The player controls Chip, navigating him through his challenges. The
object of each level of the game is to find and reach the exit tile,
which takes you to the next level. The exit is frequently (but not
always) guarded by a chip socket. To move past the chip socket, Chip
must collect a certain number of computer chips. The number of
computer chips needed is different in each level.
Besides chip sockets, there are also four different kinds of doors.
The doors require keys in order to be opened. The doors and keys are
color-coded so that you can see which keys will open which doors.
Also occupying many of the levels are other creatures. Most (but not
all) of them move about in simple, predictable patterns, and without
regard for Chip's presence. The creatures know enough to avoid running
into each other, but a collision with Chip is fatal. Sometimes it is
enough just to keep clear of the creatures. At other times it is
necessary to know exactly how they move, in order to avoid them.
Sometimes the creatures can even be worked to Chip's advantage.
If four kinds of doors aren't enough to provide a challenge, there are also trick walls. Blue walls are sometimes real and sometimes illusory, disappearing when Chip touches them. Some walls can change into a floor and back to wall when a button is pressed.
Even the floors of the levels are not simple, but come in different
forms. Some forms, such as water or fire, are instantly fatal unless
Chip has acquired protection from them. Other forms, such as ice or
force floors, are safe but cause Chip to go sliding at high speeds.
Still other forms, such as gravel, keep other creatures at bay.
Dirt blocks are like walls, except that Chip can push them around.
Chip can push them into water in order to make them passable.
Sometimes a group of blocks wind up providing Sokoban-like puzzles.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are also clone machines,
teleports, bombs, bear traps, thieves, popup walls, and so on. Each
level is an individual and unique combination of challenges. There are
literally thousands of different levels which are freely available.
