Porter's World

Here are the Prince’s top picks of the month, these are the best of the best from May of 2010.

1.) Cursed Treasure: Don’t Touch My Gems! – This game will speak for itself within the first few minutes of playing. Beautiful graphics, extremely balanced gameplay, and that wonderful TD magic we all love.

2.) Talesworth Adventure: Episode 1 – The mechanic has been done before, but never this well. Talesworth Adventure Episode 1 takes exploration and puzzles to a whole new level.

3.) Wallace and Gromit: Sprocket Rocket – This game is the most unique and well put together physics games since Hannah In A Choppa. It features incredible graphics, unique gameplay mechanics, and a very solid build all around.

4.) Pixel Legions – Pixel Legions is an incredibly enjoyable and well presented strategy game that plays much like Phage Wars, but with a few added features.

5.) Traverse – Traverse is the newest game released by myself and Andrew of Epic Shadow entertainment. It uses mechanics you’ve seen over and over again, but adds a few layers of polish to make it shine like none other before it. Incredibly crafty level design makes for more challenge then the genre has ever presented before; see how much of it your brain can tackle.

If you haven’t checked out all of the above games, I strongly suggest you head over and give them a play, they’re all of excellent quality. Be sure to check back frequently to the greatest source of quality games on the net.

Here are the Prince’s top picks of the month, these are the best of the best from March of 2010.

1.) Remnants of Skystone – Remnants of Skystone is an incredibly well-built, steampunk, action-oriented MMORPG. This game has the highest production value of any flash game I’ve ever seen. Incredible visuals, amazing structure, multiple character classes, vast maps to explore, flash really hasn’t seen anything to this degree yet. If you like RPG’s, action games, or MMORPG’s, definitely give Remnants of Skystone a play.

2.) Mushroom Madness 2 – Mushroom Madness is an incredibly polished and addictive action-oriented defense game. The game offers plenty of upgrades, unique enemies, multiple game modes, and a ton of charm. I loved the first one, and the second simply builds upon an already working formula.

3.) Robot Wants Kitty – I definitely have a soft spot for retro games, but I also have on for the Metroid series, this game reaches out to both my likings. Explore and work your way through a single open level, collect upgrades, and get yourself that kitty.

4.) Valthirian Arc – Valthirian Arc is a mini sized action-RPG with a lot of charm. It’s not too complex, it’s easy to play, and it has excellent audio and visuals. It is a bit lacking once you play it for a bit, but for a flash game, it’s just about right.

5.) Sushi Cat – Cats seem to be a theme this month, and Sushi cat is definitely a great addition. Everyone loves sushi (at least anyone awesome), and cats are basically amazing, combine the two, you get an awesome physics strategy game; who would have thought?

If you haven’t checked out all of the above games, I strongly suggest you head over and give them a play, they’re all of excellent quality. Be sure to check back frequently to the greatest source of quality games on the net.

Here are the Prince’s top picks of the month, these are the best of the best from January of 2010.

1.) Alice is Dead: Chapter 2 – The incredibly popular point and click adventure delivers its second chapter with even more sketchy fairy-tale goodness.

2.) Battalion: Vengeance – The Battalion series brings itself to a closing with this final chapter; fans of the series won’t be disappointed.

3.) Transcripted – Transcripted is one of the more unique games to come out as of late. It’s fantastic art style and suiting ambiance track create a fantastic atmosphere worth checking out on its own. That aside, it offers a fantastic mix of both puzzle and action elements, definitely a must play for anyone interested in either genre.

4.) Civilizations Wars – Civilizations Wars is a very charming tactical strategy game with a lot of new additions to an already working concept. Fans of Nano War will be pleased with it’s fantastic visuals and enhanced gameplay through the ability to use spells.

5.) Helicops – Helicops is an entertaining action game with very nice pseudo 3D visuals. Tons of upgrades, various enemy types, and fast paced gameplay make this a must play.

If you haven’t checked out all of the above games, I strongly suggest you head over and give them a play, they’re all of excellent quality. Be sure to check back frequently to the greatest source of quality games on the net.

Here are the Prince’s top picks of the month, these are the best of the best from October of 2009.

1.) Miami Shark – Casual, fast paced, and fun, Miami Shark does it all, and it does it well. You’ll go on a quick rampage of eating everything, people, boats, and even planes. The game is as easy to play as it is fun, a combination perfectly suited for the flash game industry. This game is definitely of excellent quality, give it a play.

2.) Clockwords – There have been a number of word games to this date, but Clockwords is by far the most entertaining I’ve come across. It’s an excellent mix of a word game, and the defense genre, something I’ve never seen before. It’s got some RPG elements to keep you addicted, and it’s a definite challenge, even for those who are rather literate. Definitely a must play for any intellectual types out there.

3.) Trap Master – The defense genre takes yet another rare step this month. Trap Master combines the excellence of both the platforming and defense genre, and does so wonderfully. Tons of traps, multiple characters, and amazing graphics, make this a must play for all.

4.) Gretel And Hansel – Gretel and Hansel is an excellent point and click adventure, with a very unique art style. You’ll enjoy rich visuals, as well as engaging story and gameplay in this excellent twisted fairy tale adventure.

5.) Cover Orange – Cover Orange is an excellent physics game with a neat twist on the genre. In each level you will prepare the stage to defend against an angry rain cloud. I don’t know what we’ve done to anger him, but it’s best we keep our defenses up regardless.

If you haven’t checked out all of the above games, I strongly suggest you head over and give them a play, they’re all of excellent quality. Be sure to check back frequently to the greatest source of quality games on the net.

Here are the Prince’s top picks of the month, these are the best of the best from September of 2009.

1.) Momentum Missile Mayhem 4 – Momentum Missile Mayhem 4 is a fast paced, action packed physics game like no other. I rarely sit down and play an entire flash game these days, this one really drew me in and presented an excellent level of challenge. Tons of levels, a great skill tree system, and a variety in enemies, make this an excellent game that should definitely be played by all.

2.) Madness Accelerant – Madness Accelerant offers an action filled adventure like no other flash game. Beautiful graphics and intense boss moments give an experience that really isn’t found anywhere else in flash games. Any fan of the Madness series will be truly entertained by this masterpiece of a quick action filled adventure.

3.) Mushroom Madness – Defense games have always been among player’s favorites. Mushroom Madness offers an impressive mix of charming graphics, balanced gameplay, and action oriented defense mechanics. Various weapons and upgrades make this medium sized game pass by without a dull moment, give it a play.

4.) SkyFyre – SkyFyre offers some of the internet’s most intense side scrolling shooter action. Four classes, a shop, and a level up system, all allow you to customize and play the game in a number of unique styles. Take the above combination and mix in some retro graphics, and you have one hell of a gaming experience.

5.) Back To The Cubeture – Cuboy has been a successful animation on the net for some time now. Cuboy has now entered the gaming atmosphere, and in what better way then through a time traveling adventure? Highly entertaining voice acting and a crazy story make this one of the best point and click adventure games to exist on the net today.

If you haven’t checked out all of the above games, I strongly suggest you head over and give them a play, they’re all of excellent quality. Be sure to check back frequently to the greatest source of quality games on the net.

Mushroom Madness

Mushroom Madness is yet another rare gem in the action oriented defense genre. It was only just days ago that I did a Momentum Missile Mayhem 4 Review, praising the game for standing out in the genre, but here we are today with yet another successful game of it’s kind. There may be some connection in having a successful game, use of the letter “M”, and using alliteration, but we’ll save that mystery for another day, and most likely for someone other than myself. That aside, this fantastic game is put together brilliantly, and is a top notch game, perfectly suited for the flash game industry.

Mushroom Madness, as I mentioned earlier, is a fantastic action oriented defense game. The object is simple, protect you’re mushrooms from hedgehogs, bears, and birds. You’ll achieve this goal by using your trusty swatter, an automatic gun, a shot gun, bear traps, and bombs. Hedgehogs will attempt to grab your mushrooms and run off with them, as will birds that swoop in; bears however don’t have the patience to eat when they get home, and have their feast on the spot. Like all good defense games, the game offers the ability to upgrade a few features that allow you to customize how you play. Upgrades include, stronger hits with your swatter, quicker recharge time for the swatter, longer stun duration, the ability to purchase new strikes with the swatter, more regular gun ammo, bigger radius for bomb explosions, more durable bear traps, and more shotgun ammo. The way you upgrade really effects the way you play, I know that when I tackle hard mode (which is unlocked after beating the game on normal mode once), I’ll be taking a much different approach. The balancing and difficulty are also spot on, I found myself in a constant state of enjoyment, slightly challenged at times, and never frustrated or bored, which is a very nice achievement on the developers part. This game won’t offer nearly as much strategy as Bloons TD3, rather more of a hands on defense feel such as that which can be found in Storm The House 3; which is great, because that’s exactly what the developers were going for. Either way, fans of both action and defense games will definitely be in for a treat when they give this game a play.

The graphics in Mushroom Madness are incredibly charming. At times, I almost feel bad about dropping a bomb on a poor defenseless hedgehog, but then I remember it’s just a game, that and a small part of my sick and twisted human mind loves doing it, so I can’t complain. The colors used in this game are very well selected, everything is vibrant and filled with life, that is until you drop another bomb on the hedgehog, then there really isn’t much life to be found at all. Hedgehog bomb jokes aside, the art really is fantastic. The sprites in this isometric game are very proportional and well animated, absolutely no flaws there.

As should be the case in all games, the audio is very well suited and compliments the art brilliantly. The music is very upbeat, charming, and sounds like it should be thrown into something fun, which is exactly what it does here. The sound effects are incredibly clear, everything from the wolf howls in the upgrade menu, to the sound of the shotgun firing away. In addition, the volume of each sound effect is very well balanced, something a few games occasionally miss out on doing. All in all, the music and sound effects were very well done, and definitely build up the games fun and enjoyable atmosphere.

There you have it, another fantastic game snatched up by King. There really isn’t anything bad about this game; the gameplay is incredibly casual, the graphics charming, the music high quality and fitting, all qualities a great flash game should excel in. In addition to the main game, there’s also a number of mini games to be unlocked as you progress, all of which are simple, yet add value. Lastly, for all those who are looking to get a bit more hardcore with the game, there’s a survival mode in which you can submit your high score, perfect for anyone looking for some competition. Bottom line, this game is of excellent quality, looks great, and is incredibly fun, definitely give it a play.

Momentum Missile Mayhem 4

It’s not often I find a flash game that really draws me in, Momentum Missile Mayhem 4 is one of those rare exceptions. There has never been an action oriented defense game that has successfully drawn me in like this game. Everything shines with high production value, the music, the graphics, the interface, and most importantly, the gameplay. I’m constantly ranting about how flash games are ridiculously watered down in difficulty, this game pleases me even there, offering enough challenge to have stolen a few hours of my life, hours that I’m not about to ask to get back. I know a lot of players as well as developers hate hearing about high production value, but this is one of the cases where high production value really deserves to be pointed out. The amount of polish put into this game is intense, and I’m certain it paid off in the sponsorship deal.

The gameplay in Momentum Missile Mayhem 4 is awesome, very awesome. The physics are spot on, the enemies interesting, and variety of things to do immense. The RPG factors within the skill tree system alone are enough to hook most players, the intense heated battles finish it off for the rest. There are a number of special skills to help you on the battlefield, some unlocked from beating bonus missions in the campaign mode, others you start with. Your primary projectiles can be upgraded to shoot faster, deal more damage, and contain more mass, which sends enemies flying further and faster which feels quite rewarding. By applying points to the gravity launcher upgrade, you can also unlock 4 other types of projectiles, all with unique properties and uses, and of course, their own level. Some of the more intense attacks have cool down timers, but that’s all just part of the amazing balancing this game has to offer. Aside from the starting and four additional types of projectiles you can get via leveling up the gravity launcher upgrade, you can unlock a sixth type by clearing a bonus mission which is unlocked roughly half way through the game, and believe me, you don’t want to miss this one. In addition to the six different projectiles you can choose from, you can level up your max shield and shield recharge rate, max energy and energy recharge rate, as well as nine other useful skills to help you dominate the battlefield. Despite the insane ability to upgrade and customize your attack strategy, you’ll find yourself using good old fashioned skill more than anything to stay alive in this game. This game is hard, not so hard it’s unfair, but hard enough to give you a few hours of gameplay if you want to finish the entire campaign, not to mention the sandbox and Armageddon mode. Aside from a few minor issues that make the difficulty unfair, rather than hard, the gameplay is presented perfectly.

The graphics in Momentum Missile Mayhem 4 are definitely top notch. The explosions look excellent, the textures on background terrain superb, and the various effects during special attacks are flawless. The enemy designs are each unique, and well thought out as well. They all vary in size, shape, and color, where as many games recycle designs and just swap up color and size. The most unappreciated aspect related to the graphics and design is probably the user interface, which is amazing. There is a lot of information in this game, lots of upgrade menus, lots of instructions, it’s just loaded. This game organizes all of that information and presents it in a way that isn’t overwhelming, which I applaud seeing as there’s so much to do and learn. All around there isn’t a single graphical flaw in this game, it’s well presented, well polished, and it looks excellent.

I’ve explained time and time again about the importance of game music, I’m proud to say that this game follows absolutely everything I have to say on the matter. The title screen music is relaxing, much like the calm before a battle. The level selection menu is more pumped, it hints that things are about to heat up, it’s time to prepare. Lastly, the gameplay music, a mild rock tune with a lot of energy, perfectly fitting the mood of the action packed battles. The sound effects are excellent, and none are missing. There’s sounds for menu hover, menu select, firing, blowing up, specials, explosions, and so on, they’re all there. All the sounds are incredibly fitting, none are too high pitched and hurt with headphones, and all are crystal clear. This game is a fine example of how audio can add to the value of a game by being exceptionally fitting.

All in all I’m very pleased with this game. I rarely find a flash game that I hold on par with games outside of the industry, but this one definitely goes onto my list of great games in general. I really don’t have anything negative to say about this game, there are a few minor unfair situations that can occur that are out of the players control, but it happens, and when compared to the amount of superb balance this game offers, I really can’t complain. If you’re looking for some great action, or some more hands on strategic defense, Momentum Missile Mayhem 4 is definitely the game for you.

Scribblenauts

It’s not every day that I see a console game that could become a flash game, and even rarer that I find one that is almost screaming to be turned into one. Scribblenauts for the Nintendo DS is one of those rare gems, and it’s just blessed the world with it’s presence today. Scribblenauts is not only an amazing game, but it’s the first game I’ve actually looked forward to and felt was truly original since Portal came out with the Orange Box. If you’re unfamiliar with Portal, log into your steam account now and check it out, you can also try Portal: The Flash Version which is basically the same concept, but in 2D.

First off, let’s take a look at what makes Scribblenauts such an amazing game. The point of the game is to solve various puzzles, or reach the goal, to receive the magical that is a starite. The way you solve these puzzles is where Scribblenauts really shines. You can move around using the DS’s stylus, look around using the D-Pad or ABXY buttons, and last but not least, click on the note pad and write in anything that comes to mind. What does writing in anything that comes to mind do for you exactly? It brings it to life, plops it into the world in front of you, and begs you to interact with it in whichever way possible. You can write so many things it’s unbelievable, the database of items is absolutely massive. I’ve only played the game a very short while since it just came out, but already I’ve ridden a whale, had that whale defeat an angry lion, and used a rocket to blow holes in the ground to navigate to new areas. When I say you can write anything, I mean it. Admittedly (and this is nearly impossible to avoid) you can stump the system and come up with something it doesn’t have, but you nearly have to try to do so which is quite impressive; on top of that, it gives you options that are close to whatever you typed that wasn’t found, so you really can’t complain. After you create various objects, you can ride them, throw them, shoot them, combine them, and so on. If this doesn’t sound at all amusing to you, you’re anhedonic, and I’m sorry for your loss.

So you may thinking that the above is quite impressive, well, it is. So how does this relate to the flash industry? How can such an impressive game be moved to a platform such as flash? Easily is how. The entire game, although amazing, is basically a giant database of words, tons of simple art and animation, basic platforming, and a fine dose of Box2D or your favorite physics engine. The art has it’s own style, but is certainly something that could be seen in a flash game. It’s colorful, simplistic, and almost looks as if someone drew it with a tablet. The biggest draw back I see is that the game is 32MB, which would be a massive flash game, but I’m sure a lot of the file size are files that pertain directly towards communication with the DS and stuff of that nature. If not, the database of items could be loaded externally to reduce the file size to something acceptable. Regardless of the solution picked, it’s definitely doable. The game would undeniably be a huge project, but it’s one that could definitely shine as one of the greatest flash games to this day. The game really is perfect for the flash platform, and I’m almost surprised the company didn’t launch a mini game flash version to build up some extra hype for the DS release. It’s creative, it’s the most intuitive game since Portal, and it’s amazingly casual and laid back, which is perfect for the flash industry.

The most impressive aspect of the game is that game developers have once again created something incredibly original. After thousands of clones of great games, another company has stepped forward, used some creativity, taken a risk, and is now reaping the rewards for their work on an original concept. The most inspiring thought I get from the above isthis, yes they developed the game for the DS, but it could just as easily been you or I developing this game for the DS. Creative ideas that have yet to be thought of are still out there; leave the tower defense games and physics clones for someone else, and embrace the importance of originality.

Interested in picking up Scribblenauts? Buy it here –

Here are the Prince’s top picks of the month, these are the best of the best from August of 2009.

1.) Cyclomaniacs – CycloManiacs is an incredibly casual bike racing game that is in my opinion the best racing game flash has to offer. It’s incredibly casual and you can jump right in and play, whether it be for a few minutes, or an hour plus. It’s strongest points are simplicity, as well as straight up fun, it’s just an enjoyable game.

2.) Guardian Rock – I’ve always been a fan of puzzle games, especially those that are simple in solution, but really make you think. Guardian Rock offers incredibly awesome visuals, 48+ levels, and enough challenge to keep your mind busy for just the right amount of time. This is definitely the best sliding puzzle game to date, I’ll go as far as to put it above my own game in the same genre, Dominus Void.

3.) Another Small Favor – Another Small Favor is another one of Zeebarf’s finest creations to date. Excellent art and an enormous environment make this one of the best point and click adventures to date.

4.) Frantic 2 – Frantic 2 is another great arcade styled shooter with style. Tons of weapons and other upgrades make this a great game for action fans and RPG lovers alike. If bullet dodging wasn’t on your to do list, I suggest you add it and give this game a play.

5.) Pyro II – Pyro 2 offers more of the same great fun the first game had to offer, but includes an amazing level editor to create and share levels with the rest of the world. You can’t find better anywhere else, at least as far as physics and bouncing fire around goes.

If you haven’t checked out all of the above games, I strongly suggest you head over and give them a play, they’re all of excellent quality. Be sure to check back frequently to the greatest source of quality games on the net.

Castle Crashing the Beard

Castle Crashing the Beard is an incredibly short game, but it offers a great amount of fun while it lasts. The game has fluid controls, great graphics, an addicting level up system, and an awesome boss that you’ll insist on seeing the death of once you start playing this great game. It is a bit on the hard side for the average casual gamer, but as a whole, it’s a great example of an awesome action flash game.

The game has a bit of an interesting back story, so we’ll look at that quickly. Tom Fulp, creator of Alien Hominid, and owner of Newgrounds, was working day and night on finishing Castle Crashers, which the characters of this game are based off of. As motivation to complete the game, he vowed to stop shaving his beard until his job was completed. As a result, Tom had a beast of a beard (not really, but in comparison to his normally shaved self, yeah, so we’ll go with it). This beard inspired his friends and co-workers to make a game joking of how his beard will grow beastly and destroy all.

The object of the game is to play as a Castle Crasher and destroy Tom’s beard before it destroys you. It’s a simple 1 on 1 boss battle, you vs the beard. You can attack at close range, or charge your attack if you have mp and shoot a semi long ranged attack. Each hit earns you experience points to level up your character, which gives you better attack, combos and a sweet new look. Although the boss AI follows a simple pattern as all classic arcade games did, many players may find the challenge a bit overwhelming as you must be a bit cautious about taking damage since your life is low.

The strongest point of Castle Crashing the Beard is the simplicity of it. You press one button on the start menu and are immediately in the middle of your one and only fight of the game. Aside from the jump in and play action element, many players will find the game strongly addicting as they not only try to beat the boss, but level up their character to the max level, win or lose. The controls are as simple as can be, and because of this instructions really aren’t needed. The movement is fluid, the speeds perfect and the action is fast paced, all very welcome attributes for any game.

In the end, Castle Crashing the Beard is a simple game that will take you between 3 minutes and an hour, but it’s enjoyable for what it is. It lacks any serious depth (although the engine could certainly be used for a longer game), and it is, as I mentioned, a bit on the hard side. In addition, there’s also a neat Easter egg for any oldschool gamers like myself out there, the ending credits screen is based off of the credits screen from Super Mario Bros 2 for the NES. That aside, it’s a fast paced arcade boss battle that will surely entertain you until you destroy the beard.