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I wont be able to post a review for tomorrows game (assuming there is one) becasue I'm out for most of the day (another interview). If today's game doesn't appeal, I've posted a hyper-linked list of almost 20 free games via Indie Gala (includes Adventure, Point & Click, RPG, Simulation, Strategy and other Casual arcade games ) at the end of this review. The game from Epic games (Thimbleweed Park ) ends on Thursday 7th March.

Stone Flower

In Brief

A Retro rouge-like platform game.

Installation Issues:

Stone Flower downloads to a 39.8 MB zip file that unzips to three files, (a setup.gcd security wrapper the set-up file and a read me). The game installs to the following path by default, but can be changed if you wish. The installed game is approximately 40.1 MB in size.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Stone Flower

Five shortcuts are installed to the desktop, (i.e. Stone Flower, Falco Space - Online Game!, FalconLine Online Games Website, FalcoGo WebGL Games! and Free Games Downloads!). all but the first one can be safely deleted . If you want the games shortcut to be installed to the desktop, make sure the appropriate checkbox is checked. Even if this is left unchecked you will still get the four Falcoware internet shortcuts installed to the desktop. Also, if you don't like icons installed to the quick launch task bar, make sure the appropriate checkbox is unchecked when the 'additional task's window appears (after the Select Start Menu Folder window).

Introduction:

Stone Flower is a rouge-like platformer game. The developer says this game is Hardcore! and compares it to the likes of VVVVV and Super Meat boy. The game features old school game play, pixel art graphics and lots of secrets. Check it out for yourself.

Whiterabbit-uk 5th March 2019

The Game:

Stone Flower is a retro looking rouge-like platform shooter. That means, if you die, you have to start from the beginning of the level of which there are three. To break doors and clear mines use the clipper tool, which is accessed using the mouse wheel. See below for movement and other controls. unfortunately there's no way to change the key bindings, nor can you drop the game down to windowed mode. :( As you progress you'll pick up two more weapons and ammo. to open doors use the E key.

I'll try to post more information about the game later if I have time. We have another interview tomorrow, so most of this evening will be spent giving my daughter interview practice before retiring early. We have a book that details the types of questions that are likely to be asked at each of the dental schools she's visited. Thankfully tomorrows is the final interview.

Controls:

⦁ Enter = Continue
⦁ Esc = Exit
⦁ R = Reload
⦁ E = Interplay/open doors
⦁ W = Jump
⦁ R = Move left
⦁ D = Move right
⦁ LMB = Fire weapon
⦁ Mouse Wheel = Change weapon
⦁ Mouse side movement = aim gun

Whiterabbit-uk 5th March 2019

Conclusion:

I will post my full conclusion once 've played the game for a while longer. Briefly, I found the game almost impossible to play due to the fixed key bindings. I'm left handed, and use my left hand for mouse actions. Using the left and right keys (R & D) in conjunction with the Jump key (W) was almost impossible for me. I asked my son to check it out as he is right handed and he had no problems controlling the character using his left hand for movement. Being a rouge-like game, with poor control, I couldn't progress very far before i died and had to start again. I will persevere a while longer later and update this conclusion. The music loop fits the theme of the game, but it gets annoying very fast. There's no options menu, so you'll need to turn off the sounds via the volume mixer, trouble is, you then lose the sound effects. Finally, if you do manage to get through the first level, you will be given a password with a three digit number. This will be required later if you want to skip the first level, so keep a pencil and note paper ready. :)

Videos of Stone Flower:

You can see several in-game videos of game play HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE (Swearing in the commentary) & HERE (Steam version with achievements).

Suggestions:

After you've had an opportunity to play today's giveaway please take a few moments to give some positive or negative feedback; for example, what you liked or disliked about the game, or how it could be improved. If you don't like the genre at all, please explain why and if any, what improvements would change your mind? If you don't have time to post a comment today, please do so at your convenience. If you've played either of the two games the developer likens this game to i.e. VVVVVV or Super meat Boy, do you agree or disagree?

If you wish to post a review or comment about the game later, you can access the comments section by going to the game giveaways home page, then scroll to the bottom of the page where it says Archives and select the date the giveaway was live (giveaway days are in bold type). This will open the appropriate page for you to post your comment or review. Alternatively, you can google the name of the game and include Gamegiveawayoftheday in the search. This should give you a list of links to whenever this game was given away.

If you miss today's game giveaway you can always get the game via Steam HERE for £1.69/$1.99/€1.99. (The Steam community have given it a reasonable reception, most negative reviews focus on the controls).

Problems getting the game to work:

If you're having problems installing or activating or getting Stone Flower to work please visit the FAQ's Thread HERE and read through the communities comments because sometimes fixes have already been posted, for example, a common issue seen since the Themida wrapper was introduced three years ago is that some community members installation of the game are blocked by their security because Themida code has been known to hide malware, (usually an error message is flagged for example 'The executable is corrupted' even though in reality it is not); so as a precaution some anti malware programs will block and even delete the suspect installation files even though the files (i.e. the setup, read me and setup.gcd files are actually totally free from malware. This issue can be solved either by rebooting your computer in safe mode with networking or a quicker method is to temporarily turn off your security software to allow the installation. You could also try white-listing the setup.gcd file. In the almost 12 years this game giveaway site has been operating there has 'never' been a game given away that was infected with malware.

If for any reason you want to contact the giveaway team, for example, you have a game to offer the community, or are unable to download the latest game or other issues that the FAQ's thread or these comments don't cover or solve you can do so HERE

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Developer SharkGame and the distributor Falcoware games for giving away Stone flower and also to the game giveaway team, as always, for securing other ways to get free games.

Useful Information not related to today's game giveaway:

If Stone Flower doesn't interest you, but you still hanker for 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 not updated the thread in a while, but most of the links still take you to the latest deals).

The rest of the information that used to be posted in the game review can be found in the forums HERE. Finally, check out Delenns threads for details of other free games and offers HERE and elsewhere in the game discussion forums HERE, (usually on the first page of the game discussion forums). The free game over at epic games is Thimbleweed Park until March 7th. worth £14.99/$19.99/€19.99. Indie Gala also have a new showcase section with 18 free games listed at the moment including adventure, RPG, Simulation, strategy and casual games i.e. AntiSquad, Dreaming Sarah, False Birth, GOR - Gorilla Office Rampage, Home is where Chip is, Age of Fear: The Free World, Die Legende von Saya: Befehl aus der Dunkelheit - (The Legend of Saya: Command from the Dark), What Never Was, The Last Humans: Awakening, Childhood, Dunwell, Safe Not Safe, Hi Hotel, Bugs Must Die, Cuadradito y Circulito, Hellino, Hovership Havoc and Wake Up , or you can find them all HERE. Finally, there are some excellent bargains on sale via Steam HERE (71 pages with 25 per page).