Over 10 years ago, I used to play a game called Oxyd. It was a terrific puzzle game that involved rolling a marble though different maze-like levels and, essentially, playing the game "concentration". You pushed the marble against certain blocks and they revealed colored dots. These blocks came in pairs, and you needed to activate them in pairs. For instance, a level might have two pairs of these blocks -- 2 red and 2 blue blocks. You would need to push your marble against these blocks in either blue, blue, red, red or red, red, blue, blue sequence. If you activated a red, then hit a blue, the first red block you hit deactivated. It was much simpler than I'm describing it. It's just like the kid's card game "concentration", except you roll this marble around. The landscapes could be extremely challenging: various surfaces and hazards, reversed controls, objects to use, blocks to push around in the right way, etc.

It was a great and addictive game that proved that games can be great without fancy hardware effects or 3D.

Anyhow, I just found out that it has been ported to various linuxes, OS X as well as Windoze as a game called Enigma. This clone of Oxyd has over 500 levels! I am so happy to be able to play Oxyd again! I've tried to describe this game to people, but I've never been able to explain how cool it was.

Those of you who like puzzle/patience games might want check it out. Its freeware.

Jim

!!! Intensely cool! You have just ruined my productivity for the day!

I think I still have the original oxyd book and maybe even 3.5" floppy disk around here... somewhere...

Edit: For anyone not familiar with it, think about a cross between Marble Madness and Sokoban...

DAMN! You have ruined my productivity in the office. Yesterday I spent the entire day trying to get my stupid office Pentium 2 class machine to give enough processor speed to not lock the game. You have ruined my productivity at home, where I wandered many of the levels.

Thank you!!!

I'm glad you liked it! I was thrilled to see this version of the game. Some of these levels are extremely difficult. Did you notice that there are multiple "Level Packs", each with about 100 levels?

J

Paul, did you solve "Floppy Swap"? I can't figure out the little door that slams shut on you when you go through it (lower left door). I can't just save those 2 blocks for last because they aren't the same color... Do you remember this one?

Oh, nevermind. It was a bad level design. I kept trying until the last to blocks were the same color. I hope that isn't common. The original Oxyd had really expertly designed levels. I can't remember any of them being unsolvable -- just difficult. Have you run into any unsolvable levels, Paul?

Greetings!

Hmmm... No. Nothing that can't be solved. Floppy Swap is not that hard, but you have to find the magic wand. Where are you getting stuck? If it is at the one-way block, make sure the magic wand is in hand and try to go through anyway...

I know there are tons of levels to download. I am currently messing around with level 21... This looks really nasty, and I haven't figured it out yet.

Dredging up an older thread to curse you! Damn! DAMN! DAMN! Yes, this game is as addictive as I remember. Yes, there are tons of levels, extra level packs and ways you can edit levels if you try hard enough. Yes, some of the levels are almost IMPOSSIBLE!!! Grrr....

Thanks again!

Thanks! I *love* to be cursed for something like that! I should dig up Tony's old post to curse him for getting me *serious* about Hold 'Em...

Jim