It also works well in silly, action-oriented games, where you hardly even notice your character. The stripped-down look of Dan-Ball games usually lends to their simple charm, especially in the more toy-like games, Powder Game being a perfect example. It's hard to feel involved in a game that runs on autopilot, especially one so abstract.

Sure, you get to do all the RPG work, but you barely figure into the combat-maybe you drag a guy over to food or smack them into some gold, but it's mostly their game. Stick Ranger feels an awful lot like an ant farm with the trappings of an RPG. Score one point for Dan-Ball there, but, to be blunt, I don't feel like it delivers on the fun. All the makings of a fun, if standard, RPG.Īnalysis: Stickman Ranger is certainly physically accessible the controls are simple, and things move slowly enough that even the most impaired of hands can operate it with minimal risk of total party kills.

And leveling up is accomplished by clicking the plus sign next to one of four stats (HP, strength, dexterity and magic) you wish to upgrade. The town is what you'd expect in a game of this nature: a store with stuff that's inferior to what you find in the field, an inn that heals all wounds, and… citizens? Nope, but there's a Book o' Information you must pay an exorbitant fee to read from. And you can access the World Map at any time to run away, crying, to the nearest town (although this nullifies your progress through the area you left). The in-game option menu allows you to turn off the autopilot on any character, leaving it to stand slack-jawed as the rest of the party marches on.

Note that to exit an area, you have to drag (or, as I like to do, fling) a stickman to (at) the exit. You may interfere as you see fit by dragging them around the screen and managing equipment.

If you recall Irritation Stickman, the controls are roughly the same, although the pacing is drastically different.Ĭreate your four-character party by assigning a class to each member-there are the Boxer, the Gladiator, the Sniper, the Magician, and the Priest-and send them on their way through stages with austere backdrops, fighting stick figure monsters for gold, items, weaponry and experience, not forgetting to grab little rice balls to restore HP, of course. Dan-Ball, creators of the Powder Game sandbox games, as well as many other simple, cute Java games, are appealing to the traditional RPG fan with their recent offering Stick Ranger.

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