If you enjoy "puzzle platformers," games that take Mario-style running, jumping and monster-dodging and mix it with a healthy dose of brain-teasing, then Adventures of Shuggy will feel like a little slice of heaven.
Though most of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft's stories were penned between 80 and 100 years ago, they're still potent enough to scare the pants off modern audiences. This month, Specialbit (makers of the Haunted Hotel series) do their best to tap into the Lovecraft magic in their latest hidden object adventure, Haunted Hotel: Charles Dexter Ward. Unfortunately, while the game is definitely an improvement over its predecessors, it seems not even H.P. Lovecraft can save it from those games' lackluster legacy.
What if assembling jeweled rings, cutting diamonds, and engraving silver necklaces was as easy as slapping toppings on a hamburger? Well, you probably wouldn't want anything to do with a jewelry shop that treats rare gems like fast food, but go ahead and pretend that the world of Youda Jewel Shop is some kind of alternate reality. That way you can enjoy the title's addictive time-management gameplay without wondering why teenage girls are able to afford diamonds the size of their fists.
Going back to classic games decades later is usually not a good idea. Past beautiful memories can be completely dashed within minutes, as you realize that one of your favourite ever games really hasn't aged well. When a game does manage to hold its own years later, however, it can be bliss - Micro Machines, for example, is still fantastic fun and holds up against top-down racing games on this generation.
In the land of magic, where a beautiful fairy queen reigns supreme, mystical waters babble, and haunted forests enchant, there are real-world problems: housing shortages, rent increases, lining of the mayor's pockets with gold. If reality invading your imagination's sanctuary makes you cringe, you can relax—the real magic is the quirky storyline, perfect pace, and varied tasks—all of which makes Build-a-Lot: Fairy Tales a fantastically entertaining time-management game.
When Disney released the trailer for this November's upcoming Wreck-It Ralph, the reaction among Gamezebo writers was one of near-unanimous joy. And then, almost immediately, our wheels began turning. "Disney has to be releasing a Fix-It Felix video game, right? They'd be crazy not to!" As of tonight, however, the big D proved they're most definitely not crazy. Or that they have freaky hearing.
You have been the piano teacher in Everlake for years, and never once have you been late for a lesson. So, of course, the first time you are running behind, tragedy strikes. Amber, the young girl waiting for you in the playground, is abducted by a shadowy figure. Overcome with guilt, you decide to take over the investigation, seeing as the local detective apparently gave up about an hour after Amber disappeared. See, this is what happens when you aren't on time.
There's something you all should know: I love puzzle games. It all started with Tetris Attack for Game Boy, a title I sunk hours into every single family road trip. Likely because of that experience, I've come to find that I prefer playing them on mobile platforms. They're perfect for playing in small doses, a perk that Ichi by Stolen Couch Games benefits from quite a bit.