As the holiday festivities fade into memory and the world begins to settle back into its familiar rhythm, there emerges a peculiar interval—a time when the remnants of seasonal indulgence linger like forgotten confetti. It’s during this transitional phase that many seek to clear their mental clutter, establish new objectives, and embark on a journey of self-betterment. Observing the bustling streets near my residence, it seems that a significant number of folks interpret the dawn of the new year as an invitation to embrace the outdoors, engaging in vigorous exercise. They can be spotted jogging fervently, clad in tight-fitting lycra, drenched in sweat, as if this physical exertion is the key to starting anew.
But not me. Absolutely not. Have you taken a glance outside? The great outdoors is rife with unpredictable elements—there’s the “weather,” which can be pretty daunting, and then there are “other people,” who may surprise you at every turn. If I were to encounter someone unexpectedly, I couldn’t even fast-forward through an awkward interaction like one might in a video game. What I truly craved for this January was:
To remain cocooned in warmth indoors, at any expense.
To shake off the stupor induced by indulgent holiday treats without relying on copious amounts of coffee.
In search of stimulation for my underutilised brain, I contemplated playing a puzzle game. However, none of the conventional titles sparked my enthusiasm. The repetitive act of aligning shapes and matching hues felt overly familiar; I yearned for something invigorating—something that would demand my complete focus.
And so, I found myself immersed in the world of *Sabnack*, a 1991 gem for the PC-98 platform (available for digital download!). This game presents an intriguing blend of concepts that captivated my interest. My task was to transport a specific item to its designated location by skillfully manipulating various objects within intricately crafted stages. On the surface, this premise could easily apply to countless puzzle games; however, *Sabnack* distinguishes itself by intertwining elements of an action RPG into its core gameplay. Navigating through throngs of adversaries while commanding magical knights to vanquish foes becomes as crucial as deftly unravelling the latest conundrum.
In theory, it all sounds relatively straightforward. Alf, our protagonist—with his striking red hair and valiant presence reminiscent of someone who may have inadvertently wandered off from an audition for *Ys*—is on a quest. His mission? To locate the petrified fairy hidden in each level, resurrect her with a flourish of his enchanted cape, and then guide her safely to the exit.
This unique blend of challenge and adventure promised an experience unlike any other, igniting within me a spark of excitement that had been dormant amid the holiday haze. In this realm of puzzles and peril, I was ready to dive deep and embrace whatever awaited me.
Life, as it often is, is never relatively as straightforward as one might wish. Even in its earliest moments, complexity lurks just beneath the surface.
Take Sabnack, for instance, whose peculiar ability adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. When Alf breathes life into anything, that entity remains fixed in the position it occupies at that very moment. If, for example, Alf animates a creature while it hovers above him, it continues to float there, regardless of how he shifts his position.
In the world of entertainment, one Marvel star has voiced his frustrations regarding the arduous journey of bringing his envisioned film adaptation of *Sleeping Dogs* to fruition. Yet, despite the challenges, he remains steadfast in his quest—not only for the movie but also for the long-cherished hope of a sequel to the beloved game.
As I navigated through the game’s various challenges, I found myself in a predicament. If my current formation was too large to squeeze through a narrow passage or if my ally was misplaced, it would spell trouble. Sometimes, it was as trivial as needing to turn left while my companion stood stubbornly to my right. In such instances, I had to devise alternative strategies—either manoeuvring my obstinate friends into a more favourable position or even temporarily reverting them into an unyielding stone state.
My initial hopes for the game included a gradual introduction to its fundamental mechanics, allowing me to build confidence as I progressed through the early stages. Instead, the second stage hit me with formidable monsters capable of ending my journey with a single touch. Soon after, foes began advancing directly toward me, their relentless pacing only intensifying when they became ensnared behind obstacles like trees. To survive these encounters, I had to employ cunning tactics: luring them away from my path with Alf’s enticingly heroic figure while I made a swift escape in the opposite direction. The behaviour of these diminutive adversaries reminded me vividly of Mr X from *Resident Evil 2*, both serving as relentless tormentors who would not relent until one of us was defeated.
It’s been ages since a puzzle game evoked such a visceral response in me—my heart racing as if I had just survived a harrowing chase in a horror title. And yet, I had only just begun my adventure!
The sudden surge of pure adrenaline hit me like a bolt from the blue in January, jolting me into a peculiar state of focus driven by fear. I was acutely aware of the lethal nature of my adversaries. Yet, I began to recognise that they—along with all their counterparts—were inherently governed by their rigid protocols. Some of them could only advance when I did. In contrast, others had a habit of veering right upon encountering an obstacle or were limited to horizontal movements, which allowed me to stand perilously close without fear. Regardless of their various forms, they permanently moved just a fraction slower than Alf, compelling me to take daring leaps through fleeting gaps that appeared momentarily in the compact layout.
After countless attempts, numerous restarts, and more than a few creatively chosen expletives, I began to make tangible progress. Stages that had once seemed insurmountable were now within my grasp. I found myself clearing maps of enemies with newfound confidence before casually making my way to the exit, often in record time. I felt invincible; nothing could stand in my way.
However, it was my overinflated sense of superiority that led to my downfall when the scenery shifted unexpectedly.
The RPG-like world of Sabnack wasn’t merely aesthetic; it was a treacherous landscape where success only served to thrust me deeper into peril. The lush greenery and tranquil waters of the initial zones gave way to grim graveyards swarming with ghouls and narrow corridors leading to pools filled with bones. In an instant, I felt diminutive, acutely aware that everything I thought I had mastered was about to morph into a new, lethal challenge.
Yet there was a glimmer of hope amid the foreboding atmosphere. Much like any classic adventure tale, Sabnack’s fresh locales promised the introduction of new allies—in this instance, sorcerers capable of launching spells that would damage foes from a distance. If this were merely another ’90s RPG, these characters would be my companions in arms. If it were just another puzzle game in my collection, they’d serve as strategic assets at my disposal. But Sabnack elegantly intertwines both elements, transforming even the most straightforward addition of “One New Guy” into something refreshingly novel, even under the unyielding scrutiny of 2025. I found myself eagerly anticipating the discovery of their stone statues scattered throughout the perilous maps, pondering what formidable beasts we would confront together and whether I could leverage their unique powers to solve the latest riddles.
It promised to be a challenging endeavour—intense and fraught with tension. I was sure that a considerable portion of my month would be spent shouting at my screen in exasperation or feeling a peculiar dread at the movements of creatures barely rising above a few pixels.
But, in truth, it was still far more enjoyable than running.
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