Hexiom

Putting together a puzzle game is never an easy job; it's definitely more than simply coming up with a set of rules and a collection of levels. "Hexiom" is just one of the newest pieces in the genre that is worthy of the attentions of you developers out there - to study on how to avoid turning a promising puzzler at start into a terrible ass in the end.

Six-Sided Student Badge (easy – 5 points)
Complete any 10 levels.

I am offering solutions for all the 40 levels; note that these solutions are not unique, that some levels can be completed in multiple ways, which is one of the reasons I won't say this game is an utter crap - multiple solution is always a positive feature for puzzlers.

► Level 1 ~ 10

- Level 1
- Level 2
- Level 3
- Level 4
- Level 5
- Level 6
- Level 7
- Level 8
- Level 9
- Level 10

Done in 60 Seconds Badge (medium – 15 points)
Complete a size 3 random puzzle in 1 minute or less.

► Level 11 ~ 20

- Level 11
- Level 12
- Level 13
- Level 14
- Level 15
- Level 16
- Level 17
- Level 18
- Level 19
- Level 20

Geometric Mastery Badge (hard – 30 points)
Complete all 40 levels and complete a random level of size 4 in 3 minutes or less.

► Level 21 ~ 30

- Level 21
- Level 22
- Level 23
- Level 24
- Level 25
- Level 26
- Level 27
- Level 28
- Level 29
- Level 30

Hexiompossible Badge (impossible – 60 points)
Complete a random puzzle of size 6 in 3 minutes or less.

► Level 31 ~ 40

- Level 31
- Level 32
- Level 33
- Level 34
- Level 35
- Level 36
- Level 37
- Level 38
- Level 39
- Level 40

As for the random puzzles, watch the following video:



[How to Kongregate] Hexiom Size 6 Random Puzzle - How to Beat It

Rating



You might feel excited when you first started the game, but you definitely won't feel so when you've finally reached the last level. Making puzzles harder by expanding the size is never a wise thing for any game developers to do. Add in more new elements is the answer. One of the best, and perhaps simply, the best, puzzler I have ever had in my lifetime is the Chromatron series, which can serve as just the finest attestment to my words.

(Read into the full article...)

5 Differences

You know, there's something shitty usually about these kinds of eye-training games; but somehow, "5 Differences" manages to deliver itself with a feel that is unique.

Difference Detective Badge (medium – 15 points)
Find every last difference.

The game has a sort of "question pool" so each time you initiate a new game, you will have slightly different puzzles from the last ones. You may find this guide useful - crazycruiser is one of few COCAK writers I hold positive regard for - but keep in mind the puzzles change from game to game.

Rating



The artistic design and style of this game should be praised; I've seen too many spot-the-differences games containing nothing but eye-damaging pictures and endless irritations, and this game just tells us too well that it can be done in such a neat way. If only some atmospheric background musics could be added, that would make it even better.


: Recommended

(Read into the full article...)

Forum

I have managed to pull off a forum for this blog under some request. While I am not very sure about the necessity of a forum, it's nevertheless good to have one than none. I must mention it though that I am using the preview release of phpBB 3.0, so if you happen to notice anything weird along the way, please bring it to my attention so I could check to see whether it's about my forum settings or some unresolved bug of the software. This also effectively replaces the function of that old "Pissed" post.

(Read into the full article...)

Dolphin Olympics 2

Warning - this game is enchanted! You will hardly be able to resist the temptation of just one more try with "Dolphin Olympics 2" before you get to have your dinner served!

Junior Olympian Badge (easy – 5 points)
Score 50,000 points.

Imagine you are a dolphin.

Shark Jumper Badge (medium – 15 points)
Leap through the sky and travel 100 meters horizontally.

Imagine you are a happy dolphin.

Super Dolphin Cannonball Badge (hard – 30 points)
Load up the timed mode (not Free Swim) and perform the ultimate bellyflop.

Imagine you are a very happy dolphin.

Fish Thankfullness Badge (impossible – 60 points)
Visit the Restaurant at the End of the Universe on timed mode (not Free Swim).

Imagine you are a really very happy dolphin... Now squeak!

...Okay, I know. You want some real tips.

This restaurant challenge can be a nightmare for game cheaters; it has nothing to do with .sol files, the game codes have been obfuscated by some commercial software, and the author has likely implemented both the _root.values method and string/array method under the obfuscation to keep people away from meddling with his game. Some crazy anti-cheating countermeasures are going on inside this little but fine game, and I have to declare it here I've yet to find any possible avenue to break apart the integrity of the codes.

End of the story?

Of course not. You can't stop people if they want to.

Time to think out of the box - you don't always need to modify the game to make it easier. I used a simple trick that during my 4 test runs with it, all of them have successfully brought me up above Pluto, with 2 of which further beyond the Restaurant; the decision point for the success has actually come to lie on whether I have given up the starslides at the right spot, since a tailslide preceded by a fall from Neptune is necessary for the dinner; the 2 failures in my test runs were because I accidentally picking up starslides further from Saturn and couldn't stop in Neptune within time for a final fall back to the ocean - can't get to the Restaurant under this scenario even if I have picked up the starslides above Pluto.

I've got a nice video tutorial for anyone who wants to visit the Restaurant, basing on my best test run among the 4; it's all clean-and-clear for all of you purists out there to watch as well, believe it:



[How to Kongregate] Dolphin Olympics 2 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe

(Unsubtitled video can be found in here.)

"So what's the trick you were talking about? I can't see the fuck of it anywhere! I am an angry idiot now! Grrrrrgh!!"

Shut up you idiot. The trick is already very obvious - I was able to pick up with any starslide I encountered and had ease with the seabed when I was re-entering the ocean from Neptune. Something very hard to do with your normal reflexes.

Still can't figure it out? Perhaps we'll continue inside the comments. Blame the idiota last week who called me a fame-seeking cretin for this.

Rating






So Long, and Thanks for All You Bitch!


: Must-play

(Read into the full article...)