Kongregate: Learn to Fly 2

Among the many websites offering free games, memberships, and prizes, we have yet another place to check out: Kongregate. This website is in association with Gamestop. As usual, you can create a profile, earn badges, aim for cash prizes, and meet other players online. If you're not into the online community, not to fear; you can play most games without a membership. You can even skip ads without the wait!

LearnToFly2

Learn to Fly 2 is the top rated game at Kongregate as of July 2011. Like most flying games, the idea is to fly as high and long as possible. This time, however, your character is a sack-like penguin, complete with crossed-out eyes.

The animation is charming, but the game itself is almost too simple. There's little to no control over the penguin as it flies through the air, and the most you can do is buy upgrades when money allows. A few challenges include altitude tests and the destruction of snowmen and icebergs, but nothing spectacular. The most exciting bit about this game is the upgrades. The more you get, the higher you go, and in return the more money you earn for more upgrades. It's the usual cycle in flying games, and entertaining enough if you're looking for a quick flash fix. But if you're seeking an awesome new addition to the flying genre, it's just about average.

Rainbows and Cute Flying Creatures, Oh My!

Bangs Adventure @ Zipogames
Rated E

Bangs Adventure is an intense flying game with bubbly graphics and catchy tunes. Bang is the star, appearing as a fish/insect hybrid that flies from one end of the spectrum to the other. During his journey he must find his friends and avoid bumping into pesky creatures!

The directions are written in another language, but the controls aren't difficult to figure out. Pressing the space bar continuously will guide Bang up and down through the obstacles, while the down arrow will shoot off a rocket that can fly through more than one nuisance at a time.

Bang will find that running into others like himself will help protect him through the perilous world. He can keep up to five friends behind him, each acting as an extra life against the baddies. A sixth friend will act as an invincibility shield for a few moments. Watch out for the blocks, though- no matter how many friends or missiles you have lined up, a brick will end the cute creature's run.
 My highest score so far is 1,020m. Have fun!

Fuzzy Yellow Balls

Rescue A Chicken @ Bubblebox
Rated E

In this puzzler, the aim of the game is to bring little chubby chicks to their nests as safely as possible. Based on physics, you'll have to determine which objects to remove to send the cute yellow fuzzballs home.

For fourty-two levels, there's a whole lot of chickens to rescue!
With two continuing levels available at a time, you can move forward in the game even if you feel stuck on one level. There's also a walkthrough available.

If you like challenging gameplay wrapped in a cute package, you'll want to try out this puzzler. Good luck saving the chickens!

Exploding Bird Poop

Skywire 2 @ Miniclip
Rated E

Skywire is imaginative on many levels. It's a hybrid between puzzle and action, which means you'll need fast reflexes as well as a few working brain cells to tackle this game.

The idea is to keep the skywire vehicle and the people inside safe from monstrosities while escorting them to their destinations. A few of these dangerous obstacles include flying camel humps, exploding bird poop, and robotic panda bears. The challenges vary in each level.

The controls are quite simple: 'up' moves the people forward, 'down' moves them backwards. 

As a bonus, there's a two-player mode included. Now you and a friend can race to the finish line before the skydiving pandas squish you!

Controls: 8/10
Challenging Gameplay: 6/10
Music: 4/10

Cake-Fetching Robot Fun

R.I.F.T @ Miniclip
Rated E

What could be cuter than a robot fetching cake for his beloved master?
A puppy, of course.
But no. Seriously.
In R.I.F.T, you get to play the part of the adoring, happy-go-lucky bot friend. Your goal is to fetch the delicious pastry in each level, bringing it to your increasingly pudgy master.

The controls are simple: use the arrow keys to roam and jump; use the 's' key to grab and place boxes.
There is no life limit, but if you are hit once you'll have to restart an entire level.

The robot just seems too nice to serve such a demanding master.

Creativity: 7/10
Challenging Gameplay: 7/10

He's Obsessed With Your Cursor

Avoider @ OneMoreLevel
Rated E

Hoorah, another weird game! This one is strangely addictive. There's no story; just the simple task of keeping your cursor away from this pesky little character. He'll do anything to capture the arrow.

Beware of his attacks; he'll pounce if you're too close and use bombs, pipes, and rockets to destroy your arrow.

If you play, good luck! The game is not as easy as it sounds.

Something Stinks

Stinky Bean @ CrazyMonkeyGames
Rated T

Er... Stinky Bean is one of those quirky, oddball, and just plain wacky games. I'm not quite sure how to describe it.
The graphics look like they came straight from a demented cartoon. Everything's just a little twisted.

The idea behind the game is to rescue a deep-fried creature and bring it back to Mr. Scatmonkey. Stinky Bean is equiped with a bean-shooter that can pelt beans at chickens and rodents.
There's an evil acorn boss-fight too.

The game doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's playable. And if you're looking for something different, this is definitely fresh.