Blue Stub - Web and Casual Game Reviews

Fashion Fable Review - Match 3 Meets Dress-Up Dolls

Indie Game of the Week

Fashion Fable (download free demo here) is a new game from a casual indie developer called Creatrix Games.  This Match-3 game introduces the concepts of fashion and dress-up dolls (following the theme of our Meez avatar concept) in order to spice up the overall game play.

As expected, the play concept is that the player needs to match 3 similar pieces in order to eliminate those pieces from the board.  The key twist here is that there are a set number of "Imps" which need to be part of those matches in order to finish the board - you just can't keep matching random combinations since time will run out unless the Imps are dealt with.  The complexity and size of the game arena expands along with the 60 levels of the game, giving a fair amount of gameplay.

This game starts slowly, looking like a typical clone of other similar games, but it develops its own character as you play further.  The Imp concept can be a little frustrating when you're stuck trying to eliminate the last one, but it adds a new dimension to the Match 3 genre.  In addition, the Dress Up Doll functionality will appeal to a variety of users since the user can accumulate coins in each round to purchase more items to outfit the main character in a wide variety of options (are there no male ones?).  On the other hand, it would be more interesting if players could do something with the resulting dolls, such as upload them to a web site or compare them to others who played the Fashion Fable.

The graphics are a little simple, but they provide their own character, and the Sound effects are just fine for a game of this type.  The help function works well when you're stuck, and the player can purchase power-ups along the way to help finish each round, such as the ability to extend the time limit if it's getting close to the end. 

Verdict - A twist on the Match 3 concept - worth trying if you like the genre.

Similar Games

Bejeweled 2- download free demo here

Jewel Quest - download free demo here 

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Steam Brigade Review - Rescue Raiders Meets Steampunk

Indie Game of Week

As is common these days, some of the most interesting efforts to expand the casual game sector come from smaller developers.  In this case, Pedestrian Entertainment has released an innovative game called Steam Brigade (download free trial here).  With a general play style similar to the classic game Rescue Raiders, this is a 2D scrolling game where the object is to use your zeppelin-like air ship to drop an engineer near the opposing factory in order to enter and destroy it.  Similar to a real time strategy game like Warcraft (but from a 2D side angle), the player and the computer opponent create and deploy different air and land units within a certain budget, occupy bunkers and gun turrets where possible, and attempt to overrun each other.  It sounds complex, but is really easy to pick up, and is actually cartoonishly non-violent (the air ship has no guns, just a cool magnet to pick up friendly and opposing units)

Steam Brigade has very simple gameplay, but a smooth learning curve and increasing depth as the later levels appear, with the addition of new game units (tanks, bunkers, helicopters) and the accompanying strategic options.  The physics of the game are very strong, especially as the air ships display their momentum when they try to stop.  The story line is deeper than most casual games and the "Steampunk" alternative history style feels and looks more like a movie than just a game.  Overall, it's a beautifully programmed and designed game.  The real time strategy part of it may not appeal to everyone, but it has a great combination of features that will appeal to a lot of classic gamers.

Verdict - gorgeous game with potential to be a break out hit.  Try it here

Similar Games - No recent ones

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The Odyssey - Winds of Athena Review

There is no question that casual gaming still offers the most interesting array of titles of any gaming sector since a developer can still create a fun game for less than $150K, but there are times when it feels like every "mainstream" casual game is a Match 3 game or Tapper clone.  That's why it's sometimes more interesting to take a deeper look at the true independent developers in casual games, and that's when you run into a game like The Odyssey - Winds of Athena. (download free trial here)

Published by a small firm called Liquid Dragon, Odyssey is a mythology-themed game where the goal is to direct Odysseus's ships around a series of challenges, from rocky shoals to cyclops and harpies.  The key here is that the player can do this only by using the mouse to influence the winds and currents around the ships, causing them to move in the correct direction, avoid danger, and get to the end goal for each scene - lose enough ships and fail that level - see screenshots to get a better feel for the game.  The graphics are simple but beautiful (requires graphics card) and the overall look and feel is nicely done.  This type of gameplay definitely feels a little bit like the old Lunar Lander (use direction and rocket boosters to land on the correct pad), it has a somewhat steep learning curve, and it will not appeal to everyone, but it's a fun, unique game with a healthy dose of mythology.

Verdict - not for everyone, but a great example of why indie casual games often rock

Similar Games

None

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American History Lux Review - Not Ready for Prime Time

American History Lux (download free trial here) is a strategy game which follows American conflict from the pre-Revolutionary War days to the current Iraq War.  Similar to the classic game Risk, one moves armies around the map, attacks countries, fortifies territories, accumulates cards, and eventually takes over the world, or is conquered by others.

I really wanted to like this game - it breaks the mold a bit on casual games by being strategy and conflict-oriented, it has some historical and educational elements, it follows an established game convention (Risk) that I personally love, and it's from a good indie game developer called Sillysoft. 

I have been sitting here trying to think why the game isn't working and I think it's because it's just too raw a game to recommend for most users.  There is no feeling of a story line outside of some minor text about the conflict, nor is it obvious that the enemies play as they would have historically done so.  There is no sense of personalities on the other side, nor is it clear that either landscapes (mountains, rivers) or different cultures (Americans, Indians) have any effect on the battles - I also would have liked to have seen some way to change victory conditions or add something beyond the "conquer the world" scenario.  The music is appropriate and the graphics are generally simple with 3D explosions when enemies clash.  It could be that my expectations are too high for the game, but I don't think it's deep enough or finished enough to recommend as a purchase.

Verdict - Unless you're a hard core Risk player, skip American History Lux

Similar Games

Risk II - download free trial here

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Master of Defense - Quirky Strategy Game

Master of Defense (download free trial here) is a quirky strategy game published by BigFish Studios which breaks the mold a bit on casual games.  The first difference is that it's a fast-paced, real time strategy game involving a fantasy world of magic and monsters - no Tetris clones here.  The second difference is that it requires a 3D graphics card, which is pretty rare for this category, although the general system requirements are still pretty lightweight, so it shouldn't be a big problem. 

So why is it considered a casual game?  Well, it's a simple game which requires only a mouse and no instruction book - you must purchase, place and upgrade a series of different defense towers which you use to repel a wave of attacks by different types of air and ground monsters.  But that simple premise (only 5 types of towers or defenses and the monsters move along a set path) involves a fair amount of strategy as you begin to understand how they work together, and how to allocate your points to enhance them, so the gameplay is deeper than what first appears.

I'm not 100% sure there is enough gameplay here to warrant purchasing the game, and I'm not sure it will appeal to the bulk of today's usual casual game buyers, but it's a creative attempt to expand the types of games and buyers for this sector, so I have to applaud it, especially since it was developed by a small indie studio called Voodoo Dimention. 

Verdict: Creative effort for a niche audience - worth a try - Get it here

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