Professor McLogic Saves the Day

Professor McLogic Saves The Day is a game of various logic puzzles in which you must gather clues and logically determine the solution based on the evidence at hand. While I'm admittedly not as much of an intellectual as some folks, I do enjoy putting my brainpower to the test, and so I figured it would be right up my alley. Having also played The Longing Ribbon, I was already impressed by Gibmaker's game-making, so I decided it was worth a download.

The game is divided into several "areas", each with their own theme and style of characters. You must talk to each character in an area, compare their responses, and logically deduce their identities. Although that same concept follows in every area, the rules vary slightly in each one, so you'll be sorting males from females at one juncture, and trying to determine one's political affiliation at the next.

If you've read the overview page for this game, then you already know what it's about, so how about I stop wasting your time and get down to brass tacks?

FIVE STAR FEATURES (★★★★★)

• The puzzles. When you're playing a game about logic puzzles, the success of the game hinges on the quality of the puzzles entirely, so they'd better be damn good. Gibmaker realized this, and so he went the extra mile to ensure that all of the puzzles were both fun and challenging. The puzzles are constructed by an algorithm (I peeked in the game files, sorry Gib!), so instead of a string of fixed possibilities, no two puzzles are the same. Not only do you get fun puzzles, you get virtually unlimited replayability, which means this game may spend more time on the screen than on the shelf (metaphorically).
• Gibmaker's charm. I don't have to tell anyone who already knows Gibmaker, but goddamn if this guy isn't a clever SOB. I can't tell you how many times I'd be playing, and come across something that would get a smile or a chuckle out of me. A game about logic puzzles has the potential (even just hearing about one) to be dull as hell, but thankfully Gib's wit shines upon his creation and makes it not only tolerable, but enjoyable.
  
• The graphics. In addition to the puzzles being great, Professor McLogic Saves The Day is also very nice to look at. Sometimes you can tell how much effort went into a game by how it looks. Gibmaker is great at map design, and this being a puzzle game was no call for exception. When prompted to enter a new area, instead of reading about it little by little through a series of RM2K3 text boxes, Gibmaker goes the extra mile (yet again) and provides you with crisp, colorful splash screens to inform you of what's to come. I noticed the use of some familiar Earthbound sprites, but as an Itoi Shigesato fan, it's not like that's a complaint.

FOUR STAR FEATURES (★★★★)

• The audio. When it comes to puzzle games, one might not assess a good soundtrack as a priority. In spite of this, the game boasts a nice selection of tunes, each of which seem to compliment the respective area nicely. Also, the sound that plays when you complete a puzzle correctly is bliss for the ears. One or two of the tracks got a bit repetitive after a while, but the experience was hardly hampered by this.

THREE STAR FEATURES (★★★)

• N/A

TWO STAR FEATURES (★★)

• The level layout. "But S32, didn't you just get done praising the map design?" Well yes, but this a different issue altogether. The maps are well-designed and look nice and everything, but certain maps contain a lot of ground clutter and narrow passages. When playing the game, unless you have an eidetic memory, you will need to talk to the characters multiple times to compare and remind yourself of the given clues. Depending on the location, it can be frustrating to navigate around clutter or find your way around a maze of passages as the character you want to speak to is wandering about, sometimes away from you. I haven't yet tried for any "best time" runs, but I imagine if I did, I could see this becoming a thorn in my side.

ONE STAR FEATURES (★)

• Vague clues. There are certain puzzles with certain rules that will sometimes provide you with clues that either don't give you enough information, or give you just enough that the solution could be two completely different things, leaving you no choice but to guess. I don't know enough to claim this as a 100% certainty though, so I will not count it against the game.
• Gibmaker's apparent hatred of headphone users. I don't know what Gibmaker's beef is with people who wear headphones, but like his cleverness, it's something that definitely comes across in his games. I have long since pondered why Gibmaker finds it necessary to pepper his games with loud noises, and this is the explanation I've come up with:
  
  It's the early 90's. Christmas morning in the Hopkins household. Young Eric (Gib) runs down the stairs in search of what Santa has brought him, anticipation growing with each step. "Did he bring it? Did he bring it?", he thinks to himself. He makes it to the living room and looks under the tree, and there it is. A Nintendo Game Boy! The famed game-playing brick of concrete beloved and coveted by 90's kids, his at last! No longer would he have to play his NES at home like some shut-in neanderthal! He could play Tetris at the park, or Kirby's Dream Land at school, or help grandma bake cookies in between pauses of Super Mario Land! Even if for just a moment, his life is complete.
  
  A few days later, the chill of the harsh Ontario winter ceases, and a nice day for some winter activity presents itself. He looks outside at the crisp white snow, and visions of winter fun begin to bounce in his curious young mind. What could be better than going out on a nice winter day? Going out on a nice winter day and showing off your brand new Game Boy, of course! He's not about to go sledding like some plebe, he's going to the park to show off his newly begotten pride and joy. He can see it now: the roars of applause, the gasps of awe, and perhaps a peck on the cheek from the cute girl in the pink mittens as a reward for conquering King Dedede unscathed.
  
  He embarks on his own, a new man born. He makes his way to the park, eager to locate a suitable crowd of his peers to gather, that he might glisten in the spotlight on this day. Instead, at 5 feet tall, looms the terrifying shadow of a menacing adolescent. No adults in sight, young Gib is entirely at his mercy. Noticing the jewel in Gib's tiny grasp, the beast shakes aside his greasy hair and descends upon him. "Nice Game Boy," he remarks, in a malicious tone. Poor Gib is unsure how to respond, knowing that the wrong move would surely spell his doom. "Th-thanks," he stammers, trying desperately to maintain his composure. The stranger's sneer curves into a grin. "Let me see that," he bellows, and before Gib knows it, his beloved Game Boy has been snatched from his grip and is in the ape-like clutches of the towering adolescent! "Hey, that's mine!" cries Gib, in a moment of desperation. But the stranger is unfazed. Fair play is not his game. Instead, he throws back his head and laughs in a way one might describe as heartily, had he a heart. "Finders keepers, losers weepers!" he exclaims, and with that, he walks away. Poor Gibmaker is frozen in disbelief. His treasure snatched away from him, just like that. Was there no justice? Had he done something bad in his short life to deserve such an ill fate? Was God punishing him for praising Santa on Christmas morning, instead of his son, the birthday boy? The answer was not clear. All he knew was that his world was crashing down around him.
  
  Just as the looming figure disappears into the blinding glint of the snow, Gib notices the stranger stop for a second. The stranger begins to pull something out of his pockets. He squints as hard as he can, and sees his bully produce a pair of earmuffs. A string dangles from the bottom, which the stranger then shoves into his Gameboy. It is then he realizes that no, that's no pair of earmuffs. It is something much worse, much more twisted and diabolical... headphones. Not only has this giant greaseball taken his beloved Game Boy, he has opted to deny the world of the joy of the 8-bit sound. Nobody would hear the jollity of Green Greens but him. It is all for him, the greedy monster.
  
  It is at that moment that Gibmaker swears hatred on all people who wear headphones. He doesn't know how, but one day he is sure to have his revenge. After many years of searching for the right way to exact his revenge, he comes across a page on the Internet: Don Miguel's RM2k Page. At last, he has the answer! He would turn his loss into a gain. He would develop a series of games that were very fun to play, and use them as bait to lure in all the headphone-wearing human atrocities. Then, when they least expect it, he would shatter their eardrums with a bunch of gratuitous, unnecessarily loud sound effects! He would dance in the blood that poured from their ears, paint his face with it, mix it into his cocktails! Screw Motts Clamato mix, he'd spice his vodka with the fruits of his revenge! Victory and vengeance, finally his!
  
  Or, uh, something like that.

SPECIAL ACCOLADES

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT: The fact that puzzles are algorithm-based, so every puzzle is a new one.

BIGGEST BLUNDER: "Okay, I think I'm done with this puzzle for now. I'll just exit here and select anothe-AAAAAAAAAAAAH, DAMN IT, EVERY TIME!"

S32'S FAVORITE FEATURE: Welcome to Mooooooonside. It's easily my favorite area of the game. The best theme, the best visuals, and the coolest background music in the game.


FINAL THOUGHT

This game is not for everyone. If you hated math homework as a kid, loathe Alex Trebek, and/or cringe whenever someone says the phrase "fun fact", you might want to give it a skip. For everyone else, it's a blast, and good exercise for your mind.



4/5
(NOTE: The final score is based on my overall appreciation of the game, and has nothing to do with the amount of "stars".)