

You can use in-game resources to purchase additional pod upgrades, such as an expanded fuel tank and a more advanced drill, while bonus items like the plastic explosives and Quantum Teleporter present welcome gameplay mechanics designed to interrupt what would be the stagnant humdrum of merely moving around the screen. Players control a robotic mining pod, tunneling their way through the earth using the down, left, and right arrow keys, and flying upward to refuel their machine at the nearest depot. It’s reminiscent of old-school classics like Dig Dug and Boulder Dash, pitting players in a quest for a fabled, precious bounty of rare ore buried deep in the dark recesses under the surface of Mars. Jacksmith does become rather repetitive at times, but you’ll begin to find a certain satisfaction in constructing well-built instruments of war, mowing down legions of bats, slugs, and otherworldly miscreants on your path to defeating the diabolical, Great Wizard Dudley.Īvoiding chemistry homework and playing MotherLoad into the wee hours of the night was basically a rite of passage if you grew up in the early 2000s. This becomes increasingly hard as you receive larger weapon orders and less time.

Although battles automatically play out, weapon duration and battle success depend on how well you perform in minigames. Once the weapons are crafted using a process of click-reliant minigames such as pouring bronze, hammering edges, and constructing hilts, players can then oversee several combatants in the field as they collect blueprints, gems, and other resources enemies drop to build more refined weapons. The game’s initial premise seems fairly simple, requiring players to take on the role of a small-town blacksmith hellbent on arming his band of pig warriors with the finest weapons ever assembled. They don’t offer the in-depth storylines, cutting-edge graphics, or sheer scope of today’s blockbuster console titles, but there’s no reason browser-based alternatives can’t hold you over between meetings or during those drab hours of the day.įirst impressions can be deceiving and Jacksmith is a prime example. Whereas many early Flash games were browser-based recreations of classic titles like Pac-Man and Frogger, the market reached new heights with the introduction of the high-speed internet and hit titles like Bowman, The Impossible Quiz, and Max Dirt Bike. A handful of Flash games have stood the test of time but are now available as apps or even fully-fledged games, distancing themselves from their humble beginnings.įlash games were interesting because they were often solely gameplay-focused and immediately got you into the action. Sadly, some Flash games are permanently gone forever now that flash support has ended. Thankfully, you can still play the most popular Flash games thanks to certain flash emulators or other methods. However, in 2020, support for Adobe Flash ended, taking all of the best (and worst) games with it. (And is it really a waste of time if you’re having fun?) They’ve come a long way from their humble, vector-based beginnings, finding a home on websites like Newgrounds, Kongregate, and Addicting Games, among other popular sites, while becoming increasingly more complex and fully featured. Fitbit Versa 3įlash games may be the epitome of wasting time, but there’s no denying their appeal when you have five minutes to spare and a thirst for something more than a cursory glance at Twitter or Facebook.
