Monthly Archives: July 2011

Humble Indie Bundle #3 is now available!

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Humble Indie Bundle #3

It’s no secret that the indie game world is expanding every day. Some of the best games being released today are indie titles — see last week’s Bastion, for example. While the Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network and WiiWare markets are loaded with great examples of such games, there are a large number of computer-exclusive titles that are just as impressive.

This is where the Humble Indie Bundle comes in. Every six months or so, a group of independent game developers come together to release a collection of games with a blank price tag. That’s right — you can pay as much or as little as you want, and you have full access to DRM-free downloads for any platform (PC/Mac/Linux). These collections have been mammoth successes so far, and past titles have included excellent offerings such as Braid, World of Goo and Penumbra: Overture. The third Humble Indie Bundle was just released this week, and it is already making bank to the tune of over $500,000 in the first 17 hours alone. Hot damn.

Here’s what is being offered in the latest batch:

Crayon Physics Deluxe
Crayon Physics Deluxe – Puzzle game similar to Scribblenauts except that you draw shapes and objects in order to solve puzzles and complete levels. Grand Prize winner at the 2008 Independent Games Festival.

Cogs
Cogs – Steampunk puzzle game where you build a variety of machines from sliding tiles. Grand Prize winner at the 2010 Indie Game Challenge.

VVVVVV
VVVVVV – A 2D puzzle platformer that allows you to manipulate gravity to make it through the various levels. Much has been said of its extreme difficulty, but it has also won many prizes such as the IndieCade 2010 award for “Most Fun and Compelling” game.

Hammerfight
Hammerfight – A Russian 2D physics-based game that is focused on battles with badass flying machines.

And Yet It Moves
And Yet It Moves – A physics-based puzzle platformer with a unique papercraft visual style. This is also available on WiiWare.

To purchase the Humble Indie Bundle #3 and/or obtain more information, please visit the official homepage.

Beer Review: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

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Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Brewery: Sierra Nevada (Chico, California)
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 5.6%

It has been hot as shit lately in Chicago (and the rest of the country, for that matter), and the extreme humidity has led to an increase in my beer consumption. I can’t think of anything better than a nice, cold pale ale while braving the heat. I have been trying all sorts of quality summer brews in the past couple months, but today I decided to revisit a classic: Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale.

Introduced in 1980, this Pale Ale has rose through the ranks to become the second best-selling craft beer in the United States behind Samuel Adams’ Boston Lager. Many consider it a gateway beer into the wonderful world of hops, and it has managed to withstand the test of time after all these years.

Sierra Nevada describes their flagship beer as “a delightful interpretation of a classic style.” Its bottle label boasts that it is a completely natural ale with no additives. The company is proud of its ingredients, as it even makes sure to mention the fine layer of yeast in each bottle, which is the result of its bottle conditioning process.

When poured into a glass, the Pale Ale has a light amber color to it. Its aroma proudly flaunts hops — lots and lots of hops. It tastes exactly like it smells, with the Cascade hops delivering a strong citrus flavor with a bit of a spicy kick as well. The different tastes linger on the palette with mild to medium bitterness.

Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale is easily drinkable, and it’s not hard to see why this is a common gateway choice for craft beer novices. I find it amazing that a beer of this quality is one of the most popular in the country, and it’s fantastic that this can usually be found even at less-than-impressive watering holes. Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale is the very definition of “an oldie but a goodie.”

8/10

Movie Review: The Adjustment Bureau [2011, Nolfi]

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The Adjustment Bureau [2011, Nolfi]

The Adjustment Bureau [2011]
Director: George Nolfi
Genre: Romance/Sci-Fi/Thriller
Language: English
Country: USA

The Adjustment Bureau is a jack of all trades. Action, fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, romance. There is something for everyone in director George Nolfi’s adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s short story, “Adjustment Team”.

Matt Damon stars as David Norris, a young, brash New York Congressman with an aspiring political career. In 2006, he is gunning for a Senate seat and looks to be the front runner until some embarrassing pictures of his college antics turn up. He loses the race but meets the sexy and mysterious Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) right before he is to make his concession speech. As if by magic, there is an instant connection between the two in their brief but passionate encounter, and this inspires David to give a no-holds-barred speech, easily the best of his career. This breathes new life into his political career, but all he can think about is Elise.

The Adjustment Bureau [2011, Nolfi]

The potential relationship between David and Elise has omniscient barriers that are determined to keep them apart. This group of “case workers” as they like to be called is known as The Adjustment Bureau (made up of an impressive cast including John Slattery and Anthony Mackie). They keep track of everyone’s lives in order to make sure that everything goes according to the plan. One day David stumbles upon the Bureau in action and learns about their methods. They agree to let him live under two conditions: he cannot tell anyone about them (and if he does, they will erase his memory) and he must never see Elise again. Even with some knowledge of his potential future, David dares it all just to be with Elise. And that’s where the romance comes in.

The love plot leads to some predictable moments, but the movie is still quite enjoyable. The issues of fate and destiny are discussed in an intelligent and respectable manner, never opting to shove religion down our throats. I was very pleased with this, especially after watching the atrocious Book of Eli, a film that leaned far too heavily on religious themes. The Adjustment Bureau brings up some interesting ideas about whether there are forces beyond our control that keep our lives on track, and if “fate” can be avoided.

The Adjustment Bureau [2011, Nolfi]

The movie has two more-than-capable leads in the form of Damon and Blunt, and they have great chemistry together. During the heated bathroom sequence early in the movie, it is easy to see the instant connection between them. Damon, in particular, is on top of his game here, effortlessly playing the charming and charismatic politican. Blunt also does very well with what she has to work with here, although I would have preferred a little more depth to her character. The aforementioned Slattery and Mackie are great as part of the Bureau, especially Slattery who is in prime Mad Men form. Terrence Stamp also gets in on the action as the gruff advisor known as “The Hammer” who is sent in to take care of the escalating situation.

I can see how some viewers might be turned off by the movie — its last 15 minutes can get a little silly — but I was still pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it overall. The Adjustment Bureau has an interesting concept that brings up some thoughtful questions, and it is led by a very strong cast. Ambitious and inspiring, this film is well worth seeing.

8/10

Video Game Review: Bastion [Xbox 360, 2011]

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Bastion [Xbox 360, 2011]

Bastion
System: Xbox 360
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Supergiant Games
Release Date: July 20, 2011

First it was Braid, then it was Limbo, now it is Bastion.

It seems every year or so a new artsy indie title arrives on the Xbox Live marketplace that gets a huge amount of critical acclaim. This year’s title, the action RPG Bastion, is the first entry in Microsoft’s annual Summer of Arcade promotion, and it is one hell of a way to start the event.

There are two things you will notice right away upon starting Bastion. One, the game is stylish as fuck. This is a beautiful game with gorgeous, vibrant designs that cover all areas of the color spectrum. The game’s isometric camera helps to show off the stunning visuals used in the many in-game environments. Seriously, just take a look at these screenshots. This is a great-looking title, and the visuals certainly add to the overall experience.

Bastion [Xbox 360, 2011]

The second thing that is immediately noticeable is the game’s narrator. Everything you do in the game is narrated by a gravelly-voiced man known as Rucks. He will comment about your actions on screen and provide bits of back-story as you progress throughout the adventure. It appears the old man has a sense of humor, too, as some of his remarks are actually quite funny. Early on in the campaign, I picked up a weapon for the first time and started bashing everything in sight. Rucks simply stated “Kid just rages for a while” then waited until I was done with my destruction before continuing his narration. This feature really is brilliant because you will never feel alone despite the lack of a party system.

In Bastion, you play as a silent protagonist named The Kid. You awaken in a mostly destroyed world, one that is feeling the aftereffects of a catastrophic event known only as the Calamity. Your goal is to build up the Bastion, a safe haven that can potentially be used to bring back the world The Kid once knew. As you progress through the game’s world, pieces of the environment will fall into place. Frequently, the ground will form right under your feet and lead the way to the next area. This makes it feel as if you are really making some progress in getting things back to normal, and it is a great sense of accomplishment.

Bastion’s core gameplay is comprised of traditional hack ‘n slash methods. You are given a button for different weapons, and you run around on the screen killing enemies and gaining XP. New weapons are unlocked throughout the game, and all of them can be built up by acquiring new materials. Progressing through the game also builds up the Bastion, the homebase that provides the means to level up weapons and items. This is all standard action RPG fare, but it is very well executed overall and is simply a lot of fun to play.

Bastion [Xbox 360, 2011]

Bastion’s campaign will take roughly 5-8 hours to complete which may seem short for a $15 game, but there is a surprising amount of replay value here. The main campaign has a number of “Proving Grounds” side quests that are essentially combat mini-games, and they offer a good amount of challenge. Also, after completing the game a “New Game+” option is unlocked in which you can play through again with all of your current abilities already available. I rarely play through single player games more than once these days, but I am already going through Bastion for a second time. Yeah, it’s that good.

There really isn’t much to speak of in the way of game flaws. My biggest problem, which is little more than a minor nuisance, is that it can be too easy to roll off the game’s playing field, but it will pick you right back up with only a dent in health damage. There are occasional quibbles with the direction of shooting arrows and such, but these rarely hinder gameplay.

Quite frankly, Bastion is one of the best games to be released this year and is one of the better titles available in the Xbox Live Arcade library. This is an amazing debut from Supergiant Games, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings with this company. If you have any doubts about giving Bastion a shot, definitely download the trial. Chances are you will be sold as soon as the game starts. I know I was.

9/10

Video Game Review: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories [PSP, 2009]

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Silent Hill: Shattered Memories [PSP, 2009]

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
System: PSP
Developer: Climax Studios
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Release Date: December 8, 2009

Let me begin by saying that I haven’t played a Silent Hill game since the original PSOne classic came out in 1999. Apparently I am missing out because I have heard nothing but rave reviews for most of the PS2 games. As a way for me to get back into the series, I picked up Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. Some will say that this is a bit of an odd choice to begin with since the game labels itself as a “revisioning” of the first game, and it is quite a bit different from the the rest of the series. Still, I got sucked into the psychological side of Shattered Memories, and that’s what maintained my interest throughout.

Right from the start, the game opens with a red “Psychology Warning” screen similar to the FBI warnings that preface movie DVDs. The message claims that “it gets to know who you really are” and that “the game plays you as much as you play it.” Bold statements to be sure, but I have to admit I was intrigued by this idea.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories [PSP, 2009]

The game uses psychology in the form of therapy sequences in which you answer a series of personal questions. Your answers to these questions ultimately shape the game around you, and there will be several differences in the game depending on your responses. Some are subtle, such as a tavern turning into either a sports bar or an Irish pub, but others are significant and can lead to some pretty wild endings. It’s a neat feature, and I would love to see more games do something like this.

Just like the original Silent Hill, you play as Harry Mason as he searches for his missing daughter in the eponymous town. Some familiar faces pop up but they are completely different than you may remember. This is a brand new adventure, and the story is a fresh take on the original concept.

The game is decidely split into two styles of gameplay. The main portion revolves around Harry searching frantically for signs of his daughter, finding clues and asking people for help. These segments are completely devoid of combat, which takes some getting used to. Whereas typical survival horror games rely on the unknown and keeping an eye out for unwanted surprises, Shattered Memories has none of this. In the main segments, there are no enemies and it is impossible to get hurt. Instead, occasional puzzles are thrown in the mix to keep interest while Harry is exploring the town. This could get pretty boring actually, but Climax keeps the suspense in tact by throwing a bunch of plot curveballs your way while focusing on some interesting character development.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories [PSP, 2009]

The other style of gameplay comes in the form of nightmares. In these scenes, nearly everything in the world turns to ice, and Harry has to escape these environments to get things back to normal. The catch is that there are enemies in these areas, and they can kill you. You can’t fight back other than to throw them off your back. This can lead to some frantic situations when a bunch of them hunt you down and jump you at the same time. Unfortunately, while these segments are meant to provide some sense of thrills in the game, they are very poorly executed. The nightmares essentially turn into a series of trial and error sequences where you quickly run from door to door with no clear idea of where to go next. There’s nothing you can do other than keep trying to find the exit while hoping the enemies don’t catch up to you. After a while, I began to dread these moments. Not because they were scary, but because they were just not fun.

It’s a shame that the nightmare gameplay is so tedious because I really enjoyed the rest of the game, even with its lack of real combat. The story kept me interested throughout, and the ending was just phenomenal. Seriously, the end made me glad I stuck around for the entire game (which admittedly is very short). Shattered Memories is a good effort that utilizes unique psychological aspects, but it will surely alienate some gamers since it isn’t a proper survival horror title. Still, it’s worth a shot if nothing other than to see “how the game plays you.”

7/10

Video Game Review: 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa [PSP, 2010]

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2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa [PSP, 2010]

2010 FIFA World Cup
System: PSP
Developer: HB Studios
Publisher: EA Sports
Release Date: April 27, 2010

Last year’s World Cup tournament is what finally made me a full-fledged soccer fan. Team USA’s improbable draw with England, England’s subsequent collapse, Landon Donovan’s unbelievable goal… I got sucked into World Cup hysteria. Capitalizing on the event, EA Sports released a special FIFA edition specifically for the tournament. Craving some portable soccer action, I picked up the game for the PSP.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa provides 199 of the 204 national teams that entered qualification, and it offers several different modes of play. Beyond the standard “pick a team and play a single game” option, there are modes to play through the full World Cup tournament (including the various qualifiers), a “Captain Your Country” feature, and a “Story of Qualifying” option.

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa [PSP, 2010]

Captain Your Country is intriguing, as it is basically a spin off of the “Be a Pro” modes that are all the rage in sports games these days. In this, you create a low-level player who is promptly placed on their national team. Your goal is to build up this player to greatness while leading his country to victory.

My personal favorite is Story of Qualifying, which allows you to relive a lot of great moments inspired by the road to the World Cup. There are some truly memorable scenarios presented here, such as the Luxembourg/Switzerland encounter where Luxembourg shocked the world by winning 2-1. In this particular example, you play as Luxembourg in the 76th minute with the match tied 1-1. You get points for winning the match, conceding no more goals and/or by winning by two goals. There are dozens of scenarios like these from all over the world, and it’s a lot of fun trying to get maximum points in each one.

2010 FIFA World Cup [PSP, 2010]

The core gameplay is easy to pick up and play, as the controls are standard for the FIFA series. Players move around effortlessly, and each team has their own unique style which comes across surprisingly well on the pitch. I did have some occasional problems with manually switching the players, and sometimes the AI determined I wanted to pass to a different player than I intended, but for the most part the on-the-field experience is more than satisfactory.

EA also succeeded in bringing the South African experience into video game form. The infamous vuvuzelas are ever-present (though they can be removed via the in-game options), and the soundtrack is a pretty diverse collection of music from all over the world. Clyde Tyldesley and Andy Townsend are competent on commentary, although they do tend to repeat themselves during the actual tournament. The country’s stadiums are brought to life, and a helpful map shows all of their locations. The graphics are typical PSP fare. It can be hard to see some of the players on the top half of the screen, but for the most part the game looks good enough.

As far as portable soccer games go, I can’t really compare this to anything else. However, I have greatly enjoyed 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa since it does an admirable job of maintaining the crazy atmosphere while also providing a surprising amount of depth in terms of gameplay. While there are occasional quibbles with the control, these are not major disturbances and they do not disrupt what is an otherwise fun experience. For those looking to relive last year’s memorable Cup, this is a great gaming option.

8/10

Quick & Dirty #7: Kaboom, Kill the Irishman, Scribblenauts and more

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It’s time for another roundup of what I have seen/played lately.

MOVIES

Kaboom [2011, Araki]
Kaboom [2011, Araki]
One of the worst movies I have seen in a while. With a convoluted sci-fi plot as its base, Kaboom meanders all over the place by including random and unnecessary casual sex encounters. Actually, these sex scenes are all the movie has going for it in terms of entertainment. The rest of the movie is a scrambled mess with weak dialogue and wasted acting talent. Araki tries too hard to be David Lynch here and ultimately comes across as a poor imitation. 3/10

Kill the Irishman [2011, Hensleigh]
Kill the Irishman [2011, Hensleigh]
Crime drama about the life of Danny Greene, an Irish-American mobster who was both directly and indirectly involved with a ton of car bombings in 1970s Cleveland. Ray Stevenson delivers a solid performance as Greene, and there are some solid supporting roles from Christopher Walken and Val Kilmer as well (though it must be stated that they aren’t on screen nearly as much as the trailer and promo material would suggest). The movie doesn’t try anything new and it could have used much better development for certain characters, but it’s still a decent enough gangster movie. 6/10

Me and You and Everyone We Know [2005, July]
Me and You and Everyone We Know [2005, July]
I dug this quirky indie dramedy, but not quite as much as Roger Ebert, who named this as one of the top ten movies of the last decade. There is a lot to like about this movie, including John Hawkes and some great performances from the child actors. While some of the sequences fell flat, there were some genuinely hilarious moments such as the online interactions between two children and an anonymous stranger. I felt like the Miranda July tried too hard with some of the proceedings, but I still liked the movie’s eccentricities. 7/10

VIDEO GAMES

2010 FIFA World Cup [PSP, 2010]
2010 FIFA World Cup [PSP, 2010]
I got sucked back into World Cup fever after the USA Women’s team’s excellent run this year, and ended up picking this game back up. It brought back a lot of memories, and I have had a blast guiding the men’s Team USA through the tournament. I am looking forward to trying out the “Captain Your Country” mode in which you create your own player and lead them to greatness. The game’s got a pretty diverse soundtrack, and the vuvuzelas add to the atmosphere (for better or for worse). I am digging it, as it is pretty good as far as portable sports games go.

Scribblenauts [DS, 2009]
Scribblenauts [DS, 2009]
This little game intrigued me when I first heard about it back in 2009, but I just now got my hands on it. The concept is pretty cool, no doubt, since it allows you to type in any word you can think of to solve puzzles. I just started playing and have only completed a handful of the first level’s puzzles, but I am enjoying it so far. Some of the controls seem a little touchy, such as climbing up ladders and using items from that, but that’s not a huge issue. I look forward to digging into some of the more challenging levels.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories [PSP, 2009]
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories [PSP, 2009]
This is the first Silent Hill I have played since the original PSOne title. Apparently this is a “re-imagining” of said game, although it feels a lot different than I remember. I like the psychological aspects of this, but the lack of combat reduces the scare factor quite a bit. I am enjoying it so far, but it’s not blowing me away.

Beer Review: Captain Fantasy [Half Acre Brewery]

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Captain Fantasy [Half Acre Brewery]

Captain Fantasy
Brewery: Half Acre (Chicago, Illinois)
Style: Saison/Farmhouse Ale
ABV: 7.0%

Named after a Ween song, Captain Fantasy is the second Saison released by Half Acre in the last few weeks. This is the brewery’s second collaboration with Short’s Brewing Company from Bellaire, Michigan (the first being their Freedom of ’78 Pure Guava IPA from earlier this year).

Captain Fantasy is quite a bit different from the previous Dripping Saison. This one was brewed with Sorachi Ace hops as well as pear puree, which is definitely an interesting combination. Upon first tasting, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with the pears. Quite frankly, I have never tasted a beer like this. The pear puree really stands out and gives this a very sweet taste. There is a little bit of spiciness, and the hops push their way in and take over after the initial fruit blast. The finish is a tad bitter, but not overtly so. It’s definitely a unique brew.

All things considered, Captain Fantasy is a solid, refreshing summer beer. I didn’t like this one quite as much as Dripping Saison, but I will give it bonus points for being something unlike anything else I have ever had. Half Acre’s collaborations with Short’s have led to some fun experiments and I hope they continue to work together.

7/10

- Captain Fantasy is available in growlers as well as 22 oz. bombers at the brewery.

Video Game Review: Vanquish [Xbox 360, 2010]

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Vanquish [Xbox 360, 2010]

Vanquish
System: Xbox 360
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Platinum Games
Release Date: October 19, 2010

Imagine Gears of War on crystal meth.

Vanquish is intense. Really intense. This game just oozes testosterone. There are muscleheaded freaks, massive explosions, big guns and huge robots. Hell, there’s a button to smoke a cigarette. Best of all, there is never a dull moment.

You play as one of the aforementioned ‘roid abusers named Sam Gideon, a highly-skilled soldier with cutting-edge armor. After Russia — go figure — bombs the hell out of San Francisco, Gideon and several special forces are sent to fight the Commie bastards and save the good ol’ U S of A. Obviously, this is pretty basic stuff and it’s been done a million times before, but Vanquish is a type of game that is not played for its story. Come for the firefights, stay for the explosions.

Vanquish [Xbox 360, 2010]

As a third person shooter, Vanquish throws you right into combat and doesn’t let up until your mission is complete. The combat mechanics are what you would expect – cover, shoot, lob a grenade, repeat. However, as a unique DARPA soldier, Gideon has access to some pretty cool features. For one, he can slide ridiculously fast. This is perfect for maneuvering around large open areas, particularly during the frequent, massive boss fights. Sam is also able to slow down time for brief periods, which allows him to dodge bullets and get in some rapid fire shots on enemies. This feature is automatically triggered when Sam is low on health, and this is an excellent way to buy some time while he gets back to full strength. Gideon also has access to an impressive array of weapons, all of which can be upgraded along the way. It doesn’t get much better than throwing an EMP grenade to disable the enemy and then zooming in with a rocket launcher to blow them away.

It’s difficult not to get swept up in the frenetic pace that Vanquish thrives in. There is one problem with this, however: the good times end far too soon. I completed the game on Normal (which was still a good challenge) in about 5 1/2 hours. After completing the campaign, there isn’t much else to do. Sure, you could go through it again on a higher difficulty, but it’s all single player or bust. There is no co-op option, and online play is nowhere to be found. It’s really a shame that these features were excluded. Vanquish would be perfect for co-op, as it would be a blast to share this high-octane experience with a buddy. It’s almost inexcusable that there are no multiplayer options at all.

In essence, Vanquish is a quick shot of adrenaline that serves its purpose for the campaign’s 5-6 hour length. It is a gorgeous game with lots of pyro eye candy, and its fast pacing pulls no punches. A little more depth could have went a long way in this game, but it’s still a lot of fun for what it is. However, unless you are dedicated to multiple playthroughs to obtain maximum value, Vanquish may be best suited for a weekend rental.

7/10

Video Game Review: WTF: Work Time Fun [PSP, 2006]

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WTF: Work Time Fun [PSP, 2006]

WTF: Work Time Fun
System: PSP
Developer: SCEI
Publisher: D3, Sony
Release Date: October 23, 2006

It takes just one glance at WTF: Work Time Fun’s title to realize that it is going to be a bizarre and eccentric game. A quirky Japanese title, WTF is a compilation of minigames that are all over the place with randomness and unusual concepts.

In the game, you play as an oddjob worker who just so happens to be in Hell. Your goal is to make money by performing random tasks. I’m not kidding when I say “random” — tasks range from everything to putting caps on pens to kicking out of a pro wrestling pin at the last possible moment. The money earned from these projects is used for vending machines that give out completely random prizes: more tasks/minigames, useless trinkets and mostly unhelpful “tools” such as a mobile bingo machine. In essence, there is no point to the game other than to work tedious jobs and earn money to purchase meaningless items. Doesn’t sound like fun, does it?

WTF: Work Time Fun [PSP, 2006]

For all of its wackiness, WTF struggles with one major problem: most of the minigames just aren’t fun. The aforementioned Pendamonium game is probably the worst offender. In this “game” your job is to put caps on pens, occasionally taking the time to flip them over so the cap is placed in the right spot. That’s it. There is no definitive end to this task; you just keep doing this over and over again until you get tired of it. Another futile minigame has you separate baby chicks by their sex by simply hitting a different button for male and female. This goes on for a full TEN MINUTES. Whereas other minigame compilations work because they keep the games quick and to the point, WTF sometimes pushes them ad nauseum.

It should be noted that not all tasks are bad, though all are incredibly simple. I enjoyed testing my ability with the lumberjack minigame. In this one, an old lady throws out pieces of wood for you to chop — the catch is that she will occasionally toss in stuffed animals, and if you chop those you lose. Another tolerable minigame is a simple race where you have to hit the brakes at the right time in order to pass your opponent while also avoiding running off the cliff. Again, these are nothing special and actually could pass as simple Flash games, but they work in the context of WTF.

WTF: Work Time Fun [PSP, 2006]

Without its off-the-wall Japanese presentation, Work Time Fun would have nothing going for it. The games come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and have varying aesthetic appeals. Some games look like they belong in the Atari era, whereas others use real-life images to make them stand out. It’s always interesting to see what games you can unlock, although it’s not always fun getting there.

It’s hard to recommend Work Time Fun unless you have a soft spot for weird Japanese humor and/or you enjoy performing lots of tedious work to unlock worthless collectibles. Chalk this one up as an interesting experiment that belongs to a very niche audience.

5/10