Indie game developer and publisher Quantum Astrophysicists Guild sent us a few of their games to try out: Breakpoint, #Funtime and The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines. The Q.A.G. started as a game development studio creating award-winning puzzle games and branched out to help independent developers successfully launch their games. The games mostly have a retro-arcade feel and are available for download on most gaming platforms.

BREAKPOINT: Charge. Break. Defeat. Repeat.

My son and I took on the challenge of Breakpoint, a game that offers full-impact melee madness. You use multiple weapons like axes, swords and hammers while frantically trying to avoid getting smashed into by enemies. I lasted all of 30 seconds before I caught on to developing a pattern of attack just like an old-school arcade game. It moves very fast, with a lot coming at you, so my son didn’t enjoy playing it as much as he liked watching it. Big weapons pop out and slice and dice the enemies and then when you get hit, you explode and start over. And sometimes you play it right and you get to unleash the explosion of a fully charged weapon. It’s a fight to stay alive and you have to be on your toes for this one!

#FUNTIME: Bright Lights and Space Flights

#Funtime is an “explosive twin-stick shooter where shooting isn’t your only weapon.” Bright lights, music and lots of action fill the screen as you maneuver your ship around the playing field changing the colors and exploding enemies. The more you upgrade your ship, the longer your runs with be and the more mayhem you can find!

Game tester Jamie and her five-year-old daughter Jerrica gave #Funtime a try and had a similar experience as I did with my son, who is the same age: “The bright colors and music really appealed to us both. I’m not sure if this game is geared toward 5-year-olds, however. While Jerrica did enjoy playing, it didn’t keep her engaged for very long. After about 10 minutes or so, something else had piqued her interest and away she went. I see this game being more geared toward people that are into old school arcade games.”

The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines

We stepped out of the frantic arcade action and into a more storied quest with The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines. You play as newly recruited Eternal Fellowship member Gregor, who must use his time-stopping powers to save the city of Tamaris and restore it to its former glory. Besides your time-freezing ability, you’ll use a variety of weapons , magical trinkets and armor to defeat the enemies while navigating through a vast world of fortresses, mountains, forests and what’s left of the capital city of Tamaris.

Our game tester Susanne said she enjoyed the game, with the graphics and game play reminiscent of a “lower end Legend of Zelda.” She played it with her two boys and said the controls were pretty easy to master, but targeting was more of a challenge. The Fornite/Minecraft obsessed boys lost interest in the slow story line and didn’t get too far past the intro tutorial-style play so this one is for someone with a decent attention span. (which is something I’ve come to learn does not come naturally to little boys, lol)

Overall the games from Quantum Astrophysicists Guild have a retro look and feel that old-school gamers will appreciate, but they may not hold the attention of younger gamers brought up on today’s realistic graphics. However, gamers of all ages can find some fun in the challenging game-play if they give it a chance.

Love gaming and interested in helping develop and fine-tune games with thorough play-throughs? Sign-up here to be a Playtester! : The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild – Game Playtester Application Form (google.com)