Gamertell

After quite a few slow casual game weeks, the pace has finally picked up! This week an astonishing number of casual games made their debut, spanning all genres except for RPG. (If that’s your favorite genre, you’ll have to settle for simulation or adventure this week.)

There were not only tons of PC releases, but also quite a few Mac games released as well. The Hidden Object genre had the most games released, with titles like Kuros, Department 42: Mystery of the Nine, Keys to Manhattan and Mysterious World: The Secret of Oak Island. There were also a handful of adventure and time management games released as well. Many of the games also were released on multiple sites, so it’s a good week to be part of the Big Fish Game Club or hold a PlayFirst PlayPass.

Also, be sure to stop by Gamertell next week, as I’ll be reviewing Mysterious World: The Secret of Oak Island!

This week’s best bets are: Zuma Web Connect (Mac, PC), Kuros (PC) and Youda Sushi Chef (Mac, PC)

Return to Mysterious Island 2: Mina’s Fate
Genre: Adventure
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Just when Mina and her pet monkey Jep escaped a mysterious island in the first game, they get stranded again. After being rescued, the copter carrying her home again is hit with a missile and she’s trapped on, you guessed it, another mysterious island.
Demo Available: Yes

Department 42: The Mystery of the Nine
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: When nine evil and dangerous relics disappear, it is up to Department 42, which specializes in paranormal events, to find them and neutralize the terror they could possibly bring. As Agent Alice Wright, players investigate hidden object puzzles to find clues to the locations of the nine objects and save the world.
Demo Available: Yes

Plan it Green
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Mac 10.4 and 10.5 (Also Windows Vista and XP)
Premise: The Mac version of Plan it Green makes its debut! In this game you rebuild and develop a town. But it isn’t just any kind of town, it’s a Green town. Everything is environmentally friendly.
Demo Available: Yes

Gold Fever
Genre: Puzzle (Match 3)
Availability: Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $14.99
Platform: Mac 10.4 and 10.5 with Intel (Also available for PCs)
Premise: You’re in California during the Gold Rush, mining for gold by tackling 160 Gold Rush themed Match 3 puzzles.
Demo Available: Yes

Amazing Heists: Dillinger
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $9.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Time to try out being a bank robber. If Public Enemies got you interested in John Dillinger’s life, then Amazing Heists: Dillinger could be worth your time. You follow Dillinger’s life, robbing banks and such, buy solving hidden object puzzles.
Demo Available: Yes

Zuma Web Connect
Genre: Puzzle
Availability: PopCap Games
Retail Price: Free, but you need a Facebook account to play
Platform: Windows and Mac
Premise: This is a beta version of Zuma Web Connect, which allows you to play Zuma with friends by logging into your Facebook account, adding the application and logging into the game. You don’t actually play the puzzle game with friends, but instead try to get the highest score and earn medals.
Demo Available: No

Kuros
Genre: Adventure
Availability: Big Fish Games, PlayFirst, GameHouse, RealArcade
Retail Price:
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Katya is the only one who can possibly save the land of Kuros. The only problem is that she’s lost her memory. You must solve hidden object puzzles and guide Katya through her adventures to help her repair glyphstones, find allies and explore areas of Kuros
Demo Available: Yes

Fishdom H2O: Hidden Odyssey
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object) and Simulation
Availability: Playrix Entertainment
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Mac 10.4 and 10.5 (Also available for PCs)
Premise: If you want to have the absolute best aquarium, you’ll need to go underwater and solve hidden object puzzles to earn money and find fish for your aquarium. Once you’ve gotten everything you want for your aquarium, you can then tend to it. There are over 20 fish and undersea creatures to add and over 1,000 items you can find. You can also use your aquarium as a screensaver.
Demo Available: Yes

Keys to Manhattan
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: GameHouse, RealArcade, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: Emily the artist has returned to New York to search for her uncle. She begins by checking his townhouse, where she finds clues to search 13 areas in New York. By investigating hidden object puzzles she’ll not only learn the truth about her uncle, but also be able to revitalize his townhouse.
Demo Available: Yes

Mysterious World: The Secret of Oak Island
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Cerebral Vortex Games
Retail Price: $19.99
Platform: Windows
Premise: Solve hidden object puzzles on Oak Island, Nova Scotia to try and find a hidden treasure. The game also contains a variety of other puzzles and is based on an actual mystery. Check Gamertell next week for a review!
Demo Available: Yes

Zulu’s Zoo
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Zulu’s Zoo may be elligible for a million dollar grant, but only if you step in and offer assistance. You have to complete hidden object puzzles and mini-games to get the zoo in perfect condition. The animals are counting on you!
Demo Available: Yes

Youda Sushi Chef
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: PlayFirst, Harmonic Flow, Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP and Vista and Mac 10.4 and 10.5 (Note: Mac version is only available at PlayFirst!)
Premise: You get to be a sushi chef and run six sushi restaurants. Keep customers happy by creating the sushi they want, decorate your restaurants and even handle take out and large group orders.
Demo Available: Yes

Everything Nice
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Mac 10.4 and 10.5 (Also for PC)
Premise: The NiceCorp Factory is responsible for making all kinds of toys and candy. Players must help Abby run the factory, fill orders and make the NiceCorp Factory successful.
Demo Available: Yes

Jewel Quest Mysteries 2: Trail of the Midnight Heart
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.99
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: Eva Witheby’s uncle calls her to assist in the search for all sorts of ancient relics. When she agrees, she suddenly ends up on a worldwide search. You can help her find the mysterious and rare items in hidden object puzzles, some of which take place in scrolling and moving environments.
Demo Available: Yes

Many Years Ago
Genre: Strategy, Simulation
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: The Boggo volcano has erupted, destroying a large settlement lying beneath it. But there’s still hope! By playing the game, you can help rebuild the tribe and restore it to its former glory.
Demo Available: Yes

Editor’s Note: Due to so many casual games sites offering game plans or preferred member prices, which can cause a game to have multiple price-points, the games’ average retail prices is mentioned in Casual Friday.

Site [Big Fish Games] Site [PlayFirst] Site [GameHouse] Site [eGames] Site [Alawar Games] Site [Amazon] Site [Reflexive Arcade]