The Wrestler, The Game

This is exactly the article I hoped exist. Simple-minded and nostalgic that I am, it answers the first question that popped into my mind after seeing "The Wrestler".

Kill All Invaders

So apparently the latest trend in online web games is the genre of "Tower Defense Games". Basically, in these games there's a little winding path wandering through your kingdom, and every once in a while evil baddies will start wandering down the path. You have to place little weapon-laden towers around the path in an attempt to whomp these nogoodniks before they make it to the end. There are a number of different weapons to choose from with a variety of effects. In addition, you can upgrade towers as time goes on.

For some reason, I find these little games engrossing. I'm normally not a big fan of strategy games, but this one is so linear, with just options for weapon choice, that I find it quite accessible.

I started off with Laser Defense, and it's probably still my favourite due to the wide variety of weapons. I like the "techy" feel to it too, what with the graph paper and the lasers and whatnot. Today I discovered Flash Element TD and its beta-test offspring, Flash Element TD 2. The first one is very fun, very nice graphics. Try that first so you'll have an appreciation of the second version. I'm still testing that one, but it has great promise. The creatures have better graphics and more amusing noises, and it looks like the weapons will be even cooler once you get to the upper levels. The second version also has a different mechanic, where instead of the creatures cycling through your pathway, they go to the end and try to steal a "flag" and bring it back. When you finally kill them, they drop the flag where they lie. I think TD2 (at this point anyway) is easier, but loads o' fun.

There's LOADS more of games from this "tower defense" genre; just search your favourite local flash game site, and you're sure to find some fun.

Tomb Raider Animated

I've always loved Tomb Raider. My type of game; lots of exploring, lots of puzzles, a little fighting that's not too difficult, all in all a nice mix. Now Turner Broadcasting has commissioned a series of animated shorts called "Re/Visited", where different people interpret the whole Lara Croft mythos. The first one is masterminded by Peter Cheung, the guy behind the groundbreaking Aeon Flux series. Pretty cool, eh? One feature I really love is how the opening for the show displays the pencil tests and animatics for the animation; very inspiring.

The videos are premiered on the Gametap site, but you can also view them on YouTube (and save them if you use something like the fabulous Video Downloader for Firefox. Then use iSquint, and you can watch them on your iPod or iPhone.)

Entertainment Of The Day

This is my latest timewaster, or as I prefer to call it, "mood soother". It's a simple, fun, creative, noncompetitive game that I find quite relaxing. They call it "Paintball: The Game" (I guess because you paint a path for the ball to follow), but I prefer to refer to it as "that line game". You can read the instructions if you want, or ignore the completely wrong guide on the screen below the actual game, but basically what you do is use your mouse to draw lines on the screen to guide the red ball to the red rectangle, then hit the spacebar to drop the ball. There's no one way to solve any particular puzzle, and you can try over and over again with no penalty. I love little physics-esque puzzles games like this (which is odd, since I got a D in Physics).

Puzzling

My new favourite online game is "Gateway". Highly recommended to anyone who wants to futz around with screen after screen of intriguing puzzles. I love the simplistic design and the muted colours. And the little square robotty guy is cool too.