In the latest puzzle romp from Nitrome, you play the part of Magneboy, an orange robot powered by clockwork, with a dial in his chest set permanently to Neutral. He exists in a strange technological void, with pillars jutting out of the infinite blackness beneath. On each level, you must guide him to a checkerboard-patterned platform (robots are naturally attracted to early 60s diners). Then a vacuum tube will descend from the sky, suck him up, and deposit him in Robo-Valhalla, where he will spend the rest of his days surrounded by beautiful Magne-women and cybernetic roast pigs.
Nah, I'm kidding. He just gets to do another puzzle. Magneboy never escapes. He is doomed to eternal Sisyphean torment. Don't feel bad. He exists to entertain you.
Control Magneboy with the [arrow keys] or [WASD] and activate his Amazing Magnetic Powers with [space]. Magnetism works on the first thing in your robot's line of sight, and it has several uses. If you're looking at a blue platform across a chasm, Magneboy will be drawn forward to it. If you're looking at a gray suspended platform, it will come to Magneboy. Your powers don't work through obstacles, such as pretty flowers, which are of course the arch-nemesis of magnet people.
Analysis: Nitrome likes to make a pretty game. Although Magneboy's world doesn't require spectacular visuals, the Lego-inspired main character is nicely animated, and having the platforms peeking out of a techno void is a clever way to put the illusion of 3 dimensions onto a block-pushing (or pulling, rather) puzzle game. Add a downbeat, appropriately synthetic soundtrack, and you've got a typically high-quality Nitrome presentation.
It may be annoying at first to find how slowly Magneboy moves, but the quirky control is necessary to support the main scoring system. You get more points if you complete a level in fewer moves; but you can rotate to face different directions without it counting against you. So rather than constantly racking up useless steps, you need to hold down the arrow key for a moment after the robot turns before he starts walking. You get used to it. Most of the time, there's not a lot of area to cover.
Some of the puzzles feel a little sloppy, but most of them are nicely challenging without causing too much of a brain-ache. 50 levels await you in total, about 10 of which are well-spaced tutorials for various new elements in the game.
I would say that there are probably a few too many elements in Magneboy, in fact. Movable bridges and key platforms are fine, but the levels that feature moving attack robots were definitely my least favorite. The phlegmatic Magneboy is just not a robot made for tactical maneuvers. Realizing this, Nitrome has given you three lives per level, so the enemy robots are unlikely to even kill you, and they just seem pointless. I'd rather the whole action idea had been axed in favor of pure puzzling, but there aren't even that many action levels, so it's nearly a moot point.
Regardless, Nitrome is on a winning streak lately. This title provides a solid batch of block puzzles with an appealingly melancholy protagonist. Won't you take pity on poor Magneboy, and rescue him from the endless void?
The game is also available to Play at the MTV Arcade.
Walkthrough Guide
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Complete Walkthrough:
*Any directions in a level that is starred has 'while avoiding monsters.' on the end of it.
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Levels 1-10
Walk right until you are at the second question mark. Tap down, press Space. Turn left and move to the exit.
Moves: 15
Tap up, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move right to the exit.
Moves: 5
Tap right, press Space. Tap down, press Space four times. Tap right, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move to the exit.
Moves: 9
Move up to edge. Tap right, press Space. Move down to edge. Tap left, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move left and up to the exit.
Moves: 8
Move down to edge. Move right to edge. press Space. Move right one square. Move down one square. Tap right, press Space. Move down to edge. Tap left, press Space. Move left one square. Move down one square. Tap left, press Space. Move left one square. Move down two squares. Move left to exit.
Moves: 18
Tap right, press Space. Move one square right, press Space (do this three times). Move one square right, tap down, press Space. Move one square down, press Space. Move one square down, tap right, press Space. Move one square right, press Space. Move on square right, tap down, press Space. Move one square down, press Space. Move one square down, tap right, press Space. Move one square right, press Space. Move on square right, tap down, press Space. Move down and right to the exit.
Moves: 27
Tap right, press Space. Move one square right, press Space. Press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move one square up, tap right, press Space. tap down, press Space. Move down one square. Move left to the edge. Tap up, press Space. Move up one square. Move left to the edge. Move down one square. Move left to edge. Tap up, press Space. Move up and left to the exit.
Moves: 21
Move down one square, tap right, press Space. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move to edge, press Space. Move right one square, tap up, press Space. Move up one square, press Space. Move up one square, press Space. Move up to exit.
Moves: 18
Tap right, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move one square up, tap left, press Space. Move one square left, tap up, press Space. Move one square up, press Space (do this four times, or until a bridge is created). Move up three spaces. Move right to exit.
Moves: 18
Press Space. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, press Space (do this three times). Tap up, press Space. Move right to flower. Tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move right one square, press Space (do this two times). Move right to edge. Move down to flower. Move right to flower. Tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move right one square, press Space (do this two times). Move left one square. Move down to flower. Move right to edge. Tap down, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square, press Space (do this two times). Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move up to exit.
Moves: 48
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Levels 11-20
Tap right, press Space. Move up to edge, tap left, press Space. Move down to edge. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move right to exit.
Moves: 16
Press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move up one square, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move right to edge. Move one square down, tap left, press Space. Move left and up to exit.
Moves: 16
Move down seven squares, or until level with key block. Tap right, press Space. Move down to edge. Move right one square, tap up, press Space. Move right five squares, or until even with movable block. Tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Move down one square. Move right to edge. Move up to edge. Move left three squares, or until even with movable block. Tap down, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move left one square. Move down one square, tap right, press Space. Move right one square. Move down to exit.
Moves: 54
Tap right, press Space. Move right to edge. Move up one square. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square. Move right to exit.
Moves: 13
Tap right, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move down to edge, tap left, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Press Space. Move left one square. Move down one square, press Space. Move down and left to exit.
Moves: 16
Press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move right to edge. Tap up, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move right one space. Move up to edge. Move right to edge. Move down to edge. Tap right, press Space. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move up and right to exit.
Moves: 28
Tap up, press Space. Move up to edge. Move right to edge. Move down two squares. Tap left, press Space. Move down to edge. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Move up to edge. Move left to edge. Move down to edge. Tap right, press Space. Move up to edge. Move right to edge. Move down to edge. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Move up one square. Move left four squares and up to exit.
P.S. If anyone can do this level in sixty moves please tell me, because the first time I did this level, I could swear I got sixty moves, but all the other times I got sixty-two.
Moves: 62
Tap right, press Space. Move right one square. Move up to edge. Move right one square, press Space. Move right one square. Move down to edge. Move right one square, press Space. Move right to exit.
Moves: 32
*
Move right to the question mark. Move up to exit, avoiding the monster.
Moves: 15
*
Move down one square. Move right ten squares. Tap down, press Space. Move one square down, press Space. Move one square down. Move one square right, tap down, press Space. Move one square down, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square, press Space. Move down one square.Move right, and down to the exit.
Moves: 27
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Levels 21-30
Move down one square. Move right to edge. Move up one square. Move left one square. Move down to edge. Move right one square. Move up one square. Move left to edge. Move down one square. Move right to edge. Move up to exit.
Moves: 13
Tap right, press Space. Move right to edge. Move down one square. Tap right, press Space. Move right one square. Move down to edge. Tap left, press Space. Move left one square, press Space (do this two times). Move left and up to exit.
Moves: 14
*
With getting hit once: Move up one square. Move right nine spaces, or to diagonal of Chase Bot. Move up five spaces and right to exit.
Without getting hit: Lead Chase Bot into larger square. Dodge by going up or down, and move right and up to exit.
Moves: 16-45
*
Move down to edge. Move right to edge. Tap down, press Space. Move down to edge, tap right, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move up one square. Move right to edge. Move down to edge. Tap right, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move up one square. Move right to edge. Move down to edge. Press Space. Move down and left to exit.
Moves: 30
Tap right, press Space. Move right one square, tap up, press Space. Move up to edge, press Space. Move up and left to exit.
Moves: 8
Tap left, press Space. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move right to edge. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Tap left press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square, press Space. Move down and right to exit.
Moves: 14
Move up one square. Move right one square, tap up press Space. Move up one square. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square, press Space. Move down one square, tap right, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move down and right to the exit.
Moves: 14
Tap right, press Space. Move right to edge, press Space. Move right one square, press Space (do this three times). Move right one square, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move right one square. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move down to edge. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square, tap right, press Space. Move up to exit.
Moves: 24
*
(On this one I can only tell you what you have to do, not how to avoid the Chase Bots) Tap right, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Press Space. Tap up, press Space. Press Space. Move one space up, tap right, press Space. Move one space down, tap right, press Space. Move right four spaces, or until even with bridge block, tap down, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Press Space. Move one square down, tap right, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Press Space. Move two spaces over, tap up, press Space. Move up and right to exit.
Moves: ??
Tap right, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move left to edge, tap down, press Space. Move down one space, tap right, press Space. Move up to edge. Move right one space, tap down, press Space. Move right two squares. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move left and down to exit.
Moves: 20
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Levels 31-40
Move right to edge. Move down to edge. Tap up, press Space. Move right to edge. Tap up, press Space. Move left and up to exit.
Moves: 15
Tap right, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move up one square, press Space. Move down one square. Move right one square. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move up one square, press Space (do this two times). Move down one square. Move right one square. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move up two squares, press Space. Move up one square. Move left one square, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move right to edge. Move down to edge, tap right, press Space. Move up one square, press Space. Move right one square. Move down to edge, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move down one square, press Space. Move down one square. Move left and up to exit.
Moves: 70
Press Space. Move one square down, tap right, press Space. Move one square right, press Space (do this 3 times). Move down one square, press Space. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square, press Space (do this two times). Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move one square left, press Space (do this three times). Move one square left, tap down, press Space. Tap up press Space. Move up one square. Move left to edge. Tap down, press Space. Move down and left to exit.
Moves: 41
*
Move left one square. Move up one square, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Move right one square. Move down one square. Move right one square. Move down to edge. Move left to edge. Move down to edge. Move right to edge. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, press Space. Move left and up to exit.
Moves: 30
Move right to edge, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Move right two squares, tap up, press Space. Tap right, press Space (do this two times). Move right one square, tap up, press Space. Move up two squares, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, press Space. Move one square left. Move down two squares, tap left, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move right to edge, press Space. Move right one square. Move up to edge, tap left, press Space. Move left one square. Move down two squares, tap left, press Space. Move right to edge, press Space. Move right one square, press Space. Move right to exit.
Moves: 40
Tap right, press Space. Go right to edge, tap up, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move down one square, tap right, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move down one square. Move left one square, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Go right to edge, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move down one square, tap right, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move down and right to exit.
Moves: 40
Move right one square. Move down one square, tap right, press Space. Move left to edge, press Space. Move up one square. Move right one square. Move down to edge. Move left one square. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Move right to edge, press Space. Move right one square, tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Move down one square. Move left five squares. Move up one square. Move right to exit.
Moves: 25
Move right to edge, tap down, press Space. Move left to edge. Move down two squares. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move left one square. Move down to edge. Move right one square, tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move left one square. Move up to edge. Move right to edge. Move down one square, press Space. Move down one square. Move right to exit.
Moves: 30
Tap left, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move left to edge, press Space. Move right to edge. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move left to edge, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Move up and left to exit.
Moves: 30
Move right two squares, press Space. Move left to edge, tap down, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move down to edge, tap right, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move left to edge. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move up to edge, tap right, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move left to edge. Move down one square, tap right, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one space. Move left to edge, press Space. Move left and up to exit.
Moves: 32
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Levels 41-50
*
Tap right, press Space. Press Space. Tap down, press Space. Tap left, Press Space. Tap down, press Space. Move down to edge. Here you have to lure the Chase Bot to the left 'island' across the bridge. You may get less or more moves than I did at this point. Just make sure to get out of there by zooming to the magnet block on the right island. Move left one square. Move up one square, press Space. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap up, press Space. Move up one square, tap left press Space. Move left and up to exit.
Moves: 27
*
Tap left, press Space. Move left one square. Move up one square, press Space. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Move one square down. Move one square right, tap up, press Space. Move left one square. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square, press Space. Move down and left to exit.
Moves: 18
*
Press Space. Move down one square, press Space. Move down one square. Move left to edge, press Space. Move left one square, press Space. Move left one square. Move up to edge, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move left one square. Move up one square, tap right, press Space. Move right one square, press Space (do this six times). Move right to exit.
Moves: 38
Move right two squares, tap down, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move left to edge, tap down, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move up one square. Tap right, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move left and up to exit, tap left, press Space.
Moves: 22
Press Space. Move right one square, press Space. Move right one square. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move right one space, tap up, press Space. Tap down press Space. Move right one Square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square, tap right, press Space. Move right one square, press Space. Move right and up to exit.
Moves: 18
Tap right, press Space. Move down three squares, tap right, press Space. Move down to edge, tap right, press Space. Move right one square, press Space. Move left one square. Move up three squares, tap right, press Space. Move down one square, tap right, press Space. Move down two squares. Move right to edge. Move up and right to exit.
Moves: 28
Tap up, press Space. Move right two squares, tap down, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Move right to edge, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move right three squares, tap down, press Space. Move right to edge. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, press Space. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Move right two squares, tap down, press Space. Move right seven squares. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Press Space. Move right nine spaces, tap up, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Press Space. Move right eight squares. Move down to edge. Move right one square. Move down one square. Move right to exit.
Moves: 75
*
Move right to edge. Move down one square, tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move down one square, tap left press Space. Move up two squares. Move left nine squares. Move down to edge, press Space. Move up to edge. Move right nine squares. Move down to edge, tap right, press Space. Move right and down to exit.
Moves: 22
Tap right, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move left one square. Move down one square, press Space. Move up one square. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Tap left, press Space. Tap down, press Space. Tap right, press Space. Tap up, press Space. Move right one square. Move up to edge. Tap down, press Space. Move down one square. Move right and down to exit.
Moves: 36
Move down to edge, tap right, press Space. Move up to edge. Move right one square, tap down, press Space. Move right one square, press Space. Move left to edge. Move down to edge. Move right one square, tap up, press Space. Move right one square, tap up, press Space. Move right to edge. Move up one square, tap left, press Space. Move up to edge. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move right one square. Move down four squares, tap left, press Space. Move up three squares. Move left one square, tap down, press Space. Move down and left to exit.
Moves: 54
Posted by: FlyingHigh | April 12, 2008 6:20 PM