RARZ

Factsheet Description Features History Videos Images Logo Monetization Permission Team Contact
'RARZ' spelled out in blocks, with an exclamation point made of blocks, and a stylized magenta jaguar head.

Factsheet

Developer:

Derek Niederhut
Pennsylvania, USA

Release Date:

TBD

Platforms:

  • Windows (64-bit)
  • Linux (Debian/Ubuntu, amd64)

Price:

TBD

Website:

RARZ

Description

RARZ is a retro style puzzle game where a jaguar head destroys blocks by roaring at them to change colors.

Features

  • Change block colors using a variety of pigment or light interactions.
  • Variety of intended shapes and colors change based on the puzzle.
  • Levels have bronze, silver, and gold challenge levels so you can choose your own difficulty.
  • All levels available to play from the start.
  • Save puzzle progress at any point.
  • "Paused by default": waits for user interaction.
  • Simple controls, like classic arcade games.
  • Concept explanations to help learn the rules.
  • Text abbreviations used as alternate identification of block colors.
  • Selectable color themes for user interface elements.
  • Remappable input controls.
  • Playable with keyboard only or keyboard and mouse.
  • Independent volume settings for music, menu sounds, game sounds (no sound is required for gameplay).

History

RARZ development started in earnest in April 2021, from an unrelated toy project that was begun in February 2018 and expanded during time off in lockdown.

The use of a jaguar was inspired by a cat complaining for food (and generally causing some chaos) during that time.

The idea for performing computer-like logic operations on light channels (red, green, and blue) was an amusing thought about alternative computer designs from 2006 while taking a photonics class.

Videos

Download all (high-resolution) as .zip

Short trailer showing several puzzles.

There would be a short trailer here if your browser supported the video.
Example gameplay video, retrying for a better solution.

There would be a gameplay video here if your browser supported it.

Images

Download all (high-resolution) as .zip

Example Levels

Simple level with limited activations.
Level with limited color amounts, more challenging pattern.
Level with fewer colors available, but two possible operations.
Level where hidden information can be overcome with knowledge of color operations.

Game Concept: Puzzle Color Operations

Gameplay interpretation of pigment mixture results.
Gameplay interpretation of light filtering results.
Gameplay interpretation of light combination results.
Gameplay interpretation of color inversion results.

Game Concept: Puzzle Shape Varieties

Target shape: any individual cube.
Cubes will despawn as soon as they are the target color. You can make the most of this to clear cubes that would otherwise be in your way.
Target shape: any shape of enough cubes with touching sides.
Cubes will despawn when any shape of at least the minimum size is formed. Cube sides must be touching (diagonals do not count). If the remaining cubes cannot form a shape of the minimum size, that counts as a loss.
Target shape: line of a given length.
Cubes will despawn when any line of at least the minimum size is formed. Cube sides must be touching (diagonal lines do not count). All cubes of the target color forming a continuous shape with the line will also despawn. If the remaining cubes cannot form at least a line of the minimum size after a desawn, that counts as a loss.
Target shape: square of a given size.
Cubes will despawn when any square of at least the minimum size is formed. Cube sides must be touching (tilted squares do not count). All cubes of the target color forming a continuous shape with the square will also despawn. If the remaining cubes cannot form at least a square of the minimum size after a desawn, that counts as a loss.
Target shape: cube of a given size.
Cubes will despawn when any cube of at least the minimum size is formed. Cube sides must be touching (tilted cubes do not count). All cubes of the target color forming a continuous shape with the cube will also despawn. If the remaining cubes cannot form at least a cube of the minimum size after a desawn, that counts as a loss.

Game Accessibility Features

Controls are re-mappable
Font choice and Sizing
Animations can be disabled or have their speed changed.
Color theme: high contrast
Color theme: light
Color theme: dark
Concept explanation settings.
Independent volume settings.

Logo & Marketing Images

Download all (high-resolution) as .zip

Rounded, shaded .svg logo (for example for web, full-color printing):
Flat .svg logo (for example for block or screen printing):
Text logo:
Combined logo with text:
Poster Image
Header Image
Wide Header Image

Monetization Permission

Permission is granted to make and monetize content including images, video, and audio of RARZ, for commercial or non-commercial purposes, provided that:

  1. You add your own meaningful contribution (analysis, reviews, commentary, reactions, speedruns, etc.)
  2. You are clear about the source and ownership of the RARZ content you include.
  3. You are clear that your contributions are not part of RARZ.
  4. Your content is an article, video, podcast, live talk, or similar presentation (in particular, it is not a game, nor does it make the game available to other people, nor is it merchandise using RARZ art or music).

Team

Derek Niederhut

Programming, Level Design, Art, Music

Contact

Press Inquiries

derek.niederhut@protonmail.com