PIPE DREAM

Pipe Dream is a game we’ve played a lot of. There’s a website called infinite mac (linked as a button on our homepage) that lets you emulate old version of Mac OS and software in your browser. We would often boot up system 7 in class and either play Pipe Dream or read the HyperCard version of Jurassic Park to reread. Pipe Dream is a game published by LucasArts, the game studio of George Lucas, in the era before they fell into their point-and-click groove. Ballblazer, Habitat, and Pipe Dream were all experiments in different sorts of game design fitting for a studio with almost no budget (Star Wars money, baby.) While we adore the point and click games from LucasArts, especially Sam and Max Hit the Road which is one of our all time favorites, Pipe Dream may be our favorite game from the publisher. That, Hit the Road, and Episode 1 Racer.

So imagine our joy when we found that there was a Game Boy version of the game published by Bullet Proof Software! No not Episode 1 Racer, that’s a Game Boy Color game. It’s pretty faithful to the Macintosh version we played so much, albeit missing the bonus stages where bits of pipe fall from the sky. Instead it has a cute cut-scene showing a little pipe fixing man, uh, fixing a pipe!

The gameplay is identical, you’re given a piece of pipe to attach to a spigot which flows at different ‘flooz’ rates. Reach a quota for connected tube length, then go for high scores with loops. The manual describes the bonus scoring system for loops but looking at it made our brain hurt, loops give you more points. You can destroy rogue pipe but it costs some points and takes some extra time. You need to be watching your upcoming pieces and anticipating bad luck.

This version of the game also features a two-player mode if you have a link cable. It’s based on best points on a stage, first to three wins. We don’t have a link cable but it sounds quite enjoyable! The presentation in this one is great, with good music, easy to read visuals, and timeless gameplay. This game ranks highly on our list for good reason, give it a play on whatever platform you have. But be warned, it can be a little addicting.