SpaceChem is a game that I very much appreciate - mechanically, it's almost perfect. Aesthetically it's really solid, the music - while limited - is of good quality, and while the story isn't the best I've seen in a game, it's not too bad and was interesting to read through. However, while I like 99% of the game, there's one solitary thing that makes me not recommend this game, because it flies in the face of the clear, defined nature of this game. Bonder Priority.

Since the Grey Bonders have an internal priority that you simply cannot see, and have to work out, some combinations of elements and symbols that would work, now don't work. It becomes a frustrating case of trial and error, where before it was a case of thinking and strategy, trying and failing sure - but because you did something wrong, not because of a part of the game that both isn't explained, and isn't easily calculable. This one thing takes the entire concept of being a complex but fair puzzle game, and turns it into an occasional crapshoot.

When a game is entirely built around precision and clarity, even a single issue like this is enough to compromise the entire structure. I don't mind failing trying to work something out, but I do mind when a game does not properly communicate a mechanic that I *need* to be able to work around. While I have no doubt that this was likely unintentional, it is also still present. Consequently, unless your tolerance for shenanigans like that is higher than mine, I don't recommend this title.

As much as I'd like to recommend this title, I can't in good concience.

Too damn smart for me.