Wow! What an addictive and innovative game which I hope will be the start of a whole series from Zachtronics Industries.
Based on the principles of running factories that construct and/or deconstruct molecular maps in order to meet set criteria, this game broadly turns computer programming into a graphic and challenging game. Using a series of commands and direction arrows the processing flows (why Waldos?) are manipulated to turn atoms into the required molecules or vice versa – or both. It sounds too easy – but that’s why the game is so ingenious. The objectives are simple but you need intelligence rather than a quick trigger finger to meet them.
The interface is beautifully simple to use and, although the basics are easily mastered, there are many ways in which to solve each puzzle. In some scenarios you even have to link solutions together by using the outputs from one factory as the inputs to another. However, you are provided with statistics which, for the perfectionist, will have you scrapping your clumsy solution in search of a sleek and more efficient use of processing cycles and commands.
There are some simple but obvious pleasures (no need to hit save when you leave the game – it’s done automatically) and some areas for improvement (how about a “clear screen” rather than hitting Undo until back to the beginning) but overall a polished game that is worthy of support. Well done GAMERSGATE for stocking this one.
For the price this has to be one of the best bargains available today and shows us that the original ideas don’t always come from the huge software giants who tend to stick to tried and tested formulae. I’m looking forward to the next instalment already – and I haven’t even finished this one yet!
