A lab rat undergoes experimentations and becomes super smart.  Now you must help the rat navigate through maze puzzles in a science laboratory in Rat Protocol.  It’s a Sokoban style block pushing puzzle game, and it’s available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.

Play control is simple, just use the D-pad to move in all four directions.  If you are next to a block, you can push it if you move in that direction, too.  You must use blocks to hold down buttons to open corresponding doors, and when you collect all the key cards in a stage, the door will open and you can exit to the next level.

There are other things you can push around, too.  Batteries can be placed on spots to turn off and on things like lasers and teleporters.  Just don’t get hit by the lasers or other obstacles like pits or acid.  There are different kinds of blocks, too.  Steel ones can block lasers, but wooden ones will burn and disintegrate in a few seconds and TNT blocks will blow up if hit by a laser.

There is a nice variety of puzzles in this game (50 in all), but I do wish there was a feature that let you go back moves as the puzzles can get real complex and it’s frustrating to have to start over again.  Also since they gradually introduce new elements with simpler levels, the difficulty can become unbalanced.  But if you like block pushing puzzlers like Adventures of Lolo, you may want to check this one out.

Kid Factor:

Rat Protocol is rated E for Everyone with an ESRB descriptor of Mild Fantasy Violence.  Your rat can get hit by lasers and fall down pits, but it just disappears and reappears back at the start of the level.  Reading skill is helpful for some of the text, but not necessary just to play.  Younger gamers may need help with the tougher puzzles.

Tags: Game Reviews