Get on Steam"A=B" is a programming puzzle game featuring a single instruction: "A=B," or replacing A with B. Players solve various problems using this minimal language, from converting letters to uppercase to multiplying binary numbers. The game encourages players to complete challenges in the fewest lines possible and includes a built-in minigame, offering a unique and engaging experience for both casual and experienced gamers.
Reviews
- The game offers clever and challenging puzzles that encourage creative problem-solving using a unique esoteric programming language.
- It features a humorous storyline and engaging interactions between the player and a professor, adding charm to the gameplay.
- The minimalist design and focus on logic over traditional programming concepts make it a refreshing experience for fans of programming games.
- Many puzzles are poorly worded or unclear, leading to frustration and confusion about the objectives.
- The user interface is lacking polish, with issues such as disappearing cursors, poor selection mechanics, and inadequate debugging capabilities.
- The game can have significant difficulty spikes, especially in later chapters, which may deter players without a strong programming background.
- story15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as lighthearted and humorous, with a simple yet charming plot that unfolds gradually through puzzle-solving. While some players find the writing a bit messy, the narrative effectively complements the gameplay, adding an engaging layer of atmosphere and mystery. Overall, the story is seen as entertaining and thematically appropriate, enhancing the experience of the clever programming puzzles.
“The plot even manages to carry a bit of atmosphere and mystery, as minimal as it is; it's mostly winking at the camera and saying 'ain't I a stinker for building a game like this?'”
“An extremely fun and engaging puzzle game that slowly introduces mechanics in a fun way with a good comedic story behind the code you are using to solve the puzzles.”
“The backstory adds an interesting twist to the whole progression of puzzles.”
“The plot is extremely silly and barely exists, but it's got a certain charm to it.”
“My only criticism is that some of the English writing is a bit messy and hard to understand, which is important for this game's subject matter (and also because it's the only way the setting/story is conveyed).”
“I enjoy programming puzzles and games like Human Resource Machine which actually feel like programming in basic languages have usually entertained me quite well, but this game feels less like a game and more like the actual class work its story is portrayed as.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by light-hearted storytelling and clever dialogue, often featuring amusing interactions between characters, such as a professor and a quirky student. While it may appeal primarily to programmers, the blend of educational content and humor creates an engaging experience that enhances the overall enjoyment of the clever programming puzzles.
“A simple, yet humorous game with a light-hearted story throughout.”
“An amusing little game that may primarily appeal to programmers, but I found it to be quite enjoyable.”
“Extremely clever programming puzzles wrapped in a very funny story.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as extremely fun and engaging, with a clever introduction of mechanics and an entertaining comedic story. However, some users find the core mechanics unenjoyable, and there are occasional editor bugs that can disrupt the experience, though they are rare and do not significantly impact overall gameplay. The game maintains its spirit by not strictly adhering to a single instruction format, while still offering a variety of mechanics.
“An extremely fun and engaging puzzle game that slowly introduces mechanics in a fun way with a good comedic story behind the code you are using to solve the puzzles.”
“The fiction built around the gameplay is entertaining.”
“However, you should be aware that the game doesn't strictly stick to having a=b be the only instruction - but so far the extra mechanics seem scaled back enough that it's still true to the spirit of the idea.”
“The only problem I had was editor bugs: sometimes characters are inserted not at cursor position, undo can delete the whole page of code and redo won't bring it back; but that's pretty rare and doesn't affect the gameplay.”
“However, you should be aware that the game doesn't strictly stick to having a=b be the only instruction - but so far the extra mechanics seem scaled back enough that it's still true to the spirit of the idea.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are minimalistic and stripped-down, prioritizing gameplay over visual appeal. While some users appreciate the retro aesthetic, others express a desire for clearer text formatting, such as a monospace font for better readability. Overall, the visuals are not a focal point, with a stronger emphasis on puzzle design and gameplay mechanics.
“My favorite coding/automation game is TIS-100, with the reduced instruction set, nice retro visuals, and clever solutions.”
“I may not need fancy graphics, but at least use a monospace font for the code so I can differentiate between capital 'O' and digit '0'.”
“Gameplay over graphics (none).”
“Any sound or artwork.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it slow and unoptimized, particularly in later levels, while others are impressed by the speed at which some players achieve optimization milestones. Additionally, issues such as poor presentation, interface bugs, and unclear instructions detract from the overall experience.
“Even though I figured out the solutions to every level independently, I still have no idea how some people managed to accomplish all optimization achievements in 3.9 hours; that is incredibly fast!”
“[*] Multiple optimization metrics.”
“Even though I figured out the solutions to every level independently, I still have no idea how some people managed to accomplish all optimization achievements in 3.9 hours; that is incredibly fast!”
“It's everything I hate about experimental games: low quality in presentation and interface; intentionally obtuse; slow and unoptimized (even running optimal code takes way too long in later levels); etc. It even has a few extra problems, like bad English, bad writing, interface bugs (when using keyboard keys like home and end), and unclear instructions.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game features no music or sound, contributing to a minimalistic 1980s aesthetic that may not appeal to everyone. While some players may find enjoyment in solving programming puzzles, the lack of audio elements detracts from the overall experience for others.
“The game has no music, and it's not fun to me personally.”
“It's definitely a niche experience that isn't going to appeal to everyone - it has a very basic 1980s minimalistic computer programming presentation to it with no sound or music.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a subtle blend of mystery and self-awareness, with the plot contributing to a lighthearted yet intriguing ambiance. While it may not be deeply immersive, the game's playful tone adds a unique charm to the overall experience.
“The plot even manages to carry a bit of atmosphere and mystery, as minimal as it is; it feels like the game is winking at the camera and saying, 'Ain't I a stinker for building a game like this?'”
“The plot even manages to carry a bit of atmosphere and mystery, as minimal as it is; it feels like the game is winking at the camera and saying, 'Ain't I a stinker for building a game like this?'”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, largely due to the abundance of fan-made challenges available on the workshop, which significantly enhances the overall experience.
“There's also quite a lot of additional fan-made challenges on the workshop, which definitely adds a lot of replay value to the game.”
