Game review: Tasty Static (Freeware, Windows/OSX/Linux)
It’s odd. I have a powerful Core i7 pc with an moderately powerful graphics card (Geforce 260), a Playstation 3 and an Xbox 360. Yet, it’s the simplest of games that catches my interest. Simple and addictive games. Games like Tasty Static.
The game is simple. You control this sort of spacecraft, going along a road. You can go faster or slower, left or right, and you can jump. It’s hardly advanced.
But these roads aren’t your normal roads. There are obstacles and traps along the way. And it’s NOT going to be an easy trip. Like the programmer himself describes the game:
Tasty Static is a videogame where you go really fast and jump a lot. You’ll probably get really annoyed along the way too.
It’s not far from the truth. There are times where you need lightning quick reflexes, dexterity like a pro and a healthy dose of good old fashioned LUCK. You will die, and you will die OFTEN.
Oh and did I mention that when you die, it’s all the way back to the beginning of a track?
Luckily, the tracks aren’t that long and can usually be completed in half a minute. But there are loads of them.
So if the game is hard as heck and you get severely punished all the time, why on earth can’t I stop enjoying it? Well, it might be the great retro-look of the game’s 3D graphics. It could also be the adrenalized music pumping (great techno).
Then again… it could also be the fact that the game is just so darn funny to play! I must have died hundreds of times, yet each time I die, I just utter “FECK!” or laugh heartily. I don’t get mad or frustrated. Even though the game is very hard, it feels FAIR. You die because you made a fair mistake. I can live with that. It’s never as if the game kills you and you’re like “what the fuck, I shouldn’t have died there”. When you die, you know you screwed up.
Maybe that’s the recipe for success? That and the fact that there are achievements to be unlocked, as you complete more and more stages. From small “get another colour on your vehicle” to much more interesting unlockables. I won’t go into details, but it totally rocks.
The game is light on resources. It doesn’t need a monster pc to run. Turn down resolution, and details and it runs well on almost anything. And it’s still just as fun. Sure, it looks neat in 1920×1200, but the game is just as fun in 800×600.
If you think the game looks or sounds familiar, you’re not far off. It’s a clone of the old pc game Skyroads. Also, it reminds me of the old 8-bit classic Trailblazer.
As you might have noticed, the game is freeware, but the programmer does accept donations. I’ve tried loads of freeware games and some might be worth a few bucks, some might not. But this one was worth a donation in my book. The programmer was quick to thank for the donation, something that also shows consideration.
The soundtrack is absolutely fabulous. Having gained rights to use commercial music from labels Melodium, Re:, and My Brightest Diamond, the music is nothing short of great. Check out the complete track list here.
I can’t really recommend the game enough. It’s everything a casual game should be. Easy to get into, hard to get out of. Visuals are spot on and the soundtrack is gorgeous. Download your copy today! Downloads are here.
Score: 9 out of 10
-Jacob
Video from the game: