Pentomino

[Shining]

By my watch its sunday, which means happy easter!


And so finally, we are really glad to release the first co-production between HAL6128 (GFX) and me (code):


[attachimg=1]



Pentomino is a puzzle-game where you have to solve 464 different puzzles, split into:


32 easy puzzles where you'll have to place two token
216 medium puzzles with three token
216 hard puzzles where you'll have to place three token
Additionally during the fourth game-mode, you'll have to solve all 464 puzzles against the clock.


The first three modes start the puzzles randomized, the fourth-mode, the survival-mode, starts always with the same puzzle. The game consists of 15 different token.


Pentomino runs on every CPC, both Plus and also on the GX4000. Different image-types and a short manual are provided in the zip-archive, provided on my site.


The game is dedicated especially for my big son (6 years old) who is just beginning to play videogames and likes a board game like Pentomino.


You can read more informations and download the game on my site:


http://cpc.scifinet.org

[Neil79]

 

[00WReX]

I just had a chance to play this.

Very nice, and very slick looking.

Congratulations on another great release.

Thanks & Cheers,
Shane

[GUNHED]

This is super cool!

[HAL6128]

Hey, thanks for the feedback. Hope you have a lot of fun with it!
Also, packing all the stuff (lot of gfx, sprites, music, code, buffer) for a 64kb machine is technically pretty cool, isn't it?

[villain]

Just wanted to tell you that this also works for 7 years old big sons! 

Great game, cool gfx and fantastic music! Thanks!

[Shining]

So I'm hoping my Son will play this until he gets 7  .


(No chance, he loves Donkey Kong Country returns)

[andycadley]

One of those games I'd apparently overlooked. It's a nice solid puzzler and very well presented. Controls took a little while to get my head around (yeah, I could read the instructions but where's then challenge in that!  ) If there was anything I'd pick up on, it maybe could do with a little animation on rotating/flipping the pieces to make it easier to mentally get a grip on what happens, but that's a pretty minor point.


Now to have a try at some of the harder levels!

[Joseman]

Yes

My girlfriend and I played pentomino too

I didn't give any feedback, but this not means that the games arent played!!!!

[Puresox]

First Time I knew of this , will have a look

[Puresox]

Well Yes , Great production . Seriously

[arnoldemu]

This is same idea as "Cool Shapes" by "Electric Wolf".

http://www.electricwolf.co.uk/03-CoolShapes/CoolShapesIndex.html

I played Cool Shapes on the PC and enjoyed it so that is why I gave it a "like" when I saw your first post (I would have given two if I could because I also like this tyle of game). Sorry I've not had any time yet to play Pentomino and give feedback.

[Puresox]

I enjoyed doing the easy lot,lounging in the sun just now. Controls work pretty nice . If I were to be critical I would say the Grab function can throw you a little. But Really the game is enjoyable . Plenty of good design imo

[keith56]

I had a go at this yesterday, the music is excellent, and its really colorful.
The gameplay is addictive and fun too.. once you get used to the controls.

[Shining]

This is same idea as "Cool Shapes" by "Electric Wolf".

http://www.electricwolf.co.uk/03-CoolShapes/CoolShapesIndex.html

I played Cool Shapes on the PC and enjoyed it so that is why I gave it a "like" when I saw your first post (I would have given two if I could because I also like this tyle of game). Sorry I've not had any time yet to play Pentomino and give feedback.

Didn't know this game. Will take a look then.
After I did defence and saw my son (comes into school after summer holidays) struggling around with it but wanted to play, I thought about a little game less complex which he can handle. He has a Board Game calles Ubongo and Pentomino is kind of copying this one...

[Shining]

Yeah some of you mentioned the controls: I tried many things but was never completely satisfied with them. Problem was also that I wanted the game running on CPC and GX4000 which has only one extra Key.

[Puresox]

My thinking on the controls , and I don't know if this idea is flawed . I would prefer the grab feature as 'Press to grab and release ,it let goes' Rather than the grab lock ,triggered off/On with each subsequent press.

[arnoldemu]

I've just played it on easy. It was great fun. Really enjoyed it, and good to keep my brain working.

I didn't read the instructions at all

So on one of the levels I was thinking "this is impossible" then I found I could mirror the pieces. 
I played the gx4000 version on an emulator.

Controls are good. Easy to use. The hand changing to grab made it easy to understand, movement was easy.

Cool Shapes is similar in that you place pieces, but it's gameplay is a bit different. There are times for different medals (gold, silver, bronze) and you can't move pieces through/over each other.
This game is equally good.

If you had free memory (and I know you didn't), then a few things that would benefit for people who don't read the manual (these are really small things):
- show "press fire" on the main menu when it plays the music, so it's obvious that you can continue.
- when rotating/mirroring it would be good if there was an icon to show this was possible. So when you grab, there is an icon on the screen that shows left/right does rotation and up/down does mirror.

[Shining]

Nearly one year after releasing, 2018 seems a good start for Pentomino:


After the superb physical release from polyplay in january (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/news-events/pentomino-collector's-edition-at-polyplay/), the homebrew section from the current issue (2/2018) of the german Retro Gamer features my game.


Thanks,
Shining

[Quickie]

Excellent game!


Game is fun, addictive and very well executed (love the colourful gfx!!)
Thank you for programming such fine work and sharing it.

[00WReX]

Hello @Shining
I am just about to burn an EPROM of your great game and make a Plus/GX4000 cartridge.
I have found 2 different file sizes for the .cpr and am wondering if there was an update to the game ?

Both here
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Pentomino

and here
http://cpc.scifinet.org/index.php/2017/04/15/pentomino/

have the 256k .cpr

but the GX4000 conversion page has a 128k .cpr (and this one is the most recent file date).

http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Converted_GX4000_Software#P

Thanks,
Shane