Following Freeware: August 2012 releases

Kingdom of Liars 1: Year One – Ashbane

Your train journey to the Ashbane, The Rat’s City, is interrupted by raiders who halt the train and kill all others on board. By luck, you and your sister escape the raid unharmed, allowing you to start your new career with the law enforcers, the Hernessians. But your first investigation of a simple arson attack could prove to be much more. Just why was a tavern burnt to the ground and what does this have to do with those who attacked your train?

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This series debut from Hyptosis opens up a new area in a world from the ongoing Hood adventures. The art style is reminiscent of water-colour paintings, with close-ups of characters appearing during conversations. Your journey will take you from the initial enclosed carriages of the train to the grand headquarters of the Hernessians and then out onto the medieval-era streets. Limited animation is used, such as scenery passing the train, and the artwork is of sufficient detail to bring the setting to life. A slow, ominous musical piece plays in the background, matching the dark tone of the setting. There are also a handful of sound effects, like the squeal of train brakes.

The setting is one where steampunk technology works side-by-side with magic. The world is also home to other humanoid races, such as the insect-like Antars. The player character and his sister are refugees fleeing to the big city, and the city itself is suffering trouble from the recent legalisation of magic.  After the initial train scene involving a simple inventory puzzle, you’ll start your investigation of the mysterious fire. You will need to keep a sharp eye out for vital clues, the cursor animating over hotspots providing some aid in this matter, and use your inventory to investigate further. As you uncover evidence, further locations will open up on the town map. Whilst you will learn some details about events on the train and in the city, this episode ends as you discover a vital lead, creating anticipation for the next instalment.

Kingdom of Liars 1: Year One: Ashbane can be played online at Newgrounds.
 

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The Lighthouse

Since her mother’s death, a young girl and her father have lived alone on the remote Skirmish Island off the treacherous coast of Scotland. Their job there is to maintain the lighthouse that keeps ships off the jagged rocks surrounding the island. When her father suffers an accident one day, the young girl must take up the task of starting the lighthouse herself.

This debut game from David B Cooper is a simple adventure with a distinctive art style. The graphics are deliberately crude hand-drawings on lined paper, with even the punched holes still visible at the top of each background.  Animation is stop-motion based, with moving characters drawn on plain paper to aid the effect. The action takes place over a small area comprising the protagonists’ home, the lighthouse and a small amount of the surrounding area. A simple piano and choral piece backs up proceedings.

The setting has a melancholy tone to it, marked by the absence of the mother and the father’s initially abrupt approach to his daughter. The gameplay is simple, with only a handful of puzzles to undertake. A small inventory is key to saving the day, though you will have to do a bit of careful hunting to find everything you need to succeed. There is also some brief interaction between father and daughter, as his accident renders him incapable of performing his duties.

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The Lighthouse can be downloaded from the AGS website.
 

Route 401 Motel

Uncle Louis (or at least the man who lived near your cousin that everyone called Uncle Louis) has died and decided to leave you his motel on Route 401. Alas, your plans to exploit this newfound asset have hit a hitch. A family of yahoos have taken over the motel, and they refuse to even let you inside, let alone take over. With the police a little reluctant to aid you with your problem, you’ll have to apply a bit of ingenuity to oust these unwelcome guests from your property.

This game from OK Interactive provides a bit of light but entertaining fare. The graphics are a simple cartoon style, with plain colouring and limited detail beyond that necessary to the plot. Despite this simplicity, the large characters still exhibit good facial expressions and the locations are rendered in a recognisable fashion. The animation is equally simple but effective. Along with the motel, you will visit a local pier and the police station in your quest to evict the squatters.  The sound consists of a single tense string and percussion piece plus suitable sound effects, such as the ping of a hit at a shooting gallery.

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