Get'em Gary

In Brief

Today's game giveaway 'Get'em Gary' is a free standing (i.e. not a Steam version) retro console inspired game that pays homage to Donkey Kong and Fix-it Felix Jr

The Game

You play as Gary (the Green character) who runs around fixing windows on buildings that were vandalized by a character called Rusty (the red character). Rusty throws object such as bombs, consoles, bowling balls, kites and burgers at you. You can see your points scored, the number of lives you have and the time you've managed to survive at the left hand side of the game panel. Rusty is quick on his feet so you'll need quick reactions to survive.

Your job as Gary is to repair the windows and shutters that have been damaged by Rusty as you progress through the game. You must avoid all but the burgers that Rusty throws at you, otherwise you'll lose a life. To repair windows and shutters press the appropriate key. To access the help menu which tells you all the key bindings press Esc. while in the main game menu. You can change the key bindings to whatever suits you; the game is also set up to use a controller as well. You can select to play in either a window or full screen from the help menu (see image below). Once you arrive at the top of a building press A to go to the next building. The music is pure 80's retro arcade music and really fits the bill here. It definitely gives you a sense of urgency with the fast paced beat; though I suspect some will find it jarring and turn it off via the task bar volume control mixer.

The game is an 'early console' inspired game that pays homage to Nintendo's Donkey Kong and Fix-it Felix Jr. (You can download a copy of the original 'Fix it Felix' which was a limited arcade console that was only ever placed in Disneyland arcades HERE {no negative hits from 58 virus total SCANS} )

Conclusion:

I usually prefer open world, three dimensional, high definition graphic based games to this type of game, and when I saw it on Steam I wasn't impressed; however, after playing it today, I actually really enjoyed it in small doses (ideal as a coffee break accompaniment). It has a feel about it that really does take me back to those early days back in the 1980's, when I used to frequent my universities arcade den (called 'The Cave'), where I spent a large amount of cash putting 5 pence pieces into free standing arcade machine cabinets of this type over the ten years I spent at university. By today's standards, the graphics are super retro, but that was the point with this excellent nostalgic look back at the burgeoning game industry of the 1980's from the developer Second Dimension.

I highly recommend you check this game out. It has mainly positive reviews from the Steam community HERE(only 7 reviews with 1 negative review in Hungarian and the most positive one in Russian). You can see some videos of game play HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE. You can also see a video of the original NES version HERE.

Useful Information not related to today's game giveaway:

If Get'em Gary doesn't interest you, but you still want something new to play, you'll find details of some game deals whether they be sale items, indie bundles or games being given away for free HERE (I've recently updated the thread though 'some' of the links to older bundles are no longer active; however, most of the links still take you to the latest deals).

From now until Half-Life : Alyx is released sometime in March, every Half-life game is free to play on Steam HERE. They include, Half-Life, Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Half-Life: Opposing Force, Half-Life: Blue Shift and Team Fortress Classic

Indie Gala has some new games added to their free section; these include Wastewalkers - a post apocalyptic top down open world adventure. Deep Space Anomaly - an intensive, fascinating and mad game which is sweeping away all borders where the main objective - to kill enemies and to have fun! Also Super Panda Adventures - a side scrolling platformer; you play as the brave panda-knight Fu, who is about to finish his training to become the new guardian of the Princess. At the same day of the big celebration party, some uninvited Robots show up to conquer the planet and take the Princess away in their Space Ships!.

Don't forget to check out the Epic game store for the latest freebie on offer HERE. The latest freebies from Epic include two games: Kingdom Come: Deliverance a first person story-driven open-world RPG that immerses you in an epic adventure in the Holy Roman Empire. (a AAA game not suitable for children) and Aztec a unique hybrid of beat 'em up and turn-based strategy, set in the world of the Aztec Empire. Next Thursday 20th February we will be given Faeria a card based Strategic RPG with single player, online pvp and cooperative play. (you don't get the add on DLC).

The Eden Rising base game is also free on Steam. It's an open world, SP/Coop/MP Sci Fi tower defense third person RPG with crafting and survival elements. The latest Humble Choice (costing $12) is now live, with a choice of nine games from a list of 12 (Frostpunk + 1 DLC, Pathfinder: and Pathfinder: Kingmaker plus Frostpunk, Book of Demons, CryoFall, Okami HD, Eliza, SHENZHEN I/O, Project Warlock, The Hex, Warstone TD, Underhero, Night Call ), virtually every single game in the bundle if purchased separately apart from 'The Hex that costs £7.19) would virtually pay for the bundle if you purchased the games directly from Steam. Frostpunk and Pathfinder: Kingmaker are alone worth over £60/$75. All games are Steam work games. Plus there is a drm free game called 'Tales From Off-Peak City Vol. 1' that is an additional choice included for free. You can play the game Last Year an online pvp cooperative atmospheric violent first person horror based game for free until 17th Feb (PM) HERE. Finally, check out Delenns thread over in the Game Discussion forums for details of other free games and offers HERE.