Gorby no Pipeline Daisakusen (Japan)

In the classic NES puzzle game Gorby no Pipeline Daisakusen, players take on the role of Mikhail Gorbachev, tasked with constructing pipelines to transport oil or water across the world. The primary objective of each stage is to connect a starting point (source) to an ending point (destination) by rotating various pipe segments. The screen displays a grid of squares, each containing a pipe piece that can be a straight section, an elbow, or a cross-junction. Players use the controller to move a cursor to the desired square and press a button to rotate that pipe piece clockwise or counter-clockwise.

The biggest challenge in Gorby no Pipeline Daisakusen is the time element. Each stage features a countdown timer, and players must complete the pipeline before time runs out. Once the pipeline is successfully connected, the liquid flows through, and the player progresses to the next stage. Difficulty steadily increases through the levels, with more complex layouts, a greater number of pipe pieces, and tighter time limits. Some squares may contain unmovable blocks or fixed pipe segments, forcing players to plan carefully. Occasionally, special squares or power-ups like bombs appear, allowing players to destroy obstructing blocks or change stubborn pipe pieces. The game demands quick logical thinking and spatial visualization skills to arrange the pipe pieces as efficiently as possible.