Author Archives: Tom Auxier
What do bosses do?
The first boss I remember fighting was Doctor Robotnik at the end of Sonic 2‘s first level. I couldn’t beat him; I was six, and I hadn’t played a lot of video games that required twitch skills; I’d mostly played
What do bosses do?
The first boss I remember fighting was Doctor Robotnik at the end of Sonic 2‘s first level. I couldn’t beat him; I was six, and I hadn’t played a lot of video games that required twitch skills; I’d mostly played
Everything old is new: Diablo 3 beta impressions
I have to admit, I expected something with more panache. With access to Diablo 3’s vaunted beta I expected something daring, something world-shaking. What I got was, well, Starcraft 2: a game of incremental improvements. This is not to say
Everything old is new: Diablo 3 beta impressions
I have to admit, I expected something with more panache. With access to Diablo 3’s vaunted beta I expected something daring, something world-shaking. What I got was, well, Starcraft 2: a game of incremental improvements. This is not to say
Has Double Fine resurrected the adventure genre?
Not twenty four hours ago the adventure game was as dead as its been for ten plus years. It was a Romero zombie, shambling but ineffably moving. Telltale’s Jurassic Park series has been a bullet in the leg, but that
Has Double Fine resurrected the adventure genre?
Not twenty four hours ago the adventure game was as dead as its been for ten plus years. It was a Romero zombie, shambling but ineffably moving. Telltale’s Jurassic Park series has been a bullet in the leg, but that
Some thoughts about Double Fine's Kickstarter campaign
Here’s my first little conundrum about Double Fine’s recently announced Kickstarter campaign to fund a new retro adventure game: should journalists support it? It’s an interesting ethical question. Lots of folk got upset when Jessica Chobot was announced as a
Some thoughts about Double Fine's Kickstarter campaign
Here’s my first little conundrum about Double Fine’s recently announced Kickstarter campaign to fund a new retro adventure game: should journalists support it? It’s an interesting ethical question. Lots of folk got upset when Jessica Chobot was announced as a
Review: Pineapple Smash Crew
Thanks to Pineapple Smash Crew I have screamed at my computer more than any other game. These weren’t screams of rage, or frustration: they were exhortations. “No, Jools, keep away from the fire!” They were accompanied by pleading—“Okay, Roo, we
Review: Pineapple Smash Crew
Thanks to Pineapple Smash Crew I have screamed at my computer more than any other game. These weren’t screams of rage, or frustration: they were exhortations. “No, Jools, keep away from the fire!” They were accompanied by pleading—“Okay, Roo, we
After pressing start: Super Metroid and efficiency
(After Pressing Start is a new series running on Nightmare Mode every Friday by resident narrative guru Tom Auxier. It focuses on beginning, on the stories that happen directly after pressing start, and how those stories influence the arcs of
After pressing start: Super Metroid and efficiency
(After Pressing Start is a new series running on Nightmare Mode every Friday by resident narrative guru Tom Auxier. It focuses on beginning, on the stories that happen directly after pressing start, and how those stories influence the arcs of
Wish upon a Starwish
Flash game Starwish has only the best of intentions. It combines JRPG style advancement and narrative with shmup style combat reminiscent of Gradius, and endeavors to make an entertaining soup out of them. And while it stands as definite proof
Wish upon a Starwish
Flash game Starwish has only the best of intentions. It combines JRPG style advancement and narrative with shmup style combat reminiscent of Gradius, and endeavors to make an entertaining soup out of them. And while it stands as definite proof
After pressing start: The Infinity Engine's coldest open
(After Pressing Start is a new series running on Nightmare Mode every Friday by resident narrative guru Tom Auxier. It focuses on beginning, on the stories that happen directly after pressing start, and how those stories influence the arcs of
After pressing start: The Infinity Engine's coldest open
(After Pressing Start is a new series running on Nightmare Mode every Friday by resident narrative guru Tom Auxier. It focuses on beginning, on the stories that happen directly after pressing start, and how those stories influence the arcs of
Dustforce Review: Cleaning in motion
The question, whenever you talk about Dustforce, is “Is it Super Meat Boy hard?” Super Meat Boy has become the gold standard for difficulty in platformers, so much so that everything has to be compared to it. For instance, I
Dustforce Review: Cleaning in motion
The question, whenever you talk about Dustforce, is “Is it Super Meat Boy hard?” Super Meat Boy has become the gold standard for difficulty in platformers, so much so that everything has to be compared to it. For instance, I
After pressing start: Final Fantasy VI and VII
(After Pressing Start is a new series running on Nightmare Mode every Friday by resident narrative guru Tom Auxier. It focuses on beginning, on the stories that happen directly after pressing start, and how those stories influence the arcs of
After pressing start: Final Fantasy VI and VII
(After Pressing Start is a new series running on Nightmare Mode every Friday by resident narrative guru Tom Auxier. It focuses on beginning, on the stories that happen directly after pressing start, and how those stories influence the arcs of