XLSTAT (Win) for Windows

XLSTAT Win is a relatively new (and unknown) PC game that will keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a good dose of gaming fun while you work your way through its many challenges. You play the role of an" adventurer" who sets out on quests to find "The Diaper Genie." Along the way, your objective may include going through locked doors, puzzles, fighting off monsters, or more traditional platform-style games typical of games in this genre. It's definitely not like any other game where you have to just sit back and go get your goal done... not really. You'll move around the environment and jump from platform to platform as you try to solve puzzles or fight monsters.

The story behind the game is relatively simple, but it gets progressively more difficult as you progress through the levels. For one thing, there's a very real chance that one of your characters will meet an untimely death while trying to solve the mystery behind the diaper Genie. This is where the game gets truly challenging, and where you can spend a lot of time thinking back over what you did and why you did it - if things turn out the way you planned, on the whole, you should at least feel somewhat satisfied that you took the time to advance to the next level. For me, I'm always looking back at the scenes that were presented to me and wondering how I managed to get past them and reach the end.

One of the things I really like about XLSTAT Win is its use of "rotation." You see, while the game is primarily set during daytime hours, it's done in such a way that you will see nighttime scenes as well. If you happen to miss your daytime activities and go back to your computer, you'll find that you've been warped back to the point where you started the game. It makes for a great reversal, and helps to make playing the game again not only a fun experience but something you can look forward to doing. In my opinion, this type of onscreen reversing is one of the best features of any adventure game, and when you add the ability to go back and replay past scenes as many times as you wish or have the foresight to pause the game when you're not actively playing it, you really have to give this game high marks.