Reset Generation

Developer: RedLynx
Publisher: Nokia
Release Date: Aug. 4, 2008
Systems: PC (reviewed), N-Gage
ESRB Rating: N/A
Official Web site

In a nutshell: Equal parts farce, nostalgia and strategy game.

0:00 Nokia is generating a bit of low-level buzz about this faux retro game, and the full version is available for free on the PC, so I figured it's worth a try.

0:04 These first few minutes have been spent struggling to get the game to recognize my Java installation and downloading the applet that will actually run the game. Reminds me of a PlayStation 3 game.

0:05 "We are the reset generation," says a princess named... Princess. "We grew up with computer and video games ... this is our story." A bunch of videogame stereotypes -- a ninja, an alien, a plumber, a hedgehog, "Babe Gunner," etc. -- pipe in with generic voices of support. "Drop your blocks, fire your cannons, rescue the princess." "And so it begins," says Dr. Lovebomber, the bad guy. Good voice acting, if a little tinny. Then, more downloading.

0:07 The game runs in a faux phone on a Web page. Believe it or not, I just got stuck in the options menu. Who knew the shift key was the "back" button? Not me!

Read the full review at Crispy Gamer