Chalk Free Play

Today I am reviewing a  game entitle Chalk, for my SGD 112 class.  The game is seemingly simple at first.  Only a mouse to use as the controller?  If you view the help section it gives you the basics.  Then its off to the game!

• Challenge:  I'm not the greatest player at this type of game.  I can play ARMA with all 900 buttons on the keyboard memorized but it never came across as impossible.  It comes across as a mix of old school side scrolling shooter, mixed with a slight puzzleyness (yes I made up a word!) and a slowly building frenetic pace.  Gotta love the boss fights in which you have to discover the weak spots.
• Fun Factor : Even though I am weak at scrolling shooters I just can't help myself.  I want to try to string together combos and get a better end level grade.  Also there is a certain rhythm with this game, if you get in the zone you can go far.  The simple controls make it all the better.
• Replay value.:  Yeah kinda touched on this above.  I didn't get too far but I keep wanting to try and get further.  This game is addicting.  It makes me want to strive to be a better player.
• Story: Well here we fall short.  There is not really a good story or engrossing character plot.  The link for me to this game was the overall combos and gameplay.  You are not going to mistake this game for a Zelda or Silent Hill.
• Presentation: Even though the game is low resolution you can clearly see the hand drawn influence of the graphics.  Everything looks as it should be, drawn on a chalkboard.  The warm sound effect of the chalk on chalkboard sound (ahh grade school memories), catchy world beat influenced music and clean animations keep you going.  It does get a bit hectic when the screen fills up with items to cancel out of bullets to deflect. If we could get it higher resolution this would be a cherry on top.
• Controls:  Did you not see the “only a mouse to use as a controller” comment at the top? Simple, dead on controls are needed to counter the pace as it ramps up. The only hitch I have is I am not accurate drawing with a mouse.  So it took a bit of warm up to get into the flow.  Overall it did not distract.
• Special features:  There are combos, ways of combating enemies, and over bonuses that you have to unlock.  It adds to the replay value as not everything is spoon fed to you.

After playing this game I give it an 8 out of 10.  Now if we can only get a bit of story to go along with the addictive gameplay and tweak the graphics to enhance the feel.  I will look forward to playing this one over and over.