Take one color-coded multipurpose vehicle, add a variety of shapes scattered all about, then throw in the ability to mess with gravity in just about every way possible. The result? Colour Bind, a brand new physics-based indie puzzle game from Finn Morgan. Controlling a simple little car (two wheels on a chasis, basically), you have the pleasure of working through dozens of levels as you flip switches and change gravity so you can reach the exit. Best of all, Colour Bind was built with old school sensibilities in mind, meaning you'll be rewarded for exploration and challenged with difficult levels from beginning to end. Hooray!

Using the four [arrow] keys, you'll utilize an array of simple commands that let you accomplish everything in Colour Bind. The [left] and [right] arrows spin the wheels and move you in that direction, while [up] enlarges your wheels (thus allowing rudimentary jumps) and [down] puts on the brakes. Getting the hang of moving about as early as possible is essential, as just a few levels in you'll have to put those maneuvering abilities to the test.

And now for the puzzles! Colour Bind makes extensive use of physics, especially when it comes to gravity, as well as color. Working in tandem, the game can do some pretty tricky things with these simple elements, like create different blocks that adhere to different laws of gravity simultaneously, make switches that move only a certain color, or even set up blocks that, when shifted, change gravity for the entire screen. These unique set-ups are what make Colour Bind really stand out as an engaging game, and beyond the simple drive to make it to the exit, you'll be insanely curious to beat each level just so you can see what oddities are thrown at you next.

Analysis: Colour Bind isn't the iOS game Colorbind from a few years ago, nor is it Colour Blind or even Color Bind. Now that that's out of the way, don't you feel better? We sure do! Jokes aside, the game's name is actually a very descriptive phrase for this particular release, as the colors of your car, the blocks, and certain other environmental factors are all bound to different rules, and it's those rules you'll try to manipulate to reach the goal. Don't mistake Colour Bind for "yet another" physics-based gravity puzzle game. Oh no. This one is creative, challenging, and filled with content to absorb.

Speaking of content, beyond Colour Bind's set of 50 single player levels, you'll also notice 20 co-op levels that allow you to play split screen with a friend on the same keyboard. Or, heck, play along with yourself if you're up for a mad challenge. There's also a level editor as well as the ability to play the creations of other Colour Bind players via Steamworks. So even if the included challenge isn't enough for you, there's always the possibility of making your own or nabbing a user-created level for the ultimate in punishing puzzle solving.

Colour Bind does gravity puzzles right, and it does them with a gleeful kind of creativity you don't often see in games these days. It's obvious a lot of attention went into making this game as engaging as possible, and when you start to uncover a few of the game's secrets (or, even, look through the options menu to see the color blind-friendly settings), you'll realize this was a labor of love.

Windows:
Get the full version (Steam)

Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.