Friendship is a beautiful thing, especially when you've found the perfect friends. You know the ones, those who are there to lift you out of a blue mood with a smile, those who let you know you're not alone, those who make you feel like you belong. Monsterz: Chainz of Friendz, submitted by Jean Privat for CGDC9, reminds us of the joys of friendship which seemingly are just as important to monsters...I mean monsterz.
In this simply presented puzzle game, use your mouse to form chainz between monsterz of the same color. To form chainz, select the monster type from the menu to the right of the screen then either click on individual squarez, or click and drag to create chainz. The expressionz on the monsterz facez say it all; Monsterz that are not part of a chain have sad, lonely facez, partly constructed chainz show monsterz with relatively neutral facez, while monsterz who are connected in a full, but not necessarily correctly laid out chain, will exhibit expressionz of joy. But monsterz who have more than two neighborz of their own kind will feel overcrowded and will subsequently have angry expressionz, so chainz cannot cross over and must be in a single line.
Hover your cursor over the menu options and a brief explanation will appear underneath the monsterz grid. For example, the splash icon is an eraser which will remove mosterz from the grid if you wish to rework a chain, although you can simply reclick on a monster to delete if it's already selected in the menu. The game is automatically saved so you can continue from where you last played, or you can clear the saved data to start the entire game from the beginning. There are two ways that levels can be solved; simply connect all the monsterz on the grid, or to gain a gold score for each level add the maximum number of monsterz to par the levelz. Each and every monster must be part of a chain. The ability to see the par number for each level is unlocked after successfully completing level five. On completing level ten, the level editor is unlocked allowing you to create your own levelz.
Analysis: Monsterz: Chainz of Friendz may look familiar to many. Jean Privat openly discloses that he borrowed the images and music from a game called Monsterz which was created by Sam Hocevar back in 2005 and whom made the game freely available for redistribution and modification. While it's great to be mindful of recycling, it's a bit of shame that Jean's game is not original in its presentation. This may be a reason why Monsterz: Chainz of Friendz didn't score as highly as Jean had hoped, but it still made it into the top ten games of CGDC 9, and it's not hard to see why with all the positive feedback from you, the invaluable members of the Jay Is Games community. Without a doubt Jean has created a monstrously fun game that adheres strongly to CDGC 9's "Friends" theme.
In terms of gameplay, the mechanic is fairly smooth with only slight awkwardness in selecting and de-selecting monsterz for adding and removing to the game board. The difficulty curve is just right, starting out with some really easy puzzles and finishing with five challenge levels that can only be completed by achieving par for each level.
This is the kind of game that really gets you thinking, as you try to work out how the heck those monsterz can be connected. You may be a strategic forward thinker and plan your moves based on the placement of monsterz already on the grid, or you may be a trial-and-error type player creating chainz only to erase them just as quickly. Either way, there will be moments when a solution is suddenly crystal clear and you'll experience that wonderful feeling of self-satisfaction that only a challenging casual game can provide.
The beauty of Casual Gameplay Design Competitions is the interaction between game developers and the Jay is Games community. Jean responded to comments from the JiG community and implemented suggestions quickly, so it can be said that this final version of Monsterz: Chainz of Friendz is a true collaborative effort, and one of the appealing aspects of the game, the monsterz' expressive faces, is a result of that collaboration. And when a game developer really listens and responds the way Jean has, those games find their way into our favorites.
So next time you're feeling a little lonely, spare a thought for the monsterz who without your help would otherwise remain sad and disconnected, and spend time playing Monsterz: Chainz of Friendz. Guaranteed you'll feel rewarded for playing, even if it's just to see those little monsterz' faces light up with joy.
Walkthrough Guide
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Monsterz: Chainz of Friendz Walkthrough - Levels 1 - C5
Screenshots are included for final solutions.
In this walkthrough, the par solutions are missing for some levels. Any help with those levels will be gratefully received.
The use of left and right in this walkthrough refers to your left and right.
Level 1 - Par
The final formation looks like an almost complete square with a dent in the top right corner.
Screenshot.
Level 2 - Par
Start with the monster at top right, move down to the metal square.
Move left to the metal square and then back up to the top.
Take the chain to the left.
Now continue the chain all the way to the bottom of the grid and then all the way to the right.
Screenshot.
Level 3
Blue chain - travels up and around the top of the grid.
Red chain - runs along the bottom of the grid and up in a U formation.
Screenshot.
Level 4 - Par
Blue chain - Add six blue monsterz to form a chain that travels down, to the right and down again.
Red chain - Wrap the red monsterz chain over the top of the blue chain, down, right, down, left, up and left again.
Screenshot.
Level 5 - Par
Green chain - The green monsterz form the most direct and shortest chain possible.
Blue chain - The blue monsterz have the longest chain which runs over the top of the grid.
Red chain - The red monsterz chain runs along the bottom of the grid.
Screenshot.
Level 6 - Par
Light-Blue chain - Start with the top right blue monster and form the chain down one square short of the bottom of the grid, then take it left, up, left, up, left, and add two more blue monsterz down.
Green chain - Starting at the top most and left green monster, form the chain to the left, all the way down and all the way to the right.
Screenshot.
Level 7 - Par
The grid needs to be completely filled with monsterz to par this level, except of course on the metal plates.
Red chain - The red monsterz form the shortest chain.
Green chain - The green monsterz form the longest chain.
Yellow chain - The yellow monsterz chain travels down, left but not all the way, down one and all the way to the right.
Green chain -
Starting at the bottom right monster, take the chain all the way to the left.
Move the chain up to directly under the red chain.
Now move the chain right, running across the top of the yellow chain.
Go all the way to the top of the grid.
Move left to the metal square, then down one row.
Move left as far as you can until you bump into the red chain.
Screenshot.
Level 8 - Par
Start the chain where the top right two monsterz are, by placing a monster to the left of the lower one.
Travel down and move the chain to the first right (your right), then down, left one, and then down one more.
Move across the monster on the bottom right metal plate and place another one to the left.
Now move the chain upwards, crossing over another monster on a metal plate, adding two more above that one.
Move left to the next monster on a metal plate, then take the chain down to the bottom.
Now go left all the way and then up as far as the three monsterz at top left, stopping at the bottom of those three monsterz which will form the rest of the upwards chain.
Add three more monsterz to the right of the top-most of the three metal-plate monsterz,
Now take the chain down two more monsterz to connect the last metal-plated monster.
Screenshot.
Level 9 - Par
This level has a nice symmetrical finish.
Red and Green chainz - The red monsterz chain will mirror the green monsterz chain. They are both U-shaped.
Blue chain - The blue monsterz chain looks like an upside-down U, and one end will fit snugly into the red monsterz chain on the left, and the other end will fit snugly into the green monsterz chain on the right.
Screenshot.
Level 10 - Par
Green chain - A short chain across the top of the grid, shaped like a W.
Red chain - Runs underneath the green monsterz, to the right, but dipping down, across and back up to the top right of the grid.
Blue chain - The shortest chain. You'll only need to add four blue monsterz.
Orange chain - The orange monsterz wrap snugly up over the top of the blue monsterz.
Fleshy-Pink chain - Wraps over the orange chain, running directly beneath the chain of red monsterz
Screenshot.
Level 11 - Par
Red chain - Is very short. You'll only need to add two monsterz.
Blue chain - Will form a shape like a backwards C, with four monsterz across both the top and the bottom of the backwards C, and four monsterz down.
Green chain - Starts with a green monster sitting between a red monster and a blue monster, and ends at the top right of the grid.
Screenshot.
Level 12 - Par
Green chain - Runs around the outer edges of the grid. The green monsterz already in place will not be connected.
Orange chain - Similar formation to the green chain. Don't connect the two monsterz that are already placed.
Magenta chain - Starts below the bottom right magenta monster and loops up and around inside the orange chain.
Screenshot.
Level 13 - Par
Green chain -
Start at the top left green monster by placing one to the right.
Take the chain all the way to the bottom of the grid.
Continue the chain all the way to the right and then up to the top-right green monster.
Blue chain -
Add 2 blue monsterz to the left of the top blue monster
Take the chain 4 monsterz down from there.
Red chain -
Start at the bottom left red monster and take the chain up to the next red monster on a metal square.
Take the chain left and up, but stop one row short of the top of the grid.
Take the chain to the right, until you bump into the blue chain.
Now go all the way up and all the way to the right.
Take the chain down until you hit the green chain; then head left until you're directly above the red monster on a metal square.
Take the chain to one monster below the monster on the metal square.
Head right, down and left to fit between the green and blue chainz.
Head back up to the last red monster.
Screenshot.
Level 14
Yellow chain - Simply weaves in and out of the metal plates in the bottom left of the grid.
Green chain - Makes a dented sort of U shape, sitting snugly above the red chain.
Magenta chain -
Starting at the bottom magenta monster, add 3 monsterz to the right.
Add 5 up from there
Add 1 more to the left to join the top magenta monster.
Blue chain -
Start the blue chain directly above the top-left monster and take the chain 4 monsterz to the right.
Take the chain down as far as you can go, and then go one to the right.
You should now be directly above a blue monster on a metal plate. Add 2 monsterz to the right of this one.
Now take the chain up as far as you can go and left again.
Now travel up to the blue monster at top-right.
Red chain -
Begins and ends on the metal plate with two red-monsters in the upper left part of the grid.
Start with the monster on the top left.
The red chain will travel in a loop around all the other chainz, going across the top of the grid, down the right-side, along the bottom and back up.
Screenshot.
Level 15
There are squares that can be used outside the grid walls.
The Red chain and the Yellow chain travel outside the grid.
Blue chain - Is the longest. Starting at the top left, take it to the right and use it to fill the top right corner of the grid before travelling down to the bottom blue monster.
Magenta chain - Is the shortest. Taking the shortest possible route, take it down, right, down and then to the left.
Green chain - Travels through the grid between the blue and magenta chainz.
Screenshot.
Level 16 - Par
Orange chain - Is the shortest and takes the most direct route.
Yellow chain - Has 8 monsterz in total, including the two that are already in place. The chain has 4 monsterz linked in the centre, with 1 under the left monster, and 1 more to the left of that one. Mirror that on the right by placing 1 under the right monster and then one to the right of that one.
Green chain - Starts directly underneath the bottom left green monster, travelling directly to the left, up and over to the top left green monster, then across to the top right monster and mirroring the same path back down to the bottom right green monster.
The Light-Blue and Red chainz start out mirroring each other when starting the chain from the top monsterz.
Red chain - Travels down and to the right before lopping back up and ending looking a curly S.
Light-Blue - Goes down the left of the grid then back in towards the centre bottom, between the red and orange chainz.
Screenshot.
Level 17 - Par
Magenta chain - Is shaped like an L, travelling all the way down the left of the grid, then across the very bottom to the bottom magenta monster.
Red chain - Travels across the very top of the grid, then down and straight to the left. Add one more red monster below the one on the metal square.
Yellow chain - Add 10 monsterz to form a perfect L shaped yellow chain in the centre of the grid.
Light-Blue chain - Take the light-blue chain up the left of the vertical part of the yellow chain, then directly over the top and straight back down the other side of the yellow chain.
Dark-Blue chain -
Start the dark-blue chain underneath the bottom-right yellow monster, and take the chain directly underneath the yellow chain to the left.
The chain then travels up directly on the left of the light-blue chain, over the top but directly underneath the red chain, and then back down the other side of the light-blue chain, before going right and up, forming a little curl at the end.
Fleshy-pink chain - Starting at the bottom left, runs between the magenta and dark-blue chainz, slipping down and under the bottom green monster, and then travelling back up the right of the grid. The chain then takes a short left and then up to the last fleshy-pink monster. Add one more monster above the one on the metal plate.
Green chain - starting at the bottom right, add 3 in an upwards direction, go left one, then add 3 more up. Go left, adding 2 monsterz then travel up to the last green monster.
Orange chain - should squeeze into the spaces left-over, touching the red, dark-blue and green chainz along the way.
Screenshot.
Level 18 - Par
Yellow chain - Is the shortest. Take it as far right as possible, and down to the right side of the yellow monster.
Orange chain - Starting at the top left, the orange chain travels right across the top of the grid, then down as far as it can go, then left as far as possible. Then add 2 monsterz to take the chain down, go right to touch the yellow chain then down and left across the bottom of the grid to end under the bottom orange monster.
Green chain -
Start directly underneath the green monster at the bottom-left of the grid, go all the way left and up as far as the orange chain.
Travel all the way to the right, but stop two squares short of the end, directly above the top-right green monster.
Place 1 green monster to the right of that monster.
Add 2 more monsterz going downwards.
Now take the chain to the left, adding 8 monsterz, travelling over the top left of the metal plate.
Now take the chain downwards by adding 2 monsterz.
Now add 2 monsterz to go right, go downwards another two then take the chain right again to the green monster at the bottom right.
Red chain - Starting with the top right red monster, form the chain directly above the green chain and following it to the left and down. Add one more red monster to the right of the one already there.
Dark-Blue chain - With the dark-blue chain, fill in the space between the green and red chainz, adding extra dark-blue monsterz to the right of each dark-blue monster on metal plates.
Screenshot.
Level 19 - Par
Each chain generally loops downwards and then back up, except for the magenta chain which starts at the top left and travels down.
Magenta chain - Add 1 monster to the left of the top left magenta monster, and then start the chain directly above the metal-plated monster, running it across the top of the grid to the fleshy-pink monster, then straight down to the magenta monster.
Fleshy-Pink chain - Start the fleshy-pink chain at the top left running it across to the right, directly underneath the magenta chain. Then run it down one side of the vertical magenta chain, under and straight back up the other side to the top right fleshy-pink monster.
Green chain -
Starting at the top-right monster, travels down one side of the fleshy-pink chain, then back up the other side of it, and to the left directly underneath it.
Add 1 monster underneath the metal-plated monster, then add 1 to the left of that one.
Add four more down, then go one right.
Now take the chain directly down to the last green monster.
Light-Blue chain - Sits snugly next to the green chain, travelling down the far-right of the grid, across the very bottom, and back up into the grid still directly next to the green chain.
Dark-Blue chain -
Travels down the far-left of the grid down to the left of the metal-plated dark-blue monster near the bottom.
Add a dark-blue monster below the metal-plated one and take the chain all the way to the bottom.
Add 2 more to go to the right.
Add 3 monsterz to go up.
Add 1 to go right and add 4 to go up to the last dark-blue monster.
Screenshot.
Level 20
Clear chain - Is the shortest. Snake the chain over the single blank metal-plate and under the double metal plate where one of the clear monsterz is.
Yellow chain - Runs in a straight line from the left yellow monster then under the clear chain to the right, before wrapping back up and over the top of the clear chain.
Red chain - Starting from the top right, go left to the centre of the grid, down and then left to the red monster on the right.
Magenta chain - Runs in an up and down route across the bottom of the grid.
Orange chain -
Starting with the orange monster on the left, add 2 monsterz above it.
Now add 4 monsterz heading right.
Go 1 monster down.
Add two more monsterz to the right to connect with the last orange monster.
Fleshy-Pink chain -
Starting with the fleshy-pink monster furthest to the right, add one monster above it, then one moster to the left of the newly placed monster.
Now add one more upwards, then start taking the chain to the left over the metal-plated monster, making it 8 monsterz long, after the metal-plated monster.
Now you'll be directly above another fleshy-pink monster on a metal plate. Take the chain down so that there's one monster above and one monster below the monster on the metal plate.
Now take the chain to the right to connect with the last fleshy-pink monster.
Green chain -
When complete, will form a large S shape of sorts.
Starting at the top left green monster, build the chain to the left, by adding 5 more monsterz.
Now head down adding five more monsterz, then head to the right and up, wrapping around the yellow chain.
Now run the chain directly underneath the yellow chain and all the way to the right, after which take the chain all the way down the right side of the grid to the very bottom.
Run the green chain across the entire bottom row of the grid all the way to the left.
Add four monsterz above that and then go one more monster to the right so that you're now directly below a green monster on a metal plate.
Take the chain all the way to the right until you hit the drak-blue monster on a metal plate.
Now go down one monster, then go right one monster.
Add one more monster below the bottom green monster on the metal plate holding two monsterz.
Dark-Blue chain - Easy one. Starting with the left dark-blue monster add monsterz until you connect with the next dark-blue monster, then add one more to the right to connect with the dark-blue monster that's one row down.
Light-Blue chain -
Will also form an S shape of sorts.
Starting at the bottom left light-blue monster, wend the chain towards the right, staying above the magenta chain, but under the orange and fleshy-pink chainz.
Once you're above a magenta monster on a metal plate, start working your way upwards until you hit the bottom of the green chain.
Basically follow the green chain up, left, down, left and up to the top left corner of the grid.
Once at the top, travel to the right and down and then left again to wrap around the end of the green chain.
Screenshot.
Challenge Level 1
Orange chain -
Start with the bottom right monster and add four above it, going upwards.
Now you're connected with the next orange monster, so directly above it add one monster, then move 5 left so that you're directly above the three orange monsters on the metal plate.
The three orange monsters form part of the chain, so underneath the bottom monster, add one monster then move four across to the right.
Add one more above that, so that the last orange monster is sitting between the two metal plates.
Now fill the rest of the grid with yellow monsterz.
Screenshot.
Challenge Level 2
Green chain - Forms a U shape. Starting one monster above the green monster on the top-left, move down to the bottom-left green monster, then move right to the next green monster, and then move up to the last green monster, top-right. Add one more above that monster.
Red chain -
The red chain wraps around the green chain.
Starting with the top right red monster, move up, over and down the right of the green chain to the bottom of the grid.
Take the chain all the way to the left and all the way up to the top of the grid.
Move right, over the top of the green chain and stop at the top-left monster on the red plate.
Instead of continuing straight down, move one moster to the right, then take the chain three rows down.
Take the chain back to the left, next to the green chain, then take the chain down to the bottom-left monster on a metal plate.
Now take the chain back up to the red monster at the top right, where the chain first started.
Screenshot.
Challenge Level 3
This chain moves from right to left, to right, to left and to the right across the grid in an up and down motion.
Start at the one red monster at the top of the grid, and start by moving left as far as you can go.
Move one moster down, then move left and back up to wrap under the metal square.
Move left to the top-left corner.
Move down as far as you can go to the metal square, then move right and back up one monster to wrap under the next metal square.
Move right as far as you can, about 4 monsters, then up to a metal square, and then right to the next metal square.
Move up one, right one and then up one, and then take the chain to the top-right corner of the grid.
Move down to the metal square, then left and down and back right to wrap around the square.
Take the chain all the way down to the bottom-right of the grid.
Move left and up to wrap under the metal square, and counting from the bottom row, move five rows up continuing the chain.
Move left one, move up one then move left two more, then down one row.
Move 3 rows to the left, so you have a line of four monsters, then move down one and then go all the way to the left.
Take the chain all the way down to the bottom left corner.
Move right to the metal area, then up one monster, then right to the next metal square.
Move up one row then move right three more.
Take the chain all the way down, then all the way left.
Screenshot.
Challenge Level 4
Thanks to Joao for helping out with a solution for this one!
Magenta chain -
Start one monster left of the top magenta monster on the upper left side of the grid.
Add two monsterz to the right of the magenta monster on the metal square.
Take the chain downwards until it's in line with the middle magenta monster on the left, then take the chain across to the left.
Continue the chain so that one monster is added to the left of the middle monster, then take the chain downwards to the bottom magenta monster.
Moving to the right, add 6 monsterz after the one on the metal square.
Now take the chain straight up to connect to the right of the magenta monster on the metal square on the right side of the grid.
Dark-Blue chain -
Start with the blue monster at the top left on the metal square and add two to the left of that one.
Take the chain all the way down to the bottom of the grid, then all the way across to the right.
Continue the chain upwards until it's in line with the blue monster on the right-side of the grid.
Take the chain to the left over the monster on the metal plate so that there's one monster to the left of it.
Add two monsterz going downwards, then go right to wrap around the magenta chain.
Sticking next to the magenta chain, follow it down and back across to the left to join the last blue monster.
Red chain -
The red monster at the lowest left point is an end-point monster. Start there.
Add 3 monsterz to the right of the lowest red monster.
Head upwards by adding 4 more monsterz.
Head right to go over the monster on the metal square, and go all the way to the right of the grid.
Head up to the very top and then head all the way to the left.
Take the chain two monsterz down until it's in line with the top-left red monster, then continue the chain to the right to meet it.
Add one more monster to the right of the monster on the metal plate, then go straight down to connect with the middle red monster.
To attain par, add one more red monster to the left of where the chain just ended.
Screenshot.
Challenge Level 5
Thanks to SUPREMINATOR for helping out with this level!
Fleshy-Pink chain -
The pink chain ends are the two monsterz furthest to the right of the screen.
The fleshy-pink chain remains in the top half of the grid.
Starting with the monster furthest to the right and lower than the other pink monster, add on to the right and then take the chain upwards and to the left to meet the top-most pink monster.
Continue the chain all the way to the left and take it down so that two more monsterz are added below the metal-square monster on the left.
Now add 4 more monsterz to the right, then add two more above that.
Add 4 more monsterz to the right again, then add 3 monsterz to take the chain down.
Now drag across to connect the two monsterz on the lower right.
Orange chain -
The ends of the orange chain are the two monsterz furthest to the left of the grid.
Starting with the bottom left monster, take the chain all the way across to the right to the metal square.
Take the chain up and then left so that it wraps around the long sequence of metal squares, and stop directly above the left end of the metal squares.
Now add 2 more monsterz going up, then continue the chain all the way to the right over the monster on the metal square.
Now drag the chain up as far as you can, over another monster on a metal square.
Add 5 more monsterz to the left, to make that row total 6 monsterz, then take the chain upwards to the square next to the ornage monster on a metal square.
Continue the chain to the left so that it's a couple of rows above the last orange monster; then take the chain down to finish it.
Yellow chain - The yellow monsterz will fill all of the gaps left over from the orange and fleshy-pink chainz.
Screenshot.
Thanks to Buttons, Keith , Joao, and Supreminator for your hints and help!
Posted by: Chiktionary
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January 4, 2011 7:02 PM