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ORB
review | COMMODORE 64
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Publisher: Magic Disk 64.
Developer: Uwe Anfang. Released: June 1994. Genre: Puzzle. Posted 31st March 2026. By Tom Clare © 2026 |
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A little over a month before Orb released, the Commodore 64 was discontinued. For the time being, however, magazines continued to plough on, providing fans with more creative endeavours for loyal owners. The German puzzle boom was still going strong, with Orb appearing on cover disks in the summer of 1994.
The gameplay sees players directing orbs (cross-shaped spinning devices) in four directions, with the aim of getting them to contact panels. A collision of corresponding coloured orbs and panels results in the destruction of both, with a level being completed when all orbs and panels have been removed from the field of play. It all sounds delightfully simple, and it would be, but for one key factor: once an orb has been set in motion, it will not stop until it either reaches a level boundary or makes contact with another orb. Consequently, levels leave their most headache-inducing moments until the last few moves, where it’s crucial to align the orbs in such a way as to guarantee your last one isn’t marooned.
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The number of Orbs varies considerably. You'll need them to help stop one another to beat certain levels
Though Orb isn’t the most exciting puzzling concept, it is nevertheless a good one, periodically promoting new ideas to keep players assessing how to solve its conundrums. The first fifteen or so levels are relatively straightforward, and the biggest problem you’ll likely encounter is the crowded nature of some of the levels, where you’ll have to manoeuvre a dozen or more pins. Along the way, you’ll be introduced to teleport blocks, bounce pads, and my personal favourite, an orb painter, which changes the orb’s colour designation on contact. The early levels are moderately diverting. It doesn’t set the world alight, but you’ll grow into the game.
Whilst it’s graphically unremarkable, the orb spinning animation is attractive and smooth, and it does offer a modicum of variety in the form of occasional theme shifts. The scenery is a rather odd mash-up of random objects however including helicopters, bombs, occasional architecture and liberal splashes of colour. There’s some decent techno giving things a slightly racier vibe than comparable puzzlers, and I rather like that. Like Nova before it, Orb handily displays a level password in the corner of the screen as a means of recording your progress and returning at a later date. Peculiarly, there’s also a somewhat unnecessary ‘tries’ counter: mess things up five times, and you’ll be greeted with a Game Over, though you’ll be back to a full compliment again as soon as you’ve entered the password.
Whilst it’s graphically unremarkable, the orb spinning animation is attractive and smooth, and it does offer a modicum of variety in the form of occasional theme shifts. The scenery is a rather odd mash-up of random objects however including helicopters, bombs, occasional architecture and liberal splashes of colour. There’s some decent techno giving things a slightly racier vibe than comparable puzzlers, and I rather like that. Like Nova before it, Orb handily displays a level password in the corner of the screen as a means of recording your progress and returning at a later date. Peculiarly, there’s also a somewhat unnecessary ‘tries’ counter: mess things up five times, and you’ll be greeted with a Game Over, though you’ll be back to a full compliment again as soon as you’ve entered the password.
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Are there more than 23 levels? It’s highly likely, but whether you can clear the twenty-third remains to be seen. ‘Chappel’ requires the player to teleport the orbs to an enclosed space to use the painter, but the orbs then appear stuck. It’s a niche title with little documentation doing the rounds, and no videos that delve this far into the game. At the time of writing, there are still no documented password lists (though you can find a few on this page!), so like in the old days, we’re left to wonder what lies beyond.
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Can you beat Level 23? Do you know what lies beyond? Let us know!
Orb isn’t the finest puzzler to grace the C64, but it’s an enjoyable spin on the Sokoban formula that will provide fans with some a diverting challenge and one or two genuinely cool touches. Most of the levels are fairly straightforward, though there are plenty that will give your skills a workout. Not an essential title, but one genre connoisseurs should nevertheless enjoy.
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VERDICT
"Orb offers a decent mental workout, even if there are more satisfying puzzlers available on the C64 scene." OVERALL: 6/10 |
OTHER NINETIES PUZZLE GAMES REVIEWED
Nova (1993, Commodore 64)
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Pushy IIb (1998, PlayStation | Net Yaroze)
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