A brand new puzzle platformer has just been released by ooPixel, creator of Gride, Rapid Wars, and more.
Andrew the Droid is a retro-looking title that utilizes the familiar level rotation concept found in a number of games. Work your way through over two dozen levels, avoiding hazards as you unlock exits, collect chips to grant new abilities, and rotate the stage to let gravity pull you where you need to go.
A tile-based platform adventure at heart, you control Andrew with the [arrow] keys as you wheel left and right across the stage. Each level has a diamond-shaped teleporter exit somewhere in the maze that must be activated by touching the green controller icon found elsewhere. Certain blocks can destroy Andrew (so, you know, avoid them), and you'll eventually come across new types of obstacles such as glass blocks that break after you step on them.
Here's where the game gets really fun: upgrade chips. Six chips found throughout the game grant Andrew new abilities that help him navigate his increasingly treacherous world. The first two allow you to rotate the game world clockwise and counterclockwise respectively, forming the central focus of the puzzle elements in the game. Can't reach the teleporter at the top of the level? Rotate everything a few times and gravity will do the rest. Later you'll earn more powers that add extra layers of strategy and challenge to the game.
Analysis: Andrew the Droid doesn't introduce anything we haven't seen in a game before, but it manages to put everything together in a way that's balanced, fun, and pleasing in every way possible. Why re-invent the wheel when you can just put on some shiny new hubcaps and maybe a unicorn sticker or two?
Using items to upgrade Andrew adds the always-nice sense of accomplishment to the game, especially since many of the abilities are basic moves most platform games grant from the start. Restricting your actions forces you to get creative, and when you solve a puzzle in this "gimped" form, you've earned it. Adding abilities like jumping makes you feel infinitely more powerful in a minimalistic sort of way.
As far as the puzzles are concerned, Andrew the Droid doesn't throw anything too difficult at you. You'll get stuck a few times, but a little experimentation will get you through the day. Don't expect to stretch your brain too much, as most of the puzzles are action-based.
Simple and polished to a bright, reflective shine, Andrew the Droid is a superb example of how to create a puzzle platform game that keeps calling you back level after level.
Did any one get past the level where you get the chip that has an up arrow on it?
Yes, I did. It's tricky, but you can do it.
Try
rotating immediately when you start falling.
Level 15 is giving me nightmares. How am I supposed to reach the remote in one piece?!
I am stuck on 15 as well. Any tips?
Level 13 is giving me trouble, so I can't presently help with 15.
I'm really enjoying this game a lot, but I'm dying so much as there is so very little room for error on some of these levels.
Then I have to go back through each perilous jump again. x_x
I did finally beat level 15. This isn't the answer, but here's a hint.
You have to turn in the middle of a HUGE jump.
Stuck on 18. I can get close to the remote, but I just don't see a way to get over to it with only 2 turns.
There's a little block of lava in the way.
DOH!!! Just reached the final level and... well... DOH!!! You'll see.
I'm at 25, with all the gems collected. I can't seem to do anything because the final chip doesn't work for some reason.
Any help with 18, please?
At first look, this seemed to be a very fun game. However it quickly got repetitive and boring, as it lacks some variation. Where are the moving enemies, the doors and keys, the attacks, the scrolling levels? I know this is a puzzle game, but make it an interesting one!
Just my two cents.
Completely stuck in level 18. Maybe I've been playing too much EBA lately, but... Help!
For those having trouble with 18;
That glass floor at the bottom looks useful...
There seems to be enough room to go to the key if you walk off.
Get onto the left-hand side of the glass floor, then walk off, turn clockwise to go through the small gap, then clockwise again to land next to the key. You should be able to get back from there.
Excellent. Thanks, Dorako!
One additional point, though, that's necessary to solve 18:
Don't bust the glass near the red gem until after you return, or you won't be able to reach the exit.
@ narane
it says the mystery chip is a LAST resort, so make sure you're in a situation from which you can't save yourself anymore
Geez. 19 was insane. You have but a micro-second on the last turn to the exit to get it just right, or else you have to do the entire sequence over again.
And I did it over and over and over again. No less than 30 times before I got it just right. :(
Half the time the robot kept hitting a corner of the rock right next to the exit, and the corner was sticking so far out in space it was invisible. Seriously, the collision detection seemed way off on that one.
It gets very frustrating very quickly that the game doesn't keep the green light lit after you die. I kept finding myself getting bored and quitting after a few levels, because if I died more than once it became tedious to start from the beginning of that level and repeat the whole sequence again.
I really want to like this game but it definitely needs an update before I'll even try to play it again. :(
puzzle + arcade = bad combination.
really one shouldn't spoil good puzzles with nerving arcade elements. So a no to this from me.
I refuse to play a game that won't let me mute the sound/music.
[Edit: There's a Sound mute button just below the play field, next to the Menu button. -Jay]
GAH! how do you do level 15, I can't get to the remote!!
completely stuck on level 11.
a question for those that have managed to pass it:
Whenever I rotate the world, I can't rotate it again until I've landed somewhere. This is in contrast to when I can fall off of a platform and rotate mid-fall, before I land. It seems to me that level 11 needs the first ability, but I must either be wrong or others are able to do this.
Can anybody else do the multi-rotate in one fall?
For those of you who reached the end with all 25 gems and can't figure out what to do...
Stand on the starting block of stage 25, then use your double jump and both you flip/turns in the air, then the mystery chip, all before landing.
peter - you might want to wait to get the red gem until you have more abilities for level 11 (this is one of the few levels for which I skipped the red gem initially).
The remote is easy to get to without multi-rotate ability.
beetlepatty - here's a video of how to get to the remote in Level 15:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_b6-Hzo824
Oh my gosh, thank you Jay, geeze, now I feel like an idiot, that was sooo easy.
Actually rather enjoyable, as you say
"Why re-invent the wheel when you can just put on some shiny new hubcaps and maybe a unicorn sticker or two?"
ooooh those unicorn stickers....
Um, I feel quite stupid for asking, but all I see is a black screen, that both IE and FF show. Help, please!
I've read the hints for level 18 and I can't even figure out how to get to the glass at the bottom, what am I missing?!?
Does anyone have a hint on how to get the gem in level 14?
Can you get the gem on level 14 without the next ability?
Stuck on getting the gem for 20 and getting out... I've gotten the remote and on to next level... I'm gonna try to get 24's chip to see if that will help... who knows...
Hi guys, could you give any more hints on level 19?
thanx a lot, nice game...
How do you finish this game? The mystery chip is used where?
can some one help me with lvl 8 i cant get anything on it
Same problem with level 8. Does this require some tricky maneuvering?
For level 19
First jump then turn clockwise two times and land on double glass. This is the point where you can reach both the gem and the remote. Get the gem first. After getting the remote, land on the floor which has a glass floor next to it. Then get a position that the deadly rocks are on top and lava on the bottom so you will be in line with the exit. Jump, turn through exit and turn again when you are on top of it.
Well, not a very successful description, I can post a video if needed.
Btw, can anyone tell me how to get the gem on level 22? Thanks.
How do you get past level 11 ive tried so many times but i cant do it, its very annoying please help
Is anyone else disappointed about the end result of collecting the red gems? What a waste of time that was...
This game is so good! I've made it to level 14 but I just can't do it ¬¬ Any help? Oh, level 11 is just tricky... you must go the other way, not the narrow thing you are trying to go through :D I noticed that after 20 tries :D
Kinda sad... but 20 has me stumped
How do you do level 10
Its such a pain!
nobody posted yet a sollution to the level 8. please help us
Please post a video for level 19! I've tried like 100,000 times and I still can't get it right.
Thank you everybody.
This game has been doing great, frontpaged at Newgrounds and Kongregate, selected as Flash Game Friday Winner at Mochiads. I am pretty sure we will create a sequel after some time.
Level 8:
- To get jump chip you must notice that you can rotate while falling from the edge.
- To get to remote, you must notice that you can rotate after a jump.
I've completed 24 levels and have gotten 23 gems but not even after hours of trying (and cursing) can I get the gem on level 20 and still make it to the portal. Can anyone help?
OK, I'm really stuck on 23. I've gotten the red gem on every other level and can't complete the last level without the last gem.
I can complete level 23, but I'm having a hard time getting the gem and getting out of the level. I've tried both going over the top by going up and across the bottom by going right and down. Either way I can get to the red gem, but then I'm stuck on where to go from there.
If someone who write a spoiler for that or post a vid, I'd appreciate it.
To beat the game don't worry about getting all of the red jewels until you have all of the special moves. You can't do it otherwise and you cant beat the game without all of the jewels. Once you have done all that go back to the last level (25), get the jewel and then the mystery box (the last resort move). You cant use it though until you have used your other moves and are about to die by falling into the wall. It will make sense when you get to it.
I managed to complete level 15 using a bug:
http://winfrith.multiply.com/photos/album/5/Game_bugs#1
Finally done with the whole game.
(for those who have all gems and are stuck on 25, use double jump and twin invert room then hit N and ur done, LAST resort u know:)..)
well was kind of a fun game, got addicted very fast and jus had to complete it.
4/5
For those who needs help about using the final chip:
You have to double jump and double flip before pressing N in mid-air
level 14 anyone?
I'm stuck on level 11, can someone do a walk through?
can't figure out lvl 8, assist, plz?
ARG!! This game won't load on my computer. I've tryed several sites and all I get is a lock in front of a yellow loading bar that loads but doesn't do anything!
i STILL can't get past level 8, it won't let me rotate while falling.
How do I get past level 10? I can get the remote, but can't get to the exit. Any clues?
I'm stuck on lv 8 how do you get the upgrade or the chip
Okay, for level 23, getting the red gem, drop to the first mirror, then fall/rotate to the second, then fall/rotate to/past the next mirror, and get the remote. then jump off to the right, and rotate , landing on the mirror where the gem is. Fall to collect the gem, mirror the room, then rotate onto the mirror to the left. Fall off, and rotate so you fall to the right, and rotate again to fall on that piece of rock. then jump/rotate to the glass above, fall to the next one, and rotate to land in the portal.
You cant (sort of spoiler)
rotate twice in a row, but if tou fall off a ledge, and then rotate, it works
i am stuck in level 14. i have activated the teleporter but cant reach it..plz help
It seems that the link to the game no longer has the actual game there, just a discussion of ooPixel's troubles with Apple. I Googled "Andrew the Droid" and it's available on other game sites.
[Thanks, ray9na, I've hosted the game and updated the links in the review. -Jay]
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