Difference between revisions of "Sid & Al's Incredible Toons"

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[[Image:Sid & Al's Incredible Toons - DOS - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|US DOS box.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Sid & Al's Incredible Toons
 +
| Image           = Sid & Al's Incredible Toons - DOS - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = MS-DOS - USA - 1st edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Jeff Tunnell Productions}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Dynamix}}, {{VideoGamePublisher|Sierra On-Line}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1993
 +
| PublishedMonth  = ??
 +
| PublishedDay    = ??
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|DOS}}, {{Platform|Macintosh Classic}}, {{Platform|Windows 3}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Comedy video game|Comedy}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Passive puzzle video game|Passive puzzle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Physics video game|Physics}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Puzzle video game|Puzzle}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Cartoon}}, {{MediaTheme|Comedy}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Incredible Machine (universe)|Incredible Machine]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
 +
}}
  
'''''Sid & Al's Incredible Toons''''', is a [[puzzle game]] developed by [[Jeff Tunnell Productions]] and initially published by [[Dynamix]] in 1993 for [[MS-DOS]], and later ported to [[Macintosh Classic|Macintosh]] and [[Windows 3]], and published by [[Sierra On-Line]] with the new title, ''The Incredible Toon Machine''. The game is part of [[The Incredible Machine (universe)|''The Incredible Machine'' series]] which requires the player to solving various puzzles by building strange [[Rube Goldberg devices]], but this game adds cartoon characters and wacky slapstick humor into the mix.
+
'''''Sid & Al's Incredible Toons''''', is a [[puzzle video game]] developed by [[Jeff Tunnell Productions]] and initially published by [[Dynamix]] in 1993 for [[MS-DOS]], and later ported to [[Macintosh Classic|Macintosh]] and [[Windows 3]], and published by [[Sierra On-Line]] with the new title, ''The Incredible Toon Machine''. The game is part of [[The Incredible Machine (universe)|''The Incredible Machine'' series]] which requires the player to solve various puzzles by building strange [[Rube Goldberg device]]s, but this game adds cartoon characters and wacky slapstick humor into the mix.
  
The Sierra version adds more levels, better driver support, and a slightly improved interface. It also wisely ties the game's title to the ''The Incredible Machine'' series which had grown in popularity since the DOS release.
+
The Sierra version adds better driver support and a slightly improved interface. It also wisely ties the game's title to the ''The Incredible Machine'' series which had grown in popularity since the DOS release.
  
==Status==
+
==Personal==
I do not own the game, but am playing it.
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{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      =
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes. Windows 3 port. Needed a hint for two puzzles.
 +
| CantWin  =
 +
| Finished = 2020-04-04.
 +
}}
  
==Personal==
+
The Windows demo version of ''[[The Incredible Toon Machine]]'' was included along with another [[Sierra On-Line]] game that my cousins had in the mid-1990s, and we had a lot of fun playing the limited and rather buggy levels. This was my first introduction in ''The Incredible Machine'' series. Many years later, knowing I had better patience for puzzle games than when I was a child, I sat down and tried to beat the Windows 3 port of the game. I got stuck on two puzzles and needed a hint to push me in the right direction, but, other than that, I unlocked and solved every puzzle in the game.
The Windows demo version of ''[[The Incredible Toon Machine]]'' was included along with another [[Sierra On-Line]] game that my cousins had, and we had a lot of fun playing the limited and rather buggy levels. This was my first introduction in ''The Incredible Machine'' series.
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
 +
{{Video Game Review|7|6|7|5|7|Windows 3}}
 +
 +
{{Spoilers}}
 +
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
* The theme of the game is lots of fun certainly helped by the colorful cartoon style.
+
* The theme of the game is lots of fun and it's certainly helped by the colorful cartoon style.
* For 1993, the physics engine is very impressive. I also like that it is fully determined so that every time you replay a game with the same setup, it will play out the same way every time. Modern physics engines often include rounding errors that prevent such precision.
+
* For 1993, the physics engine is very impressive. I also like that it is fully determined so that every time you replay a game with the same setup, it will play out exactly the same way every time. Modern physics engines often include rounding errors that prevent such precision.
 
* The graphics are well-drawn. Few other games of the time were able to capture the silliness of the Western cartoon style in a video game.
 
* The graphics are well-drawn. Few other games of the time were able to capture the silliness of the Western cartoon style in a video game.
 
* The game does a pretty good job of holding the player's hand in the beginning stages, teaching them how to use the bulk of the devices in the game.
 
* The game does a pretty good job of holding the player's hand in the beginning stages, teaching them how to use the bulk of the devices in the game.
* The music, which uses a combination of classical, traditional, and [[Loony Tunes]] rips-offs is perfectly fitting for the game. The silly sound effects are also dead-on.
+
* The music, which uses a combination of classical, traditional, and [[Loony Tunes]] rips-offs, fits the game perfectly. The silly sound effects are also dead-on.
 
* Rather than require you to finish levels individually before opening the next, the game opens blocks of levels as you progress, allowing you to skip levels that you're stuck on and come back to them later.
 
* Rather than require you to finish levels individually before opening the next, the game opens blocks of levels as you progress, allowing you to skip levels that you're stuck on and come back to them later.
  
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* A lot of puzzles are less about figuring out the solution and more about getting the placement of a tool just perfect. For example, "Attack of the Pachyderms" requires you to coordinate the very specific placement of four elephants and requires a reset every time they aren't perfect. Too many of the levels are like this for my taste.
 
* A lot of puzzles are less about figuring out the solution and more about getting the placement of a tool just perfect. For example, "Attack of the Pachyderms" requires you to coordinate the very specific placement of four elephants and requires a reset every time they aren't perfect. Too many of the levels are like this for my taste.
 
* As you reach the more complex puzzles, they become obnoxiously difficult requiring you to play with them, often for hours, to finally figure out, if you're able to at all.
 
* As you reach the more complex puzzles, they become obnoxiously difficult requiring you to play with them, often for hours, to finally figure out, if you're able to at all.
 +
* The game doesn't unlock levels evenly enough. You're expected to beat almost all of the puzzles in the later difficulty levels before the last ones are unlocked. This wouldn't be too bad, but I found that the difficulty for the later levels wasn't evenly paced. For example, I found "Bombs Away" to be one of the hardest puzzles in the game, but it's not in the hardest difficulty level. I was scratching my head on it for hours before I finally beat it and unlocked several much easier puzzles.
 
* There are a couple rendering glitches. Nothing horrible, but they sometimes became distracting.
 
* There are a couple rendering glitches. Nothing horrible, but they sometimes became distracting.
  
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===Box Art===
 
===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Sid & Al's Incredible Toons - DOS - USA.jpg|
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Sid & Al's Incredible Toons - DOS - USA.jpg|The original title and art. I like the zany box art and shape, but it makes the game out to be more of an action cartoon, rather than a puzzle game.
Incredible Toon Machine, The - WIN3 - Canada.jpg|
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Incredible Toon Machine, The - WIN3 - Canada.jpg|The re-titled art is much more accurate to the game's play style and uses the Rube Goldberg illustration style.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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===Videos===
 
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ-Hcex6eo0 youtube.com/watch?v=TZ-Hcex6eo0] - Longplay, Windows, CD-ROM version.
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{{YouTube|TZ-Hcex6eo0|Longplay - Windows, CD-ROM.}}
 +
 
 +
==Play Online==
 +
{{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/sid-and-als-incredible-toons.html|MS-DOS}}, {{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/win3x-incredible-toon-machine.html|Windows 3}}
 +
 
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = There only women are part of machine objects.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = No women ever speak.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = There are no humans.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Download==
 +
Two playable demos of the game were made, an early one by Dynamix and a later one by Sierra. Both were for Windows 3 and both are available here.
 +
 
 +
* [[Media:Sid and Al's Incredible Toons - WIN3 - Demos.zip|Download]] ([[:File:Sid and Al's Incredible Toons - WIN3 - Demos.zip|Info]]) - Windows 3 - All versions.
  
 
==Titles==
 
==Titles==
Line 60: Line 105:
  
  
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: 1993 Video Games]]
 
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Puzzle]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Indirect control]]
[[Category: Media Theme - Cartoon]]
 
[[Category: DOS Games]]
 
[[Category: Macintosh Classic Games]]
 
[[Category: Windows 3 Games]]
 

Latest revision as of 17:36, 7 March 2024

Sid & Al's Incredible Toons

Sid & Al's Incredible Toons - DOS - USA.jpg

MS-DOS - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Jeff Tunnell Productions
Publisher Dynamix, Sierra On-Line
Published 1993-??-??
Platforms DOS, Macintosh Classic, Windows 3
Genres Comedy, Passive puzzle, Physics, Puzzle
Themes Cartoon, Comedy
Series Incredible Machine
Distribution Commercial

Sid & Al's Incredible Toons, is a puzzle video game developed by Jeff Tunnell Productions and initially published by Dynamix in 1993 for MS-DOS, and later ported to Macintosh and Windows 3, and published by Sierra On-Line with the new title, The Incredible Toon Machine. The game is part of The Incredible Machine series which requires the player to solve various puzzles by building strange Rube Goldberg devices, but this game adds cartoon characters and wacky slapstick humor into the mix.

The Sierra version adds better driver support and a slightly improved interface. It also wisely ties the game's title to the The Incredible Machine series which had grown in popularity since the DOS release.

Personal

Own?No.
Won?Yes. Windows 3 port. Needed a hint for two puzzles.
Finished2020-04-04.

The Windows demo version of The Incredible Toon Machine was included along with another Sierra On-Line game that my cousins had in the mid-1990s, and we had a lot of fun playing the limited and rather buggy levels. This was my first introduction in The Incredible Machine series. Many years later, knowing I had better patience for puzzle games than when I was a child, I sat down and tried to beat the Windows 3 port of the game. I got stuck on two puzzles and needed a hint to push me in the right direction, but, other than that, I unlocked and solved every puzzle in the game.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
7 6 7 5 7

Best Version: Windows 3

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The theme of the game is lots of fun and it's certainly helped by the colorful cartoon style.
  • For 1993, the physics engine is very impressive. I also like that it is fully determined so that every time you replay a game with the same setup, it will play out exactly the same way every time. Modern physics engines often include rounding errors that prevent such precision.
  • The graphics are well-drawn. Few other games of the time were able to capture the silliness of the Western cartoon style in a video game.
  • The game does a pretty good job of holding the player's hand in the beginning stages, teaching them how to use the bulk of the devices in the game.
  • The music, which uses a combination of classical, traditional, and Loony Tunes rips-offs, fits the game perfectly. The silly sound effects are also dead-on.
  • Rather than require you to finish levels individually before opening the next, the game opens blocks of levels as you progress, allowing you to skip levels that you're stuck on and come back to them later.

Bad

  • A lot of puzzles are less about figuring out the solution and more about getting the placement of a tool just perfect. For example, "Attack of the Pachyderms" requires you to coordinate the very specific placement of four elephants and requires a reset every time they aren't perfect. Too many of the levels are like this for my taste.
  • As you reach the more complex puzzles, they become obnoxiously difficult requiring you to play with them, often for hours, to finally figure out, if you're able to at all.
  • The game doesn't unlock levels evenly enough. You're expected to beat almost all of the puzzles in the later difficulty levels before the last ones are unlocked. This wouldn't be too bad, but I found that the difficulty for the later levels wasn't evenly paced. For example, I found "Bombs Away" to be one of the hardest puzzles in the game, but it's not in the hardest difficulty level. I was scratching my head on it for hours before I finally beat it and unlocked several much easier puzzles.
  • There are a couple rendering glitches. Nothing horrible, but they sometimes became distracting.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Videos

Longplay - Windows, CD-ROM.

Play Online

MS-DOS, Windows 3

Representation

Strong female character?FailThere only women are part of machine objects.
Bechdel test?FailNo women ever speak.
Strong person of color character?FailThere are no humans.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Download

Two playable demos of the game were made, an early one by Dynamix and a later one by Sierra. Both were for Windows 3 and both are available here.

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English (Dynamix) Sid & Al's Incredible Toons
English (Sierra) The Incredible Toon Machine

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-GameFAQs.png