Koffee King Review, Game by Dan Cobb (Petit Gibier)

Story: 4/5
The background of this game revolves around a university-level archaeology class that goes on a field trip to seek out the perfect brew of coffee. The creator incorporates the hero into an amusing story that involves the general class, who show a common lack of enthusiasm for their lectures, and an ever-eager intern who sees the professor that can do no wrong. Overall a unique and refreshing backdrop to the actual gameplay.

Graphics: 3/5
The graphics hearken back to classic side scrolling computer games of the late eighties and early nineties, but the graphics are not what makes this a good game. Everything that is necessary to forward the purpose of the game is here, colors and sophisticated effects, within the scope of the engine used, are utilized to create a holistic effect the player, I think, will appreciate when they travel through the (currently two demo levels) game.

Controls: 4/5
The controls do take a few moments to get accustomed to, however once they are mastered, using them is quite natural. the w,a,s,d keys are used to control the character's main weapon, a mining laser, whereas the arrow keys are used for movement and jumping. various abilities are activated using keys comfortably close to the home w,a,s,d keys, and the player should take a moment to familiarize themselves with them, as they will make travelling the game much easier.

Gameplay: 4/5
The character travels through self-made tunnels in search of various items and pieces of artifact locked within hard-packed dirt. Using the mining laser, in a nice little "mini-game" of sorts, unlocks the artifact and once several artifacts are recovered the game shifts to a boss fight. Various enemies pocket small caverns throughout the computer-generated, randomized levels (a neat feature of this game). Since this release is a demo, there are only a limited number of levels, but the potential here is for a nice game that could be translated to a tablet style portable notebook, or with some tweaking even a smartphone.

Difficulty: 3/5
The initial difficulty here is figuring out what all is going on when you enter the game. The creator has generously provided a tutorial at the very get-go, taking the player through all the major controls, weapons, tools, and characteristics of the game necessary to remain among the living. Besides that, mastering the controls and quick reflexes will serve the player well during the boss fights and the various enemies encountered. The actual difficulty isn't that challenging, but understanding the mechanics of the game does take a little time.

Overall: 4/5
Considered the unique features of this game and the understanding that roughly 99% of the content is the creation of one person, this game is a very nice demo of things to come. Should it ever be fleshed out into a complete game (of which I'm told the designer has initial content ideas and sketches worked out), it is possible it could be successfully sold in the portables and "retro" arcade-style market. Challenges include the controls, which while natural are a challenge for people accustomed to MMORPG style gaming on the PC. The actual programming features are what stand out in this game, utilization of interesting shading and GUI enhancements, as well as the refreshing storyline, make this a welcome addition to the indie scene.
Check out Koffee King as a demo on the side-bar for Petit Gibier, and clicking on the link for "Koffee King" to the left. Or, if you're like me, and want things more straightforward than that, click here.