Supaplex

**Supaplex** - a video game created by Philip Jespersen and Michael Stopp in 1991. It includes 111 levels of varying difficulty.

The game is a remake of another game called *Boulderdash*. The main differences are graphics and music. *Supaplex* - unlike other games of *Boulderdash* series - is not completely based on grid. Also, the game has an ability to detonate some kinds of walls.

## History

In 1991, creators of the game, Swiss students, decided to make a clone of *Boulderdash*. They called their game *Think!* and sold it to Digital Integration. The authors had to change the title since the name *Think!* was already registered. Finally, it was entitled *Supaplex*.

Initially, the game was programmed for Amiga. Later it was ported *Supaplex* to MS-DOS and Appple Macintosh..

The developers of *Supaplex* declared the software as freeware.

There is also an open source 1:1 reimplementation of the game called *OpenSupaplex* that runs on many platforms, like PS Vita and Nintendo Switch.

### Authors

The game was created by:

* Philip Jespersen - programming, a few levels
* Michael Stopp - graphics, most of levels
* David Whittaker - music and sounds
* Robin Heydon - programming for PC
* Matt Smith - graphics for PC

## Gameplay

In *Supaplex*, the player controls a red ball called Murphy. To complete a level, they must collect a specific amount of infotrons and reach the exit.

Murphy is controlled by using arrow keys and space.

The game includes 111 levels. It is possible to skip three levels to make the game easier. Although, to fully complete the game, the player has to finish skipped levels as well.

In the main menu you can make new player profiles, choose levels and change settings.

## Game elements

Levels in *Supaplex* are made of different elements. Every element has its own appearance and behaviour. 14 elements exist in the game, but some of them do not appear in every level.

* **Murphy** - a red ball controlled by the player.
* Empty space - black squares. A few elements (like electrons, snik snaks, zonks or infotrons) can move through them.
* **Zonk** - a rock. It can be pushed horizontally by Murphy if it's not blocked by another element. It falls if there's an empty space below it.
* **Base** - a green printed circuit board. It causes elements upon it not to fall. Murphy can remove and replace it with an empty space. In the gravity mode, Murphy can move above only by eating base.
	+ **Bug** - a base's variant. A spark sometimes explodes upon it. If a player enters a square containg a bug when a spark appears, Murphy explodes and the game ends. Unlike a base, Murphy cannot use it to move above in the gravity mode.
* **Infotron** - an element which specified amount is required to complete a level. Its behaviour is similar to zonk's.
* **Snik snak** - red scissors. They move along other elements (also other snik snaks). If the player contacts with them, Murphy explodes.
* **Electron** - blue flashing stars. Their behaviour is similar to snik snak's, but if electron is detonated in reach of an explosion, infotrons appear.
* **Disks** - they may be detonated. They cause explosions. A maximal reach of an explosion caused by one disk is 3x3 squares. There are three types of floppy disks:
	+ **Yellow disk** - it explodes when a terminal is activated. Murphy can push it. Gravitation doesn't affect yellow disks.
	+ **Red disk** - it can be collected by Murphy and detonated at every moment by holding the space key. Like yellow disks, red ones are not affected by gravitation in any way.
	+ **Orange disk** - it can be detonated by falling upon another element (including another disk). Murphy can push it horizontally.
* **Terminal** - it activates all yellow disks on the map and make them explode. It can not be used more than once during the same gameplay on a single map.
* **Port** - it gives an ability to move between some rooms or spaces. Only Murphy can use it.
* **RAM chip** - a kind of a wall. It can be destroyed by an explosion.
* **Hardware** - a variant of a wall. It's unbreakable and it's not possible to detonate it in any way.
* **Exit** - an orange square with the letter 'E'. It's required to complete a level and it can be used after a player collects a specified amount of infotrons.

## Official levelset

The original levelset contains 111 levels and was released on December 24, 1991.

## See also

* Level list
* Game folder

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://elmerproductions.com/sp/history.html
2. ↑ https://github.com/sergiou87/open-supaplex