Babala is a fun and fanciful game suitable for all ages. It's freeware but not open source. There are versions for both Linux and Windows. You'll find this interesting game at www.babala.org where there are some screenshots, a user forum and more information. With this latest beta release, the game has grown to a staggering 200 levels.

Babala is simplicity gone ballistic. It's played on a basic grid and its defining features are mercifully few in number; a child could pick up on it readily. It has variety but isn't cluttered with myriad rules or countless varying characters; nor difficult controls nor complex readouts. But don't be fooled, because this game gets tough as nails to beat as the levels progress. It's all in the level designs. A meaningful scoring system is incorporated and Web high score posting will be in the next release. Your crusade will consist of 200 discrete campaigns, the first 10 being a tutorial. Gameplay is strictly at your own pace, it's not ever a test of reflexes.

Babala is a simple little Arcade/Logic/Strategy round-based war game of sorts, not lacking in cute animations. The enemy legions "Balabaks" are arrayed on the field, amongst barrier items and booby traps. Intently, they'll dog your every turn. You'll have but limited moves plus shots allowed during your each round, 6 or 7 tops: choose as you go from the game's set of 5 maximal trade-offs. "Shot" is 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... balabaks can't shoot. Your task of course is to survive, and dispose of all balabaks. There may be 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 uncannily, 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 (3.5MB). There's a Linux version as well. Visit www.babala.org.