Logic Pro

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LOGIC PRO

DENIAM 1996

Description:

Logic Pro by Deniam is a logic-type puzzle game based on "Paint by Numbers" created by Tetsua Nishio in the late 1980s. Later variations of it includes the Picross series published by Nintendo for their various consoles as well as the pencil and paper version that you can buy at stores.

The game is relatively simple. If you ever played Minesweeper on Windows, than you should be familiar with this type of game structure. You have a grid of boxes: 10x10, 15x15, or 20x20. Initially all the boxes are covered. Your task is to uncover the right boxes with your handy cursor and reveal the picture that lays underneath. Some boxes can be uncovered, some cannot. In Minesweeper the game ends if you uncover a mine. In this game you only loss time for each wrong box you uncover. Once the timer drops all the way though, its game over.

So how are you suppose to know which boxes can be uncovered and which cannot? Simple. By the numbers along the side of each column and row. Each number or numbers tells you exactly how many boxes can be uncovered in that given column or row.

So lets say that on a 15x15 grid, one of the rows has the number 4. That means that of the 15 boxes within that row, 4 of them can be uncovered. The remaining 11 cannot. Note also that the 4 represents 4 consecutive boxes in a row. If the number in a row was 15, it means that all the boxes along that row can be uncovered. If the number was 0, then none of the boxes can be uncovered. In this case you would want to mark them with an X to remind yourself not to mess with those boxes later on. Always X out the boxes that you know cannot be uncovered.

What if there is a series of numbers within a row or column like a 3 and a 5. This means that there are still 8 boxes within that row or column that can be uncovered. But since the 2 numbers are separate, the group of 3 and group of 5 are separate as well. There must be at least one box that separates the 2 groupings. Check out the screenshots.

The game is incredible fun once you understand how to play it. Being able to solve the entire puzzle without any mistakes is the real satisfaction of the game. To me, I consider it one of the best puzzle games available in MAME.

The game is easy early on but as you advance in the game, it gets pretty tough. In fact, really tough. The puzzles get real tricky. It becomes less obvious of what to uncover and what not. Plus you loss lots more time for each mistake you make. It's hard and can get rather frustrating, but I still enjoy it nevertheless.

Try it, you may like it.

Gameplay: 5/5
Difficulty: 5/5
Artwork: 3/5

LOGIC PRO MINI FAQ
How many levels:	There are 14 stages. The first 2 are 10x10 grids. The next 3 are 15x15 grids. The next 9 are 20x20 grids. When you beat the first 8 stages, you get to select one of 6 different locations of what you want to play next for the remaining 6 stages. The difference between each locations are the pictures you uncover that relate to that specific locale.
What are the controls :	The D-pad is use to navigate your cursor within the grid. To uncover one of the square boxes, press button 1. To mark the box with an X or to erase the mark, press button 2. To use the help item, if you have any, press button 3.
Tips :	Time is added for each box you uncover that can be uncovered. Time is deducted each time you try to uncover the wrong one. There are sometimes time bonuses given when you uncover or X a certain box within a stage. Never guess! Uncover boxes that you know you can. Avoid the ones you don't for later. Work around boxes you know can be uncovered and X the ones you know cannot be uncovered. Doing this and everything will eventually fall into place. Look at the upper left of the grid, the stuff in red. That tells you how many boxes are left to be uncovered. If you have absolutely no clue what to do next, use a help item. Using the help item will uncover and X all the boxes within the column and row that your cursor is on. A good place to use it, if needed, is along the edges of the grid. Here's a little strategy for you. Lets say that a row on a 10x10 grid has the number 8. That means that there are 3 possible positions that the group of 8 can be located at. It can be located at the very left, the very right, or in the middle of the row. You don't know for sure. But what you do know is that the 6 boxes in the middle can always be uncovered for each of the 3 possible positions. Now you have something to work with. Think about it. Use this technique for other situations and the game becomes much easier.
I like this game. What other games are similar to this :	There's a sequel to this game, Logic Pro 2. Personally, I don't enjoy that version as much as I do this one. Why? Because I hate these damn red and green blobs. Unlike the first, the second has enemies that roam around the grid and try to mess everything up. Those blobs in particular can erase marks you made or mark boxes you haven't touched. You can kill them by poking your cursor on them and eventually they'll disappear. But for me, lots of time when I poke them, I often poke too much and when they die I poke the box underneath them as well. Usually that box can't be uncovered and I end up losing tons of time, which really ticks me off. If you enjoy logic types of games, in general, then another game I would recommend is Boxy Boy. That game can really wear you out. Each stage is like a brain-teaser. There are a bunch of boxes placed within a room. To clear the stage, you need to move each box to any one of the marked location in the room. Once each box is placed on top of a marked location, the stage is cleared. Sounds easy, believe me, it isn't nowhere close to easy. This is perhaps one of the most difficult puzzle games in all of MAME that I have encountered. Try it out yourself.