Axeplode

As it was proved time and again over the years, silly video games are nothing short of brilliant when they feature the right mixture of fun and challenge. It doesn’t matter whether you slingshot colorful birds into green pigs or you try to keep an athlete on his feet by trying to directly control the movement of his feet because, at the end of the day, it’s the entertainment value that keeps you playing.

Axeplode is not a regular game by any means, especially not when it comes to the story and the gameplay mechanics. In short, it’s about a Viking who must defend his pigs from being kidnapped by goblins. It’s a wild idea that might just catch on if you are not wary of new concepts, and it’s that much more impressive when you observe just how polished the game is and how simple it is to enjoy it.

Not much else can be said about the story, but then again it’s not War and Peace to begin with. The hero’s name is Herrmann and he uses axes to defend his property, axes that somehow materialize out of thin air and come in infinite supply. His enemies are your classic green goblins devoid of any intellect, which are no match for the mighty warrior sitting on a pile of frightened pigs.

The game keeps you playing by gradually changing things along the way and increasing the difficulty level, which is achieved with more enemies, which also happen to be a lot tougher as well. However, you can also get stronger through the bonuses you receive at the end of each wave, plus the occasional power-up that provides you with a temporary special ability, such as double axes.

The only slightly disappointing thing about the game is the fact that very little changes in regards to the scenery, because you are basically sitting in the same place at all times. It would be nice to see different backgrounds along the way, but the graphics themselves are actually quite exquisite. The animations are funny and smooth as well, not to mention the funny sound effects.

Axeplode is not a terribly original game, nor is it the kind of experience you’ll remember for years to come, but it’s certainly a lot of fun. Thus, if you are aching for something light yet challenging, this might just give you something to do.