Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy is an old-fashioned two-dimensional, side-scrolling flight shooter with an interesting twist. When you shoot an enemy they spin around in the air, and if you run into them they become part of your craft. Starting out with a small plane, it is possible to build it up in a minute to a bizarre amalgam of plane parts, cannons and odd weapons that almost fills the screen.
What It's Got
Blast Works is an expanded version of the Tumiki Fighters, a free game created for Windows that also has versions for Mac and Linux. The biggest addition is an elaborate level editor that allows you to create your own enemies, fighters and bullet patterns.
In Blast Works you fly an airplane through a variety of craft of all size who pepper you with bullets. Take a single hit and your plane will explode. But each time you down an enemy you can catch them. Then their weapons become your weapons, and soon you will be flying a big, lumpy mess of planes and cannons firing in all directions.
Do it Yourself
But as indicated by the game's subtitle, its big selling point is the ability to create new levels and objects and share them with other players. With a fairly sophisticated editor that allows you to use all sorts of shapes and colors to create almost anything you can imagine, Blast Works is likely to attract all sorts of creative types eager to put their artistic skills on display. Players can exchange creations through Blast Works Depot.
Blast Works ships in June 2008.
