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For Your Friday Time Spending Pleasure

Dec 11, 2009
By .
Effluvia, Gaming, Geekery

It can't be wasting time if it feels good to do it, right?

Obey the Game is the latest flash game effort from thoughtful author John (previous interesting efforts include: Achievement Unlocked and This is the Only Level).  The other games I mentioned offered some interesting if shallow looks at certain kinds of game mechanics.  Obey the Game is cleverer and more fun to boot.  The game places you in a series of challenges, each needing to be beaten before a short timer expires.  The goal is displayed in the center of the screen (e.g. "use the stairs" on a level with several spiked platforms and, yes, a stair case).  Follow the instructions and you advance to the next level.  Consecutive wins will net extra lives.  Some of the challenges are arcadish and they get harder as you go.  Simple right?  Well, the game (randomly?  I don't know) will sometimes tell you to "disobey", which means doing the opposite.  Don't take the stairs (dying is appropriate here!).  Don't collect the coins.  Stay alive (on the suicide level, natch). The only thing that costs a life is failing to obey (or, if the game so orders it, disobey) the goal.  The challenge escalates quickly often meaning a split second decision wins or loses the level.  The game is surprisingly fun.

Secondly, we have Elona Shooter .  A castle defense game based on the fascinating rogue like of the same name.  It features different classes, leveling and skill gain, lots of structures to build up in town which do different things, loot collecting.  It's difficult but pretty fun.  Hunter and Rogue are the suggested starting classes (both get an immediate helper you'll want to replace ASAP.  The hunter gets a bow gun, they rule.  The rogue is a money making machine).  You can earn achievements to help you on the current and subsequent play-throughs (if you're a masochist; I am).

Last 5 posts by Grandy

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2 Comments

  1. Ezra  •  Dec 11, 2009 @2:12 pm

    These are awesome Grandy! Plus, you introduced me to a new roguelike (one of my favorite things!) Consider my Friday wasted…

  2. Grandy  •  Dec 11, 2009 @2:57 pm

    You can put aside any worries you might have about Elona's cutesy graphical style (or, for that matter, graphics if you're a diehard Ascii man). Elona has a ton of fascinating mechanics.

    Breed monsters. Create museums and other interesting structures to earn income. Get into gene-mechanics (not just for monsters; you can spawn progeny to carry on in a new game and benefit in different ways). Lots of random jobs. Set quests. Story dungeons. Random dungeons. Many different classes and skills.

    It has quite a bit going for it.

    It has a lot going for it.