Game #023: Avalancher

Controls: Mouse to build igloo and place eskimo; space to start avalanche.

Objective: Build an igloo out of the allotted amount of ice blocks (or less) to protect the eskimo from the avalanche, keeping him on-screen also. Extra points are awarded for the higher the eskimo's health after the avalanche and the less ice blocks you use.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium

Source: www.freeonlinegames.com/

Creator: FOG

Rating: 3/5 - I'm not usually much of a fan of puzzle games, but Avalancher managed to catch my eye, and had me playing for quite a long time - until I'd completed all of the levels at least. It's possibly not an original idea for an online game (although it's the first time I've ever played this sort of puzzle game), but it's a very good one, that you quickly catch onto, thanks to the helpful in-game explanation of what to do, and how to do it. Then you're left to your own devices, and with a fair few levels, Avalancher can keep you going for a while. It's got an addictiveness to it that keeps you playing until the end - more levels would be very nice. The graphics are excellent, and the music and sounds are nice and at times, funny. So overall, Avalancher is a very good game. Unfortunately, there's just something missing that prevents it from being that little bit more.

Games Master Challenge: Score over 2000 points on all of the mountains.

Game #022: Infectionator

Click here to play!

Controls: Mouse (you pick up what to do as the game progresses).

Objective: Infect people with the zombie virus until all civilisation in all continents is lost, in the fewest amount of days.

Difficulty: Easy

Source: www.addictinggames.com/

Creator: BubbleBox

Rating: 4.75/5 - Continuing with the theme of some of my favourite online games ever, comes Infectionator. I liked it from the offset - the graphics have a purposely blocky feel that works, the interface is very easy to work with and the music varies but not in its quality (perhaps a few more different tunes would be nice, however). It's definitely morbid entertainment, but it certainly won't scar you for life or anything like that. The player becomes addicted to Infectionator virtually from the beginning, with numerous power-ups and "special" zombies to buy with the coins you earn, and as you buy more of these the game ramps up, with towns and cities falling faster and faster. (Your progress is autosaved as well, possibly my favourite feature). The only two flaws I can find in what is a very well thought-out and constructed game, is that it does get a little tedious toward the end, with no bonus challenges or minigames, and that there's not much replay value. But these flaws are minor, and you just have to try this game!

Games Master Challenge: Destroy all civilisation in less than 175 days (don't worry, that's not real time)!

Game #021: Electric Man 2

(Warning: game contains violence.)



Click here to play the game!

Controls: Left and right arrow keys to move, down arrow key to dodge, A, S, and D for normal attacks, Q, W and E for slow motion, powerful attacks.

Objective: Fight your way through all of the rounds of the tournament, with the goal of winning the final battle and the tournament itself.

Difficulty: Optional; gets progressively harder.

Source: www.onemorelevel.com

Creator: DXInteractive

Rating: 4.5/5 - Electric Man 2 has to go down as one of my favourite games on the internet, full stop. It's not a new theme or genre of game, but it does the whole arcade fighting style so well, and in its own unique way. The graphics aren't of the highest quality but are quirky and interesting, the slow motion moves being particularly spectacular, and the music is very good (although you can't turn it off). Once you get a hang of the controls, which isn't difficult, the game becomes very fun and enjoyable to play, providing you don't mind violence. If you get bored, then the game provides handy "save codes" which you can input, allowing you to pick up your game later on, from where you left off earlier. Personally, I don't think it gets repetitive, but the lack of in-game features, such as new moves to unlock, for example, might make it so for some. But this isn't a love-hate game - it's incredibly entertaining, and definitely one I'll remember for a long time.

Games Master Challenge: Complete the game on hard mode.

Game #020: Volcanic Airways

Controls: Move the mouse to guide your plane (or the arrow keys, but the mouse works better).

Difficulty: Easy

Objective: Race against the huge ash flow behind you - if it catches you it's game over - while navigating through all of the ash clouds, which slow you down if you go through them.

Source: www.miniclip.com/

Creator: Miniclip

Rating: 3.5/5 - It's been a very long time since I last updated this blog, but hey, I'll blame it on the Icelandic ash cloud, which only recently relinquished it's grip on European airspace. Volcanic Airways is a very simple game, but it's one of those things that's really fun, perhaps due to it's simplicity. It's well-made too: the graphics are solid, if not spectacular, and the music is very engaging, and just fits. The game doesn't take long to play, meaning it's great to play during a break, and quite addictive. However, the game is let down majorly by the lack of variety (if it took much longer to play it would get boring). There are no obstacles to avoid other than endless ash clouds, and no power-ups to collect, or anything of the sort. There's only one level, as well. But don't let these things put you off - Volcanic Airways is still a fun game, worth playing.

Games Master Challenge: Complete the game with a score higher than 23,500.

Game #019: Hunger Strike

Click here to play the game!

Controls: Mouse to create, upgrade and sell turrets as well as pause the game and use menus - see the in-game instructions for more detail.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard (need a strategy)

Objective: Place different towers in different place to destroy the 'hunger pangs' (enemies) and protect the body from hunger. Proceed through all of the levels, including bosses to win. Don't let enemies get to the end or you will lose lives. A good tip is to place towers in strategic places so that they can shoot enemies on multiple parts of the area.

Source: Tower Defence Games.com

Creator: Unknown (please leave a comment if you do!)

Rating: 4/5 - I must admit, I'm not a big fan of these Tower Defence games. This may largely be because I'm not too good at them. Nonetheless, I'll try and remain impartial during this review. Hunger Strike is a fun game to play, with interesting music and sounds. What you need to do isn't too original, but if you've never played this genre of game before it can be difficult. Fortunately, there are some helpful in-game instructions. There are five different towers which can be placed in the area, all with fun names, my favourite being the 'Big Daddy Burger', which is also the most powerful and expensive weapon. Although towers can be upgraded, I had hoped for a larger variety of them. Once you get started, the game picks up and starts to be quite fun, right up until the moment it grows tedious, once you've finished about 30 or so levels. Not even this game's fun take on Tower Defence games can make up for that. So if you're bored of Tower Defence games, but find yourself addicted to them, give this one a try!

Games Master Challenge: Complete all of the levels.