Reductio Ad Nihilum

A puzzle game by Rafal Miazga

Aileen is now almost a sorceress, with only one final exam at alchemical college between her and her dreams.

To pass, she must show that she understands the principles of the universe. The most important of these are balance and harmony.

Each force has its counterforce. Each matter its antimatter.

You can wield magic only when you understand the essence of both being and nothing.

The final exam is about finding harmony in an alchemical mixture of different elements. Finding this balance depends on the order of your actions.

Complete each task successfully and the elements will annihilate each other. Everything will become nothing, "Reductio Ad Nihilum".

Instructions

Aileen's final exam takes place on a square board filled with jewels of different types. The jewels represent different substances, elements and forces of nature.

Your task is to clear the board so no jewels are left, thus returning the situation to a natural state of equilibrium. You may clear jewels by selecting two jewels of the same type. The jewels must belong to the same row or the same column. When you select them, they will explode and disappear together along with everything between them. That's it!

It may sound simple but, as your alchemy tutors have warned you, you'll discover that this final exam requires thoughtful strategy and planning.

If you perform your actions in the right order, you'll manage to clear all the jewels. If you do not, you'll be left with jewels remaining and no more legal moves to make, thus failing the exam.

There are 30 exercises and the boards become bigger as you advance. Are you able to clear them all and finally become a sorceress?

The Game

You control a cursor with the directional keys. Move it over the jewel that you wish to select and press Action. The jewel becomes selected. This is now your primary jewel. Now move the cursor over a second jewel of the same type and press Action again. If the jewels are of the same type and lay in the same row or column, you'll clear them and everything between them. If not, the first jewel will be de-selected and the jewel you just clicked on becomes your new primary jewel which you must now match with another.

As your teacher in alchemical arts has told you, it will be much simpler to try the tests and learn how to operate them rather than trying to understand it without practical experience.

You can press R to repeat the current test if you believe that you've reached a dead end, and you are allowed five attempts per test. Try not to repeat levels as it decreases your bonus and final exam score.

At any moment you can press X to quit the test and return to the game menu.

Before each test you are given a combination of jewels which is a password for that particular part of the exam. Choose the appropriate option in the main menu to enter the password and begin the exam from your chosen point.

Good luck, young acolyte, may you pass the test and enter into the world as a master of the magick!

Game Controls

O - Left, P - Right, Q - Up, A - Down, SPACE - Action

Please with a Kempston or Sinclair joystick if you prefer.