The Great Tree. A Great Game!

I was getting depressed. The lack of quality games being released in the casual game market as of late has just been horrible to say the least. I thought the entire holiday season was going to be a complete wash out and then like a bolt of lightning, a game from Reflexive is released and saves the day!

The name of the game is The Great Tree. And simply put, it is a great game. The story line is absolutely the best I have seen in years and the graphics have set a new standard for the industry. The playability is like that of a mesmerizing book, you just can't put it down. Reflexive has always put out professional products with tons of polish, but this time, they out did themselves!

This is a game for us grown-ups. This is a fantasy game that pulls you into the plot and grips you with such force that you hate to even stop to grab a bite to eat! The plot is to save a great tree that is dying. I won't tell you anymore because I don't want to ruin anything for you.

If you buy one game over the course of this holiday season, this is absolutely the one to get. The trial download will give you just a minuscule taste of the game, and although that taste is fantastic, it cannot convey the depth of the game. This game is in my top five for all of 2007.

Kill an Imp! You'll be glad you did!

I have no idea why I like match games. Now I know why I am not a huge fan of hidden object games, but match games, for some reason they just hit my button. Maybe I am just easily amused and the hidden object games require too much thought or effort while the match games are more reactive in some way. So it is not with surprise that I really enjoyed Svetlograd.

This color match game really has some bang factor. In fact, there are so many explosions taking place that you kick back from the monitor and go "yeah baby"! And power-ups, well it is just insane and this aspect only makes for more domino effect explosions. Now add 100 Levels to this recipe and the finished product is just plain nuts!

Now everybody and their weird programming pimple faced cousin has released a match game. Lets face it they all work the same. Sure there are some spins and tricked up ways to match, but you still match, the genre cannot expand on that basis. So the only way to set yourself apart from the stampede is to provide an experience where the player clears a level, kicks back and says "wow, that was fun". This little diddy gives you that ride every level!

Download the trial and blow up some Imps. I guarantee a smile on your face. And for you explosion freaks out there, make sure you have your dribble cup handy.

The Ultimate RPG & Strategy Game Period!

Yep, the title makes quite a statement. But the game backs it up. It really is the ultimate. We were somewhat fans of Diablo and Fate, but this one just blows them away. The depth of the game is not to be believed!

You play the part of one of four roles; a Warrior, Rogue, Priest or Mage. And you can customize them as you move through the game. The best part is that the very movement is dynamic, it constantly changes due to your actions. Yep, its a living world! And with all the variables of locations, items, experience levels and the like, you may never really experience every combination that the game affords.

Many of this genre fulfill the strategy or the action associated with the role play. Few fulfill both. Depths of Peril is one of the few that not only accomplishes this fulfillment, it takes both category's to new levels. Now throw in over forty short stories, and well, you start to get the picture.

And for the blood thirsty individuals, and you know who you are, there is enough slashing and mayhem to keep you grinning for months.

The trial time frames will give you a taste for this game, but only that. To experience the many courses and enjoy the full meal, you have to pony up the cash. But it is an investment you will not regret!

I was waiting for this game to come out, I have to admit that. I enjoyed the first release Cradle of Rome. There are match three games and there are match three games. Some are run of the mill and some just manage to differentiate themselves and pull free from the herd. I was expecting Cradle of Persia to be one that was able to make that claim. I was not disappointed.

If you played the first cradle game, you know what to expect. Crisp match three play, great graphics, good music and “I can’t wait for the next level” playability. The successor has all this and more. The matching is accomplished by clicking on a tile and dragging it to make a three in a row match. You get the points and new tiles slide into the slots opened when the matched tiles disappeared. Sounds easy right? You will change your mind when that clock starts ticking down.

The storyline is all based on acquiring the usual resources such as food and precious metals. You use these goods to pay for everything you need to build cities. And success feeds upon itself and the more you acquire the more bonuses you are awarded, and the more fun you have. As I played it dawned on me that this game plays a lot like Big Kahuna Reef and everyone knows just how successful that game was. I predict this game will hit that level of success and possibly more. Take a spin around the block with this one and at least download the trial. But beware, as they say in the car selling business, behind the wheel seals the deal! You take this one for a test drive, more then likely, you are going to take it home.