Number Connect, the HTML5 puzzle game by Jaime TreSensa, has three rules. First, you don't talk about Number Connect. Second, you do not talk about... Wait, no. The first rule is that you must connect all pairs matching numbers by drawing paths between them using the mouse. The second rule is that paths may not intersect. The third rule is that every square on the board must have a number or a path in it. And, one supposes, there's the unwritten rule about how Number Connect is essentially NumberLink under a different name. No matter: until Conceptis Light comes out with their version and we can compare, this is a fine implementation of the concept, with 100 free puzzles of varying difficulties and more level packs available for purchase. Admittedly, Number Connect could probably stand to have a smaller play window, considering I had to zoom out a bit to play comfortably on my average-sized laptop screen. Still, those familiar with the puzzle will enjoy Number Connect, and if it's your first night at Number Connect... we it's not like it's a rule that you have to connect numbers, but maybe you should try it out!
> The third rule is that every square on the board must have a number or a path in it. And, one supposes, there's the unwritten rule about how Number Connect is essentially NumberLink under a different name.
Except that the third rule does not exist in Number Link. It is just a rule for the problem authors that the solution must use the whole board; if a problem admits a solution which does not use the whole board, it is not considered to be a well-designed problem in Number Link. This is very different from requiring the player to use the whole board.
I quickly gave up this one because it did not allow me to temporarily draw a line without connecting it to a number. Of course the game designer is free to choose an inconvenient user interface to raise the difficulty, but it is not to my taste.
This game is another version of the app Flow Free, though Flow just uses colors, and no numbers.
Good enough implementation, I played through about half of the free levels and decided I didn't need to do more.
I have to agree with fcp, this isn't exactly good puzzle design, and the inability to make placeholder markings makes it harder than it needs to be. I didn't even bother trying to get through the first puzzle before I realized this.
I found this to be a fairly decent game. The solution for each puzzle (might be more than one, but I'm not sure) seems to be fairly specific, and have a certain (for lack of a better term) "elegance", but a bit predictable as well.
The challenge for me with this one is figuring out which pair of numbers the designers are wanting you to "take the long way" around for. There seem to be a limited number of cases in each puzzle where that will help you out, and I haven't seen any yet (only a few levels in) where using the connections as "filler" (ala the old Snake game) will do you much good beyond filling 2 or 3 squares. I'm enjoying it from a "mathematical" perspective (if that makes any sense).
I agree that the mechanics could be better, but I'm finding it comfortably challenging as it is.
@fcp, @HeroForge: I'm able to draw multiple lines with only one end connected to a number. Does that help?
@CrankYanker: Thank you for trying to help, but I knew that. It does not help me because in my playing style of this game, I want to draw some lines at corners of the grid without connecting either end to a number. (I understand it can help some people, and just in case, I am not complaining. It is just a mismatch between the game designer’s preference and my preference.)
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