Freeware Game Pick: (Don't) Save The Princess (Shen Games)
(Don't) Save The Princess reminds me a lot of one of my favourite childhood games Chu Chu Rocket, and that's definitely not a bad thing.
You've captured the princess and now the knight must be thwarted in his attempt to save her. This, of course, involves placing arrow blocks all over the screen in an attempt to fling him around, eventually landing in the jaws of your pet monster. When the knight touches the force coming from a placed block, he will speed off in that direction. Stringing together the right path is the key.
The knight will also smash through any arrow block which he has already used before - another idea used by Chu Chu Rocket. While the game begins rather strangely, it does become quite compelling to play. It never really gets difficult and can be whizzed through in a good half an hour, but it's worth a play.
There's also a level editor with the option to save your puzzles for other players to have a crack at. Grab a piece of the knight-flinging action over on Alexander Shen's site.









Comments
I sort of disagree with the difficulty. Some levels really are wierd and difficult, like 14 and one that was before it (i forget what number).
Posted by: David | April 15, 2009 6:36 AM
Oh! And does anyone know how to make it full screen?
And a found a bug where if you take a piece and place it back where it was without moving it, it duplicates it (but only graphically... you dont get multiple blocks, but you see multiple ones)
Posted by: David | April 15, 2009 6:39 AM
Well, when you do the bug above, it makes multiple explosion noises, but nothing else really happens.
Also, he doesn't fall when there's nothing below him like in level 22... if you let him walk, he just keeps going over the gaps (maybe he jumps? maybe it just wasnt noticed? :p )
Posted by: David | April 15, 2009 7:08 AM
I'm sorry for posting so much! I really should have just waited before completing this game. But, a bug that DOES matter is if you click on an arrow block type multiple times. You lose blocks and cant place any blocks down at all. To fix that, press the trash button.
Posted by: David | April 15, 2009 7:22 AM
I loved Chu Chu Rocket! It was such an interesting game, when will they bring it back? But if they did, it would probably be another Xbox live exclusive....
Posted by: Gio | April 15, 2009 10:28 AM
How do you do Level 14?? What am I missing? Up till then didnt break a sweat..
Posted by: Ben | April 15, 2009 12:12 PM
Ben,
Then don't go up... ;)
Posted by: ToYoT | April 15, 2009 1:58 PM
@ToYoT
THX!
I feel a little bit stupid XD
Posted by: Ben | April 15, 2009 2:08 PM
I'm glad at least one of the puzzles caused someone some troubles. :)
Though not expressed directly in the game itself (the "readme" has the info), the right mouse button will delete pieces. That multiple layered block problem is something I'm working on fixing.
Thanks everyone for playing!
Posted by: Mr. Shen | April 15, 2009 4:00 PM
Had a bit of an error on level 17:
ERROR in
action number 1
of Step Event
for object obj_right:
Error in code at line 1:
if (moving == true) then
at position 5: Unknown variable moving
It actually closed out on me at that point, but rest assured, it's an awesome game. Thanks for your work!
Posted by: Innards | April 15, 2009 7:18 PM
"favourite childhood games Chu Chu Rocket"
whaaaaaat? it only came out in 1999!! i feel so old now :(
Posted by: raigan | April 15, 2009 10:53 PM
@raigan: In 1999, I was 12.
Hope that helps you feel younger... oh... maybe not ;p
Posted by: Michael Rose | April 15, 2009 11:15 PM
Fun game with some good puzzles.
Posted by: Nels Nelson | April 17, 2009 1:22 AM
how the hell do u do lvl 12
Posted by: Anonymous | March 19, 2010 7:18 PM
I can't do level 19 . . . any help???? I keep geting stuck after I get rid of the green lights :(
Posted by: bev | March 24, 2010 10:39 PM
Ok so first here is level 19... now i'm just going to say what order you hit blocks and the block type. first off C) stands for a custom block (GREEN)
S) stands for set block (grey)
And :) is the green switch..... so here it is.
G)Down
G)Right
G)Up
G)Right
G)Up
G) :)
G)Right
G)Up
G)Right
G)Up
G)Right
G)Down
I think i made a mistake in there but it should work or at least help
Posted by: Cdo_999 | March 25, 2010 11:10 AM
Once more i'll do the same thing for level 19... man i think it's 19... anyway the trick with this one is to move around the top of the map and come in from bellow... spoiler alert and now heres how to do it :)
C) Up {placed under bridge}
C)Right
C)Down {place one left of a grey block on the right hand side}
C)Right
C)Down
(you'll fly past the princess on the right hand side of the screen)
C)Left
C)Up
C)right
C)down
And collide with our green yoshi like friend :)
For the one above i used G not C and S... my bad... i can't be bothered re-doing it though
Posted by: Cdo_999 | March 25, 2010 11:16 AM
And now for level 14...
Start off by going down and then along the bottom of the map and then up past the princess... from there you can make it yourself
Posted by: Cdo_999 | March 25, 2010 11:19 AM