Spacebar

Editors' ReviewDownload.com staffNovember 8, 2008Instead of imaginary enemies such as mutants or henchmen, the arcade-style shooter Spacebar takes aim at alcoholic drinks. You play a spaceship captain who is literally fighting temptation in a bar, 90 seconds at a time. On install, you see a small start window that includes a promo for an antismoking game. The Web site for Switzerland's Federal Office for Public Health, which sponsors this game along with the Milk Council, also opens. Hitting the Play button starts the full-screen game. The mouse controls your crosshairs, and the mouse button fires on the unwanted drinks. Somewhat confusingly, you also use the mouse button to eat fruit and drink milk and water. Basically, shooting just about anything, including the occasional cow or astronaut, gets you points. Hitting the robot bartenders in their backs will destroy the bottles behind the bar but won't stop the drinks. If a drink gets through your defenses, your drunk meter goes up. The more drinks you have, the more sets of crosshairs that appear, and the more slumped over you become. At five drinks, the game announces that you are too drunk, your character falls down, and it's over. The music is enjoyable, and the game is quick and fun. People seeking a morally unimpeachable game that is nonetheless good-looking and playable should give Spacebar a whirl.