DEMO: Hoard (Steam: Windows/Mac)

Hoard for Steam (Windows/Mac)

Courtesy hoardgame.com

Genre: RTS/Action

Full Game Price: $9.99

No. of Players: 1-4

In 5 words: flying, firebreathing, burninating, genuine fun

So there I was, cruising through the list of Steam demos when I see this Hoard game and I click through. A wonderful concept: instead of playing the shining hero, you play the firebreather, building your hoard and being an all around menace to society. I downloaded this demo last Friday and I've been itching to play it ever since.

In Hoard, your life as a dragon is hard, you're misunderstood. They tried you for arson (in response, you burned the court down) and signed you up for a reality show about how your possessions possess you (in response, you said "Mine!"), and yet your thirst for gold rivals that of Glenn Beck. You're incorrigible.

Hoard is a fast-paced, cartoony action strategy game that feels a little like a tabletop game and a lot like an arcade game. Hoard is more like Trogdor than Smaug in that it takes itself very unseriously and is quite lighthearted. The gameplay is complex, but not overly so: controls are easy to get the hang of, and you can use a keyboard and mouse or gamepad. As you hoard more and more gold, you have the opportunity to upgrade your armor, firebreath, speed, and carrying capacity. Upgrading is highly recommended because all around you, the towns, castles, archers, knights and even the princesses are upgrading. Don't believe me? Look down here:

Yes, even the princesses level up.

Making good strategic and tactical decisions on the fly is a necessary skill for success in Hoard. You have a variety of targets to choose from (buildings, carts, puny humans) and defensive duties as well (both thieves and other dragons can steal from your hoard). Finding a good balance is key and the best strategies are not always obvious. For example, instead of burning a city to the ground, you can inspire such fear in said city that they pay you ransom; or instead of killing a knight, you could allow him to rescue a princess so he becomes a hero and gives you more gold when you roast him later. Each decision has its pros and cons and allows for a multitude of strategies and varied gameplay.

To top it all off, there's both co-op and competitive multiplayer and achievements to keep things interesting. The only small gripe I have about the game is the music. It's a little on the cheesy side, but tolerable, I guess. All things considered, Hoard appears to be a great game at a great price. I highly recommend this demo.

Demo Gamer Stats:
Age range: 6+
Demo length: 20-30 minutes
Demo worth playing? You bet your burninator.
Full game worth buying? Pretty sure on this one. Thank goodness there's a good demo to help you decide!

Have you gotten your Hoard on? Agree/disagree with my take? Sound off in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

Wii Demo Roundup - 04/11/11

Howdy, Wiifolk! It's time for another Wii Demo Roundup, although I'm beginning to wonder if I should change the name of this weekly feature because "rounding up" a single demo seems kind of silly. But no matter, hope springs eternal as I wait for Nintendo's eShop. Interestingly enough, this week's demo feels right at home in a wild west roundup. Bring your hat, chaps, and holster, it's time to draw!

Fast Draw Showdown
Rated T for Teen, 1-2 players, Wii Remote only, $5.00

Courtesy digitalleisure.com

In 5 words: old, hokey, bad acting, simple

The first thing I noticed upon firing up the Fast Draw Showdown demo is how old it is. Originally copyrighted in 1994, Fast Draw Showdown was a laser disc-based arcade game that I'm pretty sure I saw in my younger arcade urchin years, now that I think about it. Well, now it's been ported to Wii Ware. Should you care? I don't think so.

The graphics look like 1994, the gameplay, while challenging, is very simple, the acting, writing, and costuming are pretty bad...basically, this demo offers very little. I could see myself putting a few quarters into this in an arcade, just for the novelty of it, but outside of that, without a light gun, the novelty is short. Dying to draw with the best of them? Give the demo a try. It's a small download and will only occupy a few minutes of your time. Otherwise, don't bother.

As an aside, I find it quite rich that Nintendo complains about Apple's cheap App Store games and then allows stuff like this to be released on their own hardware. Pots and kettles 'n' all that. At least in the App Store, this might be priced at $0.99 (still not worth it, really) and we wouldn't have waited over a year for a demo.

Well, that's it for this week's roundup. The end of May and the advent of the eShop cannot arrive fast enough.

--Demo Gamer

Freebie Flashback Friday - The Incredible Machine

All images courtesy abandonia.com

It's Friday, almost Saturday, and if you're short on funds you've come to the right place. It's time again for a freebie flashback highlighting a classic game that's been abandoned to freedom. This week, Rube Goldberg smiles.

The Incredible Machine is a game that I can never forget. I remember playing it as a kid and I remember the challenge and wonder of creating elaborate machines to complete simple tasks. Using pulleys, weights, ropes, ramps, and even firearms (among many other tools), The Incredible Machine captures most of the whimsical fun of an actual Rube Goldberg machine.

The Incredible Machine is incredibly entertaining and rewarding and was one of the best puzzle games of its time. While its age shows, the game still has legs. If you like clever, mechanical puzzle games, The Incredible Machine is for you. Because it is abandonware, it is free to download, so you can go get it here.

Just like this week's game, the comments are free. Tell me what you think of The Incredible Machine.

--Demo Gamer

DEMO: Slam Bolt Scrappers (PS3)

Slam Bolt Scrappers on PSN for PS3

All images courtesy firehosegames.com

Genre: Combat Puzzler

Full Game Price: $14.99

No. of Players: 1-4

In 5 words: mutant, challenging, fun, crazy, overwhelming

In nature, mutation is an interesting device. It takes a proven lifeform and changes it into something differentiable from the original, then waits to see how it survives. If the mutated lifeform lives long enough, it becomes proven and mutation can iterate further. The same process happens in the gaming world. Take a proven concept, mutate it, and see how it survives. Slam Bolt Scrappers is a Tetris mutant in the best sense of the word.

Developed by (the aptly named) Fire Hose Games, Slam Bolt Scrappers takes the basic idea of Tetris-style building, and combines elements of Super Puzzle Fighter and Street Fighter to make one amazingly overwhelming gaming experience. There's so much to do in Slam Bolt Scrappers, it feels like you're trying to drink from a...wait for it...fire hose. While not immediately accessible to less-experienced gamers, Slam Bolt Scrappers is a game that veterans should enjoy from the get-go.

In Slam Bolt Scrappers, you take control of a flying builder who organizes a tower. Form squares of the same color to create weapons and defenses on your tower. The larger the square, the more powerful the weapon. To collect more blocks, fight with pigs and ninjas in the air. To keep your opponent(s) from building, attack them personally. You can even rearrange your tower on the fly. Destroy your opponent(s)'s tower(s), and you win.

Sound easy? It's not! Slam Bolt Scrappers makes full use of the PS3 controller's myriad buttons, and while learning the controls is a fairly simple task, mastering them is not. The demo lasts about 20-30 minutes and is representative of the game as a whole. The graphics are really fun and nicely done, and with cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, the crazy carnage on offer in Slam Bolt Scrappers is theoretically unlimited.

Slam Bolt Scrappers is right up there with Gran Turismo 5 for me: both are great reasons to buy a PS3 (I actually played this demo on my father's PS3). The game, while overwhelming, is also highly intriguing. It left me exhausted, yet wanting more. It also makes me wonder what the Slam Bolt Scrappers mutant games will be like. At only $14.99, this mutant combination of challenging puzzle-fighting looks like a steal. Now, if I only had a PS3...but don't let that stop you! PS3 owners: be sure to check out this demo.

Demo Gamer Stats:
Age range: 6+
Demo length: 20-30 minutes
Demo worth playing? Oh yeah.
Full game worth buying? Yes. Makes me sad to not own a PS3.

Played Slam Bolt Scrappers yet? Did you like it? Sound off in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

DEMO: Explodemon (PS3)

Explodemon on PSN for PS3

Genre: Platformer

Full Game Price: $9.99

No. of Players: 1

In 5 words: retro, humorous, run, jump, explode

Explodemon is a platformer that pays homage to the 16-bit glory days of platform gaming. You play as Explodemon, a comical, unwanted, malfunctioning hero, and you must defend your planet against an alien invasion. Explodemon comes across as a bit Mega Man-ish with a hint of puzzle here and there and while retrofun abounds, the game also brings some interesting quirks to the table. First off, Explodemon does not carry any weapons. He is the weapon, must get dangerously close to enemies to defeat them, and he doesn't have full control of his explosive nature. Second, Explodemon's life meter doubles as a strength meter for his dangerous explosions: the better you are at avoiding damage, the more damage you do.

Explodemon is a game that doesn't take itself too seriously: it is full of funny, clever dialogue and other humor that keeps things light. The action vacillates between frantic fun and catch-your-breath calm, pacing the gameplay nicely, and the 2.5D graphics are colorfully cartoony and immersive (no complaints here). The controls are pretty much what you expect from a platformer and are easy to get the hang of. Finally, the music and sound effects are fun and do not detract from the experience.

The Explodemon demo lasts about 10-15 minutes, but may take much longer to download depending on your internet connection and how well PSN is working. The demo gives a good idea of what you can expect from the game, except for one glaring omission: upgrades. They are mentioned in the demo but not actually demonstrated. I would have loved to see how the upgrade system works before buying.

My verdict? As a tribute to platformers, Explodemon works well. As a game in and of itself, it leaves a little to be desired. It is fun, but not really novel enough to command my attention. Perhaps if I knew a little more about how Explodemon upgrades himself, I would be more interested. That being written, at $9.99, you can hardly argue with the price, especially if you like platformers.

Demo Gamer Stats:
Age range: 8+
Demo length: 10-15 minutes
Demo worth playing? It is fun, so yes
Full game worth buying? I'm not sold, but the price looks right.

What's your take on Explodemon? Sound off in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

Wii Demo Roundup - 04/04/11

New day, new demo! Nintendo dropped a strange demo yesterday, and I'm here to tell you all about it. Also, a long-time resident of the Wii Ware demo list gets reviewed. Click on through to read more!

MonsTECA Corral
Rated E for Everyone, 1-4 players, Wii Remote and Nunchuk required, $5.00

Courtesy nintendo.com

In 5 words: strange, immersive, puzzling, curious, simple

MonsTECA Corral, this week's new demo, is a strange game. You can say that about a lot of games, but with this game in particular, it was a little bit of a fun-barrier to me at first. You play the part of a monster herder that must rescue and move monsters away from evil robots. To do so, you must gather swamp gas and give it to the astromaggot (flying space worm) and then jump on its back so it can take you to the next level (of which there are 20). All the while, you must avoid or disable the evil robots that want to capture your herd of monsters.

MonsTECA Corral's controls are quick and easy to master, and while a bit lo-fi, the graphics are fun and the Wii handles the 3D worlds with aplomb. The demo lasts between 15-20 minutes and it reminds me a bit of Darwinia, actually. This is bad: while playing MonsTECA Corral, it felt too derivative and simple. There wasn't enough "new" here to really inspire me to purchase. Still, at only $5.00, if you like the demo, you really can't go wrong with buying the game (the DRM caveat must be noted, however).

Bit.Trip Beat
Rated E for Everyone, 1-4 players, Wii Remote only, $6.00

Courtesy nintendo.com

In 5 words: deceptively simple, musical, pong-ish, retro

Bit.Trip Beat is one of 5 games in the Bit.Trip series, all of which are regarded as some of the finest games on Wii Ware. This demo has been on Wii Ware since January and I played it before starting this blog. I was not impressed much. It was hard to control and too simple for my tastes. I downloaded it again last night because it was the only demo still on Wii Ware that I had not reviewed. I'm glad I did. It was still hard to control and simple, but I actually gave it some effort, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Bit.Trip Beat is deceptively simple and challenging. The first minutes give you the chance to get acquainted with the controls and gameplay which can be described as Pong meets musical side-scroller. I would have loved to have a Pong paddle to play this game, but I had to use the Wii Remote's motion controls instead. The music and graphics are delightfully retro and fun (I wish the kids had not been in bed so that I could have turned it up a bit), and after a few minutes, the game's simplicity has a new companion: frantic complexity. You've got to play it to understand how it is both complex and simple at the same time. And fun! More fun than I expected.

Bit.Trip Beat is a game that I will eventually buy (I'm not sure when), and at $6.00, it looks to be an OK deal. This is a demo that all gamers should download and spend at least 10 minutes with, however. I think you will feel like this is a special game. I don't know how much longer the demo will be on Wii Ware, so go get it! It is free, after all.

Well, that's it for this week. Have you played either of these games or demos? Let us know what you think in the comments!

--Demo Gamer

Freebie Flashback Friday - Command & Conquer

It's Friday, and it's time for a freebie flashback. This week, we're going to talk about the dangers of tiberium.

Courtesy wikipedia.org

Chances are, you've already played Command & Conquer (C&C). Maybe you haven't played this version, but you played one of them. That's a good thing, because they are great games. What makes C&C special is it is also a genre-defining game. When Dune 2 came out, the term "real-time strategy" did not exist. When C&C was released, people said, "This is what an RTS should be like." If you haven't played C&C, I think you should.

Courtesy mobygames.com

Now, let's talk about tiberium. It is dangerous to humans and worth a lot of money. It is addictive and destructive. Where you had the spice in Dune 2, you have tiberium in C&C. Wars are fought over the stuff and it is the basis for the C&C economy.

C&C features a bunch of fun cutscenes and tough missions set in either Europe or Africa, depending on which side you choose to play: the cultish Brotherhood of NOD or the NATO-ish Global Defense Initiative (GDI). While there is not a huge variety of units and structures, the game is relatively well-balanced and is a riot and a challenge.

Perhaps the best thing about C&C is it is now free to download. Get it here or here. To borrow a line from young/old Indy, C&C belongs in a museum. Not only that, but it belongs on your computer, as well.

Good times, right? I remember playing through this on both sides then waiting for the sequels. Each time a new C&C game came out, it demanded my attention. How about you? Sound off in the comments!

--Demo Gamer