Read now what Editorial Reviews
from Amazon.com and fan on the net tell about: The
Incredible Machine
Buy now The
Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions
Sierra
Attractions
(CD-ROM)
Windows
95 / 98
Price:
$29.99 |
This fantastic
program will have your brain working as hard as a mandrill on a conveyer
belt with bananas dangling in front of it. Don't worry, we'll explain.
The
Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions gives players dozens of
tools that perform an action: balls that bounce, cats that chase (and don't
bounce), pulleys, ropes, generators, and yes, mandrill baboons on conveyer
belts, bananas a-dangle in front of them. Then players are given a problem
to solve with all of this crazy energy. Here's an example: in one puzzle
called "Wood is Good," players must get three balls into a box, make wooden
toast, and wood-smoke a hunk of gouda cheese for a mouse. Among the tools
available to accomplish this task are a bike pump and an antigravity pad.
And this is one of the easy puzzles.
|
Click to buy now The
Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions
There are 250 gizmos to build here,
some designed for single players and some designed for head-to-head puzzling
competition. There is also a field where players can design their own Rube
Goldberg Machine from scratch. The vast amount of projects and their complexity
make this a program with staying power. Mercifully, there is a tutorial
that takes rookies and right-brainers in hand. Players can choose four
levels of difficulty: easy, which is quite challenging; to expert, which
is insane. Mitigating the challenge factor is a function that turns the
cursor into a question mark, and allows players to inspect gadget elements
and get in-depth information about what each object and surface does.
This game does a great job graphically.
The well-rendered objects all perform as they ought, and form never hinders
function. A thoughtful extra is a place where mad scientists can mess with
their invention's appearance and background music: nice final touches for
folks who want to take their custom-built games online to challenge others
who are addicted to The Incredible Machine. This program's biggest
strength is that it manages to put a humorous and creative spin on physics
and engineering. They're not just giving you levers and weights to work
with, they're giving you bottle rockets and alligators. A final wonderful
point: there is no "right way" to build your contraption. If you scrabble
something together that achieves the goal, it's right, no matter if you
used the antigravity pad on the cat or on the bowling ball. No age rating
given; we recommend ages 8 and up. --Anne Erickson
Click to buy now The
Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions
Fans on the net about
"The
Incredible Machine" the game of the game:
Welcome to the latest addition of
the award winning game "The Incredible Machine" series. Version (3.0)
is available for Windows 95 and Mac. Sierra has completely revamped the
graphics from the original incredible machine, added more game puzzle parts,
more challenging game puzzles but managed to leave the original idea intact
and just as much fun.
After registering each player's name
(the game automatically keeps track of each player's progress), you are
greeted by Professor Tim as he introduces you to each game puzzle and every
piece in the parts bin. This last option of the game allows you and
a friend to go at it trying to solve the same puzzle. Both of you
have a predetermined time under which each player of the game take turns
and each has only one chance to move a game puzzle part from the parts
bin or move a part that is already in the puzzle screen. Each of the puzzles
in this section is designed to be solved in many different ways, therefore,
you have to come up with the fastest solution. The player that solves the
game puzzle first wins (and is mentally superior to others).
Sierra's new installation engine
provided for a trouble-free installation under my Windows 95 operating
system. I was all set to play this puzzle game in no time. The autoload
option makes playing that convenient. The game graphics are in 256 colors
and animations run smoothly.
This game comes with over 150 game
puzzles to solve or (if that does not satisfy your appetite) you can build
your own. The homemade section allows you to create your own game puzzles.
The construction kit is a great improvement
from the previous incredible machine version and the walktrough tutorial
is very helpful. Nevertheless, it will take a little getting used to in
order to successfully build your first couple game puzzles. But once you
get the hang of it, there is almost nothing to stop you from creating the
monster puzzle of monster game puzzles.
When building your own puzzles, you
will have at your finger tips the complete arsenal of game puzzle parts
(all 113 of them) plus you can customize the background graphics and music.
Oh, the music. There are many nice music themes in this game that range
from classical pieces to body shaking Hispanic salsa (my favorite). The
music plays directly from the CD so you are not going to be disappointed
by its quality. There is plenty of digital speech in this game. Prof. Tim
is always eager to explain about the specific goals for each game puzzle,
the description of each part in the parts bin, game puzzle tutorials and
even hints to help you complete each game puzzle (of course you will not
need any hints, right ? ). There are, however, a few bugs with the digital
speech that may get annoying after playing the game for a extended period
of time. In my computer, Professor Tim's speech cuts off at odd times during
the game but especially when the game's music comes on. Sometimes the digital
speech may not work at all.
The Incredible Machine 3.0 contains
a comprehensive on-line manual that covers all the information needed to
play the game. For all those multilinguals out there, check this out, this
version supports the following languages: Italian, Spanish, German, French
and even English. However, the spoken messages and the on-line help are
all in English. Game puzzle solving is by no means an exact science. You
could solve most of the puzzles in a couple of different ways and you will
meet many interesting characters along the way. There is a funky looking
Mandrill motor (which replaces the monkey in the bike from the original
game), Newton the mouse (poor thing seems to always be on the run), Currie
the cat (drop a bowling ball on him and watch) and an alligator that likes
to eat little funny men that have weird names (How did Sierra come up with
a name like "Mel Schlemming" ?).
If you ever thought about giving
"The Incredible machine" series a chance then it is probably now or never.
But, if you bought the original "Incredible Machine" (and its sequel the
"More Incredible Machine") then I would suggest you find the way to your
nearest software store, pick this one up and get ready to demonstrate to
the world that your brain is a terrible thing to waste.
Click to buy now The
Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions
What you obtain:
-
Over 250 unique
and challenging "Contraptions" to solve, most with multiple solutions!
-
Create and
save your own game puzzles to share with friends.
-
Over 100 different
parts to mix and match.
-
Certain Programmable
Parts allow for truly custom game puzzles.
-
Accurate physics
models create realistic interactions between parts.
-
Change the
gravity and air pressure for each game "Contraption" to simulate
different worlds, or outer space.
-
Go head-to-head
with a friend in the two-player mode, and see who can solve the "Contraption"
first.
-
An in-depth
game tutorial teaches you about the parts, and how they work.
This game is a
construction environment hosted by a scientist character, Professor Tim.
The task of the game puzzles is to build a machine that performs a particular
action from a selection of items already on the screen and from a toolkit.
For example you might uses pulleys, levers, and rope to make a contraption
that moves a ball into a basket. There are several different ways to play
the game, which become increasingly open-ended: The Game Puzzle Play area
has 40 fairly circumscribed game puzzles and Head-to-Head has another 50
game puzzles you can play with a partner that are more open-ended. There
is also a Game Workshop where you can make your own game puzzles and a
Walk-Through that tells you how. You can select any area at any time.
This latest edition of Incredible
Machine contains 250 brand-new mind-bending Rube Goldberg-like puzzles.
Kids can create their own inventions using hilarious tools such as baboons
or soccer balls, or they can try to solve a series of puzzles that range
in challenge level from easy to incredibly difficult. The end result is
a wonderful mechanism for children to playfully experiment with some powerful
physics concepts such as gravity, timing, gear ratios, and more. Children's
Software Revue
This is a good, clean game that
will provide hours upon hours of entertainment. It has a lot of game puzzles
at various difficulty levels that make it fun for beginners and those looking
for a challenge. The game is very addicting, guaranteeing that you'll get
your money's worth out of it. An excellent way to exercise your brain and
have fun at the same time.
....
I chose this game as a Christmas
gift for my 11 year old daughter, after reading the reviews on Amazon.
This was the hottest gift in the household. My 19 year old son and 23 year
old daughter and her husband all enjoyed the game. Everything about this
game is well done. Good sound, graphics, variety, and appeal to various
ages. It provided many hours of family entertainment and was a vehicle
for building teamwork and self-esteem.
....
Every once in a while, a company
manages to release a simple puzzle solving or trivia based PC game that
hooks a dedicated fan base everywhere. The Incredible Machine series is
one of those titles. The Even More Contraptions edition comes with approximately
two hundred puzzles arranged in order of difficulty and an editor that
allows you to make your own contraptions.
....
If you're not familiar with the
Incredible Machine series, it's a layman mechanical engineer's dream. If
you've ever watched a movie with a stereotypical nutty professor that has
a contraption set up involving ten to twenty devices all reacting to each
other in a "domino chain" to complete one simple task you already have
an idea what the puzzles are like. In other words, a can opener with a
can of tuna causing a cat to move which pulls a string that starts a fan
which blows a wind chime that somehow turns on the TV. :D
That's how the puzzles are set up
but many of the key components are left out and provided to the gamer to
figure out how to get the device to work and complete the goals listed.
Many times your game solution is completely different from the given solution
and the game doesn't limit your creativity. Over a hundred different pieces
are including various gears, fire starting devices, animals, platforms,
floating mechanisms, etc. Only a few picked by the original programmer
are included in each puzzle but if you make your own puzzles you can pick
from any device in the game.
There are also various websites set
up by fans that allow you to download different creations. A fun game that
you can keep coming back to as you attempt to complete the many puzzles
provided.
I'm just wondering how the guy in
Michigan was able to review this game, seeing as it won't be released for
over a month yet. I figured I'd give it 5 stars based on potential. All
the other versions of The Incredible Machine have been very fun and addictive,
and the demo of this new version is fun, too. I plan on picking this one
up when it comes out, but until then customer reviews are sort of pointless
I guess.
Click to buy now The
Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions
Contraptions named Gamespot "Puzzle
Game of the Year"
"Return of the Incredible Machine:
Contraptions provides almost limitless entertainment for puzzle game fans
looking for more thinking than action. Its unique blend of invention, experimentation,
humor, and challenging puzzles makes it stand above all other puzzle games
this year.
The New
York Times
"Contraptions'
Hardest Puzzle: How to Stop!... So absorbing is this puzzle game, that
ruminations inspired by its more than 250 graphical conundrums have been
intruding regularly upon the real world. I don't mind... A series that
has lost none of its ability to charm and infuriate."
Game Power Review -- 3.5 of 4
Stars
"Among the most imaginative, truly satisfying,
and varied puzzle game designs ever for the PC or Mac, period."
Happy Puppy
Review - 8 out of 10
"This freestyle
gizmofest has something to offer kids of all ages -- even those really
big kids who actually remember both Lemmings and MacGyver."
Game Center.com
"Contraptions does repeat a few
of the puzzles from the previous title, but it vamps them up with improved
graphics, varied background music, and many new puzzles to piece together.
Be warned, however, that Contraptions is both addictive and time-consuming,
and it is quite easy to get caught up in a difficult puzzle. "
Just Adventure.com
Reviews Contraptions
"My advice?
If you like puzzle games and have not played any versions of TIM before,
by all means give Contraptions a try... And last but not least, this series
is really great for all ages, not just kids or adults. It has honed my
son's critical thinking abilities quite a bit.
Contraptions Reviewed by Access:
4 out of 4
"Aspiring inventors, builders and
tinkerers will delight in this puzzling computer game -- Return of the
Incredible Machine: Contraptions."
Family.com
Review
"... the ability
to create puzzles and contraptions that can be shared with others, and
a zany two-player mode that has kids testing their wits against a friend
or parent, and you have a winning title that everyone in the family will
love.
GamePower.com Bestows Contraptions
With #1 Honors
Contraptions Ranked #1 of TOP FOUR
2000 PUZZLE/BOARD/TRIVIA GAMES (PC only)
Adrenaline
Vault Review - 4 out of 5 stars
"Essentially,
you'll enjoy it if you're the slightest bit a puzzle fan, and if you're
looking to give the genre a try, well, now's the time. The Incredible Machine
is a truly classic series, and its latest Contraptions won't disappoint.
Kid Zone Review
"Addictive and a great mind-melter,
this program will drive you crazy trying to come up with solutions to some
of the puzzles. And that would be crazy in a good way. "
GameSpot
-- 8.1 out of 10
"Combines
the humor and nostalgia of Rube Goldberg cartoons into many hours of challenging
and fun puzzles... Return of the Incredible Machine will certainly appeal
to amateur inventors and players who are familiar with Rube Goldberg's
work, and anyone who appreciates good old-fashioned puzzles will find plenty
to enjoy in the game."
Gameraiders.com Contraptions Review
-- 85% Rating
"The Return of the Incredible Machine
is a truly inventive game. It is packed with challenging puzzles that are
very fun to solve. I found it so addictive, that I have already completed
half of the puzzles, and can’t wait to complete the other half. If you
like solving puzzles of any kind, you will absolutely love this game."
Houston
Chronicle Online
"With more
than 100 parts -- pulleys, motors, trampolines, balls, buckets -- plus
accurate physics, gravity and air pressure models, and multiple solutions
to most puzzles, this game has kept our family enthralled for hours at
a time."
Children's Software Review --
4.6 out of 5
"The graphics, sound effects and
overall quality are excellent. Your progress is automatically saved, and
the workshop gives you tools to create incredible puzzles. In addition
to being fun and engaging, the program would fulfill many school science
objectives dealing with mechanics. "
Adrenaline
Vault
"A fun pastime
that will keep you hooked and glued to the monitor... I guarantee you Contraptions
is well worth the investment. If you ever were fascinated by Rube Goldberg
inventions, felt like inventing something wacky just for the hell of it,
or like a real brain stretcher, then this title is worth checking out.
If Mr. Goldberg were alive today, he would definitely be proud of this
game."
Beta Bites.com
"Time to exersize a little brain
power in this sequel to the Sierra's Incredible Machine, Return of The
Incredible Machine: Contraptions. Contraptions now has over 250 puzzles,
and 50 puzzles where two players can compete. Beta Bites has a prview of
Return of The Incredible Machine: Contraptions along with 21 in-game screenshots
showing various puzzles. Return of The Incredible Machine: Contraptions
receives [my] YeeHaw!!! Award."
Click to buy now The
Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions
