Personal Compuer Games
1st August 1984
Author: RAW
Publisher: Tansoft
Machine: Oric 48K
Published in Personal Computer Games #9
Nowotnik Puzzle
Not being one who particularly enjoys solving puzzles, I was loathe to receive a program to review that claims to be a 'sort of Rubik's cube'. Gradually, my opinion changed, so that now I think Nowotnik Puzzle is the best puzzle game available for the Oric - and I even like playing it!
Several screens of instructions are thoughtfully supplied; although the puzzle itself is relatively simple to follow and understand after a few games. You must arrange a randomly mixed grid of squares into four separate squares, each consisting of segments of a single colour.
There are five levels of difficulty, which determine the degree of fragmentation of the shape. When I first saw the easiest level, with 16 squares of various colours, I thought it was a pushover - it wasn't; but you should see the hardest level - it's impossible (well, nearly!)
In the top right-hand corner, there is a miniature reminder of what the final product of your efforts should look like. You use the numerical keys 1 to 8 to move the fragments about. The arrows by the numbers on the screen indicate which way the grid moves when you press that number.The motion of shuffling the square is particularly good - fast and smooth. Sound is only mediocre, but that isn't a fault as sound isn't essential for this kind of program.
If you haven't the time or patience required to solve puzzles like this, you won't think this program is such a good buy. But if you enjoyed Rubik's cube, you'll probably love this.
