Crayon Physics Deluxe
Petri Purho has a real winner in Crayon Physics Deluxe, a captivating and engaging yet simple game using crayon drawing to complete simple puzzles.
Ratings:
Graphics & Audio: 22/25,
Gameplay: 25/25,
Creativity 25/25,
Fun 23/25
Total: 95/100
Crayon Physics takes the simple machine puzzle game to a new and interesting next step by using your cursor as a crayon to draw objects on the screen that interact with the computer drawn world. You have a simple puzzle to finish, move a ball on screen to hit a star somewhere else on the screen using the cursor to draw objects to complete the puzzle.
Gravity and physics play a key role in your solutions with some being simple and obvious while others are quite devious and puzzling. The game is such a simple one yet is so complex with varying solutions all being at the reach of your crayon that it is fun just to resolve puzzles as well as that initial victory solution.
You start off with some simple tutorials to get the hang of the game by drawing simple lines that create platforms and objects on screen. Drawing is done simply by pushing the left mouse button and moving the mouse while erasing is done by clicking the right mouse button.
You can move the ball on the computer by placing your cursor over the ball and pressing the mouse buttons to give the ball a nudge in the direction of the mouse button pushed. Simply push the left mouse button and the ball rolls to the left, give the ball a bridge to roll over using a crayon and you have created a way for the ball to get to the star across a divide.
If you want to reset the level simply press the space bar or if the ball is suspended in midair and/or drops off screen it will reappear where it started. You have not only missing areas to get your ball across but other objects in the way like tall shapes on pivots and even having to climb the ball up platforms.
You have other physics introduced using pivot points, rockets and strings so get your thinking cap on and try hard to remember that high school physics lesson. Crayon Physics does a great job at a puzzle adventure game and contains many created puzzles with more ready for download from fans who create their own using the level editor.
You can use the level editor to create your own puzzles as well as downloading others to solve yourself but the game comes with about 70 levels to begin with. There really is a lot here for anyone interested in puzzle games and these are not your complex and difficult to solve ones, all the answers are at your finger tips ready for you to get drawing.
The graphics are well made and give that perfect look of crayon on paper like when some of us were kids drawing on that flimsy paper they handed out for drawing in school. The physics also works well and looks realistic with a believable amount of variation and even gravity is believable.
Using pivot points and string is easy and works well so you have to use your mind and imagination to get some things solved as well as simple trial and error. Some of the puzzles are so easy once you figure things out but often the solution will be right in front of you only to elude you because you’re searching for too complex a solution.
Crayon Physics also has some very nice calming music playing in the background with a piano heavy sound that reminds me very much of songs played at nap time. The game is very well made and with the simple and easy graphics and well done musical accompaniment you have to give credit to the simplicity of the game.
Crayon Physics is a great game and a must have for any puzzle lover who likes things simple yet challenging enough to entertain for hours. The seventy levels will keep you engaged for hours and the downloadable content from the site will add plenty of value to the core game.
Crayon Physics Deluxe is one of those rare and excellent games that is sure to raise some eyebrows of casual and hardcore gamers alike.