Snail Bob 8

Snail Bob 8: Island Story is a point-and-click puzzle platformer in which the hero walks by himself and you act on the world around him. Bob is stranded on a strange island and every level is a short obstacle course he must cross to the exit.

The series is made by Hunter Hamster, and this installment sends the snail to an island full of dangers after he was swept away while hoping to catch fish. The twist that defines the game is control: Bob moves forward on his own, and you can only stop him, turn him around, speed him up a little, or make him hide in his shell. Everything else is done by clicking buttons, levers and platforms in the scenery. A write-up of the game counts 30 levels that grow trickier as you advance.

How to play Snail Bob 8

The whole game is played with the mouse. You are not moving Bob so much as managing the timing of the level.

• Use the mouse to pause Bob, and click again to let him go.
• Turn him around, speed him up slightly, or hide him in his shell when needed.
• Click switches, buttons and moving parts to raise platforms or open paths.
• Guide him into the exit at the end of the level.

Tips for Snail Bob 8

• Watch a moving hazard through one full cycle before committing; most dangers repeat on a fixed rhythm.
• Pause Bob early rather than late, because stopping on the edge of a hazard leaves no room to correct.
• Use the shell option when a threat is passing instead of trying to outrun it.
• If a button is not doing anything, check which platform it affects before clicking again; many levels hinge on the order of presses.
• When you get stuck, turn Bob around and look at the level from the opposite direction.

The Snail Bob series was created by Hunter Hamster.