Balloon in a Wasteland – One of the most artistically unique shooters of all time
Gamers have always been attracted to games with a unique style. And some games have proven to be so outrageous that you can’t possibly dislike them at all. Flash games are full of it, after all, while some indie game developers tend to be “technically” good when it comes to programming their creations, others come up with ideas so out of this world that they’ll catch anyone’s eye at first glance. view. And that’s the case with Balloon in a Wasteland, one of the most unique shooters ever conceived.
The game begins with a stick figure dressed as a gentleman, complete with a top hat. While traveling in her touring balloon, she makes an emergency landing in a hostile forest, inhabited by several strange and indistinguishable “specks” who are more than happy to devour that poor gentleman. To prevent that from happening, she is tasked with defending the fallen balloon from her until she can fully repair it, so that she can safely fly back home.
In your arsenal we have, of course, our pistol as a starting weapon like all shooting games. Other weapons are unlocked for purchase as the game progresses, but with a twist. After each level you have to manage your time by repairing your balloon, making your barricade and sleeping. Yes, sleep is so important. If you don’t sleep, you won’t have much energy to continue and you’ll have less chance of surviving the next wave of attackers.
Once again, what makes this game so impressive is the art style. It’s usually just black and white, but the atmosphere it conveys is very relaxing yet very sinister. The enemies in motorcycle games are also very well designed and each of them have very different forms and functions, sometimes to your own pain when hundreds of them come running towards you with the intent to kill. Fortunately, the barricade system is very useful and gives you some particular advantages.
If side-scrolling shooters are your cup of tea, this is definitely what you’re looking for. There is no doubt that it has the sense of class and style that we have been looking for in many flash games these days.
What is unique about this game is that it actually has a plot that emerges after various missions have been completed. It details the main character’s life and his eventual confrontation with a person he knew and had a grudge against in the past. The story really gets you going and this is where, unfortunately, the flaws in this game show up. The story is too short, it feels like whoever came up with the story should have put more effort into writing it, and the ending is a bit off. Good thing they made a sequel, otherwise we would have been left hanging and bored.