Calm Alien World: Tiny Dream, 2012

Tiny Dream is a simple platformer in the style of Knytt. it's a pretty and atmospheric little game that I still have not finished. This is due to the perplexing content that I have not been able to surmount.

What really irks me about Tiny Dream is the inability to save. Having many times been at work on this game for hours on end, the time inevitably came for me to return to humanity and to fill my efficiency quota, thus forfeiting my hard work spent within Tiny Dream. This is the single most frustrating feature of this game. Everything else I enjoy. Tiny Dream makes a mockery of traditional platformers, with its sideways screens that are difficult to navigate. Its music and graphics lend to an atmospheric experience. And of course, there is the nonviolent gameplay, making it a bit more of an explorer platform at the end of the day. All of these aspects bolster Tiny Dream and present it as an intelligent and balanced experience.

Of course, not being able to save makes this game uncomfortable for me. Perhaps this isn't a bad thing. maybe I rely too heavily on 'saves' then I ought to.

platform utilized: browser
genre: explorer platform
where to find: If you enjoy beautiful, ambient platformers as much as I do, don't miss the opportunity to play Tiny Dream right here.

Invaders Don't Let Up : Aether, 2012

Aether, created for the 23rd Ludum Dare competition, is a lot of fun and at times a challenging experience. You play as a little guy, running for you life, as alien invaders surround the planet and attempt to annihilate all life as we know it. You must avoid their incoming missiles as you run from one defense station to the next. At each station, the perspective changes, and you are given a view of earth and the immanent catastrophe that awaits. From here, you blow as many ships away as possible. However, there is a problem: they don't stop coming. In fact, the ships will continuously swarm you, not letting up. Timing is everything. Once you feel you've adequately extinguished the alien invaders, you must leave the station and run to the next before having a missile dropped on your head. If you can survive, your desired goal is an endpoint station that will bring about the cessation of these invaders.

This fun little title was created by a guy named Daniel. You can check out his game development blog.

platform utilized: browser
genre: explorer platform, shmup
where to find: You can play Aether here.