Gizmos and Gadgets was one of my favorite games as a kid. This game was one of my first games. It's tremendously, almost ridiculously, educational; with different games required to open doors. Players will learn about electrical circuits, gears, alternative energy, physics, magnets, and other useful topics. Seriously, 15 years later I still use knowledge that I learned from this game. Ridiculous. Anyway, this downloadable version is just as I remember the original, although it runs rather slowly on my computer. It could just be me.
Did I mention you get to build different gadgets and compete against a madman? That's the point of the game. And there are monkeys. Look out for that. That’s not a joke, there really are monkeys. As you go around, trying to collect parts to build your gadgets, going through the previously mentioned doors that are unlocked by solving puzzles, there are these crazy robot primates that try to knock you over and steal your hard-earned parts. Luckily, you are equipped with bananas, and if you hit a monkey with them it will be delighted and fall asleep in a banana-induced nap. Then you can get your parts back. Hand to god, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. Right, so you
have to find the right parts, sans monkeys, that will build the optimal gadget.
There are also paints and decals, which make your gadget not only functional, but downright attractive. This way, you can beat the madman in both efficiency and style. Although you only get points for efficiency. Anyway, you find the optimal parts, build your gadget. With the right parts, you will win. And let's face it; beating anyone at something is good, but beating a madman is just plain awesome. I've never actually gone through all the gadgets; they keep getting more complex as you beat him. For all I know, you have to build a stinking' self-contained moon colony fully equipped with laser-defense systems and one-man space shuttles. Seriously, that might actually be it.
This game is hard. Back when I was a kid I couldn't get very far, and now that I'm fully grown I don't really get a lot farther. Although, to be fair, I don't quite have the same amount of free time and stubborn determination, but you'd think a 21 year-old would be able to beat a children's game from the stone age of computing. Super Solvers rules!
