Gamezebo Archives - September 2008

The Chromates are in need of a hero to bring back color to their lands, and there's no one better to fill that position than you as you pit yourself against hundreds of brain-wracking 3D puzzles in Chromentum 2.

Chromentum 2 brings back the addictive gameplay of the original Chromentum as you again try to manipulate several Chromates in the game board to put them back to their proper places. This time around, you get to experience better graphics and sound effects, enhanced level designs, and an engaging storyline not present in the previous game. Not to mention a whole new array of Chromate characters too, ranging from the weird to the outrageously wacky, making this sequel looks more like an entirely new and original game. Read more »

Several companies announce new casual games for the Nintendo DS, WiiWare World interviews RiverMan Media about their new WiiWare game MadStone, and EA Games' Frank Gibeau talks about reinventing Electronic Arts as a more progressive game company. These headlines and more behind the cut. Read more »

Check out our Tips and Tricks for Photo Mania.   General Tips   It is very important to mind the two different kinds of paper for the photos. If you choose the wrong one you will have to throw away the photo. After you have taken a photo of a customer you will recognize his preference above his head. If the photo has a sun at its upper corner, he wants to have the glossy paper, if there is no sun, just click the matte paper.     By the way, if you click on th... Read more »

In Fashion Apprentice, Anna's father wants her to be a lawyer like him. Like any normal kid, she rebels, and instead accidentally finds herself working as a fashion assistant thanks to her aunt. The aunt gives her hidden object tasks that help her learn the fashion ropes, and she discovers she has an eye for fashion.

Anna completes her tasks by finding hidden objects in scenes that reflect a groovy pop art style with pink, yellow and purple being the dominant colors. The style stands out from typical hidden object games, which tend to use more realistic images. Unfortunately, the style also hinders finding objects that don't look anything like what they should. For example, pants look like shorts and a fern looks like a feather.
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When was the last time you went out for dinner and ordered farmer's cheese and a bucket of water? Well, you've obviously never been to Miriel's restaurant. Miriel the Magical Merchant is an amusing medieval-inspired time management game that sends players scampering around the kitchen, cooking up magical dishes to serve to picky customers.

With numerous food items to combine, and multiple endings to unlock, there's plenty of creative elements that make Miriel stand out from the crowd.
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Short of decontaminating radioactive zones or terraforming planets, we can't think of a process more labor intensive than keeping feisty toddlers on schedule, let along glued to their desks. It's a topic lovingly explored in School House Shuffle, which places you in charge of a well-meaning but hopelessly overwhelmed staff determined to turn students into the next generation of geniuses.

However, while certainly a smart and sharp-looking spin on the average time management equation, it’s nowhere near the arresting and addictive escapade one would secretly hope for.
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Cake Mania 3 has 6 different locations with 15 levels each for a total of 90 levels. Check out our strategy guide and master the art of cake-making.   GENERAL TIPS Initially you will be given 5 locations to choose from with 15 levels each; your 6th location will not be available until you complete the 5th one. You can choose to play the first 5 location in any order that you prefer. There's no right or wrong way to choose the locations. Regardless of the way you choose,... Read more »

Win $10,000 in prizes including a 3-day trip to New York City, a customized laptop and an iPod in PopCap's Peggle Nights contest; and check out deals from RealArcade, Pogo and Alawar in our latest edition of Steals & Deals.

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There is a new hidden object game, House of Wonders: Kitty Kat Wedding, that is up on iWin.  Click here to download the game, click here to discuss it in our forum, and click here to write a review.

Our review is coming soon. Read more »

The addictive blend of slots and bingo known as Slingo has been delighting casual gamers for more than a decade in one form or another, and soon Slingo fans will be able to add Slingo Supreme to the list.

According to the team at Funkitron, the goal behind Slingo Supreme is to create a flagship product for all Slingo fans -- and a direct sequel to the hit that started it all: Slingo Deluxe.

The challenge, though, was figuring out how to make a flagship product for a type of game that's not a quest-based or adventure game but still give players a fully-featured experience that lasts a long time.
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Given that Cake Mania 2 was a good, but not stellar, follow-up to the original Cake Mania, Sandlot Games had something to prove with Cake Mania 3. The result, happily, is a sequel that has enough new features to justify a purchase even for fans that have already played through the first two.
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If time isn’t on your side, I’ll make this review as quick and straightforward as possible: don’t buy this game. If you’d like to know why, however, keep on reading.

Photo Mania is one of those time management games, where you’re frantically clicking to help customers – this time the setting is a photography studio. When customers walk up, you click them to stand in front of a backdrop and they’ll tell you – via a speech bubble – what color background they’d like (such as blue, pink or green), what kind of paper (glossy or matte) and any particular pattern.
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An NPD Group study shows that young males are no longer the dominant demographic in gaming; Nintendo launches a shiny new metallic silver DS in time for the holidays; Women's Murder Club goes to retail; and you can now play Jewel Quest II on the iPhone. These headlines and more behind the cut. Read more »

Big Blue Bubble has just launched Home Sweet Home 2: Kitchen and Baths. Click here to download the game, click here to discuss it in our forum, and click here to write a review. Read more »

Many casual games have tackled some aspect of the fashion industry, but the upcoming Satisfashion covers everything from clothing design, dressing and make-up to a special portfolio feature where you can create and display your own unique outfits.

Its designers describe Satisfashion as a combination of time management and arcade gameplay spanning 48 levels. As the newest hire at uber-fabulous international fashion house Satisfashion, you'll get to hold fashion shows around the world to impress buyers and increase Satisfashion's prestige on the world stage.
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Real has just launched the fantasy time mangement game Miriel the Magical Merchant. Click here to download the game, click here to discuss it in our forum, and click here to write a review. Read more »

Brick Quest 2's innovation on the block-smashing format is to add stackable power-ups and a monster collection mechanic, with captured critters used to unlock new worlds. While a workmanlike and well-presented outing, it's not nearly enough to raise any eyebrows, ultimately rendering the slightly above average amusement a monentarily-diverting novelty and not much else.

At the onset though, expect to be pleasantly surprised: The game actually sports its own theme song complete with ethereal lyrics. But despite titular references to some mysterious “Quest,” simply a vague excuse to explore 160 individual levels, there’s no actual storyline or plot twists offered to keep you glued to your monitor.
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Check out our tips and tricks for Fishdom, courtesy of the game's developer Playrix Entertainment. If you are having trouble finding a match, watch for two red arrows to appear showing the pieces you can swap To earn more money on a level, try to complete it in the shortest possible time while scoring as many points as possible. You make no money if you lose a level. When using the lightning bonus, consider which piece type you want to get rid of to achieve a better effect. This bonu... Read more »

A fantasy-themed puzzler, 4 Elements offers a magical mix of match-three, hidden object and spot-the-difference gameplay, nicely blended to provide an engaging, enchanted experience. The supernatural fairytale has been lovingly concocted with all the ingredients necessary to endear it to gamers. So, skip the review and buy it! Okay, don't skip the review. Read it first, and then scoop up your copy of 4 Elements.
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In Roogoo you shoo through few new... alright, the rhyming puns can’t be kept up forever, but in this shape-dropping puzzler they sure try their hardest to keep them coming.

On planet Roo, King Goo (see what I mean?) starts stealing the meteors that fall from the sky, which are the sources of life, joy and peace for the planet. After consuming them, King Goo transforms into King Moo (…). The citizens of Roo begin transforming from Roogoo into Meemoo (argh!) and start eating all the meteors and their cities. King Moo’s son, Prince Moo, is tasked with collecting all the remaining meteors, and Roo-cuz, the hip-hop rainbow Roo is your guide to help you with your quest.
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