The past and future of video games
Todays advent calendar window is a window upon Xmas past.
Not that innocent, maybe.
There were plenty of arseholes back then.
Some of them now run very large software companies.
But at least there was no grinding to ruin your bunnyhopping.
But of course, its…Straftat!
The guns are irresistible, lending themselves to obvious playstyles.
One map gives you a bunch of single-shot rifles and teleportation doors perched on exposed gantries.
The 1v1 format creates a degree of intimacy that feels exotic today, more fighting game than FPS.
People are going to cuss you out in the chatbox, but its sort of fun.
Plus some weapons and hats.
I cant wait to see what brothers Sirius and Leonard Lemaitre get up to for their third project.
Maybe a town builder next?
Or a single city block detective game.
Brendy:Cussed out in the chatbox?
But yes, Edwin is right.
There is something pure and beautiful about these tiny maps.
It was enough to make me go back and finally play Babbdi.
Which itself took 40 minutes.
That’s two amazing games scarfed down in a single hour.
AND THEY’RE BOTH FREE.
It is absolutely bonkers.
What the hell are these fraternal fraggers drinking?
That mostly meant user-made levels, and mostly crude, gimmicky, throwaway levels at that.
In fairness, the games themselves usually contained more than a few such levels, anyway.
All of these maps were hopelessly imbalanced or borderline unfair, producing repetitive and occasionally frustrating experiences.
They were also thrilling, dramatic, and often especially wonderful in one-on-one fights.
They simply push the experience, one round at a time, into greater heights of panic and laughter.
It’s an ugly Trillian skin in a world of Apple white design.
It’s a Napster download of blur_-_woohoo.mp3 in a world of monthly subscription streaming services.
It’s a Glasgow teen producing happy hardcore tracks in a world of celebrity DJs.
It’s pure nostalgia and completely forward-thinking.
Headback to the advent calendarto open another door!
