The Quest For Nothingness
BY TERRY FERGUSSON
What is the sound of one hand clapping? If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there, is there a sound? Can you play Absolute Zero and win? Ponder these mysteries while you play one of the most frustrating puzzle games you'll ever see.
Follow the disk instructions to un-ARC the file ZERO_ARC.PRG from your back-up START disk onto a play disk. Make sure the files ZERO. PRG and ZERO.MBK are in the same directory, then double-click on ZERO.PRG. Absolute Zero runs on color systems only, and is not compatible with the STE.
The Object Of The Game
Alter you set the level of difficulty, the computer scrambles the playing
field by the number of moves you specified. It is your task to make all
the numbers identical. This will normally mean returning all the numbers
to zero, but you will win as long as all the numbers have the same value.
Every puzzle is guaranteed to he solvable; all you have to do is backtrack
the computer's scrambling moves. However, it is possible to win without
following the exact path backwards.
This is the Absolute Zero play field. It will take
you at least 100 moves to bring
all the numbers to absolute zero.
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Type: Requirements: Arcfile: Files: |
Absolute Zero
Puzzle game 512K, low rez, TOS 1.0-1.4 ZERO_ARC.PRG ZERO.MBK ZERO. PRG |
The Rules
You can click on any of the 25 squares that make up the hoard. Clicking
with the left mouse button adds one to the square and clicking the right
mouse button subtracts one. The irritating catch is, all the squares immediately
surrounding the square you click on will do the opposite. That is, if you
add one to a square. every square surrounding it will have one subtracted;
if you subtract one from a square, every square surrounding it will have
one added.
Start Simple
I suggest starting out with very small levels of difficulty (like one,
Perhaps?) and gradually building your skills. By clicking on ?? when you
set your level of difficulty, you are able to put in any number you wish.
I solve a 10, and find 25 a consistent challenge.
To win on the more difficult levels, this game requires absolute concentration and a deep understanding of spatial relationships and cause and effect. Or, of course, you can just click away madly until your fingers get sore, like mine. Ouch.
When he's not controlling the airspace around Winnipeg, Manitoba, Terry Fergusson enjoys using and programming his ST. This is his first appearance in START.