Casual Friday: Update for September 19 – 25, 2009

It’s been another active week in the casual game world. Like last week, this week also provides a wide selection of games that encompasses all genres. In fact, I think this week is a little more all-inclusive, since there are also some new strategy, adventure and RPG games making their debut.

One notable release is Little Space Duo, which is the first Linux release for a while. The game orginally made its PC debut a few weeks ago, and now the Mac and Linux versions are out. It’s a combination action/puzzle game where you control a little girl and a robot at once to maneuver through levels.

Also, this is a good week to be a member of the Big Fish Game Club. Every single game that debuted on Big Fish this week was an entirely new title, and not just new to the Big Fish site.

This week’s best bets are: Iron Roses (PC), Dawn’s Light (PC) and Little Space Duo (PC, Mac, Linux).

World of Zellians: Kingdom Builder
Genre: Strategy
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Players must rebuild Zellians and reunite the kingdoms by strategically organizing a city.
Demo Available: Yes

Travel League: The Missing Jewels
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: A thief named Isabella has stolen all of the jewels from the Travel League, and now you must chase her around the world trying to reclaim them.
Demo Available: Yes

Iron Roses
Genre: Adventure
Availability: PlayFirst, Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow, Reflexive Arcade
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: The Battle of the Bands is coming up, and Alex is sure that if her old band Iron Roses reunites, they can win it. It’s up to you to help Alex convince her former band members to reunite, find equipment and get into the Battle of the Bands.
Demo Available: Yes

Paradise Beach
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: You run a brand new resort on Paradise Beach, and must design it so it perfectly caters to your customers.
Demo Available: Yes

Gemini Lost
Genre: Strategy
Availability: Big Fish Games, PlayFirst, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: You and a group of friends are transported to another world after a mysterious solar eclipse. Once there, you must find a way to survive and learn about your new home.
Demo Available: Yes

Monarch – The Butterfly King
Genre: Puzzle (Match 3)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Mac 10.4 and 10.5
Premise: A wizard has infultrated Butterfly King Monarch’s realm, captured all of his subjects and fully intends to destroy the kingdom. You must help King Monarch save the day by solving match 3 puzzles.
Demo Available: Yes

Little Space Duo
Genre: Action
Availability: Jugilus
Retail Price: $9.95
Platform: Mac 10.3 or higher, Linux, Windows 98 or higher.
Premise: The Mac and Linux versions of the game where a little girl and a robot must fix and escape an errant spaceship are now available. You help the two characters progress through puzzling levels and avoid enemies.
Demo Available: Yes

Age of Oracles: Tara’s Journey
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Tara’s been transported far from home to a whole new world. There, she must do what a talking peacock says to try and find a way back home. Its primarily a hidden object adventure with other occasional mini-games tossed in.
Demo Available: Yes

Sally’s Quick Clips
Genre: Puzzle (Match 3)
Availability: RealArcade, GameHouse, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.99
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: This prequel puzzler shows how Sally, of Sally’s Salon fame, got started as a stylist. Complete fabulous hairdos and makeovers by completing match 3 puzzles.
Demo Available: Yes

Dawn’s Light
Genre: RPG
Availability: Amaranth Games
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: A man named Harvey has lost it all. So, in retaliation, he is going to strike back against the people who’ve destroyed his life. Players follow him as he and his companions as they embark on a journey to get revenge.
Demo Available: Yes

Eternal Twilight
Genre: RPG
Availability: Oliveair Games, Amaranth Games
Retail Price: $14.99
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: The world of Redenda is slowly being consumed by an all-encompassing darkness. The only hope for survival lies in ten heroes who set forth on an epic adventure to save the world. There are eight main characters, two hidden characters and the decisions you make effect the storyline.
Demo Available: Yes

Editor’s Note: Due to so many casual games sites offering game plans or preferred member prices, which can cause a game to have multiple price-points, the games’ average retail prices is mentioned in Casual Friday.

Site [Big Fish Games] Site [PlayFirst] Site [GameHouse] Site [eGames] Site [Alawar Games] Site [Amazon] Site [Reflexive Arcade] Site [Harmonic Flow]