Lucas's Problem

Lucas's Problem

Windows 3 - Screenshot.

Developer James Curran Publisher James Curran Published 1990-??-?? Platforms Windows 3 Genres Passive puzzle, Puzzle, Single-screen Distribution Shareware

Lucas's Problem is a puzzle video game adaption of a puzzle created by Édouard Lucas developed and published by James Curran for Windows 3 in 1990. It is an example of early shareware games for the platform and features digital sound effects using Covox audio hardware.

Personal

Own?	No.
Won?	Yes.
Finished	2022-02-15.

While looking to expand my knowledge of the Windows 3 game catalog, I saw this game and thought I'd be able to quickly solve it. It took me a couple tries to understand the mechanic, but I beat the game after a minute or two.

Review

2	2	1	2	2

Best Version: Windows 3

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

• The game competently enforces the rules of Lucas's problem.

Bad

• Version 2.1 introduces some minor bugs.

Ugly

• The puzzle is fairly easy to figure out, and, once you've solved it, there's nothing left to do. A lot more should have been done with it to justify even the $5 donation.
• The game is severely lacking in polish. The graphics are ugly, the sound is bad, and the controls feel uncomfortable.

Media

Graphics

• 

  The game's icon.

Screenshots

• 

  Starting a new game.

• 

  About dialog.

• 

  Help screen.

• 

  Took a wrong turn.

• 

  There's the solution.

Representation

Strong female character?	Fail	There are no characters.
Bechdel test?	Fail	There are no characters.
Strong person of color character?	Fail	There are no characters.
Queer character?	Fail	There are no characters.

Download

This archive contains two versions of the game, 2.0 and 2.1. Although version 2.1 is the more recent version, it lacks audio configuration, has graphic glitches, and the help hotkey doesn't work, so I suggest playing v2.0.

• Download (Info) - Versions 2.0 and 2.1.

Links

   

• noveltheory.com/Lucas - Online version.