Games Blog

Anyone who lived through the 1980’s can remember the Rubik’s cube phenomenon and if like me, you were totally rubbish at it, then unpack it from those dusty boxes and with this program, you’ll solve it once and for all.

The program presents a three-dimensional cube which enables you to manipulate a Rubik’s cube as you would in real life. You have to rotate the cube using Shift and function keys with the mouse which can be tricky but you soon get used to it. The point is that the computer can teach you how to solve a Rubik’s cube in just a few minutes by showing you where it needs to go next form a certain position. The computer actually solves the cube by starting at the top right hand corner and then moving it in a counter clockwise direction. It then swivels the cube on a 360 degree axis to show you precisely where you should move next. It still takes some time to follow however because sometimes it’s difficult to judge how the positions relate to real life so you’ll have to spend some time carefully studying every move.

This is a complete cheat’s dream although you’ll be surprised at how tricky it still remains to solve the puzzle, even with the computer’s help.

Review by Nick Mead

Read more: Gestel Cube 1.42 - Learn how to solve the Rubik’s cube

No matter how much you like long, complicated videogames that suck up all your spare time, sometimes what you’re looking for is a simple entertaining game just to have some fun.
Astro Avenger II is one of those easy, amusing videogames you can play for a while without the risk of getting hooked on them for days. Like those good old arcades you used to play a few years ago, this game puts you in control of a spaceship in a vertically scrolling area where the aim is basically to kill anything that dares move in front of you.

While Astro Avenger includes many traditional elements of classical space games (the aforementioned vertical scrolling, enemy waves, lots of power-ups) it also takes advantage of current technology, mainly regarding graphics and special effects such as lasers, explosions and the likes.

What I specially liked about Astro Avenger II was the possibility to buy new weapons, shields and bots – or upgrade the ones you already have – after completing each level. On the downside, some stages are so enemy-packed you can hardly tell enemies from the background scenario.

Astro Avenger II is the kind of game when you just need some simple, easy fun: an amusing space invaders clone with loads of explosions and power-ups.

Review by Elena Santos

Read more: Astro Avenger II - Space Invaders clone with gorgeous graphics

If you’ve got no buddies to play chess against then this is your answer - with up to 256 players allowed to play at any one time and lots of exciting and fun formats, you really can’t go wrong in terms of opponents that meet your level and something a bit different.

The game is based on the KI Chess Engine which is powerful enough to allow you play against several players at once or in teams. There are several different formats available such as Bughouse, Quad (four players on one board, Roleplay chess, Darkchess (only accessible squares are visible), Turquoisechess (No check, no mate) and even Atomic chess (Pieces explode when capturing). There’s also the rather bizarre Cylindric Chess (like playing in a tube)
and Shuffle Chess (pieces are placed randomly on the baseline). In addition to all these fun features, the game also gives you control over the size of the board, and even the number of pieces on the table. You can also chat to opponent while you play although the problem seems to be that there isn’t always a great deal of people online to play but maybe as it gets more popular, this will change.

This is a fun variation on the chess genre and also a superb option for those that want to play team chess across the internet.

Review by Nick Mead

Read more: Chessy 1.11 - Play chess against up to 256 players at once

Avencast: Rise of the Mage tells the story of a young boy who’s preparing himself in an Academy to be the best mage in the world… rings you a bell?

No, the mage’s name is not Harry and the Academy is not Hogwarts. Despite any initial similarities, Avencast is quite a different game, more in the style of classical videogames such as Diablo or Neverwinter Nights. Just like these, Avencast mixes an RPG-style adventure with action-packed combats in real time, providing you with an entertaining title that will challenge your different skills.

This means that you’ll need to be lethally quick in battles against all kinds of nasty supernatural creatures, but also rack your brains in order to solve a bunch of puzzles and riddles which will in turn give you access to new sections in the game. Also, there are loads of new weapons and spells to improve your character as you progress along the game. Sadly the number of available levels in the demo is too short to experience the game at its fullest, but at least you can get a glimpse of it.

Avencast features highly detailed graphics and a overhead perspective you can adjust with the mouse. Also, there are three different ways to control your characters (varying in camera position and avatar movement) so that you feel as comfortable as possible.

Avencast: Rise of the Mage provides you with an entertaining mixture of magic, action, roleplaying and real-time that combats that challenges both your dexterity and your brains.

Review by Elena Santos

Read more: Avencast: Rise of the Mage Demo - Action meets magic in this RPG adventure

iDeaS is a Nintendo DS emulator that enables you to play Nintendo DS ROM files right on your PC. The program’s interface resembles that of the actual gaming device, featuring a double screen and support for touch technology, only that this time you use your mouse instead of the Nintendo stylus.

iDeaS allows you also to take snapshots of both screens and remap keys for a more comfortable game control. It includes a debugger to analyze the execution of ROM files.

Read more: iDeaS 1.0.2.2 - Easy Nintendo DS emulator for your PC

ZSNES is a Super Nintendo emulator game which currently runs on Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and DOS. Relive all your favourite Super Nintendo games such as Earthbound, Final Fantasy 4 and Super Mario Kart by downloading them from the developer website.

Note that this is a public beta version so you may experience instability issues.

Read more: ZSNES 1.51 - Super Nintendo classic game on your PC

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by more than 300,000 people from around the globe.

From the moment you enter the World you’ll discover a vast digital continent, teeming with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Once you’ve explored a bit, perhaps you’ll find a perfect parcel of land to build your house or business.

You’ll also be surrounded by the Creations of your fellow residents. Because residents retain the rights to their digital creations, they can buy, sell and trade with other residents. The Marketplace currently supports millions of US dollars in monthly transactions. This commerce is handled with the in-world currency, the Linden dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several thriving online currency exchanges.

Read more: Second Life 1.18.5.3 - Immerse yourself in a huge online virtual world

I’m not a big fan of chess but if I do play it, at least I want it to look good. Brutal Chess certainly fulfills this with excellent 3D graphics and some cool features to keep the game interesting.

Despite the name Brutal Chess, the game is in no way violent or brutal. The rules and gameplay are as in any other Chess game except here you can choose some pretty cool chess piece designs and the 3D graphics make it look great. The developers have added a few other touches of realism too including shadows, the ability to rotate the camera in any position and history arrows to show your previous moves. However, because the game is under constant development, it is prone to bugs. One is that you can’t move white pawns backwards and it does have problems with operating systems earlier than XP according to the developers. The game will soon utilize what’s called the Free Internet Chess Server (FICS) which allows chess fans from all over the world to play against each other. To connect to FICS you need to open a socket to freechess.org on port 5000 in your router and you’ll be able to play against anyone anywhere which will enhance the game greatly.

A good looking 3D chess game which will pack a much greater punch when some of the bugs are ironed out.

Review by Nick Mead

Read more: Brutal Chess 0.52 Alpha - Excellent 3D chess game

There aren’t many ways to spice up a game of solitaire (except perhaps combining it with strip poker) but this is one of them.

Big Solitaires 3D is a collection of 40 solitaire games made with OpenGL 3D rendering. The latest release features four different bitmaps decks, new image backgrounds, an option to load your own personal image background a few extra jazzy transitional effects and the game Klondike. The number of variations of solitaire here is a little overwhelming but a sample of what you can choose from are Canfield, Corona, Doubles, Easthaven, Emperor and Forty Thieves.

The game controls and features aren’t exactly spectacular but it’s the 3D graphics that give this collection something special. Within the games, you can elect to go fullscreen or window mode in any resolution that’s supported by the particular game you’ve chosen. You can choose a number of camera angles and you can perform redos and undos for moves. You can also spice things up a bit by going for three decks of cards instead of one or two. You can also choose what style you want the decks to be in - retro, fun or old style. For solitaire addicts, the game also keeps stats on your exact performance during a game meaning that you’ll always find new ways to improve yourself.

Note that you’ll need a decent graphics card though because on older machines, Big Solitaire 3D does demand a lot from it.

This is solitaire heaven for fans of the game with some beefy graphics although nothing much more in the way of innovation.

Review by Nick Mead

Read more: Big Solitaires 3D 1.4 - 40 solitaire games with 3D graphics

Azada is a refreshing and unusual take on the puzzle genre. If you’re tired of the same old stuff or repetitive challenges, then this is worth your time.

There is an enormous number of puzzles encompassed by the game which is why it never really gets boring. It’s also been bolstered by some excellent sound effects and soundtracks that keep the game lively and fun. For a puzzle game, the graphics are also surprisingly good.
There are around 40 different puzzles to choose from that are all interlinked through a narrative concerning the secrets contained in an old ancient text.

The narrative is that you are trapped in a cell and you can’t escape and find the book until you solve the puzzles. The puzzles usually contain cryptic challenges involving objects in the room you are held - smashing vases to reveal other secrets, solving conundrums and working out riddles to reveal another part of the mystery. Then there are more traditional challenges such as jigsaws and memory tests.

Although Azada isn’t an adventure game, it is a combination of the overall mystery narrative and the variation of games that really keep you going. Beware though that some of the puzzles are so tough, you’ll be tearing your hair out before long.

A superb blend of mystery and challenging mind benders make this a puzzlers heaven.

Review by Nick Mead

Read more: Azada - Uncover the secrets of a missing magical book