The Sunday Gaming Club: Daniel-San

So, a remake of seminal children’s movie The Karate Kid is a thing that exists now? And it doesn’t suck? And it stars Jaden Smith, who will soon have additional credits like “The Fresh Prince of West Philly” and “Other Kids Just Don’t Understand” (recorded with DJ Reggae Ralph) and “Boys in White” and “You, Robot” and “Freedom Day” and “I am Folklore”.

In other news, people played soccer this week. And some people sucked at it. Others were okay. No one was positively brilliant. THAT IS ALL YOUR SPORTS COVERAGE FOR EVER, or at least until my Sixers decide to ruin their future next week. You probably don’t even know what that means. It’s okay. Someone has to like sports and video games.

But now is not the time for that! Now is the time for independent games!

Geo-Duck, Flash

Since this post is turning into reveal weird shit about myself o’clock, let it be known that I knew what a geoduck was before Geo-Duck, the game-like experience, was posted on the Indie Games Blog. Geo-Duck the game is an exploration based platformer about…a geoduck in a sewer system. Really. I’m absolutely serious.

Sure, it doesn’t control too well, but it’s pretty fun for the sheer oddness of it, and you get to play as the most phallic video game character since Mara, who is a penis being wheeled about in a chariot. I had fun, in any event. Maybe you will too. It’s got some pretty kickin’ tunes, too, considering I believe it’s a game made by a musician.

Loved, Flash

Let’s get the bullshit out of the way quick: this is not the best platformer I’ve ever played. The mechanics are a little squirrely, and you’ll die more than the game will actually, legitimately kill you.

But you should get past it, because it’s a game with two things going for it. For one, it’s very pretty. Sure, the shot about doesn’t look too fantastic (though still good, in a light and dark kind of way), but once things start going, trust me, the graphical edge reveals itself. It’s a great use of visuals as the means of storytelling, which is a noble goal in and of itself. Secondly, the storytelling, and the player choices, are really interestingly handled. I took it as kind of a criticism of games arbitrary choice systems, as well as a game with the more obvious metaphors. In either event, there’s a lot going on here. Enough to make you want to play it a couple times.