Babala is a fun and fanciful game suitable for all ages. You fend off the enemy muggers (they can´t shoot) on a basic grid, amidst obstacles and booby traps. The game´s defining features are mercifully simple but don´t be fooled, because it gets tough as nails to beat as the levels progress. It´s all in the campaign designs. A worthwhile scoring system is employed, and record high scores can be uploaded for display at Babala.org. There are 200 discrete levels, the first 10 being a tutorial. Gameplay is strictly at your own pace, it´s never a test of reflexes.

This is a simple Logic/Strategy round-based war game of sorts, not lacking in cute animations. The enemy are arrayed on the field; intently, they´ll dog your every turn. You´ll have only limited moves & shots to deploy during your each round, 6 or 7 tops: choose as you go from a set of 5 maximal trade-offs. Your shots are either projectile or mine, assuming you´re so armed. Following your strokes, the enemy forces make a measured advance. If he reaches you, you´re mugged, you lose. There may be obstructions and certain rigged perils, critically situated, or remote ammunition stores that have to be acquired.

Must be played to be appreciated: prodigious, often diabolical, never a shortage of variety and the unexpected. And there´s usually a way to best an earlier score, if you ambitiously replay a level. In-game help is in English, Czech or German, as specified during installation. If not already present, requires download and install of free GTK+2 libraries (3.5 MB) for Windows. There´s a Linux version as well, visit www.babala.org.