Cute Things Dying Violently

Picture if you will, the cutest little fuzzy creature you can possibly imagine, looking into its big, shiny, adorable eyes, and then flinging it into a spinning buzzsaw. That's the premise behind the twisted, sadistic, and yet strangely addictive Cute Things Dying Violently. Technically, the goal of each level is to toss the Critters around so that at least one of them avoids the various deathtraps scattered around each stage, but ultimately there's really no way to avoid the carnage. And there's no shortage of carnage. While the cute factor of the game might at first glance look like a good fit for the kids, it's actually the stuff of nightmares. Cute, cuddly, bloody nightmares.

The controls are simple enough to master, but can be frustrating when the difficulty of the puzzles ramps up. But the challenge mostly adds to the fun of the game. You pick up one of the surprisingly foul-mouthed furballs, move the slingshot mechanism around, then adjust your aim and fire the hapless victim skyward, crossing your fingers and hoping it survives to the safety of an escape elevator positioned somewhere else on the stage. Over time, the stages get more difficult and frustrating, requiring almost inhuman precision. It's enough to turn off all but the most determined (or masochistic) players late in the game. Of course, players with a darker sense of humor will likely spend their time shooting the creatures directly into the arms of death, just to watch the insanely graphic ways these cartoon critters meet their untimely end. If the thought of impaling adorable creatures appeals to you, you'll enjoy this game.