Submachine Review

Submachine (One, Extended), created by Mateusz J. Skutnik
Flash game, can be found at: http://www.freegameplayer.com/games/submachine/

Rating: Everyone. Probably 10+ because its a puzzle(ing) game.

Submachine is a creepy-soundtracked point-and-click puzzle game, very much like the cult-like Myst and Riven games. You start in a tan-gold-brown colored room, listening to weird, shiver-down-your-spine inducing music. All you can see is a ladder, two doorways, and what looks to be like an equipment bar.

Just like Myst, you have no idea what you have to do or need to collect or anything. Just start guessing, collecting clues, and puzzling. Also, you collect pieces of paper with seemingly random information that suggests the person who wrote them isn't exactly sane/normal.

Once you start, you can click on doorways, switches, ladders, baubles, etc. and hear different sound effects and animations, or just nothing. If you click an item you need, you instantly pick it up. You can then later drag tools from your equipment (right of your screen) and drag it to where you think it goes. [As you can see here]

NEVER give up, this game takes patience and odd-ways of thinking, but persistence and creativity really pays off. Also, there is a lot of backtracking involved. Basically, if you're familiar with Myst, then you'll be ahead of the pack in playing this game. At least you know what to expect. Kinda.


As you slowly gather clues, have a very sharp eye for hidden clues and almost the mindset of a crazy person: Where to cleverly hide clues in the open? There is also the hintings at a sequel: A picture in one of the rooms is a lighthouse, with the words "Sub_2" at the bottom.

Once everything is collected, fixed, turned, switched, charged, and ready, and you are at the end of your wits and patience has run out, you are able to use a teleport device, which is shaped like a glass donut on a pedastal. I won't give away the ending, go play it!

The music really adds to the overall feel of the game and keeps you edgy, almost expecting a run-in with a monster or something to try and kill you. (Not that kind of game, trust me.) The graphics are also cartoony, almost cel-shaded, but also helps maintain the air of the game. The extended version has more rooms, and arranged in a very different way, so make sure you know which version you are playing.

I highly recommend this game to anyone who has played (and like, or has been hooked on) the Myst and Riven games for the PC. Once you're done, you really want to play some more, and you can, sicne some of the details and ways to solve certain things change (like numbers to passwords, etc.) which keeps you on your toes; but thank Gaia that there's a second one to sate the thirst for point-and-click!

4.5/5

Next time: Submachine 2!

New Behaviors

Possible new behaviors for our "Cage" game (or also known as "Zomb--"...er...the "Common Cold")

Blue ball can only stay within this territory or zone on the map.

When red ball hits blue ball, blue ball changes to red, and has the same attributes (movement, etc.) as red ball.

When blue ball hits a specific wall (or object), blue ball dies, but red ball doesn't.

Red ball runs away from blue ball if it sees blue ball.

Reds will group together when they see each other.

Blue ball will run away from other blue balls, but chase down reds if seen.

Triachnid Review

In an internet full of random and silly games to play online, one of the few that stand out to me and make me want to play on and on is Triachnid!

Originally found on NewGrounds: www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/347467

Design and Programming - Florian Himsl
Graphics and Design - Edmund McMillen
Music - Tin Hat Trio
Sound Effects - Anders Gustafsson

Slight graphic violence.

The game starts out with a few simple, yet well produced images, showing a "family" of three-legged spider-like creatures (triachnids). A giant worm eats up the female-looking triachnid, who drops the egg-sac she's carrying. The male triachnid tries attacking, but in vain. The worm disappears, leaving the triachnid alone.

This is where you start: A heart-broken triachnid searching for "his" offspring, and seeking revenge for his murdered...wife?

The game play is a little shaky at first, you use the mouse to drag around his legs to make him move around. The best way to move is as if he is a pinwheel--legs flailing in a smooth circular circular motion.

You can also spin weblines; grab various things from your eggsac, enemies, and your weblines; hold your breath underwater; and hold things in your mouth (like your eggsac or eating enemies).

A good review of the instructions and playing around on the first level are recommended.
Good use of a web...while standing on the ground...





In essence, Triachnid is a sidescroller. Your objective is to get to the finish line of each level, and finding as many of your offspring as possible along the way. The levels progress in a way that you get used to different aspects of the game. New elements such as key-bugs used to unlock doors, swinging from your web, eating enemies for health, throwing items, moving efficiently underwater, saving your offspring, and using the environment are all combined on the last few levels when you travel inside the giant worm.

It is a short, but addictive game to play, and again (as Portal Flash) you want to start replaying it as soon as it is over. The soft and relaxing music adds a whole new layer to the game, and it makes me want to buy Tin Hat Trio's album. The triachnid also has a "vocabulary" that makes him easy to understand: Everything from a gruff growl when he grabs an enemy to an affectionate "purr" when he picks up his offspring.

Look, he's a pappa!










The graphics are very cartoony, but really uphold the atmosphere of the world of Triachnid. The background is blurred and what is closer is in more detail. Although, when you are travelling through the bowels of the worm, there are some arteries that are blurred to make it look like the screen is a few inches from them.


Overall, Triachnid is a very entertaining use of spare time. Also, the music is very soft and soothing, for those stressful days at work. The only thing of what I'd ask of in this game was an extended gameplay, so I can keep messing around with this character!

To the Creators:
Keep it up! I'm looking forward to number 2.

4.7/5!