Boltzmann Brain

Review

What’s amazing about the human brain, is how responsive it is. Within milliseconds, it can transmit a signal to a muscle and back to the brain so that you can point your finger in a specific direction. Well, in this game it’s all about figuring out the puzzles within seconds! Sounds challenging, doesn’t it? What don’t YOU try to figure out Boltzmann Brain!

Boltzmann Brain is a puzzle and local co-op game developed and published by TukTuk where you must complete each level within seconds by using a drone and a ball.

The single-player mode offers eight stages with five levels each to complete. You can also play this game with up to four of your friends in a local co-op mode.  I haven’t tried this mode yet (I don’t have many friends).

In each level, you have to get a small purple ball into a small black hole (which is located on the other side of your screen) within a specific time frame, which can vary from one to six seconds. You’ll control both the drone and the ball. The idea is to use the drone to hit the purple ball either straight on, or at an angle, for the ball to start travelling through space. As soon as the ball has been hit, the countdown begins! In the first few levels, you will pretty much have to hit the ball straight on, but the difficulty will increase rather rapidly from there on, as obstacles, doors and switches are introduced. That’s when you really have to be able to control both the drone and the ball at the same time in order to successfully pass a level.  

To give you an idea, in one of the levels, you have to get the drone through a constantly sliding door, to reach a switch.  This switch will open another door which gives you access to the black hole, which is situated within a confined space which is in the shape on an inverted L.  Within this L, you will see a purple hole (teleporter).  In fact, there are two teleporters; one inside the L and the other outside the L.  Aim the ball at the outside teleporter; as soon as you reach it your ball will appear inside the L, where the black hole is stationed.  You have to do this in 3.5 seconds!  To successfully achieve this, you must calculate the timing of the sliding door that opens and closes. When you have done so, hit the ball on an angle towards the purple teleporter that you find outside the L.  Make sure that the drone activates the switch by touching it, which will open the door in front of the black hole, allowing us to hit said black hole, which is the goal. The trick to getting to this point is to change the ball’s direction to match that of the drone, which is achieved by hitting either a button on your gamepad or two specific keys on the keyboard.  This function may only be used twice; the second time you use it will cause the purple ball to become white, and you will have to wait for it to recharge. That’s if you have enough time left, of course! You’ll really have to figure out the puzzles, have good reactions and make precise movements! Expect to restart levels over and over before beating them. As I am writing this review, I am about to finish the sixth stage, and it’s getting harder and harder.

Nice pixel graphics and a great soundtrack as well. In terms of the controls, you can use the keyboard or a gamepad. Personally, I prefer the gamepad. The other good point is the price. This game provides good entertainment and replay-ability. You will experience frustration quite often.