Manifold

September 25, 2007 1:01 PM

Manifold is an amusing Flash game with a deceptively simple goal; get your character to the exit. There are obstacles, and there's a tool of sorts to help you surmount those obstacles. The tool is a gravity sphere that can be used to slow your character's descent off a steep drop, or propel you in the air over a chasm, etc.
posted by jonson (28 comments total)

Fun, thanks.
posted by Mr_Zero at 1:12 PM on September 25, 2007

Argh! No, I just got that in my inbox and managed to tear myself away and now you sucked me right back in. Curses jonson!
posted by dabitch at 1:14 PM on September 25, 2007

On the down side (or plus side, if you're dabitch), it's kinda short, only like 10 levels or so.
posted by jonson at 1:16 PM on September 25, 2007

On the down side (or plus side, if you're dabitch), it's kinda short, only like 10 levels or so.

It ended just when things were getting interesting!
posted by rottytooth at 1:31 PM on September 25, 2007

I am on the level with the chasm with two gears turning into each other and I can't figure it out. When I put the gravitational whatsit right at the end of the platform I am aiming for I just end up jumping through it and getting eaten by the gears. Suggestions?
posted by ND¢ at 1:32 PM on September 25, 2007

Nevermind. I pointed it to the left and threw it at the overhanging wall. This is pretty fun.
posted by ND¢ at 1:35 PM on September 25, 2007

Too short by far, but fun!
posted by Maastrictian at 1:45 PM on September 25, 2007

I'm at the bit with two balls and the buzz saw on the wall to prevent your jumping up it. I've tried going across the ceiling but I'm unable to throw a new gravity ball at the ceiling while on the ceiling.
posted by shakespeherian at 1:54 PM on September 25, 2007

That was pretty neat.

shakespeherian - you have to throw it almost at your feet...
posted by bshort at 2:09 PM on September 25, 2007

Never mind. Jumping.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:11 PM on September 25, 2007

nice and quick.
posted by pmbuko at 2:52 PM on September 25, 2007

Great game, but once you get two anomalies you can do almost anything. He needs more game elements, including smaller anomalies, or 'charged' anomalies that repulse each other if he wants to extend the number and difficulty of levels.
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:04 PM on September 25, 2007

"You can retrieve anomalies by placing your mouse over them and pressing the SPACEBAR."

Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?! You have a mouse. You use the mouse to move the cursor. When the cursor gets to where you want to go, you... press the SPACEBAR????

Jesus fucking Christ. Your design privileges have been revoked. Please return to Mousing 101 for remediation.
posted by callmejay at 3:15 PM on September 25, 2007 [2 favorites]

Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?! You have a mouse. You use the mouse to move the cursor. When the cursor gets to where you want to go, you... press the SPACEBAR????

You didn't actually play the game, did you?

You should do that, then get back to us.

For now, your outrage privileges have been revoked.
posted by bshort at 3:23 PM on September 25, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm an idiot. I completely forgot that you could retrieve anomalies. The good news is that I can testify with enough tries, you can do all the levels except the first and last one without ever retrieving an anomaly. You just have the place them very, very exactly. Go back and play it that way for an extra challenge.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 3:30 PM on September 25, 2007

You can definitely do the last level without retrieving an anomaly.
posted by god hates math at 3:47 PM on September 25, 2007

Now I'll have to go back and try that one. I got close a few times.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 4:00 PM on September 25, 2007

Okay. I just beat it. Gimme more now.

(Thanks, nice post)
posted by Navelgazer at 4:01 PM on September 25, 2007

I should so be doing something productive right about now...

Great fun little game, thanks.
posted by wsp at 4:39 PM on September 25, 2007

MOAR.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 4:58 PM on September 25, 2007

Give us a hint on doing the last level without retrieving anomalies. Nice find, jonson.
posted by Rock Steady at 5:17 PM on September 25, 2007

2nding moar
posted by tehloki at 5:19 PM on September 25, 2007

ugh, i can't get the last one.
posted by empath at 5:23 PM on September 25, 2007

I'm trying to figure out how you do the last level *with* retrieving anomalies...

Think addition? And fairly exacting placement.
posted by god hates math at 6:57 PM on September 25, 2007

I suspect I wasn't "playing fair", but the last level was a piece of cake, if you are retrieving anomalies. I can't even be bothered to think about how you'd do it without.
posted by howfar at 1:34 AM on September 26, 2007

Last level with retrieving anomalies: Lbh pbhyq qb gung ol trggvat vagb n fgnoyr cbfvgvba naq erhfvat gur frpbaq nabznyl. Ercrngrqyl, vs lbh yvxr.

Nice game, needs more levels.
posted by Tuwa at 9:06 AM on September 26, 2007

Yeah, I totally forgot about retrieving anomalies until I replayed the game. The trick with the last one is to aim the anomalies not where you want to go, but how you need your speed modified.

I put one on the left wall pointing up and a little bit right, just high enough that I could jump to it. The other one goes on the ceiling, at maybe 45 degrees up and to the right.

The animation is nice, the mechanic is fun, lets hope for more levels.
posted by tfinniga at 10:36 AM on September 26, 2007

Fold, a sequel to Manifold, has more levels and scoring.
posted by book at 1:17 PM on October 17, 2007