Tricone Lab

Tricone Lab is a unique, "pure" puzzle game by a "microscopic indie developer". Pick it up if you are looking for an original puzzler to challenge your mind in new ways. The "pure" refers to the focus on the puzzles. There is no story. There is a sort of biochemistry theme, but aside from the visual aesthetic, there's not any "actual" biochemistry going on here (so don't worry if that wasn't your favorite school subject). The visual "biochemistry" presentation is quite nice, unique, and carefully crafted (surely no small feat to program). The gameplay is a sort of turn based resource management. The game is split into maps, which are split into several single screen levels. For each level, you must figure out how to get from the initial configuration to one satisfying the level requirement (producing some amount of tricone). Although the puzzle mechanics are turn based in essence, the presentation is not static. The pieces you can interact with float freely inside of cell structures in real time. You interact with them by clicking and dragging - which does convey a sort of feeling of playing with microorganisms. The mechanics are elegant, logical, well designed, and clearly introduced. There are three basic categories of pieces you can interact with: resources, catalysts, and compounds. Drag resources onto catalyst receptors to generate compounds. Compound pieces can be activated to manipulate the cells or other pieces. I'm not aware of any other games quite like this, although it reminded me vaguely of working out chess puzzles. The mechanics are of course quite different, but there is similarity in satisfying a goal condition from a starting position using a set of pieces via a sequence of moves. Like other resource management games, as well chess problems, the process is primarily deductive, but trial and error can sometimes be used as a crutch to a limited degree. The mechanics of tricone lab are quite clever, though, and require a higher degree of "lateral thinking" than most resource management games. I am quite pleased at how tricone lab made me think in new ways ("lateral thinking"). This is very valuable to me in a game. I did find myself getting stuck on some levels a few times, but I moved on to other levels or took breaks, and eventually was able to get through all of the standard levels on my own, and felt quite good about that. Having the achievements to commemorate that is nice too ;) The play time through the standard levels is roughly 10 hours, but will vary quite a bit up or down depending on how readily you pick up the mechanics. The game includes a good level editor, and thus hopefully there will be quite a few more levels to play later on (there are already a few user maps that are quite decent). There are a few rare glitches (and a common one), but none are gamebreaking - just a bit annoying sometimes. Hopefully these will be fixed eventually, but they hardly alter my positive opinion of the game at this point. While technically still in Early Access, the game is complete and the difficulty is quite well tuned at this point. If interested and price not a factor, there is no reason to delay. Disclosure: I received a free copy expressly without any obligations.

Tricone Lab is a puzzle logic game where your goal is to move elements and finally build a tricone. For this you should combine 3 different colors. The whole game plays in a microscopic organism. The game has a very interesting gameplay mechanism. You are changing the cell structure, breaking down cells etc, doing anything to reach your goal. The most useful thing in game is your logic, as the game requires some thinking from the start, and then new and new things needs to be used to solve the levels. It will force you learn to think in a more and more strategic way, it will get gradually harder as you learn the new features. The game have a minimalistic style. The game also features a level editor, so we can create our own levels and share it with the community, and of course you can play community created levels as well. So my verdict +a lot of levels +level creator +community shared levels +interesting gameplay and concept +simple and clear design +steam achievements -if you don’t like thinking after some levels can be frustrating for you So this is interesting puzzle game with unusual concept. If you like puzzle games, thinking and want to develop your strategic thinking and patience then it's a great game for you. 8/10

[h1] A Lateral-Thinking Puzzler for people who like to think outside the box.[/h1] Tricone Lab performs a fairly substantial technical challenge in the floating interface. Then, there is the geographical challenge of matching math to shape and space, in puzzles crafted by hand. [b]Geometric Interface/Graphics[/b] Most puzzle games are on a grid, which is much easier to program. But, Tricone Lab’s cells are floating, amoeba-like structures that gradually change shape while you play. As you pull and drag lines, and the nodes interact with one another, it looks like drawing with a pencil. These long projections can become quite comical when structures called “anticatalysts” start grabbing the nodes you needed to complete the puzzle. Some cells have positive or negative charges, and that may break down larger units you have constructed, all in all causing you to laugh, or cry depending on the difficulty of the map. It certainly brings to mind Dante’s various levels of paradise, purgatory, and hell, all in one game. [b]Gameplay: [/b] The interface looks like a cell body floating in space. Within the cellular bodies are nodes, or individual puzzle pieces that work in very specific ways. These pieces have functions; as in movement, transport or carry, cloning, charge (+-), breaking cell walls, and slightly larger templates. The templates are to be pieced together with correct nodes to form more powerful tools. A standard level starts out with a variety of these nodes subdivided in different compartments of a cell. Somewhere in there are colored cones and a Tricone template. The goal is to connect one of each of 3 color cones to a template and form a “Tricone.” All of the other pieces are to help you get the cones together with the tricone template. The parts are constructed using formulas that are available by simply pressing the “Describe” button when any node is selected. The formulas are not only visible at all times, but they are rarely complex. The complexity is more an aspect of the number of nodes, and the number of node functions. The game has 23 maps. Each map has from 3 to 5 levels, making a total of 100 levels. The menu places the maps in alphabetical order at the moment, but that will probably be changed, because 4 of them are labeled as demo maps. It is best to pick these out to play first, as they are like tutorials, and are out of order: Balance, Breakers, BreakerMaker, and Tricone. The most difficult maps are all at the end, and are locked until completion of all the previous maps. [b]Math & Logic[/b] Within maps, the levels progress in difficulty, but most are solved quickly. In the locked levels, the “boss level” for each map is often difficult and may be quite time-consuming to complete. They require higher-order thinking skills, and you must first analyze, then synthesize to complete those locked levels. My (adult) son became absorbed in the game over my shoulder and ended up downloading the game himself. He’s progressed much faster through the levels than I have, even though I spent many hours in-game while he was at work, just trying to keep up with him. [b]Narrative: [/b] The puzzles are wrapped in the narrative shell of a human cell. Without a written story, you are left to picture and experience the puzzles as if you were inside a cell performing the functions of cells. It becomes almost a metaphor for cellular biology. You basically have a math game inside a science game. I honestly see no cons to this game. “It’s all good.” [b]Pros: [/b] + All of the puzzles are hand-crafted (no randomly computer generated levels) + The game includes a level editor for sharing your own maps & levels in the workshop + Higher Order Thinking skills are demanded to complete the more challenging levels. + Challenging for all ages + One man developer is active in the community and responds to screenshots, workshop levels, and will accept feedback. [b]Cons: [/b] - Tricone Lab is still in early access and may change over time. [h1]I recommend this game for those who enjoy spatial math puzzles. [/h1] As of now, I’ve finished 85/100 levels, lacking mostly the boss levels for the last few now unlocked maps. These will take me quite a bit longer, though some gamers could probably complete this game within 9-12 hours. With the “Paparazzi” map I’ve submitted to the workshop, & the user levels I’ve downloaded, I’ve already spent 25 hours in this fun & challenging puzzler. I’m sure I will spend another 25, so the game is definitely a fun use of time and I would rate it a 9/10 in the Puzzle genre.

Disclaimer: I was given a key for this game by the developer. It was expressly not in return for any consideration other than general non-review feedback. But since I've enjoyed it, here we are. Tricone Lab is an untimed puzzle game. The setting is a view of stylized cellular level organisms, presumably looking through a microscope in a biochemistry lab. In each level, the object is to produce a specified quantity (generally 1-3) of a "molecule" called Tricone. This is done by moving red, blue, and green cone objects into the same cell as a catalyst object. There are many other objects that can make this process easier or harder. There are objects to break cell walls, to make new walls, to transport objects through walls, components to make other objects, to break things down into components, etc. So each level is about using the resources you have available to get the right quantity of cones through the present cells to a catalyst. I find the puzzles to be quite well designed. If I had to pick a game to compare the mechanics to, it's probably Divide by Sheep. Both have a fixed quantity of resources that you have to carefully maneuver around the level to get them where they need to go. And both are very solid games. Don't be concerned by the Early Access tag. While still technically a beta, this is a polished, fully working product. The core levels are already done, with possibly some slight future changes to get the learning / difficulty curve right. And with a level editor, the developer is also hoping to build up some user submitted levels. But in my opinion, the Early Access designation could be removed today and the game would be fine. Story: You're making a molecule called Tricone from cells. Presumably in a lab. That's it and that's fine. It's a puzzle game, not a visual novel, adventure game, or grand rpg. Visuals: Minimal 2D, but fitting the game. Cell walls are black with grey, black, and white backgrounds and resources. The exceptions are the cones and Tricone, which makes them stand out as the main objectives. The cell walls are a bit squirmy to sell the concept. Sound: Also minimal but fitting. It's just a few short bits of music and sounds that sound unobtrusive and vaguely scienceish. Feel free to play your own music. Length: I'm currently at 6.5 hours, about 85% through the stock levels. The remainder will probably be slower, and I suspect I've been faster paced than most will be to this point. There are also a couple of sets of user created levels available now, with more presumably being added over time. And you could choose to create levels. Update: I finished the stock levels (and got all of the current achievements) in 9 hours. It sounds like that may be on the quick side. Difficulty: Challenging, but I've never been really stuck at any point yet. So in a nice spot for me. Others milage may easily vary. Achievements: Straightforward, simply for completing each set of stock levels. 100% the stock levels and you'll get all of them. Possibly subject to change as it is Early Access, but the end result should be fair and reasonable. TL:DR: I like it and recommend it. If you like puzzle games with a solid but not overwhelming challenge this is a good choice.

Published by: Partickhill Games Limited Developed by: Partickhill Games Limited Genre: Puzzle Release Date: November 13, 2015 Time to complete: 10+ hours* *Based on statistics from dev; 10 hours average completion time, 6 hours for those good at puzzles and 30 hours average maximum for the [u]base game.[/u] You are also able to make your own puzzles and download levels that other players have made. [h1]Introduction[/h1] Tricone Lab is a minimalist puzzle game where you create tricone molecules within a cell structure by bringing 3 coloured cones together with a tricone catalyst. [h1]Gameplay[/h1] Breakers and catalysts and cones (oh my!). Tricone Lab exceeded my expectations. I opened up the game hoping to kill an hour or so with a few puzzles, and couldn’t turn the damn thing off! It’s challenging but also rewarding when you finally crack a puzzle you’ve been stuck on for a while. There are 23 maps with 100 puzzles in total, each level having varying difficulty. In the earlier stage of the maps, the puzzles are pretty straightforward, being more about the basic understanding of how to use the different components within the cell. As you proceed, more resources are introduced, and you really have to think to work out the specific sequence that must be used. After completing some maps you unlock ‘keys’, which enable you to unlock the harder maps that contain the same new resources as the map you just completed. Though the base game is amazing as it is, there’s also the ability to download maps that other players have created, and even create your own (I really like that this option is available). [h1]Difficulty & Challenge[/h1] I’m by no means an avid puzzler, but I do enjoy the odd brain teaser once in a while. The maps are pretty straightforward; once you grasp the concept of how to use all the resources, you’ll probably find that it really is very simple. When there are multiple components within the cell to use, it can be pretty challenging to work out the sequence (there is however the option to skip puzzles if you’re finding them too difficult). I found that in the puzzles I was really stuck on, it was just a matter of looking at them in a different way; thinking ‘outside the box’ so to speak. [h1]Replay Value[/h1] In terms of the base game, I don’t think there’s any real replay value; once you’ve completed the puzzles and know how they work, there’s no point playing them again. This is mainly because each puzzle has only the one solution. Once the sequence has been worked out, it will lose it’s challenge the next time you play it. Despite this, you can still download maps that other players have made (as I mentioned earlier), so you can always check back and see if there are new puzzles to crack! [h1]Achievements[/h1] The achievements can be obtained through completing the maps and also gaining the keys (essentially learning how to use a new resource). [h1]Overall Verdict[/h1] Tricone Lab is seriously well made. I was never really interested in minimalist games, but this one is just fantastic. It’s addictive, deceptively simple and a great way to either binge play (which I’m totally guilty of) or just do a puzzle or two here and there. It’s pretty decently priced honestly, and for what you get I couldn’t recommend it more. [h1]Overall Score: 9/10[/h1]

[h1]A Puzzle Game[/h1] https://youtu.be/3SyfgNHbjvU + Gameplay is unique and pretty interesting. You are interacting with a microscopic organism, creating molecules by combining resources to make various things like bombs to break down walls and form "Tricones" to complete the level. + The puzzles get pretty challenging later on as new mechanics are added. + A lot of content 100+ puzzles and a map editor - Visually the game looks rather primitive and a bit dull consisting mostly of grey. This is just an opinion of course, but just looking at the screenshots on the store page, it almost looks like blobs made in MS Paint.

Imagine for a minute, you have the ability to shrink down to a microscopic form, enter a microscopic space ship and enter the body of a sick person.. While inside the sick person hi-jinx's ensue as you travel around fighting mysterious illnesses.. You eradicate the illnesses one by one, and eventually save the man's life. You exist their body via a sneeze and manage to be made your rightful size again. You've not only gained the acceptance of the man you saved but you get to lay with his sister.. I'm not talking about the movie innerspace with Dennis Quaid (prior to getting old and becoming a drunk,,, ok I don't know Dennis Quaid is a drunk, I think I was talking about his brother Randy Quaid) and Martin Short... (Has somehow managed to maintain a career after his stint on Saturday Night Live, not to be confused with Jon Lovitz, who failed to have a long career and was last known as the man who was mistakenly identified as being deceased, when he was actually still alive)... Where was I at again? Oh yes the game Tricone Labs, a unique Puzzle game, designed with the thought of allowing you to interact with a microscopic organism.. Nothing says amazing game like manipulating orgasmism, (intentional misspelling. the answer is YES!!!) This game has a very simplistic style, you solve puzzles by completing the Triforce.. (Zelda reference, will probably fly over the heads of many PC gamers.. since we've never been blessed with a zelda game..). The gameplay is simplistic but the puzzles aren't, even the most accomplished puzzle game player will be baffled, and find hours and hours of challenge. The game will require you to use your mental prowess to get through stages, the increasing difficulty was a breath of fresh air, I was quite thankful that my hand wasn't held the entire way through. [b]Pro's[/b] Challenging Simplistic game play, Decent length to fully finish the puzzles Level Editor [b]Con's[/b] a bit repetitive music can be a bit annoying achievements seem to be broken (didn't unlock for me..) [b]Overview[/b] This is a must have for puzzle game lovers, if you enjoy sitting down, and using your mind to analyze and figure out a puzzle you'll love it, it will challenge even the most seasoned puzzle game enthusiast. If you can't sit still for 5 minutes, or like my cousin Vilo have ADHD or, if you're idea of a good video game is an FPS shooter, fist pumping, and saying woo, woo woo, this game probably won't be for you. If you suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder, you may very well find this game amazing. It'll give you something to compulsively obsess over.. I'd suggest picking it up, playing it, beating it, and donning some underwear on your head, a white twin throw sheet around your neck, picking up a plastic sword and calling yourself Louis, because you'll fell like Louis Skolnick when he mounted Betty in the classic movie Revenge of the nerds.. NO playing this game doesn't make you a nerd, but gosh darn it, everyone knows Louis ascended from his nerdom, the moment he bedded Betty...

I've put a lot of effort into this game in order to give the most honest feedback I possibly could to the developer who gifted me a key, so it is pretty lengthy, but hopefully it is helpful. Tricone Lab is a game that succeeds brilliantly at what it sets out to accomplish, and that is to deliver a large number of unique puzzles in a way that the player hasn't seen before. The puzzle mechanics are unique, and although there are 100 levels, the first 20 or so are basically tutorial levels. On top of that, the game has a level editor so that players can create their own puzzles and share them with each other. With this foundation, you will definitely get bored of the game long before you ever solve all of the puzzles out there. The game also does a good job of adhering to it's organic chemistry theme, both visually and fundamentally. Additionally, the game draws very little wattage and can be played with just a mouse, making it good for study breaks and play on laptops without charging. I've actually put in most of my play time on the road rather than in my living room. This all sounds good, but the greatest criticism I can give the game is that the puzzles generally aren't fun. They are unique and plentiful, but this isn't enough to make them fun (at least for me). Ultimately they fail to deliver the "ah-ha" moments that define the puzzle genre because the puzzles - even the most challenging ones - never succeed in challenging the player's perspective. Solving puzzles is a matter of bookkeeping and mental RAM. The developer's approach to increasing the difficulty of puzzles is to just add more steps and more components to the puzzle. The hardest puzzles I have come across are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ on my screen and it takes several minutes of staring just to recognize all of the components involved. When I finally solved some of the hardest puzzles in the game, it wasn't because I finally stumbled across the crux of the puzzle or had some epiphany of how to approach the problem, but rather it was just a matter of finally finishing the mental processing all of the steps that were required to do. There are a few rare gems that break this mold, like the level "BalanceMix" in "ConstructConfuse". Unfortunately, after much playing, they seem few and far between. For this reason, Tricone Lab feels more like a sudoku book or daily crossword puzzle, which is fine. If you are the kind of person that enjoys these kinds of puzzles (and I know there are many who do, which is great!), then I highly recommend Tricone Lab. For me however, the experience of playing the game comes across as mundane and I wouldn't say I got $10 worth out of the game. The only reason I even played so far into the game was because I was gifted a key and wanted to make sure I experienced basically the entire product before committing myself to this judgment.

Tricone lab is a puzzle game in which the goal is to connect three different colored cones into one tricone via a catalyst. Simply connect the pieces and you're done! Well, there are obstacles that make this a bit more difficult and tools you can use to circumvent them. The cell walls, borders, require [b]carriers[/b] to carry each cone over or [b]breakers[/b] to destroy the walls. These in term require their own parts to be connected to their own respected constructor catalysts and built before you can use them. There are more of these gadgets you can use, all of course after you build them, if there are enough resources floating around for that given puzzle of course. Gameplay is well thought out and features an indirect approach to puzzle solving, requiring the player to gradually build up to the solution and crack the puzzle. Such a design choice equates to very satisfying and addictive puzzle solving. Everything in the game is well presented to the player in a non obvious tutorial style so the player is familiar with every mechanic. Every map beaten awards the player with a key (and an achievement) representing their understanding of that mechanic. These keys are then in term used to access certain maps thus ensuring one can't play any puzzles using mechanics one does not understand. Technically, the game runs fine and is without any performance issues. I did not run into any bugs. There is an easy to use level editor available and community designed puzzles can easily be downloaded and played. Artistically I did get tired of the grey and white color scheme quickly but for a one man dev team to accomplish such a well polished product, I can not complain. Took me 7 hours to beat the included 100 levels. This is a hardcore puzzle game. Unique in every way, no story and no nonsense. The gameplay is fun, a bit addicting and the levels are very well designed. Can't go wrong with this one.

Vorweg: Ich habe den Key kostenlos erhalten von dem sehr netten Programmierer. Dies beinflusst aber meine Meinung über das Spiel nicht. Jetzt zum Review: Ein sehr gutes Knobelspiel, in dem man Zellen mit jeweils drei verschiedenartigen Kegeln erzeugen muss. Hört sich einfach an, ist es aber nicht. Wenn man erst einmal die Grund-Basics verstanden hat, kann man sich kaum noch von diesem Spiel lösen. Die ersten Levels sind noch recht einfach und lassen einen denken, dass es ein einfaches Puzzle-Game ist. Doch weit gefehlt: Es wird schon nach kurzer Zeit bedeutend schwerer. Leute, die oft Puzzle-Games spielen, sind auf jeden Fall klar im Vorteil. Ich gehöre nicht dazu, da ich eher Action-Spiele oder Platformer mag. Aber dieses Spiel bietet eine gelungene Abwechslung. Wie gesagt, für Knobelspieler ein absoltues Muss. Für Leute, die wenig Knobeln, kann es sehr schnell zur frustigen Angelegenheit werden. Daher von mir trotzdem eine Empfehlung auch wenn es nicht mein Lieblingsgenre ist.