Continue the Silly Adventures against Pirates and Vikings in Raft Wars 3

Raft Wars is a series of games that, perhaps, has to grow on you. It’s not the kind of game you’ll necessarily get hooked on, but it’s endearing in its simplicity. It makes no pretension of complexity or drama; it is precisely the kind of game that you can always flip to when you just need a moment to decompress – it’s always entertaining, always silly, and never really gets old. It embodies the stress-free mode that gaming is really supposed to capitalize on. In this third rendition of Raft Wars, we re-meet our young Simon in his quest to safeguard his treasure from an assortment of “bad guys” – pirates, Vikings, thugs, etc. It has a very young and innocent point of view and really just comes off as a very cute game. The simplicity is childish in the best sense of the word – it’s fun and light and entirely carefree. It is the product of the imagination of Simon, the baby guarding his treasure as he tackles various groups of people trying to steal it. There are subtle hints at camaraderie and a really great sense of teamwork as Simon and everyone from his friends to his pets help him out.

Raft Wars 3 is largely the same as Raft Wars 2, with variations in the props and surrounding scenarios. The levels get more difficult in that the distances covered get increasingly larger. The game consists of angling a thrower at the ships such that you hit them at varying points and intensities depending on the angle with which you release the gun. As you progress through the levels you are still able to purchase new ammunition, things like bigger throwers and grenades. As you get better and better at killing your opponents you can begin to get substantial upgrades, like upgrades to your raft. But be careful as they begin to throw upgraded ammunition at you too! You can begin to see as things begin to escalate and you agitate even the surrounding area – you start to get hippos and sharks in the water, the villains range from thugs to Vikings to pirates, the guns get bigger, the explosions get messier, and the stakes get higher. It’s still the same fun, silly game as Raft Wars 2.

Raft Wars 3 can be played, from start to finish, pretty quickly as it is much of the same thing without a whole lot of variation or added complexity. But what’s interesting about this game and has the potential to really get people hooked is again the way you can’t quite see what you’re aiming at. What keeps this game fun and entertaining, no matter how often you play, is the inconsistency. The opponent you are able to take down in one shot one day might take a solid ten minutes on another day. The inability to gauge where your shots are going keep the game light in tone and away from a truly competitive or intense frame of mind; perfect for following around little Simon on his treasure quest.

One critique of the game continues to be the back and forth nature of the shooting and return. Though audiences have largely adapted to the element of surprise in this microcosm of a viewing experience, there are at times delays in the scanning of the video back to the corresponding actors. Remarks have also been made as to the desire for some form of obstacles to increase the complexity of game play and differentiate between the different and updated versions of the game. Though, at the same time, the beauty of Raft Wars 3 is precisely the lack of sophistication. It is a fun and frankly silly game. Upping the complexity would perhaps ruin the ease and satisfaction of play.

As mentioned earlier, the game continues in the same tradition as its predecessor. It is not about any increase in complexity or even story plot; the opening sequence for each subsequent version of the game is still the same. It’s still Simon in his diaper, innocently playing in the sand and digging until he suddenly comes upon diamonds and gold. Still the moment where the media gets a hold of the story, and still the singular plot point of the pirates coming to steal the booty! Rather, it is merely a new opportunity to tune out and tune into a fun, fairly mindless little game at the end of your day. Welcome back Simon!

The End of an Era in Sniper Assassin 5

The fifth entry in the Sniper Assassin series, developed by Ultimate Flash Games, follows the same successful formula the series has followed for a few years now: the player is Shawn Davidson, a professional assassin, and they take on a multitude of different missions. The missions are expertly crafted, forcing the player to act fast, make deductions, and really think about what they’re doing. The game also features a complex story, featuring double agents, lost love, and a whole lot of bloodshed. These aspects, plus the challenge of many of the missions, are what sets Sniper Assassin apart from typical flash games, and makes it such a rewarding experience. The game is incredibly fun and interesting and epitomizes how consistently great the series has been. Sniper Assassin 5 is a very satisfying conclusion to the series and represents the pinnacle of online Flash gaming.