FAMAZE Review

While browsing One More Level found an interesting looking game that almost reminded me of the NES days called FAMAZE. Interesting name aside, this is a free to play game that was designed by what I would assume to be a company, but could also just be an artist who wanted to do something different. This game was created using the 16-bit Fantasy sprite set which was created by the same people who made the game. You can buy this set for $40 on the company’s website.

The story of the game is as follows: “The mad king has turned the happy rutabagas of the land into monsters and is searching for the magic recipe for royal Rutabaga Pudding. You must delve into the kind's domain to rescue the rutabagas, find the gem of truth, and uncover the recipe before the king eats everyone.” Other than it seeming to be a silly story, it’s a pretty simple goal, collect these items and get from point A to point B with no problems. You can only choose one difficulty when you start the game which is easy mode, but once you beat the game you can choose expert mode which will challenge your skills that you have learned throughout the first play through.

As for characters you can only choose three. Each is unique in their own way and has some kind of ability that the other does not. You can choose to be a Knight, a Thief, or a Wizard. The knight can do a charge attack and starts off with a potion as an item. He is good for fighting off the enemies and pushing on through. Then you have the thief which can disable traps which can be useful in the long run, and he starts off with the teleport item in his item slot. Lastly there is the Wizard, which is who I choose for this review. He can create items and he starts off with the fireball. He is more for casting spells than anything else. For the character you picked is the destiny you choose and will determine your fate throughout this game.

The gameplay is actually pretty simple. The only keys you need to use is the directional pad, and the one and two key for your items. All you have to do is wonder around the maze, find a key, and then find a way out using the key which is usually indicated by a door on the ground which has a keyhole. Sometimes you will find rooms with more than one of these doors which make me feel like I am in a larger environment than I thought I was in. While going through the maze you have to open chests which can either have gold coins or traps which take health away, pick up items which can aid you on your journey from teleporting to a fireball or even a potion to heal you, avoid trap floors which can make you fall and hurt yourself, and enemies which can be the grim reaper, and goblin, orc, and various other things. With these aids and hazards aside, the game is actually quite addicting after a while, and can have you playing for hours on in.

The music in this game was elegantly composed by Rich Vreeland, or also known as Disasterpeace. He is known for his excellent chip tune style of music and his work on the FEZ soundtrack. The music is beautiful and atmospheric at best. You don’t feel rushed to do anything and it just fits the tone of the game. Not completely dark, but mysterious in its own way. If you want to check this game out, just google FAMAZE or go to one more level’s website. You will be able to find it within the top ranks of the website. 

Music: http://www.disasterpeace.com

Game: http://oryxdesignlab.com/famaze/