Editor's choice (I)
In this section we review various KDE
games from all over the world. We present a short description
and critics of the reviewed game. Note that the opinion is
the opinion of the reviewer and not an official KDE
opinion.
If you know about a nice game not listed here
and want it reviewed just send a mail
Andreas Beckermann and/or
Martin Heni.
Index of further review pages:
Knights
Knights is a graphical users interface for KDE to chess engines
like GNUchess.
It also allows to connect to Internet chess servers.
Therefore, a game of chess can be played against the computer or against another
human player. Of course to play against the computer a chess engine
needs to be installed on your computer but they should be supplied with all
Linux distributions.
The only backdraw at the moment is that you cannot select the strength
of the computer enemy. But according to the auther this will be fixed
in the next release.
The program is really easy to use and provides most options you want
from a chess GUI.
Moreover, the game excels with easy/auto configuration of the chess engines
and many cool looking graphics themes. The graphics is definitely a
highlight in this game.
Knights can be strongly recommmended for all chess fans looking for a nice
GUI interface.
(09/06/2002/MH)
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TaxiPilot
Taxipilot is a silly arcade-type game based on the simple but addictive
principle of the classic Spacetaxi-game: You're flying a taxi and have to
pick up passengers waiting on a number of platforms, and drop them, where they
want to go.
While the graphics are not exactly of professional quality, there are only
six different levels so far, and sound is still missing completely in the
current version, the game does offer some nice surprises and nifty features, that
make it worth wasting some time.
The game comes with an extensive documentation on how to create your
own levels. So if you happen to be a better graphics designer than the
author, the latter would be happy to hear from you.
(21/05/2002/TF)
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KWappen
Kwappen is a nice cardgame along the lines of
other patience card games where the aim of the
game is to order cards to remove them from the
game board. In Kwappen this is reasonable easy
once you got the idea and you mainly have to
fight the time. Although this probably won't
catch you for a really long time it is a very
nice game for a coffee break. Especially, as
it presents itself with a very nice and
colorful graphical interface. The game uses
German heraldry symbols as card deck. This
is a novel and good looking and vey nice approach.
As the main rules of the game a summarised
on screen you will very quickly familiarise
with the game.
(14/03/2002/MH)
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Quintalign
Quintalign is an intriguing boardgame a bit similar
to other Teris like boardgames.
By moving pieces on a gameboard and aligning them
you have to keep the board free,
fighting against new pieces appearing every move and cluttering
the board.
The game extends the Lines and Klines games
by variable and new rules and appealing graphics.
The different levels make the game appropriate for
everybody.
(14/04/2002/MH)
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FreeForce
FreeForce is a real-time strategic game like Command&Conquer(tm). It has
plugable units, a mapeditor and lot of other features. The game is still
under development and is not playable yet. At this time you can test some
features wich are already implemented in the game (little economy
system). When you like to help us, join our projekt under join@freeforce.de.
There you get your freeforce mail-adress, mailinglist acces and infos
about developing freeforce.
(21/03/2002/AL)
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kPooka
Kpooka is a logic game which is a cross between Pengo and Sokoban.
The basic idea is to move a red figure across the board to the exit. Of course
it is not that easy. The way to the exit is blocked by green boxes, which you have
to push away. Unfortunately, you lack the strength to push more than one box at the
same time. So it ends up as an intellectual challenge what box to push.
The game has nice graphics, although some of the animations are not super smooth.
However, kPooka is easily installed and played. You'll get the idea in a minute after
starting the game. Like Sokoban it
has an addictiveness to it which let you try a level until you manage to solve it.
A well thought feature is that you do not have to play all levels again if you
restart the game the next day but can continue with your highest level.
A few drawbacks can be found in the present version though: The game can
only be played via keyboard and not mouse. There are not so many levels
available. As you can created your own levels, this fact is compensated
though.
This game is a nice distraction in a coffee break.
(27/06/2001/MH)
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KPuzzle
KPuzzle is a jigsaw puzzle game for KDE 2 featuring different
game types with varying difficulties. It should run everywhere
where KDE runs, too.
Despite the low version number, the game is sufficiently stable
to be entirely playable.
What KPuzzle mainly lacks before really being finished is a
lot of testing on different systems with different configurations
and feedback from its users telling me what could be improved,
especially in the game control.
These are only some of KPuzzle's features:
- Support of various game types with different
difficulty
- Multiple picture sets (you can, of course, use
every picture you want)
- Full saving/loading support
- Internationalization support (note that only
the GUI has been translated to German until now)
The
download page contains various download links to
the game itself and to picture sets accompanying it.
There is a mailing list where you may ask any questions
about KPuzzle. Find information on it at
The List's Homepage.
(27/05/2001/MW)
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kPatience
kPatience is a collection of well known patience games. Among them the well known
Klondike and Freecell but also many more which are not so well known. The game
has extremely nice graphics and is very comfortable to play. A hint and demo
function is just as well included as the possibility to select a card deck of
your choice.
I think it is best summed up with the words of a friend of mine who is used to
Windows(tm) and tried the kPatience: Wow, that game is super cool and
way better than the Windows patience I am used to play. Everybody should play that..
This game is a must if you ask me!
(15/03/2001/MH)
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kPicframer
KPicFramer is a small solitaire like card game, where you have to place the
52 cards
one by one into a 4x4 grid. All cards can be placed anywhere, except for the
kings, the queens
and the jacks.
After getting used to the game principle the game is fun to play. A nice
addition to
the patience games of KDE.
(15/12/2000/MH)
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Boson
Boson is a real-time strategy game, like Command&Conquer(tm) or
StarCraft(tm).
It is designed to run on Unix (Linux) computers.
A minimum of two players is required, since there is no
artificial intelligence yet. Boson is still in very early development and
not playable yet.
(01/11/2000/MH)
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Last update:
24th December 2019, M. Heni