We've all tried our hand at casual games. Often all that's needed is an internet browser and some spare time - usually while we're surfing the 'net at work. Like any other game, this experience can be anywhere from fun-filled to a waste of time.

Examining what makes a game fun can be quite an endeavor. We could write a book about it - in fact, many already have been.

So instead of trying to look at such a big picture, in this series we'll just compare similar games and then take note of some of their differences. Maybe we'll come out of it with a better idea of why some things work and some things don't. Or maybe not, but at least you'll know which games are more fun to play.

Tactical Assassin 2 vs. Urban Sniper

In both of these games, you play a professional sniper. Both games are divided into a series of missions or assignments, which consist entirely of shooting through a sniper rifle using the mouse as an interface. The game worlds of both are black and white, and are inhabited solely by stick figures - with the occasional bleeding or special effect.

Tactical Assassin

The first mission we get is training, the success of which will let us move on to "live exercises." The game doesn't go to great ends to build a world that extends beyond the game, and the first live exercise mission briefing is explanatory and to-the-point. Yet, we get a real sense that we are a part of an organization of assassins, and that there are real plots going on in the world outside our scope.

It's a matter of effective writing that communicates this to the player. We aren't told that there's a world, but we sense it anyway: "Unfortunately for our client, the target was part of a separatist group of the Free Motive Group militia called 'The King Brothers'." Beyond that, most missions specify that there should be no civilian casualties. What else would you expect from a professional? Plus, the presence of civilians is an added feature that makes the world seem that much more real.

Subsequent missions will challenge the player in a number of subtle ways. Some involve a simple target that must be shot within a certain time. Others, however, are real puzzles that may take many attempts to solve. How do we shoot both of these targets without either one noticing? How can I identify my target based on just the few clues from the briefing? Missions that are puzzles are challenging but not overwhelming, and missions that are skill tests provide some fun relief.

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