When I first started playing Auto Puzzle Stream I assumed it would be a casual game. But after a while I realised it required quite a bit of talent. It isn’t a jigsaw puzzle or a colour matching game, but a game of timing, patience and prediction. I had to regulate the flow of traffic, find holes to place cars in the circles and most importantly avoid any collisions.
I am a traffic cop. Cars wait at the entry, others go around the traffic circles endlessly. My job is to find a safe gap, tell the following car it’s OK and watch it pull in without hitting any cars already there.
The first few levels were rather tame but the traffic got a lot more complicated the further I got in. There are not only one circle but there are several circles occurring at the same time with different speeds and distances between the cars.
First I have to see how the traffic automobiles move.They move in a repeating cycle, and I need to understand that cycle. Some cars are far apart, others are close together.
Next, I look for gaps. In the early levels, the gaps are quite clear. But as I progress, the gaps become narrower, appear less frequently, and I have to make quick decisions.
Then I release the car at the right moment by pressing the Left Mouse Button or Spacebar. A slight mistake is enough to cause a collision. One collision ends the entire level, and I have to start over.
Finally, I track the released car until I'm sure it has entered the safe circle. The job doesn't end when I press a button.
I learned that the green cars are highly significant. When an automobile turns green it instantly leaves the circle by way of the escape. This gives me room making new holes for the next autos.
There is another intriguing mechanism: when the police car starts "chasing", it switches the colour of the car in front to green, and they both leave the circle together. It’s not simply timing, I’ve had to think about how to use these cars to free up space.”
The true issue is when I get to levels with two, three or even four circles at the same time. There are so many directions to look, and I have to decide which to focus on.
I might have to drop the car into circle number 1, then immediately move to circle number 2. Just a few seconds of inattention, and the space I planned to use is gone. This is where the game truly showcased my skills. Not just timing, but also the ability to manage multiple issues simultaneously. I felt like I was coordinating at an airport.
While playing, I realized the game introduces challenges step by step:
I've played quite a few other traffic games to compare. Super Formula 1 Racing is a typical racing game where I have to control the car to reach the finish line. It's completely different from Auto Puzzle Stream because I have full control of my car. Rocketcar Cup focuses on speed and quick reactions, but the mechanics are still direct control. Route 66 Russian Traffic is closer to Auto Puzzle Stream, as I also have to monitor traffic flow, but it focuses on driving through traffic rather than dropping the car at the right moment.
What makes Auto Puzzle Stream different is the combination of timing and resource management. I'm not driving, but a traffic management strategist.
Each level only lasts a few minutes if I succeed, but if I fail, I want to try again immediately. There's no lingering frustration, just a "just one more time" feeling that I can't resist.
The experience of eventually succeeding on a difficult level after failing several times is tremendously wonderful. No need to figure out a hard puzzle or defeat a formidable enemy, simply improve your timing abilities.
I was too hasty when I started playing. When I saw a gap I wanted to pull my car out without looking at the automobile behind me. What followed was a succession of collisions.
I also didn’t really get what the green automobile in the front was for. I saw them as impediments, not as strategic advantages. It was easy to play once I knew how to use them.
When I read them, I didn’t know which of the several circles to prioritize. I learnt to focus on the rings that were going to be blocked first, clear those, then worry about the rest.
Auto Puzzle Stream is a very good traffic puzzle game. Really rewarding gameplay that is basic yet profound, logical rise of difficulty and the satisfaction of beating a tough level. I will absolutely be playing it.
If you’re a fan of puzzle games or just want to try something new, Auto Puzzle Stream is worth downloading. I promise you’ll spend a couple hours on it at least and you won’t even realize how much time has passed.
