Eight Bit Magazine


WU-M

Author: Paul Monopoli
Publisher: Miyako Tako
Machine: MSX

 
Published in 8 Bit Annual 2019

Wu-m

After playing Wu-m, I get the feeling it is more like an interactive demo than a full proper game release.

Plot And Gameplay

Wu-m does not actually come with any instructions, though there is a readme file which appears garbled on my English language MacBook Pro. I assume the file is supposed to be in Japanese. Google Translate provides the following information:

How to play. Use the cursor keys to move the cover. It is clear if you change all the way to a block and go to the exit.

WU-M

OK, so I only use the cursor keys and change the blocks. The game boots up and presents a small window off centre of the screen. The main character is a 'cartoony' hippopotamus looking graphic, so let's go with that. The screen shows a small maze with blue blocks with crosses on them. Do they kill you? No, they can't, as they are directly in your path. I move over them and they change into yellow tiles, while the yellow tiles behind me change into metal blocks, stopping you from moving through the level.

"Great! I've figured it out" I think to myself. I change the blue blocks to yellow, then I exit the level. A message on the screen appears, telling me to try it again. But I don't want to try it again. I completed it, right? Apparently not. Through experimentation I determined that every block must be changed to the metal blocks, meaning that the blue blocks must be moved over twice, while the yellow blocks need to be moved over once. There is no music or sound in the game, which is unfortunate because it really could have done with some tunes. Graphically the game is 'cartoony', if small. I wonder why it wasn't made to fit the whole screen. The only other control is the space bar, which will reset the level if you get stuck.

What I Like

The graphics were nice and colourful and the game will definitely keep puzzle fans busy.

What I Didn't Like

While the graphics were colourful they were also very small. There was no audio at all, and if you're not a die hard puzzle fan then there really isn't much here for you.

Verdict

I'll be honest, this is not the type of game I enjoy and I just could not get past level 2. With that said, I didn't really care enough to try too hard either. I'm sure it's a great game for people who enjoy real head scratchers, but I like a bit more action in my games.

Paul Monopoli

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