The last Zachtronics game, Last Call BBS is out now in early access
The most prolific indie studio of the last decade are preparing to bow out, with today bringing the early access launch of "the last game from Zachtronics", Last Call BBS. It's a puzzle-o-rama firing up a mysterious old computer to download pirated software from a BBS, letting us play everything from logic puzzles of circuits and flesh to a model kit-building simulation. I've played a wee bit and am keen to explore more, even as someone who is the absolute worst at Zachlikes.
Last Call BBS takes place inside the desktop environment of a 1990s PC. Dialing into an old bulletin board system, named Last Call BBS, we're downloading pirated software and learning a little about the history of fictional software and fictional people. It packs eight games and so far I've grown flesh and bone in a biomechanical horror puzzler, plopped down conveyer builts and connected logic circuits to prepare food in industrial kitchens (a game made in-fiction by 'Zachmatics'), built an anime robot kit and painted it poorly, instantly noped out of designing microchips, and—of course—played some solitaire.
It's an interesting one. I always enjoy Zachlikes having stories to uncover alongside the puzzling, and this sprinkles mystery across the BBS and the computer. It's a nice simulation of a computer too, with a good hard drive burble and screechy modem. And it captures the vibe of pirating software, from warez groups and crackers leaving obnoxious messages with shout-outs to the challenge of trying to figure out a strange game or software without a manual. Some are friendlier than others, mind, and the BBS's operator helpfully attaches difficulty ratings. Games take several minutes to download too, and after each you must wait 15 minutes for your
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