Gamertell

Another somewhat slow week in the casual game world. There were a few substantial titles released, like Amaranth Games’ anticipated PC RPG Deadly Sin. There was also the free Peggle: World of Warcraft game release, which offered a ten level version of Peggle featuring WoW layouts.

Of course, there were the staple hidden object, time management and match 3 releases of the week as well. So if your current casual obsession is starting to get old, there are a handful of new titles to sort through. Mac ports of Pocahontas: Princess of the Powhatan and FishCo were also released, so there’s even something for Mac users this week.

This week’s best bet is: Deadly Sin for PC.

Spring Adventure
Genre: Puzzle (Match 3)
Availability: GameHouse, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: Fairyland has been cursed with an eternal winter, and it is up to the player to bring spring once again by defeating the witch who enaced the spell.
Demo Available: Yes

Lost City of Aquatica
Genre: Puzzle (Match 3)
Availability: GameHouse, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: John’s found an undiscovered world while diving in the ocean, populated by the Sniffs. By playing Match 3 puzzles, you can help the Sniffs revive their underwater city of Aquatica.
Demo Available: Yes

Magic Encyclopedia: Moon Light
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Objects)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Alawar Entertainment
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Katrina and Roger are tasked with finding Professor Fobros, the Magic School professor who has suddenly gone missing. Go through hidden object puzzles for clues and to rebuild an ancient amulet.
Demo Available: Yes

Margrave Manor 2: The Lost Ship
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Edwina Margrave’s grandfather, Edwin Margrave, had a ship disappear with an unknown treasure on it. Now the ship has been rediscovered and Edwina can discover and reclaim the treasure by finding it.
Demo Available: Yes

Deadly Sin
Genre: RPG
Availability: Harmonic Flow, Amaranth Games
Retail Price: $14.95
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: Lorelai has discovered that she is the lost princess of an extravagent empire, and now must journey around the world to reclaim her birthright and defeat the seven deadly sins.
Demo Available: Yes

Aquapolis
Genre: Strategy (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Building resorts and communities on land is so yesterday. Time to go under the seas and create land settlements underwater. As you do better, you earn new buildings and features to add to your underwater Aquapolis.
Demo Available: Yes

Relic Hunt
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: GameHouse, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: Melvin Jones takes over the family business and begins his career treasure hunting. Join him as he journeys around the world, surveying various locations, in search of hidden relics.
Demo Available: Yes

Artist Colony
Genre: Simulation
Availability: Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $9.99
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: You help make an artist colony reknowned and prolific by encouraging the artists and creating a condusive environment to create in.
Demo Available: Yes

Peggle: World of Warcraft Edition
Genre: Puzzle
Availability: PopCap Games
Retail Price: Free
Platform: Windows PC
Premise: Play 10 levels of World of Warcraft themed Peggle puzzles.
Demo Available: No

FishCo
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Mac 10.4 and 10.5
Premise: If you want to run a successful fish store, you need to raise and take good care of fish.
Demo Available: Yes

Pocahontas: Princess of the Powhatan
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Mac 10.4 and 10.5
Premise: This historic hidden object adventure allows players to follow Pocahontas as she travels in the New World and London.
Demo Available: Yes

World Mosaics
Genre: Puzzle
Availability: RealArcade
Retail Price: $19.99
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: After discovering the Pelasgians relic, you find yourself on a tour of seven places around the world learning more about that people and their culture by solving puzzles.
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]