Remember Flixel? That's the free Flash/Flex framework created by Adam Atomic, which he used for his famous Canabalt and then gentlemanly shared with the rest of us so that we could make cool games too. And people did in fact make cool games, quite a pack of them actually - I like some more than others, but heck, they are varied bunch and I think there is something out there for everyone.
However, other than just pointing my readers out to a slew of flash games, I wanted to bring to their attention a few select titles that I find particularly interesting. Since I have been browsing Flixel development forum for last two or three weeks, I have dug out a couple of promising work in progress. Other than that, some finished games also drew me in, so here goes the list:
A young man finds himself on an empty island, searching for a girl he once loved. Following her notes scattered around the land, he is exploring abandoned caves where the ghosts that look like him wander around and on the surface he is evading powerful wind deamons roaming the island. Strange, mysterious and very retro exploring game that incredibly well conveys the emotion of being alone and lost. Where We Remain is just oozing melancholic atmosphere but it's also got decent game mechanics and a twist in the form of three endings, each showing a broader picture of what really is happening with the hero. A must!
A simple platforming game, but with a nice twist and totally cute characters. Dog is, well, a dog, but Bone is actually a skeleton. And they are friends. And it's sweet. I don't know how and why, but this game touches me and I have spent far more time playing it than I would be willing to admit. Excellent for kids and adults alike! Click here to visit the development thread.
A game starring a cat is all you should need. I have a soft spot for these creatures. Still, if for you it is not enough, then here's more information to fuel your curiosity. This game contains: black and white retro graphics, oniric setting and weird eyeball things waking up from their slumber to follow feline protagonist. Spooky! It is still in very early phase of development, but it's got a lot of potential.
Also a game in making, I fear that this one may never get completed, because I see no development going on. Still, the idea behind it is refreshingly original: for each level player is assigned control of a limited amount of cute beings that have a very short life span. Once they die of age, and they tend to do that in the matter of seconds, they become little stone statuettes. As such, they can be used by the following generations to reach high places and so on. The execution is not perfect yet, but it is a brave little game - definitely worth checking.
When I first gave it a try, my first thought was that Bitmap Brothers has come back from the dead and you probably know how huge a compliment this is in my book. Delightful pixel-perfect graphics, interesting mechanics, excellent execution - mark my words, when it's completed, we will all be in awe. The gameplay is a little too slow for my taste, but this is also something reminiscent of some Amiga titles where things happened at a less frantic pace. Very promising!
This game might not be as much fun as some others on the list (which does not mean it is without merit, oh no), but in the looks'n'sounds department it is close to being perfect, as well as quite retro, too. Somehow it reminds me of Amiga demoscene and I can't quite shake off that feeling. There are references to popular culture in the levels (you can see one above and if you don't recognize it, shame on you), there are some nice beats and if it's not enough for you, then there are some other interesting titles on the author's website. Very well done!
Cheesy kung-fu paraphernalia, ass-kicking protagonists, old Chinese master with wacky sayings, old-school jump-and-beat'em-up gameplay, raising lava level and goblins - this game has everything to make me happy. It is charming, it is evoking memories of arcade cabinets and games of old, it simply is fun in that over the top way. A little rough around the edges, but hey, it is still in development.
Of course, the above list is not complete. During the time of writing of this post there was a number of cool games that popped up. I have added one or two, but if I kept adding, I would not be able to finish it. Hence, I will soon be coming back with some more Flixel fun in unspecified near future and for now you have this selection of games to keep you busy. Enjoy!
