Quite An Explosive Experience

Review by tbremise on Friday, March 22nd 2013
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Click to play Explosive Ordinance

Explosive Ordinance is a game created by defensified

A review on Explosive Ordinance by defensified

Written by tbremise

Type: Shooter


Opening Remarks:

Want to experience a game that has a unique concept all its own? Well look no further, I have the game for you. Defensified has made many extraordinary shooters in the past, and I expected big things from his newest game, and he delivered. What makes Explosive Ordinance so unique is that the entire game revolves around manipulating your game-world via the explosives scattered throughout. I am going to say one thing now, just to get it out of the way, I am honored that defensified/mrdragon asked me to test the game before its release, it helped me get a sneak-peak at the game and give me say on what I thought prior to the final touches. Let’s Begin.


Review:

So, I may have explained the basic concept of the game already, but there is so much more to it than just using what you are given to change the world around you, the game has a unique array of puzzles and even some homing enemies that tend to always find you when you least expect it. All this works together to form a setting in the game that you follow throughout. The setting is this: you are a trainee in the “Explosive Ordinance Training Facility” and you will be a test subject in this world of explosive puzzles. Let’s just say, you feel like a mouse in a maze full of explosives looking for the cheese at the end. You are forced to rid yourself of all your mortars to ensure that you only use the explosives given, which I thought was a decent approach to starting the game out.


Defensified taunts you right from the beginning, with barely noticeable explosives and a shield just out of reach (which if you hit the explosives will disappear). Although the end goal may be to find the elusive crystal at the end of the test chamber, the getting there is the real fun and challenge. If you’re not careful, you may just get burned by your own explosives. As I have previously stated, Explosive Ordinance revolves around explosive puzzles, I find this concept to give the shooter a fresh new feel that helps you get reacquainted with the maker. Each part of the game has unique challenges that all works in to this theme nicely and I must say, found it fun to play. Though I haven’t been able to beat this game, I’d say it is still worth a play or two.


The game looks organized, which is something I like to find in games like these, and the puzzles/traps were well thought out. It’s hard to explain what I thought about all of the traps, leaving you trapped between keys you didn’t need or almost causing your demise by accidentally hitting one too many explosives, they were clever and frustrating at the same time. Defensified didn’t make anything overly obvious, which forces you to explore your situation and figure things out yourself.


I have a motto that I stick by, all good games have issues, and this game is no exception. One of the main issues revolves around the whole concept of the game, if you are not careful around your explosives, you may be pushed, just like the keys are, into the walls and forced to restart, this happened a few times to me, but it was okay, seeing as half the times it was your fault. But then there is one other thing that just kills me, literally. I believe I have almost beaten this game more than once, seeing the times it has taken the few others to beaten, at the part that I cannot get passed, you are expected to pass through some one way blocks that will be opened by a heavy cruiser, the issue here is, I am always stuck behind the key and the cruiser goes through before you can reach that pathway. Now, I know this was intentional, but it just frustrates me that I cannot get passed what seems like such an easy part of the game. Ah well, enough complaining, let’s do some ratings.

The Good: Great concept, decent look, and good traps/puzzles

The Bad: Getting forced to not finish because of that darned cruiser moving too fast. xD

The Ugly: the Glitches into the walls that almost all shooters seem to have an issue with.


Gameplay: 4/5 (Was well thought out)


Creativity: 5/5 (The setting, puzzle, and concept)


Decoration/ Background/ Feel: 4/5 (Was not bad, had surprises)


Traps: 4.5/5 (Works together with the puzzles and can be devastating)


Addictiveness/fun: 4/5 (Was actually pretty fun.)


Conclusion: 4.5/5


As you can see, I rate Explosive Ordinance highly, mostly because it is such a fresh idea, which introduces some great puzzles and traps. What are my thoughts on it being featured? It deserved it, is one of the most deserving features I have seen in a while in my opinion. That’s all I have to say for today, thanks for taking the time to read another tbremise review. (perhaps I will beat this game sometime too.)


 
 


Explosive Ordinance Reviewed by tbremise on Friday, March 22nd 2013. Quite An Explosive Experience - A game review written by tbremise for the game 'Explosive Ordinance' by defensified. Rating: 4