Following Freeware: December 2011 releases

11-11-11

It’s 11:11pm in the big city when suddenly the power and the telephones both fail. For insomniac high-rise dweller James, this sudden interruption of his music is an incident that merits investigation. But on the otherwise empty streets, a strange dark-suited man insists that he stay inside, and mysterious explosions begin rocking the city. Something very dangerous is wandering about in the dark tonight, and a lack of music is soon the least of James’s worries. With a handful of his fellow citizens, now he must seek safe passage from the city before it’s too late.

Screen 7 has produced a sci-fi tale that is dark in all senses of the word. Both the city setting and the characters inhabiting it are presented in full 3D, though with a moderate resolution. The views are displayed in third-person, with wide city vistas for scene transitions and ground-level shots for the more interactive areas. Character portraits during conversations are also 3D, with basic animation to show the person talking. Apart from some sliding when characters move long distances, the animation is reasonably done, with the individuals scaling down as they move further from camera. The audio background befits the dark sci-fi setting, with ominous tones and sound effects.

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At the start of the game, the four-cursor point-and-click controls are used to investigate limited hotspots to find out what is going on. As you discover more about the disaster that has struck, you will acquire various companions. These companions often follow you around, occasionally providing hints and insights of their own into the situation. You will also acquire a small inventory, though a sharp eye is sometimes necessary to spot collectable items. This inventory forms the backbone of the puzzles, though some careful exploration is also needed to progress. Whilst the streets are hazardous, the protagonist flees danger automatically, though the game auto-saves anyway. The linear progress of the plot may frustrate some players, but this ensures that the story revelations are revealed in a coherent way.

11-11-11 can be downloaded from the AGS website.

Night and Day

The Realiser, sole newspaper for the town of Reality-on-the-Norm, has received a strange advertisement. With the Grim Reaper long having quit his day job to become zombie Mayor Gower’s right-hand entity, there is a vacancy in the realm of the supernatural. Now it looks like someone is aiming to fill that vacancy, with collection of souls required as proof of ability for the job. When Elandra finds both Davy Jones and Mika have gone missing, she fears the worst. Is Reality in danger?

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HandsFree’s addition to the long-running game setting is a worthy addition to the canon. The game makes full use of the RON archive of characters and locations, and the medium resolution graphics will be instantly familiar to fans of the series. You’ll visit many recognisable locations, including the town square, Yahtzeebrand store (now selling Yummy Yaks) and Elandra’s own home. Music is limited to in-game examples, such as the muzak that plays in the store or the more mellow sounds of the bum’s alley-located jukebox.

Using the standard four-cursor point-and-click controls, players must navigate Elandra around town, trying to track down Davy and Mika and solve the mystery of the genesis of the odd advert. In doing so, you will face combination locks, dialogue challenges and an intriguing recipe riddle. There are also standalone challenges, such as spotting three unique and vital volumes in the crammed shelves of the local bookstore. The whole affair is carried off with the trademark surreal humor for which the series is so well known.

Night and Day can be downloaded from the RON website.

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Loondon

In a world that has little time for outcasts, Jonah “The Hunch” has only ever known life in a travelling fair. Then one day the wind carried a flyer to his big top home, telling of the wonders of Loondon and the celebration to be held there. Determined to see this wonder for himself, Jonah set off to travel to the legendary city. But with his obvious physical deformity on show for all to see, would he find acceptance in such a place?

Flip-n-Tale Games have created an artistic and thought-provoking little game. The look is of an ink drawing, with the uncoloured part in some backgrounds appearing like aged paper. Whilst Jonah and those willing to directly interact with him are shown in full detail, the aloof aristocratic citizens are shown in silhouette, their appearance mirroring that of upper class Victorians. Both detailed and silhouetted characters are smoothly animated, as are the mechanisms you come across. The conversations throughout the game are represented by pictures in talk bubbles rather than words. Transition from scene to scene is handled with mostly black screens styled after silent movie captions. These include a small depiction of Jonah and a rhyming description of that part of his journey. The musical background at the fair is suited to the circus-like setting, with tunes reminiscent of a Victorian music box in most other locations.

With hotpots limited in number and clearly highlighted, progressing through the puzzles will not prove a challenge to the experienced gamer. There is a mechanism that proves quite simple to operate and some limited environmental interaction, though no inventory is maintained. The player is thus free to appreciate the somewhat melancholy tale of Jonah pursuing his dream, and the rejection his physical appearance brings him. This builds to a sad but effective ending, with Jonah’s ultimate fate very much in keeping with the way the world treats him throughout.

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Loondon can be played online at Games Free.

Maniac Mansion Mania 40: Trapped in the Cellar

If Dave hadn’t lost the tickets, he and Sandy would be on their way to a Razor gig. Unfortunately, an ill-advised search of the cellar left the couple trapped when the door accidentally locked behind them. With Dave’s absent-minded father failing to hear their calls for rescue, it is up to Razor to save the day and get all three of them to the performance on time.

RayMan brings the 40th episode of this extensive series of fan-made sequels to English-speaking gamers. The graphics include slightly higher resolution versions of the original Dave, Sandy and Razor, though all are readily recognisable for fans of the LucasArts original. This game also includes cameos from familiar characters like Weird Ed Edison, as well as new characters, such as Dave’s bald-headed and absent-minded father Robert. The music covers a wide range of styles, from a gentle in-house piece to a more rocking tune for Razor’s entrance.

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