The first Link Dump Friday of 2009 also happens to set another impressive record: the first intro paragraph on JayIsGames to contain the word "bacon"! Remember this moment, as you will no doubt wish to tell your grandchildren where you were when this monumentally important event transpired!
Fall - A simple but interesting puzzle game that requires some fast thinking. A phantom shape slowly descends onto the grid of shapes at the center of the screen. By sliding pieces in the center, try to put the matching shape where the phantom piece will land.
Mixel - A tiny but cute platformer where you play a big-eyed kitty who collects coins and grabs keys to progress to the next level. Surprisingly difficult, even on easy mode.
Flubber Rise - From the creator of Oroboros comes a simple arcade game of timing and reflexes. Bounce the ball of flubber into the sky by clicking on it, and each time you fall, try to destroy as much as you can!
Mytheria - It's a card-based strategy game! Yay! Your goal is to eliminate the opponent by bringing his or her life total to zero. Do so by drawing and casting combat cards much like a simplified version of Magic: The Gathering.
Frantic - Your standard vertical shooter, only this one's a bit more n00b friendly. Choose a control scheme and start blasting ships, nabbing power-ups as they appear in the wreckage. A little slow-paced at first, but things pick up soon enough.
Jewel Lines - A very nice clone of Lines complete with level goals, 3 difficulty levels, and appealing graphics and sound effects. It's even highly accessible, as it doesn't rely solely on color perception to tell the jewels apart. And it even tastes like bacon!
Dear JohnB,
I'm very disappointed at your claim that "Jewel Lines" tastes like bacon. I played it, and while it was quite enjoyable, not once did I even smell bacon, let alone taste it. For this reason, I cry. Here I was, promised bacon, and instead I've got a bowl of cereal. *sigh*
Still a fun game though.
-wendy
Bacon? More like yay-con!
....Ok, I'm going to bed now.
Everything's better with bacon. Thanks!
Dear Diary,
Today's link dump had bacon mentioned in it!!!! I can't tell you how happy it made me. Also, I liked the music in the cat game!
-Officially "Bacon-lover" Haphazard
Fun fact: I've never had bacon in my life.
Oh noes! This link dump isn't vegan! And I already played Frantic! ;_; I'm going to die!
(Tip: Upgrade your armor. Top-level armor will let you take insane amounts of damage without dying.)
I'm totally cooking bacon right NOW! Turkey bacon, you know, so it has a veneer of healthiness attached to it.
Of course, the two pan fried hamburger patties and slices of cheese obliterate even the thinnest veneer of health the turkey bacon might provide.
Also, Frantic equals awesome, it's like playing Icaruga, only I don't feel like I'm playing at the skill level of a toddler with sausages tied to my fingers.
The cat game is definetly my favorite. It is very challenging at some parts. I also like how every comment so far has to do with bacon :) Bacon is good
This deserves a nice, soothing C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER
Invi: I managed to get through all ten levels of Frantic without upgrading my armor once: I went with the reload, damage, and laser wingman upgrades (all at level five by the end), plus the extra money upgrade.
Then again, I can count on one hand the number of times I got hit through the ten levels (literally--I got hit four times), so I didn't really see the need for the shields.
My high score was 526,346,541, but the high score charts show scores of almost twice that! I can only guess that they used the lucky clover upgrade.
No bacon until now? I didn't realize that JiG was a sausage fest.
I really like frantic. Finally, a shooter that you don't have to just jam the space bar again and again. The upgrades are good, the power-ups make swimming in the much interesting, and I like the card based system of "you only get four upgrades. choose wisely..."
Of course, I wish there was a "free card" upgrade. And I wish there was a "swarm wingman" that sends in your own swarm occasionally.
Fabulous game.
Update