Selections from The Vault for this week are 3 of my all-time favorite games, and I'm thrilled to be able to share them with you again. All three of these gems have long-lasting appeal: a puzzling platformer, a short yet challenging point-and-click adventure, and a remarkably futuristic turn-based strategy game. Individually, each of these games represents a tremendous achievement in browser-based casual gameplay and if you've never played them before, you're in for a real treat.
Saltacol - You're just a lonely saltacole in this very unique puzzle-platformer that dates back to 2003. Find your way through each of the 6 caves by first locating and tripping the switch that opens the door, then reach the exit. It's easier said than done, though, because saltacoles are roundish and you often have to reach ledges and platforms without rolling off. Persevere through this high-difficulty game and be rewarded by experiencing its fantastic level design. A recent collaboration with the author has produced a special version made exclusively for the JIG community with an all-new level never before seen anywhere else!
Chasm - With the appearance of a Saturday morning cartoon, Chasm whisks you away to a little forgotten town with a water problem. Your task is to help Joe, the purple protagonist from Chasmton, figure out how to get the water flowing again in one of the most fantastic (and bizarre) puzzles I've ever seen in a Flash game. Although there may not be a lot to this game, what's there will definitely take you some time to figure out. Several years old and still one of the best Flash games of all time.
Spybot: The Nightfall Incident - Originally created to promote a Lego product by the fantastic (and former) gameLab studios, Spybot is a fun and futuristic turn-based strategy game in which you play a S.M.A.R.T. Agent hunting down infocrime and other problems throughout the Net. You'll travel around a network of 'nodes' collecting special programs by engaging in data-battles. The game includes a tutorial to get you started, so don't worry about all the crazy terminology. It's easy to get into, but difficult to leave! Spybot is still one of the most ambitious, well-conceived and well-designed browser games ever made. It requires the Shockwave plug-in, and if you're on a Mac I suggest you use your Windows partition to play this one due to Adobe's abysmal Shockwave player support on the Mac platform.
While we welcome any comments about this weekly feature here, we do ask that if you need any help with the individual games, please post your questions on that game's review page. Well, what are you waiting for? Get out there and rediscover some awesome!
These titles are so faint in my mind. I'm going to have to retry them all over again. Thanks Jay!
Does anyone know how to edit what units you have in Spybotics on a mac? I beat the game many years ago, and had wanted to do some experimenting. Thanks.
These are also some of my all-time favorites. Spybot in particular is perhaps one of the best free casual games ever made - amazingly rich and sophisticated gameplay but approachable at the same time. It's a real shame gamelab went out of business
I like this feature - but mostly when it brings back fond memories, and of games I enjoy playing. Personally, I'd like to see Chronos here - that was a good game.
This feature does provide a good way of finding games I may have missed, but I think I read it more for the nostalgia.
This time, at least, the majority of these games are ones I missed (except chasm)
Hah, go figure. Just the other day I spend a fair chunk of time searching the archives for Chasm (didn't help that I couldn't remember the name!). That game cracks me up, even the infinitely-infuriating water pipe climb. The bird at least makes that part a bit more amusing.
Ah, I remember Nightfall incident fondly. I would seriously like a remake/sequel. (especially if it meant a bit more challenge-something to stop the player from abusing the Bit-man wall + buffing programs + potent ranged unit like a Tower [level 2] Mobile Tower [level 3] or a Laser Satellite [level 4-5]. Still a good game, though.)
Wow -- three great games ALL of which I remember from when I was 7 or 8. Saltacol frustrated me infinitely, so I gave up on that. I played Nightfall Incident endlessly. And my brother and I broke out Chasm whenever this particular babysitter came over (we never beat it, being 8 and 6 or so...)
I really like the vault and weekend download, they're my favorite parts of the JIG-week :)
Spybot?
Ahahahaha! I played that game on the LEGO website! Nearly beat it, too.
Aww, searching for a walkthrough for Chasm was how I first found JayisGames. Thanks for the memories and the continued help and inspiration!
Chasm!!! Has it already been 6 years? I think I found jayisgames after I found that game and discovered Grow shortly after. I've had a casual game addiction ever since! I haunted the transience website for years after hoping they'd come out with some great stuff. Anyone know whatever happened to the game developers?
Spybot! Still, after all these years, one of the most brilliant games I've ever played (of course, I am a turn-based strategy nerd). I thought for sure it was gone forever; infinite internets to Jay for resurrecting it!
And wow, Chasm. Funny--it was finding both Spybot and Chasm on this site years ago that made me become a devoted JIG visitor. So thanks not just for these great games, but all your years of enthusiasm and excellence. Here's to 2011!
I remember trying to find Spybots a while ago, finding the website gone, and eventually playing a version from the internet archive.
Is this site the only place it's being hosted now?
I love "Spybot: The Nightfall Incident!" Possibly my all time favorite casual game. It has been long enough...I can play it again!
I remember Jay featured it on my birthday in 2005 (I think I might have recommended it after playing it on the Lego site). I have a detailed strategy guide for the last level, but it is too long to post here.
Update