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Update 20/April/08
Freeware game -- Icarus Flight.

Icarus Flight is based on the story of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun, melted his wings and died. In this 3D game, you zoom around the sky collecting feathers and points, while avoiding birds, typhoons and water spouts. Also, true to the story of Icarus, you mustn't get too close to the sun, or your wings will melt.

You stay aloft by flapping your wings, using the mouse button, but your finger doesn't get tired, as you only have a very limited amount of flaps. You can replenish your flapping reserve, by collecting feathers.
You can also fly through speed rings, to give yourself a boost, but be careful, as it's easy to boost yourself either into the sea, or too near the sun.

The 3D graphics are pretty good by Game Maker standards and there are some nice sound effects.
The menu system is excellent, with a good help file. Note, F4 switches between running the game full screen, or in a window.

At first I wasn't very impressed by Icarus Flight, as it takes a while to get used to the controls and the 3D perspective is a little tricky. But after a while, I found that I was soaring around the sky collecting feathers and points and was quite pleased with myself when I managed to score 830 points.
So I went online and submitted it to the online score, I then saw that Gullesnuffs had the top score of 4696!!!!!!!!!! Oh well, I thought I was doing well.

Freeware -- Download size 4.33MB -- Win 2000, XP, Vista

Note: Does not require installing, just unzip and play.

http://www.yoyogames.com/games/launch/32727

PC Advisor -- IE, Safari, Flock, Opera and Firefox: tested and rated.

PC Advisor, the web site of the popular computing magazine, has an interesting article on site, detailing the pros and cons of the latest browser versions.
It focuses primarily on IE, Safari and Firefox, although Flock and my favorite, Opera, do get a mention.

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=12764&pn=1

Freeware game -- I Wanna Be The Guy.

After my review of The Worlds Hardest Game, Ovrkllr suggested, that for a very hard game, I try, I Wanna Be The Guy (IWBTG).
After a quick Google, I found the game site and downloaded the demo version, as the full version is a whopping 68MB! and the author doubted that I would get past the first few screens anyway.
IWBTG is a very unforgiving platform game, where your character, resplendent in a red cape, must avoid a variety of deadly (and very quick!) obstacles.

This is as far as I got.

I was mown down by spikes in the first few seconds and then died numerous times, trying to complete the first section of the game, before giving up in disgust (the computer nearly went through the window).
The game doesn't come with a help file, so you might want to save the web site pages. Note that you can alter the game difficulty when you choose a game save slot.

IWBTG is so difficult, that I doubt many people will enjoy it. But highly skilled gameplayers that sail through normal games, should enjoy the challenge.

Freeware -- Download size, demo 15.5MB, full 68MB -- No spec given, tested on XP.

http://kayin.pyoko.org/iwbtg/

Game suggested by Ovrkllr:
Comment: "TWHG isn't even close to the hardest. I Wanna Be The Guy is definitely harder".

Update 17/April/08
Free online Flash game -- The Worlds Hardest Game.

The Worlds Hardest Game is quite a title to live up to. But TWHG is certainly in the top ten for difficuly.
It is a very playable game and the thirty levels are possible, they just require speed, timing, coordination and sometimes some thought.

The object of the game is simple, using the arrow keys, move the red block to each green area, collecting any yellow dots and avoiding the moving blue dots. The less times you die, the better your score (which can be recorded online).
The difficulty, is that space between obstacles is often very tight and your red block doesn't move very fast.

Your progress through the game isn't saved, so you would need to complete the game in one sitting, which is a pain. But apart from that, it's a playable, if very frustrating game.

Note: You will need Flash enabled in your browser and loading time is approximately 3 minutes on a 56K connection.

http://www.onemorelevel.com/game/the_worlds_hardest_game

Free online file scanner -- VirusTotal.

If your antivirus software alerts you to a suspicious file, it's always useful to get a second opinion, as false positives are far more common than antivirus software producers admit.
If you upload your file to VirusTotal it will use thirtyone independent virus scanners to analyze your file and give you lots of second opinions!
Uploading is straightforward and after a short wait (depending on how busy the site is), a summary of the results is given. A more comprehensive view of the results can be seen by clicking the permalink.

http://www.virustotal.com/

Update 14/April/08
Freeware game -- Penguin Puzzle.

Penguin Puzzle is a tiny (23K zipped), but absorbing game. You control a penguin using the arrow keys and to complete a level, you must turn every square on the screen into a blue block, finishing at the exit.
Squares start as either red blocks, or grey blocks. Red blocks turn blue after one visit and grey squares after two.

Although simple, Penguin Puzzle is quite a tricky game and you need to plan your route in advance (trust me, winging it doesn't work!). I have no idea how many levels there are (the help is in Japanese), but I have reached level 15 so far.

The controls are:
Arrow keys to move your penguin.
Space key to restart a level.
Esc to exit.

There doesn't seem to be any way of saving your progress, which is unfortunate. But the game should be of interest to keen puzzlers, who have an hour, or so to spare.

Freeware -- Download size 23K -- Tested on XP.

Note: Does not require installing, just unzip and play.

Download Penguin Puzzle

Freeware system utility -- Startup Guard v1.1.

Startup Guard continuously monitors your registry and startup folder, for software that sets itself to start with Windows.
This could be a virus, or some other form of malware, but is more likely to be a legitimate item of software, that the author thinks is so indispensable, that it must start with Windows. This increases the time Windows takes to start and uses system resources, often for very little benefit.

Startup Guard alerts you to any new entries and allows you approve, or disapprove them. It also monitors the Internet Explorer home and search pages, alerting you if an attempt is made to change them.
Note: With legitimate software, it is often better to turn a startup setting off using the options, otherwise the software may repeatedly try to set the option.

On its first run, Startup Guard asks you to approve the current startup items and it then will run quietly in the background, alerting you if necessary.
I found that Startup Guard works well and is quite light on system resources. But it can be a little slow to respond to threats and the icon in the system tray is unnecessary (IMOP). But overall, a useful and lightweight addition to your system security.

Freeware -- Download size 324K -- Win 9x, ME, 2K, XP.

http://www.acelogix.com/freeware.html

Update 06/April/08
Freeware game -- Aztec God.

Aztec God is an entry in the Yoyogames ancient civilizations contest (Ray Stone (see below) is another) and if the quality of the graphics was the only criteria, it would be a sure fire winner.
The game itself, requires you to clear zombies from each of the thirty pyramid levels. Crushing them with your stone ball, while activating swiches and avoiding holes, trap doors and a variety of spikes, spears and flames.

The graphics are excellent for a 3D (not exactly GMs forte) Game Maker game. It is rather dark (which is why the screenshot doesn't do the game justice), but then you are in a dungeon, lit by torches.
The intro music is stirring and the faint spooky sounds in the pyramid enhance the atmosphere, along with the grating sound when hit by a spear and the squelch of a run down zombie.

I'm on level eighteen at the moment and the level design is a bit disappointing, I was hoping for more of a puzzle, rather than just rolling about killing zombies. It is reasonably entertaining, but mostly just a matter of controlling the somewhat wayward ball.
A simple tutorial is included at the start of the game. You have unlimited lives and your progress through the levels is auto saved.

Overall, Aztec God is an impressively made and presented game, with stunning graphics (for GM), great sound and a good back story. But will the gameplay be sufficiently absorbing to win the Yoyo Games contest, I'm not so sure...........

Freeware -- Download size 6.19MB -- Win 98SE,ME,2000,XP

Note: Does not require installing, just unzip and play.

http://www.yoyogames.com/games/launch/30235

Update 04/April/08
Freeware game -- Ray Stone.

Ray Stone (sounds like someones name!) is a puzzle game, with some original ideas. You must work your way through all twenty levels of a pyramid, completing each level, before you can move to the next.
To complete a level, you use mirrors to direct the light ray at each of the three jewels. Once you have all the jewels, the exit will appear and you then direct the light ray towards the exit. There are also bonus items to collect, which boost your final score.

Of course, just shining a light at jewels would be too easy, so the jewels aren't visible, unless the light beam passes closely by.
There are also locked blocks in the way, which aren't removed until you find the key. And ice blocks, which are melted, by shining the light ray through a lens.
Raised stone blocks allow the light to pass under them and any of the other objects, could be hiding beneath the raised blocks.

The graphics are very nice, with some simple, but excellent effects, the light ray itself, is particulary well made. The background music is pleasant and unobtrusive, as are the sound effects and both have a volume control in the options.

Menu system is easy to use and both menu and game control is with the mouse and works very well.
The game does have a couple of minor irritations, the help page, although useful, does not provide enough information, such as the goal of the game! Also, although your progress through the game is saved, if you complete a level, you must start the next level, before you go to the main menu, or the level you have just completed will not be added to your progress, which is a little irritating.

I found the early levels to be a bit too easy and the game doesn't really get under way, until about level ten. But after that, some of the levels are quite interesting and I played the game right to the end.
Ray Stone is a pretty good game, but it would be even better with a lot more puzzles. Also, I would prefer it if the jewels etc, were visible (except when under raised blocks), which would reduce the "luck" element and make the game more of a pure puzzle.

Freeware -- Download size 3.58MB -- Win 98SE,ME,2000,XP

Note: Does not require installing, just unzip and play.

http://www.yoyogames.com/games/launch/31191

Freeware toy -- The Talking Moose.

The Talking Moose lives in your system tray and occasionally pops up on the screen, with a witty comment, joke, or some sage advice, such as:

Welcome to the Church of the Holy Cabbage. Lettuce pray.

The Talking Moose can also read text from the clipboard, or a web page, report the weather (I couldn't get the weather to work), give hourly time checks and perform psychic readings.
Over a thousand comments are included with the software and you can add, or remove comments.
The speech uses one of three Microsoft voices, which works reasonably well and you can alter the speed and pitch to suit yourself.
The software is very configurable and has a comprehensive help file.

The vast majority of the comments are clean and even the naughtiest aren't that bad, but parents might want to skim through the comments and edit out any they don't approve of, before letting the Moose loose on their offsprings computer.

Freeware -- Download size 8.4MB -- Win XP

http://www.aaronlambert.net/moose/

Update 01/April/08
Freeware security software -- Comodo BOClean v4.25.

It's a very common practice with anti-malware scanners, for the freeware version to have a manual drive scanner and the paid for "pro" version, to add a background scanner, which checks files as you use them.
Comodo BOClean takes a different route, by only having a background scanner and not using a drive scanner at all. The theory being, that BOClean is more likely to catch malicious software as it tries to run, rather than when a trojan is disguised and hiding on your hard drive.

Installation is straightforward and once installed, the only sign of BOClean, is an icon in the system tray. Right clicking on the icon produces a simple menu, which allows you to configure, update and shutdown BOClean.
I did find a small bug, clicking the "Covered Malware" button on the menu, froze BOClean and I had to use Windows Task Manager to close it.
Note: The malware (50,000+ unique items) that BOClean protects against, is also listed on the web site.
It is essential that you read the online help, BEFORE altering any of the configuration options, as it is possible to permanently mess up the settings, if you don't understand an option. Apart from setting updates to manual, I stuck with the suggested defaults.

In use you hardly notice BOClean, it's very well behaved and plays nicely with other security software, just flashing its icon occasionally. Updates are reasonably quick, even on dialup.
How much protection it gives you is hard to assess. I tried my usual (fairly basic) testing methods and couldn't get a squeak out of it.
Looking on the internet, I found a few comments from users, saying BOClean had blocked possible infections for them. But I could only find one test report: Tech Support Alert -- security test Comodo BOClean v4.23
The test results aren't very impressive, with an awful lot of fails and very few passes. But detecting malware in the real world, isn't quite the same as stopping test software and looking at the test results for other security programs on the same site, show that most software struggles in the tests.

I quite like BOClean, it's a small download and has a very comprehensive online help file. It works with all versions of Windows and is almost no trouble, although it does seem to make a few action games "stutter" very slightly.
I suspect that BOClean gives more protection than software with just a manual scanner, as by the time a trojan has taken up residence on your hard drive, it has probably already performed its dastardly deeds.
As a hassle free addition to your antivirus software, BOClean must help to increase your protection.

Freeware -- Download size 1.47MB -- Win (all)

http://www.comodo.com/boclean/boclean.html

Update 29/March/08
Freeware game -- Touch Puf v1.5.5

Touch Puf is a puzzle game. The concept is quite simple, you must destroy all the coloured blocks on each level, by sliding blocks of the same colour together.
However, it isn't quite that easy, as you are playing against the clock and have to use, or avoid, arrow blocks, that move you in one direction, coloured lock blocks, that can only be destroyed by blocks of matching colour, colour changers and gates (teleporters).

Blocks are moved by clicking on them and then clicking in the direction you want them to move. Matching blocks are only destroyed if the blocks are adjacent, when they come to rest, just passing by, isn't good enough.

The graphics are simple, without many effects, but work well enough for a puzzle. Likewise, the background music and sound effects are inoffensive and can be disabled if you wish.

While the game playing controls are simple, the menu system is rather a mess, with a main menu, a file menu and what looks like music player controls (actually controls for the current game) at the bottom of the window.
Not all the controls work all the time and it takes a bit of clicking about, to find what does what and when.

After the first half a dozen easy levels, I found Touch Puf to be quite an absorbing game. Your progress through the game is auto saved and you can save a log of your solution to a level and replay it.
The passwords to the first 100 levels are available on the web site, but a better option (IMOP), is to download the log solutions to the first 100 levels. Then if you get stuck, you can turn on the log system and get some clues, without spoiling the game.
If you get really addicted to Touch Puf, a level editor is included, so that you can make your own levels.
A pretty good help file is included, to help you find your way around the game and use the level editor..

Freeware -- Download size 7.43MB -- Win 95/98/ME/2000/XP

http://www.touchpuf.com

Update 24/March/08
Freeware game -- Just Sudoku Professional Edition v1.2

Just Sudoku has five puzzle difficulty levels, ranging from very easy, to very hard. There is no mention of how many puzzles are included, but version 1.0 had five hundred puzzles, so there should be plenty.
Control is with the mouse, and numbers are inserted, by clicking the appropriate number of times on a grid square. I wasn't that impressed with this control system at first, but soon found it to be an easy way to insert numbers. You can delete a number by clicking to the empty space.

You can choose to play using the traditional numbers, or if you are feeling adventurous, there is the option to use letters, or a large selection of symbols.
If you get stuck, the game will give you three hints and you can save a partially completed game for later, or even print it out to take with you. A timer runs while solving the puzzle, giving a high score for each difficulty level.

An unusual feature is the two player game, where both players take turns inserting a number against the clock. As you are both using the mouse, I can imagine that this would lead to some pushing and shoving!

An integrated MP3 player is included, which is a nice thought, but I found the scrolling status message to be very distracting and had cover it with my spell check window, so that I could concentrate on the puzzle.

Just Sudoku is pretty good, the shaded, stylized numbers weren't to my taste, I prefer a simpler clearer display, but overall it is quite playable. There is no help file, but the controls are very intuitive and a tutorial explains the basics of Sudoku.

Freeware -- Download size 2.13 -- Win 98, Me, 2000, NT,XP, Vista

http://www.sudoku-puzzles.net/download.html

Note: You will find more freeware game and utility reviews in the Freeware section of my site.

Rob Goldfish Web Site