Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions
A 2000 puzzle game with 250 levels and new graphics.
Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions, a 2000 release in The Incredible Machine series, was built as a full 32-bit Windows 95 title with upgraded 800x600 resolution graphics. Its 250 levels draw mostly from The Incredible Machine 2, with only a handful being completely new.
The following year, the expansion pack The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions introduced a service called "WonSwap," which let players share their own custom puzzles. This expansion also included a version for the Palm Pilot, featuring a distinct set of parts and puzzles designed for a smaller screen.
Critics praised the game. GameSpot's Trey Walker noted that minor issues didn't spoil the overall puzzle quality, recommending it to amateur inventors, fans of Rube Goldberg, and anyone who enjoys classic puzzles. IGN's Martin Reyes called it a vintage blend of educational and entertainment software at its finest.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions
- Developer
- Dynamix
- Publisher
- Sierra On-Line
- Producer
- Randy Thompson
- Designer
- Brian Hahn
- Programmer
- Richard Rayl
- Composer
- Christopher Stevens / Timothy Steven Clarke / Sage Freeman
- Series
- The Incredible Machine
- Platforms
- Mac OS, Windows
- Released
- 2000
- Genre
- Puzzle
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions was released in 2000 as part of The Incredible Machine series. It is a full 32-bit Windows 95 game with new 800x600 resolution graphics. The game contains 250 levels, but only a few of them are new; the majority are levels from The Incredible Machine 2.
An expansion pack, The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions, was released in 2001. This expansion started a service allowing players to share their homemade puzzles using a service called 'WonSwap'. Even More Contraptions also came with a Palm Pilot version of the game that contained its own unique set of parts and puzzles suited for a small screen.
GameSpot's Trey Walker commented that the problems in the game are only minor and do not detract from the overall experience and high quality of the puzzles. IGN's Martin Reyes described the game as a vintage blend of educational and entertainment software at their finest.
Reader's Guide
Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions is significant as a 2000 entry in The Incredible Machine series, offering 250 levels with updated 32-bit graphics at 800x600 resolution. The game's legacy is tied to its expansion pack, The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions (2001), which introduced the 'WonSwap' service for sharing user-created puzzles and included a Palm Pilot version with unique content. Critical reception, as reported in the source article, was positive: GameSpot's Trey Walker noted that minor problems did not detract from the high-quality puzzles, and IGN's Martin Reyes praised it as a blend of educational and entertainment software. The game appealed to amateur inventors and fans of Rube Goldberg-style puzzles, as well as anyone who appreciates classic puzzles. The expansion's WonSwap service represents an early example of community puzzle sharing, while the Palm Pilot version adapted the game for mobile play with tailored parts and puzzles.
Did You Know?
- The game has 250 levels, but most are from The Incredible Machine 2.
- The expansion pack Even More Contraptions started a puzzle-sharing service called WonSwap.
- Even More Contraptions included a Palm Pilot version with unique parts and puzzles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions?
It is a 2000 puzzle game in The Incredible Machine series, built as a 32-bit Windows 95 title with upgraded 800x600 resolution graphics. It serves as a graphical refresh of earlier entries in the franchise.
How many levels does Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions contain?
The game includes 250 levels, though the vast majority are carried over from The Incredible Machine 2. Only a small handful of puzzles were created specifically for this release.
What makes Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions different from the original Incredible Machine games?
The primary upgrade is technical: it runs natively in 32-bit Windows 95 and pushes graphics to an 800x600 resolution, giving the classic contraption puzzles a noticeably sharper visual presentation.
What expansion followed Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions?
In 2001, The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions arrived, adding a player-sharing service called WonSwap for custom puzzles. It also shipped a Palm Pilot edition with its own set of parts and puzzles tailored to the smaller screen.
Can players share custom puzzles in Return of the Incredible Machine: Contraptions?
The 2000 base game does not include a built-in sharing feature. That capability came with the 2001 expansion, Even More Contraptions, through its WonSwap service.
More in Video Games of the 2000s, Part 2 1-24
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