Flash Games: New Car Racer, Super Mario Sunshine, Hot Air, Red, Threesome, Boxhead: The Rooms, Boxhead: More Rooms

Some people might see it as a challenge, doing what I do. Every week, I have to play games. Every week, I have to remember when it's Friday. And ... well, now that I write it out like that, it doesn't sound like too bad a gig!

Welcome to Friday Flash Games, where every Friday I present three or more games for you to play in your web browser, all of which depend on (and by "depend on," I mean "require") the Adobe Flash Player. I test all games on Windows and Mac OS X, and I'll let you know when there is music or sound, in case you need to play on the down-low.

This week I just can't keep it at three. I'm sorry, but there are so many good games, and I just keep falling farther behind, so I've got to catch up! So today, six games. Seven, actually, but... you'll see.

First up, a real reflex tester. New Car Racer has a very simple control mechanism. The on-screen car will move in the direction of the mouse cursor, and the farther from the car you hold the cursor, the faster it will move.

Of course, there are twists and turns on the track, so you have to balance your desire to hold the cursor far out in front of the car for speed with your ability to react quickly when you encounter a hairpin turn!

Don't think you can cheat by crossing a narrow strip of grass, by the way. You'll think you've made it, and then — boom! There's music and sound effects, though they're quieter than the other games featured this week.

Super Mario Sunshine 64 seems like a tribute to the early days of video gaming. Pre-PS/2, let's say. You're Mario — yes, that Mario — and you have to collect coins by jumping and riding and walking. The twist is that you can "fludd" to jump higher and farther than you normally would, at least as long as you have water in your tank.

Like many of the old arcade games, even the menu is chock full of wit. Or is it half-full of wit? Full of half-wit? I can't remember. Anyway, Mario wants you to play, and will go out of his way to make you want to start by snoring and making himself generally obnoxious. And yes, that means that there is sound.

Article Author: Phillip Winn

Phillip Winn is the Chief Geek for Blogcritics, and a blogger since 1995. He may currently be found and followed as @pwinn on Twitter.

Visit Phillip Winn's author page — Phillip Winn's Blog