When I made it to the temple for the first time, I had to take a break, knowing all too well that I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to face. I then took a deep breath, unpaused and died almost immediately. It took me a while to get back to the temple, and almost every time I did, it became my final stopping point due to a sudden, avoidable death. Thought the ice caves were too easy? Don’t get complacent. This is Spelunky, after all.
Does a better game make for a better EDF? That was the question at hand with 2011’s Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon, which took a more modern approach and serious tone courtesy Western developer Vicious Cycle. Many fans missed the distinct B-movie quality of the previous games, so with Earth Defense Force 2025, original team Sandlot returns to the helm. And while the game certainly makes some advancements over Sandlot’s last effort, EDF 2017, it is still — for better and worse — very much the 2007 budget game that preceded it.
The Secret of Monkey Island‘s insult sword fighting. The Walking Dead‘s zombie apocalypse. Myst‘s linking books. All are simple concepts at the center of great adventure games. 1954: Alcatraz adds “escape from Alcatraz” to that list. It manages to draw the player in, not only because a prison escape is impressive, but because escaping from Alcatraz is especially daunting. It’s not all cinderblock walls, corrections officers and time in solitary confinement, though. While Joe is working to break out, his wife Christine is doing her part around San Francisco to unravel the mystery of Joe’s armored truck heist and aid his escape in any way possible. READ MORE
These days, local multiplayer is a widespread, pervasive thing in the industry, even if many are moving toward online play. That hasn’t always been the case. After all, not many people were playing four-player games in 1987! And more than any other company, Hudson Soft is responsible for changing the world into one that embraces couch play.
Why? Three main reasons. READ MORE
We’re growing the team at Snackbar Games! Here’s what we’re seeking:
Community Manager: We love Snackbar, and we want someone to help us share what we do with others and interact with the community. Applicants need solid grammar and a general knowledge of social media.
Associate Producer: Do you love talking about games and think this is the right place for you? Snackbar Games is seeking someone to help run the site, coordinating staff and spearheading the creation of audio/video content. Applicants need general technical know-how, and though experience with WordPress, Audacity and such are appreciated, a lot can be taught on the job.
Associate Editor, News/Previews: Are you always keeping up with the latest, be it news from the game industry or your everyday life? We’re looking for someone to spearhead our original reporting, interviews and event coverage, as well as help lead and manage the Snackbar staff when needed. This person would need to have solid grammar skills, and knowledge of AP style is preferred.
Want to join the team? Send ideas and samples of your work to [email protected].
For more ways you can be a part of our crew, check out our Join Us page.
