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, amid 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 dog your every turn. You`ll have only limited moves and 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 makes 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 seems always a way to best an earlier score when 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.