GGLOB

The best aspect of modern/”next gen” games is the improved physics… and the better AI… The two best aspects of modern/”next gen” games are the improved physics and better AI… and the Wii controller… The three best aspects of modern/”next gen” games and gameplay are the improved physics, better AI and the Wii controller… The improved graphics comes way down on my list. Well; that’s my two centimes anyway. (I have, of course, mentioned this before.) A game crossed my path the other day proving that especially physics have come a long way since Jumpman jr and can now stand on it’s own as a game. The game is called Armadillo Run and features hardly any fancy smancy graphics at all (the demo weighs in at just over one million bytes - the full game not much more) just lots of fun physics and gameplay.

In the old days we had the incredible “The Incredible Machine“. Not really featuring convincing physics of modern standards, but never the less physics based puzzles. Fun physics based puzzles. Armadillo Run is a game in the same genre. Geeky puzzlesolving, but built around a decent physics-engine. You find traces of more modern games like Bridge Construction Set and… maybe - if you look very closely - Gish?

The puzzles involve rolling an armadillo to a given warp zone on each level. To do that you have a certain budget to buy components like rubber bands, ropes, metallic bars and sheets, clots and rockets and connect everything together in a nice CAD-like environment. Before you start the simulation to see if your trusty armadillo reaches his warp zone you can assign timers and tension to components of your choice.

Fun.

I guess what I’m trying to say is; “Download the demo and see for yourself.” (Note: Although this is a windows game, it runs in Linux using the good old Wine. (Thank you [mag] for double checking this…))

• Update: A more detailed review (that unfortunatly gives away the solution to some of the levels of the full game).