Summary

• Release Year: 1982
• Genres: Puzzle, Strategy
• Platforms: Arcade, Intellivision, MSX
• Developers: Konami, Konami Industry
• Publishers: Centuri, Mattel Electronics, Sega, Sony

Loco-Motion (1982): A Classic Puzzle Game

Loco-Motion is a sliding block puzzle game released in arcades in 1982. The game is played on a 5×5 grid, with the player controlling a locomotive that must collect passengers from stations located around the edges of the screen. The locomotive is constantly moving, and the player must slide pieces of track into the vacant square to guide it around the tracks.

Loco-Motion is a simple game to learn, but it can be challenging to master. The player must carefully plan their moves to avoid crashing the locomotive into dead-end barricades or the edge of the playfield. The game also features a number of obstacles, such as barriers and moving platforms, that can make it even more difficult to collect all of the passengers.

Despite its simple gameplay, Loco-Motion is a surprisingly addictive game. The game’s fast-paced action and challenging puzzles will keep players entertained for hours on end. Loco-Motion is also a great game for puzzle fans of all ages.

Gameplay

The goal of Loco-Motion is to collect all of the passengers from the stations located around the edges of the screen. The player controls the locomotive by sliding pieces of track into the vacant square. The locomotive will then move in the direction of the track piece, collecting any passengers in its path.

The player must be careful not to crash the locomotive into dead-end barricades or the edge of the playfield. Crashing the locomotive will cost the player a life. The player also has a limited amount of time to collect all of the passengers. If the timer runs out, the player will lose a life.

Obstacles

In addition to the dead-end barricades and the edge of the playfield, Loco-Motion also features a number of other obstacles that can make it difficult to collect all of the passengers. These obstacles include:

• Barriers: Barriers are solid objects that block the locomotive’s path. The player must slide track pieces around the barriers in order to get the locomotive past them.
• Moving platforms: Moving platforms are platforms that move back and forth across the screen. The player must time their moves carefully to get the locomotive onto the moving platforms and avoid being pushed off.
• Switches: Switches are levers that can change the direction of the tracks. The player must use the switches to guide the locomotive around the tracks and collect all of the passengers.

Power-ups

Loco-Motion also features a number of power-ups that can help the player collect all of the passengers. These power-ups include:

• Speed boost: The speed boost power-up increases the speed of the locomotive. This can be helpful for getting to the passengers more quickly.
• Invincibility: The invincibility power-up makes the locomotive invincible to obstacles. This can be helpful for getting past difficult obstacles without losing a life.
• Extra time: The extra time power-up adds extra time to the clock. This can be helpful for giving the player more time to collect all of the passengers.

Legacy

Loco-Motion was a popular arcade game in the early 1980s. The game was ported to a number of home computers, including the Atari 2600, the Commodore 64, and the ZX Spectrum. Loco-Motion has also been released on a number of modern platforms, including the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360, and the Nintendo Switch.

Loco-Motion is considered to be one of the classic puzzle games of the 1980s. The game’s simple gameplay and challenging puzzles have made it a favorite of puzzle fans for over 40 years.

Tips for playing Loco-Motion

Here are a few tips for playing Loco-Motion:

• Plan your moves carefully. Before you move a track piece, think about how it will affect the locomotive’s movement.
• Use the power-ups to your advantage. The power-ups can help you get past difficult obstacles and collect all of the passengers more quickly.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment. There is no one right way to play Loco-Motion. Experiment with different strategies to find what works best for you.
• Have fun! Loco-Motion is a challenging game, but it’s also a lot of fun. Don’t forget to enjoy yourself while you’re playing.

Review Score

8/10

Art

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