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wraithguard01's XKCD The Game (PC)
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| [March 6, 2009 09:57:42 AM]
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**Overview**
The game is a hodgepodge of various modes of play, from a shmup, to a racing game, to a side scrolling game, to an arcade game. The first game mode, shmup, requires you to click 10 of the spiders before time runs out. With not the best click detection, this actually proves to be fairly difficult. Following the 10 spider clicks, you must then correctly answer a quiz question. This repeats itself for another go, except you must then click on a flying superhero guy. The next stage is a racing game. You must race the computer, which is invulnerable to the spiders, which slow your character down. On my first play-through, I actually got stuck on one of the spiders while I was on the grass (which slows you way down), and had to restart. Despite all these difficulties, at the end, you realize this isn't a racing game, you simply have to finish to win. The next stage is a side-scrolling sword game. You must successfully fend off ninjas, velociraptors, and other enemies. The final stage is the most fun, as it is a tower defense type game. The four different towers, normal, big ball, ice, and super laser all add a very balanced aspect to the game. (Though, it's too hard to lose.) I believe this level was the most enjoyable to play.
** Thoughts **
The game has very little replay value, and the second time through was fairly boring, with the exception of the tower defense stage. It's architecture of each level being in a completely different genre, while consistent with the XKCD universe, doesn't really make for a good game. While this approach may be novel, I don't think that's how games should be designed.
** Level Design **
When looking at each level as a completely separate entity, they are very well designed. They are all beatable, with the exception of the Ron Paul race, which doesn't matter anyways. For the length of the assignment, each level was the appropriate length.
** Technical aspects **
The game's graphics, though only stick figures, looks very well done. The game never glitched or froze, and loaded up just fine. The sound added alot to the game, and was well selected.
** Other Thoughts **
There is no reward system in place, other than win or lose. There is no scoring system for which to base your skill increase from play to play. The racing level has the worst design, because its intentional slowing of the player on grass, and the players inability to get past the slow spiders simply is frustrating. The tower defense level is the most fun and best designed, but of course, no points for original design.
** Overall **
Overall, this was a fun little game to play. It has limited replay value, though I might play it again just to get to the last level. The story arc throughout the game adds an interesting aspect to the game that none of the other games seemed to have. The technical aspects of the game, sound, graphics, and lack of bugs made the game fun to play.
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wraithguard01's XKCD The Game (PC)
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Current Status: Playing
GameLog started on: Friday 6 March, 2009
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