itch.io

The concept is exciting and fun to fiddle with, there's a certain degree of feeling like a researcher, exploring what does what - although with the limited pool of items, it becomes more akin to tending to a garden (which I like a lot). With a wider pool of things to put into the jar, it'd be a very nice time killer and offer a nice creative outlet to try to create a very nice jar.

It's dark outside and that means it's a great time for a spooky game, and A Survey in a Small Town will make you uncomfortable in just the right way to take advantage of that darkness, without simply doing a jump scare on you either. The amount of content in here is also quite surprising for a gamejam, that's a great job right there.

The non-linear nature of the game really helps keep you intrigued and thinking along the way, and emphasizes the overwhelming nature of what it is you in the context of this game.

I'd be keen to not say much else though, as it is something you probably should experience first before reading what others have to say.

Suppose you're a child. You're about 3'10" at the time, because children are incredibly short by comparison to adults. You're at the arcade, because your parents can't afford daycare. You withdraw your quarter from your pocket. You windmill slam it into the machine, you're playing - we know what you're playing. It's UFO RAMPAGE.

You can never get all the upgrades before dying because you're a hasty, impatient, and unskilled adult-in-training. However, you love it. The screaming of the innocent, and the cows. Your poor attempts and dodging around as you psionically slurp the people of some unknown city wow the other kids.

In a different time, in a different world, where Orphillius was 20 or so years older and made this game 20 or so years ago - that could have been you. It could have been me. However, he's not - and we aren't. Fortunately, we have the next best thing - having it today. And we can pretend that we're all neglected children playing this in an arcade, and by doing so perhaps capture a greater sense of wonder for this simple, but beautiful, game.

I think what UFO RAMPAGE has more than anything is style. Clean looks, smooth movement, and a willingness to make the primary sound you hear be screaming. It looks great, and it does so in an effortless sort of way that oozes coolness. This game is an excellent addition to the universe.