Numpty Physics is a free, multiplatform physics game where the user has to draw objects that interact with the game environment in order to solve puzzles.
This game is very similar to Crayon Physics, which was previously mentioned on this blog. It consists of a number of hand-drawn levels where the objective is always the same: to get a ball to move to a goal area marked by a star.
The way to do this is to create other objects that interact with the ball and with and the game environment; you could, for example, draw a circular “rock” high up near the upper edge of the screen such that it will pick up velocity on its way down and create a more forceful impact than if you had placed it on a lower altitude.
You could also add, say, a triangular ramp underneath to divert it to the direction where you want it to go. Moreover, you will on occasion find circles in the environment that you could attach strings to in order to “swing” an object on the other side, etc.
Here are more notes on this game:
- How to play: draw objects with the mouse. You can “freeze” all objects using space or enter to pause the game while you complete all the drawing that you want to do, and then unpause/activate everything at once when you’re done. Press Esc to delete the last drawn object. Strangely, it doesn’t seem possibly to erase drawings made two steps ago without also erasing the one (or more) steps made since.
- Other controls: Press “R” to reset. “E” will allow you to edit levels, while “N” and “P” will scroll through the available levels. Go to this page for more controls.
- Levels: once you finish a level, a small window will appear that will give the option to play the next level or scroll through the other available levels. There is no “save” option, as anyway all levels are always accessible.
- New levels: you can edit/save and share levels, or go here to download more user-created levels.
- More than one way to skin a cat: what I like about this sort of game is that there are many ways to complete a level. If the obvious route isn’t quite working it is very possible to do something completely different.
The verdict: I must admit I love physics games (check out this one, for example), and I love the no frills, bare-bones simplicity of this sort of casual game. I would have liked the option to “erase” drawings or parts of drawings that I made without having to undo entire interventions though. Nonetheless a very nice game overall.
Version tested: 0.2
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, OpenSolaris, Windows Mobile, and others.
Go to the Numptyphysics Windows port page to download the latest version (approx 784K). For other OS’s go to the Numpty Physics home page.
