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A new and original puzzle game. Match the blocks, reach par, but make sure no block is left behind.

Vexed is an addictive puzzle game where you must match the blocks to remove them from the level. Sometimes three blocks must be removed in a single move. Line up the blocks to stop them from connecting. If you’re left with any single blocks remaining, you'll have to start the level again.

The higher number of moves, the higher the score, where the goal is to get the lowest score possible. It's possible to go negative, the accepted solution isn't always the best.

Hours of fun for your home gaming system.

Supported platforms: GameBoy Classic, GameBoy Color, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Commodore C64, ZX Spectrum 48/128, ZX Spectrum Next, ColecoVision, MSX, Sega SG-1000,  SpectraVision SV-318/328, Memotech MTX 500/512, Sord M5, CougarBoy/MegaDuck, MicroBee, Atari 5200, Atari 800, NES, Elan Enterprises 128 and Amstrad CPC,

Support my work on Patreon, so I can create more great games for your 8-bit system

https://www.patreon.com/Under4Mhz

Version 1.14

  • Added Gameboy Color support
  • Added MSX2 support
  • Fixed Atari 800 support

Version 1.12

  • Added NES support
  • Added Atari 800 support

Version 1.11

  • Fixed Elan Enterprise 128 support

Version 1.10

  • Fixed C64 port
  • Added Atari 5200 support
  • Added Elan Enterprise 128 support

Version 1.09

  • Fixed MSX Joystick
  • Fixed CougarBoy marker jumping

Version 1.08

  • Added C64 support
  • Added joystick support for CPC

Download

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Click download now to get access to the following files:

Vexed-1.14.zip 381 kB

Comments

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Great game !!!! Thank friend !

Awesome puzzle game ! Thanks so much Under4Mhz.


From Atariage forum:

atari 800 version xex is broken, try changing "ff bf" to "8e 87" at offset 4

This version 1.12 doesn't work on my real Atari, fixed version works on my real Atari 800XE with SUBcart/AVGcart.

Thanks for Atari version :-)

How do you restart a level on the Atari version? There is no second button to do this. I tried the different console buttons, but nothing worked. 

I use shift key.

Thanks. That worked for me and I added it to my local readme so I'm not surprised the next time I pick up the game.

Enterprise 128k version

Thanks for the Enterprise version!
I hope you fix loading of the current version (now it doesn't work :( ).
For picking good palette colors, you can use this online tool: http://ep.lgb.hu/colors.html (16-col mode has a bit tricky palette)

Thanks, I was adding the wrong file to the package. I should work now.

The C64 port is missing in version 1.09 ?

Oops! Thanks. I forgot to add it to the package.

I love that you've done versions for platforms that don't get much love! I featured your game in our round-up of recent Retro Indie Games!

I've played all 59 levels on the ZX Spectrum and I can't finish level 31 and 35. Are they really playable?




Yes, they are absolutely solvable. They are two of the hardest levels in the game.

Thank you for hint :-)

Interesting puzzle game ! Long game play video.

(3 edits)

Simple but nice Puzznic clone. I miss something or the game is only playable on keyboard in the CPC version ? And the ' character is missing in the font to correctly name the levels... Well, some upgrades would be nice, particularly to make it playable on GX4000 ;)

And IMHO, background and border would be grey like in all the other versions.

I fixed the joystick for CPC - that was an oversight on my part. I've changed the background to grey - I originally avoided it since grey is quite dark on the CPC.

I'll have to look into what changes need to be made to work on GX4000.

(2 edits)

Nice update!

And your game is already compatible on GX4000. You even mapped the retry key on button 2. Wonderful! But imo, a confirmation would be nice to avoid any mistake while playing

PS : on level 43, the "," is missing to correctly write "Long, Long, Long 


(8 edits) (+1)

Beautiful and addictive, but IMHO your game has an unbalanced level design.

- Level 2 and Level 3 requires a lot of thinking to resolve them.
- Level 4 and Level 5 are very easy and straightforward
- Level 6, 7, 8 and 9 are a little bit more complicated then level 4 and 5, but not as complex as level 2 and 3 (not even close).

IMHO you should swap the levels:

- Level 4 should be level 2
- Level 5 should be level 3
- Level 6 should be level 4
- Level 7 should be level 5
- Level 8 should be level 6
- Level 9 should be level 7
- Level 2 should be level 8
- Level 3 should be level 9.

(+1)

any chance for a C64 port?

(+2)

I'm having a look at the possibility of C64 support. It may be some months.

(+1)

The C64 port has been added. Let me know what you think.

that was quick. very nice! 👏  just gave it a go 👍

(+1)

Great game.

in which language you developed to be able to port it on so many machines

Thanks. It's written in C using sdcc. Some plaforms, such as Gameboy and ZX spectrum, needed some Z80 at the video rendering level to get it fast enough. I've written my own hardware layer for each of the platforms. It's been interesting getting to know each platform.

Enterprise 128k computer also based on Zilog Z80 CPU and has good graphical capabilities. Do you have plans to add that computer into your platform list? The video chip can easily emulate the video modes of CPC and ZX computers for easy porting from these platforms.

Nice game!


nice work - what's with the Beatles songs? Quite a few lesser known ones in there so I guess you must be a fellow fan :)