Continuity
Of all the literature I used to discover off of elementary school reading lists, one book sticks in my head, even to this day: A Wrinkle in Time. To be honest, I'm rather murky on the plot details, my memory of the characters doesn't extend too far beyond a Mrs. Who (she was there, right?), and don't even ask me about the themes. But one illustration I remember quite well, in my particular edition: a character demonstrates how they can travel great distances in virtually no time at all. They produce an ant, and then goad it along a length of string like a tightrope. The character then 
brings the two ends of the string together, and presto! You've got a tidy explanation for an awfully complex phenomenon. Thankfully, a game has traded in the ants and string for an even simpler and more entertaining experience. Welcome to Continuity, an exquisite puzzler from Nils Stefan Bertil.
Every level contains a pristine red door, only usable for exiting purposes after one or more red keys have been collected. Sounds straightforward enough, but it's funny just how much this game will twist your perceptions of both straight and forward. All levels are composed of a number of squares, shiftable in a manner akin to a sliding tile puzzle. Each square contains a finite fraction of the overall level itself, and the key to victory lies in prudent transfigurations of the landscape.
The [arrow] keys shuffle the squares about in the all-encompassing view, while those same keys navigate your stick figure hero for platforming. Tap [space] to switch between those two perspectives, and that's just about it for controls. You can't just pair up any old squares; any black line/feature must continue seamlessly into the adjacent square you hope to travel to, or else your character will slam right into the border of the square with no place to go. Falling off of the bottom of a square into an incompatible one results in a quick warp back to the start (or to the position of the last key you picked up). You didn't think you could just skip from here to there to any place you wanted, did you? That's how unlucky teleporters reappear halfway through a wall, y'know. Although I don't think that happened in A Wrinkle in Time... I feel like I would have at least remembered something like that.
Analysis: Let the records show that Continuity is one of the most effortlessly enjoyable puzzle games on the Web to date. It manages to waltz right over all the pitfalls that plague so many an entry in this genre. For example, failure in this game never burns that bad, because you're only ever a hop, skip, and a tile-swap away from right where you were before. Of course, the levels eventually get longer and scarier, but never does it feel like you need to retrace an hour of work because of a single misstep, and the key-checkpoint system is usually generous.
Continuity 2 is now available! Read our review of Continuity 2: The Continuation.
The puzzles here require you to think with a lobe of your brain you may not use too often. It's like an M.C. Escher drawing in two dimensions, requiring you to discard your silly notions of upstairs and downstairs and realize they're just stairs, independent of direction or space or any other of our countless, conditioned reference frames. If you can program your mind to work in such alien modes, then you'll be right at home. Even if you can't, the bulk of levels early on shouldn't be too mentally taxing, and by the time you've arrived at the later labyrinths, your Escher-O-Vision ought to be all warmed up.
It's not just the puzzling where this game shines, though. The visuals are simple, but functionally effective. Anything more complicated than black on another color would have only made the proper square transitions harder to perceive. The music adds a lovely backdrop; there's a soft twinkling of sound for the level manipulation, accompanied by some action-packed techno beats for your up-close platforming. Add to that some ingenious level design and a nifty menu function that lets you skip insurmountable levels, and I think there's a superior candidate here for a potential mobile game. There's something just so clean and elegant about it, and isn't there an almost touch-screen quality to the sliding of the tiles?
Well, I think so. Sure beats ants and string, anyway.
Hey, 10 minutes after I had submitted it!
Very neat game. It made my brain hurt a lot of times, but in a good way...
One complain, though: the continue button just sent me back something like 4 levels before the end, whereas I was on the last one before I took a break. Now I have to do it all over again! More headaches for me...
Started playing.. loving it so far. Only six levels in, not too complex yet but I'm sure it'll get harder.
Oh, what an absolutely gorgeous game. Just a fantastic headscratcher.
Pure genious.
Platform game combined with puzzle in a simple and totally brilliant way. Allready a classic
Congratulations from a former Chalmers Student
gets scarier? scarier how?
Maze + Sliding Tile Puzzle = Very Refreshing.
:-)
This is an excellent game, and since it's a work in progress, I have one suggestion: the controls could be a bit more generous. It seems to me as though they have an element of momentum (you keep going to the left even after you've released the down-arrow), and on
level 26
when you have to jump on a narrow platform that made that jump hard for me to hit, and on that level if you overslide you do have to replay a lot of it.
This probably isn't a problem for people with better platformers, but as all the levels up till then had been far more about puzzles than jumping, I thought the author might like the suggestion.
Oh, and if you're having trouble figuring out when you can move between tiles (which I did on the first few levels):
The edges have to match up along their whole length. If there's a part that doesn't match on the top, you won't be able to get from one tile to another, even if it matches perfectly on the bottom where you are.
Anyway, excellent game! Some of the puzzles are very clever, and it really does give you the warpy feeling that DanTheArcher described.
One of the best games I've played so far!
The perfect casual game. Nothing more to say except thanks!
Great! What a cool idea!
This game is easy. Just think of it as a series of transformers.
Excellent game! I felt like the developer did an excellent job of exploring all the possibilities for puzzles with the existing elements.
At times I felt like the avatar was moving a little slowly for my tastes. I knew which way to go, but I had to walk across a screen, swap the tiles, then walk across another screen.
Other than that, I can't complain. The controls were spot on. I found swapping between moving the avatar and switching tiles was very intuitive.
-SirNiko
I haven't played the game yet, but I just wanted to give props on the Wrinkle in Time reference! I LOVED that book as a kid - hell, I still love it, and most of Madeleine L'Engle's other books too. I think it was Mrs. Whatsit who actually explained the whole ant-on-a-string thing, though. :)
Thoroughly enjoyed this game, with the later levels being quite challenging. I noticed though that on the last level, sometimes when I try to fall to the next panel, the guy would just stand on the edge of the panel instead of falling all the way through. Moving slightly left or right makes him fall into the next panel. Minor bug.
Excellent! 9 is the first actually cool level so hang in there until then.
Love the two versions of the music.
The concept of the changing songs reminds me of Parasite by Nitrome. Great game!
Excellent game! Had me hooked and head scratching from beginning to end. Loved the change in music to add drama. Can't wait for more.
Great game. Just right difficulty level.
Not so hard that you get annoyed, but not so easy that it's trivial, even for those spatial whizzkids (of which I am definitely not one!)
Figuring out a couple of the key tricks feels curiously satisfying too.
Nigh-on perfect. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
I'm relatively the same with a wrinkle in time. however, I remember the basic storyline and that it was the hem of a dress not a piece of string. But that picture really sticks with you
Fantastic game, really.
If the developer is looking for input, I have one minor suggestion:
When switching from tile-sliding mode to platformer mode while holding down a direction key (eg, press space while holding down right arrow) the game doesn't recognize the direction command. You have to release and re-press the direction key. This was occasionally frustrating when I was trying to time a jump between panels
Pretty minor issues though compared to the great overall experience.
It WAS the hem of a dress, wasn't it?
See, look at that. My memory of the book (or lack thereof) is even worse than I thought.
Reminds me of Nitrome's "In the dog house" and HandMade Game"s "Rooms: The Main Building".
Gave the brain a workout!
OH MY God. That's also the most important detail I remembered from that book! (although I think it was a shirt or another piece of fabric, not a string?)
The only thing I have to complain about the game is the music. On the slide screen, the music is nice enough. but whenever you spacebar into the platformer it becomes a horrible bad arcade game music...
Really neat game. I finished all the levels. :)
If the developer is looking for input, I have two minor suggestions
It would be nice if the mismatched edges are highlighted. I found that I spent quite a lot of time in finding the corresponding tiles to match, especially in later levels. highlighting the mismatched edges can help me to play the game faster.
How about rotating tiles ? Will this be implemented in next release?
Anyway, thanks for the game.
Perfect! What an excellent game!
I really like this one so far. My only complaint is that the extra gap between panels can be confusing - but this doesn't really hurt gameplay.
I love the fact that the developer decided to keep the game so simple and safe. Leads to lots of exploration.
I also like the fact that the levels don't just get harder in a linear fashion. Every so often, a simpler (looking) 3-panel puzzle helps clear the mental stress of parsing 8 or 11 panel puzzles.
I think other game developers could learn a thing or two about planning enjoyable puzzles from this one!
I'm stuck around level 20
It's a 3 panel puzzle... but its impossible to do and I refuse to skip it.
Supposed to make some superman jump but its quite impossible to do.
Will get pic up once I figure out a website to easily post a pic.
Ashiel (and those having trouble with level 20)
Go to the left and get the key then go back to the starting screen.
Now move the tiles so the big T shaped tile is beneath your current tile.
you can now drop down that gap beneath you and walk to the other gap and jump up to the door (half your body will be on the top of the T and your head will remain on the starting screen).
This game is brilliant! And the music is awesome, even though it gets a bit repetive after a while.
Just one suggestion: I think it would have been nice with some way of replaying previous levels, without having to start from the beginning of the game.
Excellent game - I see a slight resemblance to the Portal flash game. Only a slight one.
Kudos to the creators!
Very good game. ouch, the last level is tough.
Haven't seen such an innovative puzzle game in a long time. Excellent!
Would be great to hear from the author to see what triggered this idea... Does Jayisgames actively seek out the creators for comments? I'm sure you check if it's ok to link to their game so the answer is probably "yes" :)
If not, guess it would be an added extra when reading the comments to have the developer's insight (maybe even have the author's comments stand out noticeably).
5/5 without hesitation
Mrs. Who puts the ant on her dress, not a tightrope.
Crab describes it just right. A good head scratcher!
Need help with 21 please. It's only three panels, so I figure it should be simple. But I know that looks can be deceiving.
Stuck on last level! Help!
Great game. Really gets your brain grinding on those last few puzzles. Personally, I found the second to last level far harder than the last level for whatever reason, but the entire game was just amazingly well done.
Can anyone let me know what happens once you complete the game? I started it yesterday, and for whatever reason when I pressed "Continue" today, it started me off at level 1. I skipped through to the level I had reached, but upon completion it just said "You have skipped 30 levels". Thanks!
This is an excellent game. It really is wonderfully engaging and fun and smart.
Game has moved to http://www.continuitygame.com/ Please fix the link.
[Edit: Fixed. -Jay]
Very satisfying to complete. These puzzles were tricky, but once you learn the trick it's pretty straightforward (though it took me several hours).
Beautifully--I mean really beautifully--designed but the puzzles are a bit on the easy side. It gets more ingenious as you go on but for some reason I found the "wrinkles" pretty easy to spot.
Maybe it should have a "par" score for each level or a limitation on the number of moves?
Anybody else think this game would be killer as a DSiWare title?
Whew, that last level was a doozy! Had me stuck for two days...here's a hint, if you need one:
You will need to pause your guy in the air in a little nook on the bottom left corner of a tile. Then he needs to drop in another tile that will put him in position to drop into the tile with the key and the door. Once you're in that tile, make sure you line up and drop into the tile that will match on the left-hand side with the door tile.
Hope that makes sense.
Ok, although I'd love to solve all levels myself.. I get stuck at level 26 T-T Got all keys except for the one on a little platform, as been said by matt w.. You can't get there from above; it seems that the only way possible is to jump from the right. I can't get it though :') How in the name of God can I jump on it? Thanks for the help x)
Ok, nvm. My bad. That actually was level 27 and
you actually CAN get there from above x)
On to level 31 ^^
Watch that last level, it's a doohoohoozzzy!
(Ned Ryerson?!?!)
Seriously though, that last one was a serious test of my spatial manipulation skills. And I feel proud of myself because I actually thought it out and did in instead of gave up on it like I usually do. Yay me!
A level editor would make this absolutely perfect.
Love this game! Kept me engaged for hours. I like being able to skip a level and go back. Awesome. Hope to see a sequel.
If I recall (which is barely), "Wrinkle In Time" involved the main character(s?) using their newfound power and the mentor characters to rescue their father from a kind of vaguely malevolent shadow/haze/conceptual entity that has been spreading throughout the galaxy, turning worlds into a sort of concentration camp version of the 50s. And there was lots of talk about God etc. Definitely fed my middleschool hunt for more stuff like "Narnia".
I thought this game was a really cool use of space, and a lot of fun to play. The levels themselves were perfectly fine, but I think the level progression could've been done better. New concepts were introduced almost randomly and then abandoned till they randomly popped up later. There were lots of moments were you come upon a very hard level...and then return to very easy levels for a long stretch. But aside from that, I give em props.
Phew, I finished the last level (I had to leave it and come back in the morning, and then things fell together a little more quickly). Thank you amylu, it made perfect sense as soon as I needed it.
PS the ending was a little anti-climactic though.
Great game. Nice and simple, didn't need any explanation to learn. Developer really needs to think about getting this as a game on smartphones because it's a great time waster (although I don't have a smartphone, I think it would be a big hit). Just use double-tap as the space bar. :)
Thanks for recommending!
I can't figure out a way out of the first room in the level before last. What's the trick ? Heeeeelp !
Brilliant game, really enjoyable. Great mix of spatial puzzle and twitchy skill. I love that feeling of bending space mentally to figure out the path.
I sat up till 1am to get to the final level, and was so chuffed when I finished that I've made a map - linked in spoiler below
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mildlydiverting/4171669448/
Fantastic concept, and great execution. This is one of those games that can be expanded on in all sorts of ways and still retain its basic appeal. Looking forward to newer iterations.
Brilliant game. Gave me a real sense of accomplishment upon completion.
Plus point: the music changing when you pressed the space bar to zoom in or out.
Minus point: it's a bit frustrating how the man tends to keep sliding (and usually off the edge of a platform) after a jump
Liked it as much as the Shift games. Look forward to more work from this author.
I am very disappointed in this game. It promised me non-linear gameplay, but all I see is a linear maze game in a nominally non-linear slider puzzle format. The matter remains that there is only one solution for every level I bothered to play, although one might find themselves waffling around in circles searching for it. Waffling around in circles != non-linear gameplay, sorry.
How the heck did I miss this game the first time through?!?!?!!!
This game is FANTASTIC! I've only played 21 levels so far and I'm laughing all the way. The way new concepts or potentialities are introduced is perfect. Just when I'm getting settled in to playing the game they throw a new twist at me. For instance:
Splitting the levels and running in between 'em?? BRILLIANT!!
A level editor with player submitted levels would be icing on the cake.
I haven't had this much fun since "Escape" back in the DOS days.
got 4 more levels left...stuck...been a good game so ar
Fantastic concept. Kind of a quirky maze where you alternate between running the maze and moving the walls.
Would be nice to have a timer and/or move counter to give better replay value.
Stuck on second to last level... Help!? What to do?
I'm stuck on the one that has one solid, one empty and one with stuff in it. Halp!
Never mind, problem solved!
the game looks simple but I love the puzzles. nice learning curve too!
Terrific idea for a game. I had a lot of fun playing this game.
This is a great game! A perfect mix of a puzzle and a platforming game, with an original (as far as I know) and great idea.
I need help with level 29!
this is one of the most addicting games i have played in a long time. it's brilliance is in its' simplicity. you truly must think outside the box to be able finish this game.
Never met a Platformer I liked (being terrible at platform games) until this one.
Thank goodness there's no timer and/or move counter, or (shudder) limitation on the number of moves. (Tastes differ.)
I agree with AaronzDad and Sylocat, a player-submitted level editor would introduce even more creative fun into a delightful game.
I completely forgot I had an idea a lot similar to this when I was a kid going through a constantly-drawing-mazes-on-graph-paper phase. I'm so glad someone was able to come along and implement it so well.
Now that I'm a programmer, I think I want to see if I can make my own version of this. Any idea how I can get in touch with the creator of this game to make sure I'm not stepping on his/her toes?
I stopped somewhere in the middle of this game after it got super-complicated (rather than semi-complicated). Remind me to come back to it.
Played it a week or so ago. I recall liking the music, and finding the game fun (and a good workout for the brain). Should come back to it sometime.
Continuity is a rather clever concept, but the levels are either too easy or too repetatively frustrating. It breaks the tradition of puzzle games which requires one to look at the screen, discover the solution, and input the solution. Continuity requires you to find a possible move for your character, move, and then repeat. It's only on certain stages does it require the player to really think to plan their moves ahead, or provide some clever puzzle; constantly shifting peices make it hard to plan ahead as well. Any actual platforming skills required is tainted by the gitchy keys and dully animated jumping figure. It made for a rather dry experience.
That isn't to say, of course, that I didn't enjoy this at all. The audio was impecable; the sliding tiles were just so smooth. In fact, the the visual style was perfectly serene and undestracting, ideal for the game. There were at least a few ingenious levels that really made me smile.
I'm 71 and find that Continuity helps keep my aging brain in shape. I'd have to think awhile to decide which I enjoy the most: Continuity, Bloxorz or Jelly Blocks!
Perhaps others could help me decide! :-)
It's a very good game it challenges my mind to different types of levels. The best part is that once I started playing it I couldn't get my hands off the keyboard! This game will be one to remember.
totally awesome game!
Hey david91406: Search this site for the game "Phit"
It'll help keep your brain in shape, as long as you consider dribbling out your ears a shape.
But it IS a heck of a lot of fun - and it's never ending.
...Maybe that's a bad thing?
Good game. Thanks for the help, guys!
lvl 21 is insane o.-
I must say how much easier this is after playing Portal
i win i win!!! this game was fun and relaxing i needed it!
Okay... can I just say best game ever? Course I say that for all the games that really blow me away, of which there are few. But still, that really is "best game ever" material.
The physics could've been a little better for the little stick man in the sliding puzzle world. Too many times did my little guy slide off small platforms because there was a minimum length he'd go left or right in the air.
If I ever have the need to procrastinate again, I have one more little distraction I can turn to. Awesome idea, truly awesome.
I just re-discovered this game. It took me two whole days, but I finished it all by myself. ^__^
I deserve some chocolate. O:-)
Link doesn't work anymore...
[Sure it does. Try it again. -Jay]
This was a little too easy for me. It took me about twelve minutes to get through all the levels. I see how it could be challenging for some people, but I'm just good at these kinds of games. I can;t do escape-the-room games, though. I always miss things. I work better with abstract ideas, not small details. Blame it on the ADHD.
The sequel, Continuity 2, is the Free App Of The Day right now at Amazon Appstore. :)
No clue on Level 21. Is there something missing? Only two usable tiles match.
Level 21 : all tiles match up to the starting tile
(walk under the first screen to the door by stacking it on the T)
and is one of the more elegant solutions.
Instantly immersive and beautifully designed logic game that is never too frustrating nor too easy to be gratifying and enjoyable from start to finish. Stark visuals perfectly complement and accentuate the gameplay without getting in the way. Just the right number of levels - not so many as to be dreadful or tedious but long enough to feel like a full game.
Interesting difficulty curve scales in the middle with levels 20-26 being the most difficult. If you can grok these, it's a downhill slope Really gives you someting to chew on unlike the more mind-numbing logic puzzles (Dr Mario, et al.) Disappointingly anti-climactic ending slightly dampens the immensely satisfying sense of accomplishment upon completion.
Update