Yipe III

This lo-fi adventure quest, though sometimes repetitive, is a nice antidote to the complicated bombast of many popular games. Despite the game's middling visuals, the knight's mission to recover a stolen royal stamp collection becomes oddly compelling. Cave mazes, battles, and rewards await you on your path, and gameplay is simple enough--no arcane keyboard contortions are required. What's more, combat is essentially opt-in, since creatures are more often an obstacle between you and the gold than they are an offensive threat. The treasures do, however, allow your knight to return to the village to buy food for his flagging health or additional armor. Prices are high, however, and the repeating cycle of heading out to bruising battle to collect the gold you need to return to the village to repair and recuperate eventually inspires a certain existential ennui. Though probably most satisfying for kids or gaming beginners, Yipe III delivers plenty of fun to anyone looking for a simple afternoon distraction.