Back in the early ’90s, there was an interesting little tactical shooter called Cannon Fodder. In it, you commanded a small squad of soldiers by clicking around a battlefield, commanding them when to attack and retreat. It was a fun little game, and had enough success to garner a sequel, but not much was heard out of the series for a long time after that (until just recently when Cannon Fodder 3 was released on Steam, but that’s another story).
Why bring up Cannon Fodder during the review of a different game? Well, let’s just say that said differences are actually pretty few and far between. It’s clear from a simple glance that Tiny Troopers borrows a great deal from the former, but does that make it less of a game? READ MORE
I am an unashamed fan of tower defense, and the little twists that each individual developer imparts on the genre. It’s fun to plan out moves and see a level defeated based on wits alone, instead of twitch skill with the mouse or being able to queue up all of the right magic spells in a preset amount of time. I like those games, as well, but it’s nice sometimes to sit back and relax while your towers do all the dirty work.
Shad’O both is and isn’t a by-the-numbers tower defense game, but I was compelled to keep playing, so the elements that were fresh were enough to keep me engaged throughout the bits that feel like lots of games that I have already played. READ MORE
Steam’s new Big Picture Mode has a lot to offer to many. A unified controller-supporting environment for launching and playing games makes for a comfortable TV experience, and replicates many things that were previously an advantage for consoles. The interface makes a lot more sense than what’s available on existing systems, and should hopefully advance ideas there that can proliferate across the industry. These are great! If you’re looking for a more substantive shift, though, it’s in the multiplayer arena. Emphasizing controller support and large screens makes the PC a much more appealing option for local play. READ MORE
There were a lot of Angry Kirbies on the Internet this week! We try to buck that trend, with nuanced and reasonable discussions of the Wii U and its “launch window” games like Rayman Legends. Listen in as we corner the market on Canadian game podcast panelists and hold our weekly therapy sessions. We also talk about Mark of the Ninja, Big Picture Mode, Jet Set Radio HD, Obsidian’s Kickstarter, Double Dragon Neon, FTL: Faster Than Light, Mutant Mudds, Inquisitor and more!
Check out the show here, check us out on iTunes or use the RSS feed in your favorite podcast aggregator. Let us know what you think, and send mail (angry or not) to podcast[at]snackbar-games.com.
Hosts: Jeff DeSolla, Chris Ingersoll, Andrew Passafiume, Graham Russell, Henry Skey, Shawn Vermette. Music: Podcast theme by Tom Casper.
There are many stealth games I hold near and dear to my heart, and yet there haven’t been too many recent examples that capture what I love about the genre. This is where Klei Entertainment, the team behind the colorful and brutally violent Shank series, steps in with their take on the genre. Mark of the Ninja is a game that manages to make the familiar feel fresh and exciting again, and one that shows off the developer’s talents the best way possible. READ MORE
