens drop, reverse movement, and get a little faster someone is going to have to take the call for humanity. Titan Attack gets a 4.5 out of 5 because it makes me answer that call whenever I don't want to do anything else in the world but recall Space Invaders and destroy that last quickly flying alien.

Features of Titan Attack:
-100 levels of Frantic Shooter Action
-Upgrade with Cannons, Rockets and Lasers
-5 Giant Boss Motherships
-Prizes

Rating: ★★★★½

6Oct/110

Kaijin Review


While watching the Boston College Eagles win their first football game of the season, it reminded me that I need to write a review for Phelios’ action packed arcade game Kaijin. There are 3 modes to play: Way of the Eagle (see the connection?), Way of the Tiger (not that Tiger) and Way of the Dragon. Kaijin is a homage to Galaga where aliens are not in short demand as they come at you in rapid succession.

The year is 2546 on Planet Terria. The Terrians survived on their own wits growing their own foods not genetically modified. All others destroyed their central neuron system by eating bad flesh. These beings went to a dark place and turned into mutant insects. These demented beings are planning to take over Terria. Your job as the best Terrian fighter pilot must battle these evil forms and save the good people of Terria and their pure and happy way of life. Kaijin is your trusted ship. The Japanese connection is another salute to the Galaga link.

The way of the Eagle will allow your ship to go to every part of the screen. You are not limited to the bottom. The Way of Tiger is the classic play a la Galaga where the ship is at the bottom of the screen moving from back and forth. The way of the Dragon is full on action with 3 levels of craziness. Tiger and Dragon are locked for the demo version. It's like getting 3 games in one.

The enemy will come at your ship in wave patterns, and not only must you destroy them, you must be sure to get rid of the eggs laid by some of these creatures because if you do not, they will burst into more aliens. In addition, there are bosses that you need to contend with and you know how hard it is to annihilate them.

At the bottom of the screen you will see the shield guards. Every time you get hit by an alien, the gage will decrease, but every time you hit an enemy, it will increase. The more energy you get, the more firepower is available to you. There are bombs, shield recharges, extra points and more bonuses. Your weapons are based in the shield level and can include lasers, blasters, fireballs and more.

Just like in football, you are attacking and moving forward except in Kaijin it’s not that easy. There are so many aliens flying up and down, in circles, exploding into more mutants and never stopping. When you think you can catch your breath, more enemies come swooping down. Kaijin is an intense, solid arcade shooting Mac game for experienced gamers and gamers who are willing to practice and play until they are experienced. The scenery and is simple but you do not want to be distracted with background art when you are fighting these evil monsters. I was too busy to notice the sound effects, but I am sure it was fine because the whole experience was great. I give Kaijin a 4 out of 5 for an awesome Shump (shoot em up) play.

Features of Kaijin:
-20 Types of Mutants
-4 Worlds
-3 Modes
-146 Levels

Rating: ★★★★☆