Diabolical Digits
{{Infobox video game
| title = Diabolical Digits
| image =
| caption =
| developer = Créalude
| publisher = {{vgrelease|FR|CFI}}{{vgrelease|NA|Millennium Media Group, Dell Magazines}}
| designer = Pierre Berloquin
| platforms = Macintosh, Windows
| released = March 1, 1995{{cite book | date=October 1997 | title=Electre Multimédia 1998 Multimedia Directory | url=https://archive.org/details/electremultimedi0000unse/page/189/mode/1up | page=189 | publisher=Electre | language=fr | isbn=2-7654-0674-X}}
| genre = Mathematical puzzle
| modes = Single-player
}}
Diabolical Digits is a mathematical puzzle video game designed by French puzzle master Pierre Berloquin and developed by Créalude for Windows and Macintosh. It was originally published in France by CFI in March 1995 as Digi Folies. A North American version was distributed by Millennium Media Group and Dell Magazines at the end of the year.{{cite magazine | author=Bauman, Steve | date=December 1995 | title=Strategy Review: Word War 5 / Diabolical Digits | url=https://archive.org/details/CGStrategyPlus_assorted/CG-StrategyPlus-61/page/n95/mode/1up | magazine=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | issue=61 | page=94 | issn=1546-5101}}{{cite magazine | author1=Snyder, Frank | author2=Chapman, Ted | author3=Kaiafas, Tasos | date=November 1995 | title=Take a Number... Diabolical Digits | url=https://archive.org/details/computer-game-review-november-1995/page/n81/mode/1up | magazine=Computer Game Review | publisher=Sendai Publishing | issue=52 | page=82 | issn=1062-113X}}{{cite magazine | author=Glenn, Marilyn A. | date=September 16, 1995 | title=Enter*Active: Dell Magazine's Diabolical Digits, Millennium Media Group, PC CD-ROM | url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-09-16.pdf | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Penske Media Corporation | issn=0006-2510 | page=49}}{{cite magazine | author=Elko, Lance | date=December 1994 | title=Holiday Extravaganza: Diabolical Digits | url=https://archive.org/details/pc-gamer-usa-019-december-1995/page/n158/mode/1up | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Future US | issue=19 | pages=155–6 | issn=1059-2180}}
Gameplay
Diabolical Digits is a mathematical puzzle game in which the player arranges numbers on a grid so that none of the numbers are adjacent to the same number or to a number from which it differs by one.{{cite magazine|last=|first=|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation|issue=5|publisher=Imagine Media|date=May 1995|page=95|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_05/page/n96/mode/1up}}
Reception
{{VG Reviews
}}
Next Generation rated it two stars out of five, and stated that "It might be good for very young children who are just learning their numbers, but for anyone above the age of eight, the game is underwhelming." A trio of reviewers for Computer Game Review gave the game an average of 73 out 100, summarizing it as terrific for younger players, particularly math students, but that it can boring quickly and that there are few goals other to beat ones own high score. Computer Games Strategy Plus writer Steve Bauman echoed this last criticism, but noted "the graphics are sharp, the gameplay entertaining but not particularly deep and there’s plenty of challenge to be had." Marilyn A. Gillen of Billboard asserted that the addition of more complex rules, spiraling grids, and hidden spatial elements made the game appropriate for all ages. PC Magazine writer Shane Mooney similarly found the game a good choice for those that "really want to feel that cranial burn" due to the sheer number of challenges and rule variations.{{cite magazine | author=Mooney, Shane | date=December 19, 1995 | title=1995 Holiday Gift Guide | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zZluSj3AT6YC&pg=PA342 | page=343 | magazine=PC Magazine | publisher=Ziff Davis | issn=0888-8507}}
See also
- Word War 5, another puzzle game from the same designer and developer