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.

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.

Grid 16

Grid 16 is a rather under-appreciated flash game that not enough people know about. It offers some intense gaming moments and a unique twist on classic games that is sure to entertain anyone who takes the time to check it out. Simple controls, visuals, and goals, make this the perfect game to pick up and play on a lunch break.

Grid 16 plays in a very unique way, it’s actually 16 mini games tossed together to form one large game. The game will randomly jump between games after a set amount of time, and as you last longer, the speed at which the games are played increases. If you lose at a game, it takes it out of the 16 games you can play, and you’re left with the remaining games until there are none left. As speed increases and you get better at the games, so do the intense gamer moments that have you on the edge of your seat.

The strongest characteristic of Grid 16 is it’s casual gameplay. The ability to jump in and instantly play 16 mini games in just a few minutes gives a perfect experience for many casual gamers. Aside from the simple controls that are easy to pick up and get the hang of, all 16 games resemble basic mechanics seen in games time and time again, so players can instantly relate to what’s going on within seconds of seeing the game. It isn’t easy by any means, so competitive gamers get a challenge as well through the high score boards. Aside from it’s casual gameplay, the concept of flying between 16 different games at a face pace is entertaining in itself; it’s a unique gameplay mechanic that very few other games offer. A few other games such as Four Second Frenzy and Four Second Fury have used the same concept, but Grid 16 takes it a step higher with the increased speed mechanic and a few other minor tweaks.

As far as fast paced mini games go, Grid 16 is basically the best choice out there. It’s addicting, unique, and most important, entertaining. It doesn’t have all that much depth, but if you insist on getting on the high score boards you’ll have quite the task in front of you. If you find yourself reading this and you haven’t checked it out yet, give Grid 16 a play and help spread this under-appreciated flash gem.

Raider Episode 1

They just don’t make games like they used to, or do they? Some developers do indeed make them like they used to and Raider Episode 1 is proof. Raider Episode 1 looks and feels like an incredibly refined NES game. It offers incredible challenge, simple controls and tons of platforming goodness. In my opinion, Raider Episode 1 has definitely come the closest any flash game has ever come to delivering the challenge and feel of a a great classic NES game.

As I mentioned, Raider Episode 1 offers an incredibly challenging experience. It is by far too challenging for any casual flash gamer, but it delivers an experience unlike any other flash game on the net today. The level design is fantastic, the enemies simple, yet fun, and the distance between check points far enough to nearly drive you crazy, but close enough to keep you addicted and trying over and over when you die and start at the last one. The art is very retro, but refined to appeal to those who dislike pure 8-bit graphics, which is a smart move since I’ve found that points are often taken away in the public’s eye if you go too retro. The music is awesome and the sound effects incredibly retro and fitting. There are 3 difficulty modes for players to select, the easiest still being a bit too hard for casual flash gamers, and the hardest challenging the most hardcore NES veterans. For those who really desire a challenge, the game awards you a rank after completion which ranges from E to S, S being the best. This rank will be saved to your computer and read in when playing future installments of the game as well. Regardless of the difficulty selected, there is enough difficulty in this game to satisfy anyone with a thirst for challenge.

Unlike most NES games, Raider Episode 1 does in fact have a story. It’s going to be slowly introduced throughout five episodes. You play as Arkus Zei, a space pirate in need of some currency. Arkus is told of a rumor regarding a great ship filled with relics from a civilization that long ago destroyed themselves. Out of curiosity you pursue the coordinates you were told and indeed arrive upon a large ship. You must navigate this ship in search for relics and escape with the loot. You are armed with a close range sword and a long ranged blaster to defeat any threats you encounter. In addition to the default story, players will be able to see a slightly altered version of the story in the final installment, if their rank throughout all five episodes meets the requirements. The story is interesting enough and most will enjoy the additional content, and those who don’t can simply skip it. All in all it’s a nice addition that helps wrap up the package for this great game.

Overall there can’t be enough said to do this game justice. The game did suffer some rather low ratings on the net, but that’s unfortunately the result of developers holding the hands of players and making things too easy in modern day games. In the end, Raider Episode 1 is perfect for anyone looking to go back to the NES days or a great challenge, definitely give this game a fair play, you won’t regret it.

Drakojan Skies Acolytes

As many of my readers and friends may know, I’m a huge fan of RaidenX, a fan made flash tribute to the Raiden series.  There is however, another great game of it’s type, one that I enjoy just as much, if not more than RaidenX, that game is Drakojan Skies Acolytes.

Drakojan Skies Acolytes is a horizontal arcade shooter that rivals even the best of which arcades have seen. It has amazing graphics, an upbeat soundtrack, and very challenging, yet enjoyable gameplay. The game offers many characters and ships to choose from, and has 7 missions to play through. The game offers a Star Fox 64 style level layout, meaning you can beat mission one and go to either 2 or 3, and then branch again from there, ultimately ending up at mission 7. The missions range in difficulty greatly, and there is enough challenge for even the most hardcore arcade shooter fans out there, believe me, I just died on mission 6 after playing for a half hour. As you encounter enemies within the fast paced action, you can attack with your primary weapon, your secondary weapon which is a small bomb that explodes mid air below you when dropped, and lastly your special weapon. Both your primary and secondary weapon can be upgraded during gameplay as you encounter power-ups, and your special weapon can be upgraded between stages in the workshop using the points you’ve earned by defeating enemies. On top of all these great features, the game even comes complete with a few unlockables such as a new character, new ship, and some extra modes to play your favorite levels.

This game is admittedly not entirely suited for the flash game audience, that however means nothing on the quality of the game. It is significantly too hard for the average flash gamer out there, but I believe the developers simply stayed true to their original image and never eased on the difficulty just to please the majority. This is perhaps what hurt the game from becoming the next big flash hit on the internet, on the other hand those who appreciate it for what it is truly enjoy every moment of it.

The game excels in a number of ways, graphics definitely being one of those. Drakojan Skies Acolytes has some of the most impressive flash game graphics I’ve encountered to date. The characters are beautifully drawn, the textures and images professionally done, and the effects look spectacular. With very little additional work the graphics could definitely be suitable for an arcade cabinet launch. Aside from graphics, the game is very action oriented. There is never a slow moment or dull boss battle you can let your guard down on, the entire game is fast paced and loaded with activity. In addition to the great graphics and fast paced action, the music is definitely a plus as well. The music although scarce at times, is very suiting. The genres range from epic, to metal, which may sound odd at first, but amidst the action it certainly plays it’s role.

If you are in any way a fan of arcade shooters and haven’t played this yet, I strongly encourage you to give it a fair play through. If you happen to like the game enough, you can play Drakojan Skies Missions 1-3 for a bit more of the same great action. Overall I can’t really see anything to improve upon in this game, it’s perfect for what it is and has everything I look for when trying to go back and get the feeling that great arcade shooters have to offer.

RaidenX

There’s been a ton of great flash games as of late, but something people often forget about are the classic gems of the flash world. RaidenX is an amazing game that was created as a tribute to the Raiden series. The original Raiden games can be found all over arcades around the world (or once could be, curse the decline of great arcade games, Street Fighter 4 aside) and was also ported for the Play Station 1.

RaidenX was created in mid 2005 and sponsored by CrazyMonkeyGames, (lucky them!) Since that day it has received over 11.5 million plays on CMG’s site alone, and continues to get attention as one of the greatest flash games of its time.

This game is all about quick action, something most people on the net need in order to stay entertained these days. From the moment you press play on the main menu you’re immediately tossed into the battle zone as Stage 1 starts. The controls are simple, “Z” to shoot and “X” to use your special. This kind of quick action is something that really adds to the value of a flash game. Most players are looking for casual play, something to jump into and play on a lunch break or during class at school when nobody’s looking; RaidenX is a perfect example of quick pick up and play action, yet still offers a save feature so you can complete the game over time if not in one sitting.

Aside from its easy controls and fast paced action, the game offers an expansive game-play with a decent number of levels and a nice twist that will catch some players off guard towards the end. The game offers nearly everything the original game offered: great weapons, awesome bosses, fast-paced action, and awesome music that brings back memories of many peoples’ childhoods. It also offers the ability to change difficulty between easy, normal, and hard, yet again keeping a large number of players happy.

Although the graphics may be considered only decent in current times, they still offer their own style and get the job done. We also have to keep in mind that the game was created using AS2 and optimization back then could only do so much. The visual effects on weapons and specials are still pretty impressive and give the player a feeling of accomplishment as everything on the screen is demolished. Bosses are animated, backgrounds scroll, and everything moves fast enough to stop you from focusing on the lack of detail on any given piece of art. Overall the art is still impressive and stays true to the feel of the original game.

The music in this game is something that really brings it to life. Although the quality lacks a bit due to file size restrictions, the songs are memorable and full of atmosphere. Sound effects can be found for every action you do, from menu selection to bosses exploding; it’s all there. With the large array of sound effects and music found in this game, I think it’s safe to say that the audio portion of this game is covered.

Overall RaidenX can easily be seen as a classic flash gem of 2005. It offers great game-play, awesome weapons, an amazing soundtrack, difficulty adjusting, and basically everything else a good game needs. If you’re one of the many who haven’t checked this out previously, and/or the 11.5 million views on one site alone haven’t yet convinced you that this game is great, go give it a play yourself; you won’t be dissatisfied.