Pipe Dream
Description official descriptions
Each level of this abstract puzzler challenges the player to set up a network of pipes to allow an unspecified substance known as 'flooz' to flow through as many of those as possible. The pieces are offered in random order, and there are seven different types - straight lines going horizontally or vertically, corners rotating in each of the four directions, and cross-over pieces which carry the flooz straight across horizontally and vertically. Each of these can be entered from either side. When the flooz hits a gap or a piece that the previous piece can't flow into, the pipe is finished.
Before the flooz starts flowing from its randomly-selected starting position, the player has several seconds to start placing pieces. They can be put down anywhere. However, a situation that can often occur is there will be a long and complex piping arrangement set up, yet a gap somewhere remains to be filled. Players are able to replace a piece with another in the same square (to make it easier to flow the flooz that way), but for a slight scoring penalty.
Bonuses are awarded for looping the flooz through both sides of at least 5 cross-over pieces or passing the flooz through every square on the screen. Later levels have some squares on the grid blocked off, a few gaps in the side-wall (allowing flooz to thread to the other side of the screen). After every four levels, there is a bonus game for points, in which the player can only place the pieces in the lowest open space in each column, similarly to the board game of "Connect 4".
Spellings
- Pipemania - Alternate European title spelling
- パイプドリーム - Japanese spelling
Groups +
Screenshots
Promos
Credits (Amiga version)
14 People
| Designed by |
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| Amiga and Atari ST versions by | |
| Artwork by | |
| Music Composed by | |
| Documentation Design and Typesetting | |
| Language Translations by |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 81% (based on 29 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.7 out of 5 (based on 83 ratings with 2 reviews)
The Good
I think the originality of the idea. Getting the ooze through the pipes before it spills out the end. Thats a good idea for a puzzle game. Sure there have been many clones with the whole idea being so good, but to be able to play a puzzle game like this back then was a great thing.
The Bad
I guess the graphics. After you played this game in windows with a windows clone such as Pipe Dream, then you basically didn't want to go back to Pipe Mania.
The Bottom Line
I would say, get the ooze through the pipes and don't die. Its a basic game yet it gets challenging as you go up through the levels. You should play it just so you can say you have :)
DOS · by Michelle (176) · 2002
A minute to learn, a lifetime to master, hours to explain - classic stuff
The Good
The basic idea probably came to the designed one day when he had plumbers round, and its inherent simplicity is delightful. It was something different to the Tetris/Klax/Columns style of puzzle games, and offered a lot of potential for invention and strategy. The + shaped pieces are especially important as they give potential to change direction much more easily.
The 20 seconds to start building before the flow starts is perfectly judged, allowing you to lay out lots of working pipes (and the foundations for others as you await the correct pieces - bringing some real strategy into the proceedings).
The bonus game is one of the neatest I've ever seen, a fantastic idea implemented really well.
The extra point bonuses are superb, and the delight when you find or achieve them is massive.
The Bad
You could criticise the graphics and sound, but they more than do the job, and make sure that the game stays within a single 64K load.
The Bottom Line
A simple idea - create a string of pipes using different types of them, whcih are handed to you in a random order, so as to allow some type of liquid to flow through a certain number (or more) to enable you to complete the level - carried out with style and imagination, with extra bonuses, landscape factors such as existing pipes and blocked squares, and the chance to speed up the flow for double points but extra challenge, all adding to the fun.
Commodore 64 · by Martin Smith (81434) · 2004
Discussion
| Subject | By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tose? | Silvano Ciccioli (128) | May 8th, 2021 |
Trivia
Contest
Around the time of the release of the NES and Game Boy versions of the game, Bullet-Proof Software advertised a contest in various video game magazines. The contest involved arranging pieces of a puzzle on a grid. The puzzles pieces themselves were drawings of pipes similar to what can be found in the actual game. The puzzle had a scoring guide and there were three prize levels for the entrants with the highest scores. 75 3rd prizes were BPS T-shirts, 25 2nd prizes were a free BPS game of the winner's choice and the above mentioned T-shirt, and 3 grand prize winners who would receive a free trip to Nintendo of America's headquarters in Seattle for 4 days and 3 nights. There was also a $1000 bonus drawing for contestants that answered two bonus questions. The questions revolved around knowing the scores on the back of the game boxes of both the NES and Game Boy versions of the game.
Macintosh version
The Mac version actually included two game programs. One was a full-on application while the other was a Desk Accessory which could be installed and run from the Apple menu over whatever regular application you were running. Pretty handy for slacking off on projects if you were working with an older version of the OS that didn't support Multi-tasking.
Ports
This is one of the most-ported games of its day, with versions for more than a dozen system in existence. Notably it was one of the few titles from a major company for the SAM Coupé, an intended successor to the ZX Spectrum (from a different company) which never succeeded due to compatibility issues and not being as powerful as the rival ST and Amiga, which both already had a vast library of available games.
Awards
- ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)
- February 1991 (issue #41) - Included in the list Greatest Games of all Time, section Puzzle Games (editorial staff choice)
- Amiga Joker
- Issue 01/1991 – #3 Best Strategy Game in 1990
- Amiga Power
- May 1991 (issue #00) - #80 in the "All Time Top 100 Amiga Games"
- Commodore Format
- July 1993 (Issue 34) - Modern Classics: Oddities
- ST Format
- Issue 01/1991 – #4 Best Puzzle Game in 1990
Related Games
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Released 2003 on Windows, 2014 on iPhone, 2016 on Android
Released 1993 on DOS
Released 2007 on J2ME
Released 2022 on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Related Sites +
-
Pipe Mania
Product page on the developer's website (J2ME) -
Pipe Mania aka Pipe Dream
History about the various versions and platforms for this classic game.
Identifiers +
- MobyGames ID: 2112
- Wikipedia (en)
Contribute
Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history!
Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Luiz Pacheco.
Commodore 64 added by Quapil. Amiga added by POMAH. Electron added by fwibbler. Apple IIgs added by Rockin' Kat. Arcade added by Rik Hideto. Sharp X68000 added by Infernos. Game Boy added by Riamus. Acorn 32-bit, ZX Spectrum, PC-98, SAM Coupé, PC-88, Windows 3.x added by Kabushi. Amstrad CPC, Atari ST added by Martin Smith. Apple II, NES added by Servo. SNES added by BdR. BBC Micro added by formercontrib. Macintosh added by Jason Savage.
Additional contributors: Jeanne, Sciere, Alaka, Martin Smith, formercontrib, LepricahnsGold, Patrick Bregger, Rockin' Kat, Rik Hideto, Jo ST, FatherJack.
Game added August 12th, 2000. Last modified September 1st, 2023.