Thanks for joining me again for another edition of the “ExL Rundown”. Today I am going to focus on some games that may have been forgotten amidst the big game catalog. I will also look at a game with a price update, and a game with a game play update.
ExL Rundown:
- Totem (created by Fervent Interactive)
- Onslaught (created by Stainless)
Pricing Update:
- SLAM (created by Blackstorm Games)
Game Update:
- Bricks4Ever (created by Running Pixel)
Title Screen
Adventure Mode (X's are elemental bosses)
Playing Totem. The top bar shows whats falling next.
Combinations have destructive effects.
Totem is a classic matching game with two modes of play. Survival is an endless mode that asks the question, “How long can you last?” The other mode, Adventure, is a “story” mode complete with 28 levels and 4 elemental bosses. What do these modes make you do? Match two or more of the same totem. Totems can be swapped from side to side, but only if it is going to be on the same or lower level. Totems cannot move up when switching left to right. However, they can move up on their same block and then be switched. Only the highest totem on each block is switchable.
High scores are tracked locally and power ups help change the game play. Power ups can be used to help destroy one pesky totem, all totems, damage blocks, and more. Once a block has been destroyed, totems stop falling on that one. The level is over when all blocks are destroyed.
It is a fun game, but I am disappointed that Adventure mode only saves after fighting an elemental boss. This means playing this mode may require replaying the same levels a lot. Adventure mode starts with easy levels and ends with hard ones. Survival mode works good though and the music fits the graphical style very well. The destruction effects are outstanding.
Final Verdict: Totem is a fresh take on a matching game complete with great graphics, polished game play, and great music. It is 200 points well spent.
The main 16x16 (256 Location) World. Randomized each time a new game begins.
A battle scene with the main character (Fanatic) climbing a ladder.
Another battle scene showcasing the casualties of war.
Onslaught is an old-school game with old-school graphics. Everything down to the special & sound effects give it a familiar feel. After loading the game, the player finds out they are a Fanatic with the strength of an army. Using their strength they must take over a 16×16 (256-location) world. Travel across different terrains, find different locations and buildings, put down crusades and rebellions, fight plague, and engage in four battle types.
- Field Battles
- Sieges
- Defending Actions
- Mind Battles
Field Battles are regular skirmishes where the player must reach the enemies flag, while protecting his own. A siege commences when the player has won the Field Battle. Winning the siege enters a Mind Battle between the Fanatic and the enemy’s leader. Winning the Mind Battle wins the region. However, losing any of these forces the player back to the previous battle. Losing a Field Battle forces the player to defend their region from their enemy’s siege.
The battles are fun to play and offer loads of items to pick up and use changing the battles. The game can be saved and loaded which is great because the game will take hours to conquer each region. Once finished though the game is not over. When a new game begins, the world is randomized and the player can do it all over again.
Final Verdict: Onslaught is a great game that captures the old-school feel very well. If you have ever played games of this style, or been interested in doing so, you cannot go wrong with Onslaught. It has a medium learning curve, but once mastered it is deeper than it looks. The depth is great and for 200 points, you cannot go wrong.
PRICE UPDATE:
SLAM is now available for a paltry sum of 400 Microsoft Points (from 800).
“Slam is a fast-paced brick-breaking action arcade game fusing all the best elements from Breakout, Tempest and Pinball. Spin and tilt your bat around the circular 3D arena; use the magnet for total control of the ball; collect 14 types of eye-popping power-ups and smash over 20 innovative types of bricks through 100 levels of frantic fun.” – SLAM creator Blackstorm Games
If you play other indie games such as Bricks4Ever, then SLAM will be a real 3D treat that cannot be missed!
The 3D effects and particles are amazing!
Different brick types help change the game play.
100 uniquely designed levels offer a lot for $5.00
There are many camera angles!
GAME UPDATE:
Played the game Bricks4Ever? It has recently been updated to fix the bug errors that were common. These bugs include:
- “Barrier” power up not work
- Paddle disappear and not come back
- Power ups stop working
- Ball gets hit by edge of paddle that isn’t there
- Ball gets launched into pit (death area)
It was good before the fix, but knowing these problems are gone makes it so much better. Learn more about it here.
Andrew Carlson
