Fast-paced retro puzzle-platformer for PC
Randoom is a free puzzle game for PC by indie developer Picaro Games. In this retro 2D platformer, players are tasked with capturing falling cubes with random movement patterns. The catch is that they can only capture those that have the same color as theirs, adding to its complexity and challenge.
Having been made for the classic Commodore 64 system in mind, Randoom has a rather familiar look and feel to it. It harkens back to games like Deluxe Pacman or titles that are based on the Classic Tetris given its 8-bit graphics and bright neon-themed aesthetic.
How do I play it?
If you’ve ever played classic Pac-Man before, Randoom will look rather familiar to you from the get-go. Level designs are quite reminiscent of the classic title’s neon colors and brick-like platforms and outer perimeters. When it comes to its gameplay, the game incorporates elements from Tetris with how enemies behave given the sense of randomness and urgency involved as you attempt to capture them.
The way that it works is that each of its 31 levels will have 7 colored blocks that you need to capture as they endlessly fall from above in a loop. The catch here is there’s a specific order that you need to follow—displayed on the right side of the screen. You will then need to anticipate their movements and time it just right to pull off a successful capture.
Also, each stage in this game will only give you 3 lives. Each time you get the color wrong, you lose one. If all of it gets used up, you will need to start from scratch again. Once you accumulate 100 points, you’ll be awarded an extra life. There might be a slight difficulty curve at first, but apart from those, it’s a solid game overall.
Fun and deceptively simple
Aside from its charming retro graphics and presentation, the best way to describe Randoom is it’s a deceptively simple puzzle platformer. It will be a fun and challenging gaming experience from start to finish. If you’re looking for something new to play on your C64 emulator, give this one a try. Recommended.
