DeZmond
Junior Administrator
Armadillo Run
A review
By DeZmond
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It's not a basketball. It's an armadillo. Honest. Don't look at me like that, it really is! It's just... a multi-dimensional armadillo. Really.
Well, whether or not you think it's a weird creature or a sporting object, it's still the centre of this slightly mad game. Armadillo Run, named after the ARMADILLO on which the game is based, is one of a new breed of games stemming from software development companies started in the bedroom, not unlike Introversion software (of Uplink, Darwinia and Defcon fame).
Okay says you, the experienced, jaded, savvy gamer. But what makes this game different? What makes it worthy of my time? The answer is simple: it's wholesome, pure physics based fun.
The object of the game is to help our unfortunately rotund armadillo friend to get back to his home dimension, using all manner of realistic physics based materials to guide him to the portal.
That deceptively simple concept is something that ends up riviting you to your screen for hours on end, trying to work out the best way to catch a catapulted armadillo within your modest budget.
There are a lot of complications, however. Your choice of material is important, as each material has completely different properties. Cloth, for example, is cheaper than metal, but it's a lot more flexible unless you start playing with the tension, something that has other complications to contend with, not least the possibility of the cloth snapping and the cost of adjusting tension.
Another factor to consider is the support of the structures you build. Have a huge metal structure without support and you'll watch as it all suddenly and utterly collapses into a pile of, well, metal and squashed armadillo.
The game ships with 10 tutorial levels and 50 actual levels, as well as some extra levels that can be unlocked with enough building skill. You also get a level editor to make your own, and can save these and distribute these to other Armadillo Run owners. You can also save your solutions to levels and also view other solutions to levels - with the most complex levels it is nothing short of mesmerising to watch a huge structure realistically interact to move the armadillo - a bit like an idealist's Mouse Trap, but without the fumbling with plastic figures.
Okay, aside from the game itself you can factor in the bargain price of £9.99 (or $19.99), the fact you can generate unlimited registration keys to use on multiple PCs - and you don't even need the internet on the install machine to register, although you will need some form of access to generate the required registration key.
Then you can consider it's low system requirements - even on integrated graphics, it runs very well in full detail and 1024x768. The stated processor requirement is 500mhz, although I would personally place that at PIII/ Athlon level for fluent speeds.
All in all, I can only recommend you try the demo and if you like it buy this game - it's nothing short of amazing and I can almost guarantee you'll be hooked.
Rating: 9/10
The game may be found at: www.armadillorun.com
A review
By DeZmond
It's not a basketball. It's an armadillo. Honest. Don't look at me like that, it really is! It's just... a multi-dimensional armadillo. Really.
Well, whether or not you think it's a weird creature or a sporting object, it's still the centre of this slightly mad game. Armadillo Run, named after the ARMADILLO on which the game is based, is one of a new breed of games stemming from software development companies started in the bedroom, not unlike Introversion software (of Uplink, Darwinia and Defcon fame).
Okay says you, the experienced, jaded, savvy gamer. But what makes this game different? What makes it worthy of my time? The answer is simple: it's wholesome, pure physics based fun.
The object of the game is to help our unfortunately rotund armadillo friend to get back to his home dimension, using all manner of realistic physics based materials to guide him to the portal.
That deceptively simple concept is something that ends up riviting you to your screen for hours on end, trying to work out the best way to catch a catapulted armadillo within your modest budget.
There are a lot of complications, however. Your choice of material is important, as each material has completely different properties. Cloth, for example, is cheaper than metal, but it's a lot more flexible unless you start playing with the tension, something that has other complications to contend with, not least the possibility of the cloth snapping and the cost of adjusting tension.
Another factor to consider is the support of the structures you build. Have a huge metal structure without support and you'll watch as it all suddenly and utterly collapses into a pile of, well, metal and squashed armadillo.
The game ships with 10 tutorial levels and 50 actual levels, as well as some extra levels that can be unlocked with enough building skill. You also get a level editor to make your own, and can save these and distribute these to other Armadillo Run owners. You can also save your solutions to levels and also view other solutions to levels - with the most complex levels it is nothing short of mesmerising to watch a huge structure realistically interact to move the armadillo - a bit like an idealist's Mouse Trap, but without the fumbling with plastic figures.
Okay, aside from the game itself you can factor in the bargain price of £9.99 (or $19.99), the fact you can generate unlimited registration keys to use on multiple PCs - and you don't even need the internet on the install machine to register, although you will need some form of access to generate the required registration key.
Then you can consider it's low system requirements - even on integrated graphics, it runs very well in full detail and 1024x768. The stated processor requirement is 500mhz, although I would personally place that at PIII/ Athlon level for fluent speeds.
All in all, I can only recommend you try the demo and if you like it buy this game - it's nothing short of amazing and I can almost guarantee you'll be hooked.
Rating: 9/10
The game may be found at: www.armadillorun.com