New Friend Request
My favorite games 12/16/08 10:16 PM
I thought it'd be fun to dedicate a blog post to my top 5 favorite games.
5. Hex Combo
At its core, Hex Combo is nothing more than a game that requires fast clicking. I remember when I first played it and thought that having to add up numbers to 17 would be the main challenge of the game. Of course, I was wrong. After a few dozen tries I was no longer counting, but instead just going for obvious combinations like 9-8, 6-6-5, 7-7-3. Now, after hundreds of games, I simply know what makes 17 and use that knowledge to click my way through the levels. Because of the scoring system, you need to isolate as many hexagons as possible, which adds a nice touch of strategy that keeps the game from getting boring. But my favorite part of Hex Combo is when the entire board is green and I am rapidly making "dead" combinations, to get a few more points before making the final move at the very last second.
4. Twist Me Silly
First things first, I don't like the name of this game. It's very silly. When I first played it, I wasn't impressed. The mechanics seemed stupid, I didn't understand when the special tiles appeared (like the color bomb), I hated the differences in color between "off" and "on" tiles. But all that gradually changed. I read the rules, practiced, started to see just what the game is about. And I started to have fun! Now I can honestly say that this game is ingenious. Brilliantly designed. It revolves around getting color bombs, which appear if you make four or more moves in rapid succession. Once you get a bomb, the goal is to set it off. And when you set it off, you frantically make moves around the field to stretch the combo as long as possible to get more points and a new color bomb. Rinse and repeat. It's awesome. Being able to make moves while stuff is going on, which was first introduced with Crescendo Catcher, is very innovative and, most of all, fun.
3. Freecell
I am a Freecell addict. I used to play this constantly, the regular Windows version that is. When King introduced their version, I had my reservations. The game's theme was stupid (it still is, to be honest). Scoring was based on number of moves rather than time (and I am more of a speed demon than a strategist). Then there were those bizarre golden cards that allow you to grab cards you need, like a hard to get ace. It all seemed inferior to my beloved Windows Freecell. But, as often happens, I warmed up to it (maybe reaching the semi final in the Royal Cup had something to do with it). I realized I was actually pretty good at solving layouts in as few moves as possible, and it wasn't that difficult to incorporate the golden cards in my strategy. A worthy version of Freecell for sure.
2. Cat Corner
I loved this game immediately. I am still obsessed with it. Every night before I go to bed, I have a ritual that I don't go until I score 100K in Cat Corner. In the past, getting such a score would sometimes take an hour, which wasn't good for my health, because I can use the sleep. However, nowadays 100K is my average, so it takes three games at most. So, what is so great about Cat Corner? Well, first of all, the first 9 levels. They awaken the speed demon in me. Since they are relatively easy, I can drag my way through them, getting as many stopwatches as possible so I have plenty of time for the second part of the game, which starts at level 10. That's when the red cats come in, and solving levels becomes more of a challenge. Then I activate my pattern recognition demon... if there is such a thing inside my brain. It's just so much fun. The only downside is that luck is still a pretty big factor. If you get a layout with a herring in the right place, you can score a lot more than your opponent. But I feel that I've reached a level of consistency where this is no longer a problem. So it's all good!
1. Midas Mahjong
Of course, Midas Mahjong. I am so in love with (solo) Mahjong. It was Mahjong Masquerade that got me to join the site. Mahjongg Fortuna that got me addicted. And the new version of Midas Mahjong that became one of my favorite games ever. I know, the concept is extremely simple. Just solve as much as you can in seven minutes. No trying to not get stuck and lose like in MM. No pausing to look for all possible moves and making long combos like in MF. Just rush through as fast as you can. I love it. It's the best thing in the world, and is definitely my favorite game here on this great site.
5. Hex Combo
At its core, Hex Combo is nothing more than a game that requires fast clicking. I remember when I first played it and thought that having to add up numbers to 17 would be the main challenge of the game. Of course, I was wrong. After a few dozen tries I was no longer counting, but instead just going for obvious combinations like 9-8, 6-6-5, 7-7-3. Now, after hundreds of games, I simply know what makes 17 and use that knowledge to click my way through the levels. Because of the scoring system, you need to isolate as many hexagons as possible, which adds a nice touch of strategy that keeps the game from getting boring. But my favorite part of Hex Combo is when the entire board is green and I am rapidly making "dead" combinations, to get a few more points before making the final move at the very last second.
4. Twist Me Silly
First things first, I don't like the name of this game. It's very silly. When I first played it, I wasn't impressed. The mechanics seemed stupid, I didn't understand when the special tiles appeared (like the color bomb), I hated the differences in color between "off" and "on" tiles. But all that gradually changed. I read the rules, practiced, started to see just what the game is about. And I started to have fun! Now I can honestly say that this game is ingenious. Brilliantly designed. It revolves around getting color bombs, which appear if you make four or more moves in rapid succession. Once you get a bomb, the goal is to set it off. And when you set it off, you frantically make moves around the field to stretch the combo as long as possible to get more points and a new color bomb. Rinse and repeat. It's awesome. Being able to make moves while stuff is going on, which was first introduced with Crescendo Catcher, is very innovative and, most of all, fun.
3. Freecell
I am a Freecell addict. I used to play this constantly, the regular Windows version that is. When King introduced their version, I had my reservations. The game's theme was stupid (it still is, to be honest). Scoring was based on number of moves rather than time (and I am more of a speed demon than a strategist). Then there were those bizarre golden cards that allow you to grab cards you need, like a hard to get ace. It all seemed inferior to my beloved Windows Freecell. But, as often happens, I warmed up to it (maybe reaching the semi final in the Royal Cup had something to do with it). I realized I was actually pretty good at solving layouts in as few moves as possible, and it wasn't that difficult to incorporate the golden cards in my strategy. A worthy version of Freecell for sure.
2. Cat Corner
I loved this game immediately. I am still obsessed with it. Every night before I go to bed, I have a ritual that I don't go until I score 100K in Cat Corner. In the past, getting such a score would sometimes take an hour, which wasn't good for my health, because I can use the sleep. However, nowadays 100K is my average, so it takes three games at most. So, what is so great about Cat Corner? Well, first of all, the first 9 levels. They awaken the speed demon in me. Since they are relatively easy, I can drag my way through them, getting as many stopwatches as possible so I have plenty of time for the second part of the game, which starts at level 10. That's when the red cats come in, and solving levels becomes more of a challenge. Then I activate my pattern recognition demon... if there is such a thing inside my brain. It's just so much fun. The only downside is that luck is still a pretty big factor. If you get a layout with a herring in the right place, you can score a lot more than your opponent. But I feel that I've reached a level of consistency where this is no longer a problem. So it's all good!
1. Midas Mahjong
Of course, Midas Mahjong. I am so in love with (solo) Mahjong. It was Mahjong Masquerade that got me to join the site. Mahjongg Fortuna that got me addicted. And the new version of Midas Mahjong that became one of my favorite games ever. I know, the concept is extremely simple. Just solve as much as you can in seven minutes. No trying to not get stuck and lose like in MM. No pausing to look for all possible moves and making long combos like in MF. Just rush through as fast as you can. I love it. It's the best thing in the world, and is definitely my favorite game here on this great site.
Hey, Kworb, how about a youtube video of you playing hex combo? I'm not doing badly with the 17-ness of it all, but could use some examples of how to deal with recalcitrant corners, especially around the holes.
I'll see what I can do, haven't played it in a while so I'm probably rusty!
A great read :) My 5 favourite games are Twist Me Silly, Chain Reaction, Zuma, Luxor and Bomp Bomp. You should write reviews on games (professionally)!