canabalt

PLATFORM: iPad

RELEASE DATE: 09/2010
DEVELOPER: Semi Secret Software
ESRB RATING: NA

Progress: 5683km (so far)

Every now and then a game comes along that really gets under your skin. You hear the music and find yourself reliving the moments in your head. You run back to play it every chance you get -- not so much to advance or improve but rather, just to get your fix.

Canabalt is one of those games. This truly casual game, which anyone could get into, has graphics that consist of simple game sprites and even simpler backgrounds with only one thing the player needs to do: jump. One button control is all that's needed to play and in some cases it is as simple as just tapping the screen. As the game's tag line says "Outrun the demolition of your city with just one button!". This is a survival game, meaning: try not to fall and you can keep going. Your character simply runs from roof-top to roof-top, hurtling through the air. The only control is the jump button which is sensitive allowing you to choose a lighter jump rather than a longer jump.

super mario bros. crossover

PLATFORM: FLASH GAME
RELEASE DATE: 4/2010
PUBLISHER: EXPLODING RABBIT
ESRB RATING: NA
Progress: 80% at time of posting

There is and has been a thriving, user generated Flash game scene for years. Shame on me for neglecting it; well no more! A little game called Super Mario Bros. Crossover has changed all that. You may have seen some different emulators/ports of Super Mario Bros. (SMB) before but never with additional characters from classic NES games. This is the team-up I've dreamed about playing as a child. The idea is simply genius, play your way through the complete eight SMB worlds as Mega Man, Samus, Link, Bill (Contra), or Simon (Castlevania) and of course Mario.