Together with Burnout Crash! and Extraction, EA/Chillingo/PopCap had some other titles on show in London this week… here is a sampling
Popcorn dragon
Popcorn Dragon started life as a simple idea from a regular employee at PopCap. EAch year they hold a PopCamp where all employees, from secretaries to PR folk are invited to pitch ideas, however left of field they might be. And.. out popped Popcorn Dragon.
The game has a very simply dynamic where you must fly a little dragon around the screen, blowing flames on corn to turn it into pop corn. you must then collect it all up before the time runs out. Birds and other creatures will attempt to steal your popcorn, and some will attack you and snap at your tail.
The game can be played with one finger by simply swiping the dragon around the screen and tapping to unleash your flames. Alternatively I found you can play with to thumbs with one thumb controlling the dragon and the other tapping to fire.
The game is uber casual, but incredibly addictive. And I particularly liked the whole 1950s cinema lobby style menus and presentation.
I doubt it will garner the same attention as PopCaps other titles, such as Plants Vs Zombies and bejeweled, but it could be one to watch.
Superman
When I posted screens of this game a few weeks back, I have to say I was skeptical. It looked like a budget flash game from years back. It still does have that look about it, however when playing the game it certainly plays and looks better in motion.
Superman is very much an arcade experience, so don’t expect any deep storyline here. Essentially it is a re-skin of Chillingo’s other hero game ‘The Hero’. In it you must fly around the game screen looking for threats to Metropolis, and punch the living daylights out of them.
Your action button is context sensitive, so depending on the enemy or task at hand your ability will change. One minute you are blowing out fires, shooting flying bots with lasers, or punching fleeing bank robbers.
Like the Hero, flying is simple, but fun. You feel a surprising amount of freedom considering it’s 2D presentation and level structure. Being able to fly straight up into space at any time is pretty cool.
Trenches 2
The first Trenches was a solid strategy game. Sporting a cartoon look and side-on viewpoint, it’s essentially a dumbed down Command and Conquer. But below it’s comical exterior lies a surprising deep experience.
Trenches 2 gives you more of the same, plus: new perks; more weapons such as Fire Bombs, Biplane and the Rail Gun; new unit types like cavalry, flamethrowers and tanks; new Skirmish, and online game modes; and a new nation, France.
The game looks like a perfect fit for causal strategists, and for quick on-the-go war sessions. Trenches 2 could be a surprise hit for RTS fans this winter.
Hank Hazard: Stunt hamster
This is your usual ‘collect three stars’ style physics puzzler. Like Cut the rope and Angry Birds before it. While there is nothing original here, I was drawn in by the cartoon art and presentation in the game, particularly for Hank himself.
Pop ice blocks to make him fall, and push bombs or sprung boxing gloves to launch Hank in his ball around the play area to collect all the stars and reach the target. Just don’t let him fall into the fire.
It’s an endearing puzzle game that will do doubt appeal to the casual market when it releases later this year.
