Thursday, January 20, 2011

Ipod: Games of The Week

Kosmo Spin



Kosmo Spin is a simple yet addicting new game from Simogo. You play as a little space creature who has to save the breakfast thingys. These breakfast thingys are being abducted by a UFO. You’re goal? To save the most breakfast thingys you can without being abducted yourself.

Not only can you break your own records in this game, you can also do quests for strangers. Quests can range from collecting breakfast thingys, hitting 5 balls within 30 seconds, or surviving for 15 seconds. This adds variety and more hours into this game.  There is also an Ilomilo cameo in the game…



This is the first game from Simogo. I cannot wait for their next game which is going to be on a “Super Secret Platform”, perhaps the Nintendo 3DS? I don’t know, but I just know it will be excellent.


Now for the next game….



Pooky The Poo



Feeling nostalgic? Then you better download this free game from Gamugamu. This game is definitely based off the Game & Watch games, “Chef” and “Helmet”. You play as Pooky the Poo. Your objective? To dodge miscellaneous toilet products while eating flies. The game has two modes just like the Game & Watch games, an A and B mode. A mode is easier and slow paced, while B mode is harder and has a faster pace.



There isn’t much to say about the game except that it is a very well copy of the Game and Watch games. It is so simple but so enjoyable. I was hooked and played non-stopped for hours. On the game’s leader boards I am in the Top Twenty.

Pooky The Poo. Why did they pick poo for the main character? I have no idea. Nonetheless, the game is fun and addictive. It really makes me ashamed that I sold the GBA port of Game and Watch.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

ilomilo; a world full of childhood memories




One of the best puzzle games I played last year (Got an early trial code to unlock the full game) and the only puzzle game I’ve played this year. ilomilo is like a world full of childhood memories. One of the first things I noticed about playing the game is the soundtrack which is filled with whistling and xylophone dinging music. Then the world opens up to our characters Ilo and Milo, two best friends who are always getting separated by the always changing park filled with blocks. It is up to you to help the two rejoice.

  In the first chapter, you are welcomed by, Sebastian. A character, who wears colonial attire and rides, what appears to be a ladybug. This character acts as your tutorial guide and occasionally gives you hints. However, he is not only a helper, he also has his own back story. Sometimes this story goes on to an emotional time in his life when; his wife divorced him.

To unlock more of the other stories in the game you must first complete requirements such as; collecting enough “shinies”, records, photos, and little creatures called safkas. These will unlock memory fragments that were lost from the blocks changing so often. Yet, by trying to collect everything can cause some frustration or some difficulty completing a level 100 percent. Some problems that me and many other players have encountered is not being able to pickup a record because you aren’t accessing it the “proper” way, when you clearly are touching it. Some other problems that I haven’t personally experienced is the game freezing the whole system when trying to pickup a moving block. These are only two problems I know of.

Not only is there single player mode, there is also a cooperative mode. The co-op is that of Super Mario Galaxy’s co-op. Your friend controls a pointer that can help you point out  the not so obvious items or blocks that can help you along your journey. This includes eggs that can fetch you an achievement. The mode is available to players playing on one screen or through Xbox Live.

The design of the game is that of a child’s imagination; blocky, colorful, friendly, and cute. You will notice many creatures and buildings floating around the level. This may bring some nostalgia, of you going into the toy box as a kid and playing with the many toys and building blocks you’re parents gave you. The chapters will go beyond just a regular sky bubble, but will dwell below sea level or beyond the galaxy. This opens up how the game was developed with a kid’s imagination in mind. Included in some of the maps are crossovers from other games, such as World of Goo, and costumes for Ilo and Milo from Raskulls and A World of Keflings.





ilomilo, is such a wondrous game to explore. Many levels may challenge some, while others will find it very easy to beat the game under 4 hours. With only a few flaws, the game is a well developed puzzle game that will make you feel nostalgic . The art style is crisp and colorful and looks beautiful. When finishing the game you will be craving more. The game may be a short Xbox Live Arcade game, but for a price tag of 800 MSP, you can’t really whine. If you got motion sickness from playing Super Mario Galaxy; then be warned for the later levels where you’ll be, twisty and curving around the levels to achieve your goal of uniting Ilo and Milo to be together again for another picnic. This is to say, the game isn’t for everyone especially if you consider yourself a, “Hardcore” gamer, none the less the game is quite amazing. I can only hope something as breath-taking of a game is spawned from SouthEnd Interactive.