Max Tafelmayer and Thomas Kress of Munich, Germany, have previously collaborated on the impressive Robo Pinball game, which was reviewed here back in 2004. Their latest effort is this Shockwave 3D action puzzler that incorporates physics and a variety of compelling contraptions as the basis for its gameplay.
In Impulse, the basic objective is to move the white ball to the goal in the shortest time possible by placing bombs and other objects on the play field that will influence its path.
Each level exists on a vertical plane (not a top-down view) with the force of gravity acting to pull the ball toward the bottom of the play field. Play consists of placing any object(s) allocated for the level and then starting the simulation.
The gameplay may at first be similar to other action puzzles that you have played, but what sets this one apart is its exceptional presentation and the precision of its underlying physics engine, which Max programmed himself to ensure deterministic results. For example, the game allows you to manipulate the time line by dragging the time slider back and forth to fine tune the placement of objects that affect the path of the ball. You really have to see this feature to truly appreciate the precision gameplay it allows.
In addition, various elements exist to provide challenge and depth to each level by introducing new concepts or puzzles that must be solved, or bonus points to earn. For example, in one level hitting numbered targets in the correct order before reaching the goal will subtract time from the total (lower scores are better in this game).
Analysis: As impressed as I was with the presentation of Robo Pinball before it, Impulse is even more polished and appealing. The user interface is very easy to navigate, it rivals many commercial offerings, and it includes a variety of features that serve to extend the replay value of the game. For example, the level selection menu system displays the best score achieved for each level at a glance. Once a level is selected, the last setup can then be loaded to see how the best score was achieved, or to make adjustments.
Although the game is basically played on a 2D plane, the graphics in the game are actually 3D as can be seen by using the zoom and pan features that allow you to examine the play field up close, even during a simulation or while scrubbing through the time line. This allows for a novel and unusually precise perspective to the game, and it propels it above other similar games in its class.
The demo version contains 24 levels to play while the full-version boasts over 100. The pace during the first several levels of the demo is slow and may turn some folks off as it is set up like a tutorial, but it serves to introduce the player to the concepts and controls available in the game, and to this end it does an excellent job.
Impulse has just been released under their recently founded casual game company, Taparo, and features a playable online demo as well as downloadable Shockwave projector files for both Mac and PC. I found the downloadable "enhanced" version to perform better on my Mac than the online version, but your mileage may vary. Click.
Cheers to Karl for discovering this fabulous new release! =)
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Comments (may contain spoilers)
great game! i wish I could understand physics that well, maybe i will someday...
Posted by: giftedweasel
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August 10, 2006 4:51 PM
Good game, but it froze twice before i decided "screw the browser version" and downloaded it. I love the concept, it has to be one of my favourites i've seen on here!
Posted by: jake | August 10, 2006 5:21 PM
When is Flash going to work with our Intel Macs? This is mad, especially when you consider that Photoshop and Flash are majorly Mac motivated mapplication.... MMMMs.
Posted by: Imok20
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August 10, 2006 6:26 PM
This game is not a Flash app it's Shockwave, nor is this a complaint forum for Adobe users. =p
Posted by: jay
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August 10, 2006 6:29 PM
Meany. Anywayyyy this game runs slowly on Intel Macs because of the compatibility issues. And Shockwave is basically Flash, just optimized for games, and it runs slowly because it isn't a universal app (like Flash.) But no complaints here! :P
Anywho, the game is pretty neat, you really have to be ready to take a chunk out of your day to play this, but it is worth it.
A very neat idea and quite fun to play!
Posted by: Imok20
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August 10, 2006 7:16 PM
My best score for episode 1: 14.000
That's for all 20 'training' levels.
Posted by: jay
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August 10, 2006 8:24 PM
Awesome game.
High score for the training episode is 8.850
Posted by: TornadoTK | August 10, 2006 9:05 PM
A top-notch game in its class. I look forward to seeing what else Shockwave 3D can do.
My only complaint is that the online version seemed to freeze up every once in a while, and I'd have to reload the page. Luckily it saves your progress.
Posted by: zxo | August 10, 2006 9:12 PM
Wow, TornadoTK, and I thought I shaved off quite a bit from each of those initial levels. I'll have to go back to see where I can cut... 5 seconds?! pssh. =p
And I highly recommend downloading the 'enhanced' version appropriate for your OS, as it runs very smoothly without any hiccups whatsoever. And if you're on a Mac, it's absolutely necessary since there seems to be a problem with the online version when using the Mac Shockwave player.
Posted by: jay
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August 10, 2006 9:18 PM
I got -40 on the first bonus object level. :D
(That's the one before the first combo-object level.)
Posted by: Peter Hosey | August 10, 2006 9:53 PM
I shouldn't be doing this, but here, I'll show you my final scores for every level. Now, I just KNOW someone's gonna pass me up.
1-B: 1.080
1-C: 860
1-D: 560
1-E: 380
1-F: 500
1-G: 620
1-H: 220
1-I: 880
1-J: -40
1-K: -1.420
1-L: 80
1-M: 1.900
1-N: 100
1-O: 120
1-P: 120
1-Q: 1.580
1-R: 200
1-S: 220
1-T: 580
Posted by: TornadoTK | August 10, 2006 10:37 PM
-40 for 1.J? I'd love to see your solution for that one. I can get as low as 520 and that's including hitting the + block for the -500 bonus.
Posted by: jay
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August 10, 2006 10:57 PM
Haha! Pulled my highscore to 7.480! Won't tell which levels I trimmed. =D
Posted by: TornadoTK | August 10, 2006 10:57 PM
If you like to fiddle you can get 5.780
A.40 B.560 C.800 D.540 E.200 F.420 G.600 H.220 I.620 J.140 K.-1780 L.80 M.1820 N.100 O.120 P.120 Q.220 R.200 S.220 T.540
Posted by: A | August 11, 2006 12:37 AM
After going through them all again, I found lots of places to improve and got it down to 6.68
And that's with (-60) using your solution to 1.J, Tornado. =)
Posted by: jay
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August 11, 2006 12:48 AM
6.820!
Thanks to TornadoTK for giving me a goal to shoot for!
Posted by: Jared | August 11, 2006 12:54 AM
Aww...I was doing so well with 7.120. Then I signed into typekey and everyone was in the 5/6s!
Posted by: Mordecai
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August 11, 2006 1:05 AM
That's very respectible, Mordecai.
I've moved on to episode 2, though. Episode 1 was all brute strength, but now the real puzzle fun begins.
2.C has me stumped already. =/
Posted by: jay
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August 11, 2006 1:09 AM
I find that a lot of the puzzles can be solved by endless tweaking of bombs, and when you're lucky, it finally works!
For 2.c
And I love the game!
Posted by: Mordecai
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August 11, 2006 1:29 AM
Aha! A two-way teleporter! But of course! (*slaps forehead*)
cheers!
Posted by: jay
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August 11, 2006 1:32 AM
My best scores (was quite determined to beat 5.780):
Total: 5.520
1-A: 40
1-B: 560
1-C: 800
1-D: 540
1-E: 200
1-F: 420
1-G: 600
1-H: 220
1-I: 580
1-J: -40
1-K: -1.860
1-L: 80
1-M: 1.820
1-N: 100
1-O: 120
1-P: 120
1-Q: 240
1-R: 200
1-S: 220
1-T: 560
Posted by: PIDB16 | August 11, 2006 3:04 AM
I cannot play this game. It is very annoying how those windows slide around the screen all the time, when you navigate through the menus. Enough for me to rate it a lousy game.
Posted by: Frank | August 11, 2006 4:48 AM
Although this is not a Adobe complaint forum I wish to warn all other players that this may easily crash Windows Firefox browser as well <:(
So do download it instead.
And pllleeease game developers, avoid using Shockwave if and when you can do the same with Flash. Or, put a kind warning on your web sites that goes something like: "Shockwave may serioulsy damage your Web browser."
Posted by: Amor Lassie
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August 11, 2006 9:38 AM
Amor Lassie - until Flash gets an integrated 3D implementation, Shockwave 3D is still the best thing going for those wishing to build 3D apps in a browser environment.
I have no idea what the developers are doing in this game that causes the browser version to crash like it does, but I'm guessing it's something that can potentially be fixed.
Frank - I highly suggest downloading the enhanced version for your OS, as it runs smoothly and flawlessly, and is really a very impressive piece of work, including the menu animations. =)
Posted by: jay
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August 11, 2006 10:49 AM
I know that some people prefer all kinds of fancy animation, and menus sliding up and down, but personally I find them annoying. It has nothing to do with my OS. They slide smoothly as they are supposed to, and that's the problem. Not a very user friendly way of writing software.
Posted by: Frank | August 11, 2006 11:17 AM
Okay, this does not seem to work in Firefox. As soon as the yellow screen comes up with 'loading', the browser just crashes, no message or error.
BTW, I never install things, such as demo games, for a short time. Never.
I'm going to try IE, otherwise I'm not playing this.
Posted by: TerrorByte | August 11, 2006 11:21 AM
Ah, understood, Frank. The menu animations, although impressive to some, serve no useful purpose to the user.
Posted by: jay
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August 11, 2006 11:25 AM
TerrorByte - it doesn't require an install, just a download. No different really than loading up a Flash or Shockwave game in your browser, where the browser does the downloading for you. It's still a file that's being received on your computer that wasn't there before.
The file you'll receive when downloading this game is a self-contained Shockwave executable, nothing to install, just download, launch and play.
Posted by: jay
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August 11, 2006 11:27 AM
Downloaded the game, and glad I did =)
Now it runs smoothly. k -1220 with a single shot! I think that animated menus gives a pretty dynamic touch to games. And there is one useful purpose for them. They can catch your attention if necessary. Just better not to use them too much. BTW, does anyone know if it is possible to turn those instructions off?
Posted by: Amor Lassie
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August 11, 2006 11:55 AM
Since the first episode is set up as a tutorial, I don't think you can turn off the instructions. They don't appear in the 2nd episode.
Posted by: jay
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August 11, 2006 12:05 PM
Just noticed that as well. One more reason to download.
Posted by: Amor Lassie
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August 11, 2006 12:20 PM
Great game, I was pretty determined myself to beat 5 seconds (barely).
Some nice times you had there PIDB16! Was using them as a reference but couldn't quite figure out how you got so fast on some. Two I got quite a deal shorter though so you might want to give them another look. (1-D, 1-M)
Anyways, my scores..
Total: 4.980
1-A: 40
1-B: 520
1-C: 820
1-D: 180
1-E: 380
1-F: 480
1-G: 600
1-H: 280
1-I: 540
1-J: 120
1-K: -1440
1-L: 80
1-M: 800
1-N: 100
1-O: 120
1-P: 120
1-Q: 240
1-R: 200
1-S: 220
1-T: 580
Posted by: Uky | August 12, 2006 7:31 AM
My results, tried to match/beat the times by PIDB16 and Uky
Total: 3.820
1-A: 40
1-B: 500
1-C: 800
1-D: 180
1-E: 160
1-F: 420
1-G: 600
1-H: 220
1-I: 520
1-J: -60
1-K: -1.880
1-L: 80
1-M: 740
1-N: 100
1-O: 120
1-P: 120
1-Q: 220
1-R: 200
1-S: 220
1-T: 520
Posted by: Forzles | August 12, 2006 12:58 PM
Cool, it's like PuffBomb, but with more stuff.
Posted by: Cactus | August 12, 2006 6:17 PM
I got fed up at 5.800. (For the first episode, at least). Fantastic game, one of the better physics puzzle games.
Posted by: RincewindSW | August 17, 2006 6:32 AM
How did you guys get the low scores on 1-M? I have a guess at the strategy, but so far haven't figured out the exact positioning.
Posted by: Keith
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August 22, 2006 3:13 PM
My results: (Tough as nails!)
Total: 3.740
1-A: 40
1-B: 500
1-C: 800
1-D: 180
1-E: 140
1-F: 420
1-G: 580
1-H: 220
1-I: 520
1-J: -60
1-K: -1.880
1-L: 80
1-M: 720
1-N: 100
1-O: 120
1-P: 120
1-Q: 220
1-R: 200
1-S: 220
1-T: 500
Posted by: DaMan | August 31, 2006 6:39 AM