Overview:
- Estimated trophy difficulty: 6/10 Difficulty Rating Thread
- Offline: 12 (7, 4, 1)
- Online: 0
- Approximate amount of time to 100%: 10-20 hours
- Minimum number of playthroughs needed: N/A
- Number of missable trophies: 0
- Glitched trophies: none
- Does difficulty affect trophies?: N/A
- Do cheat codes disable trophies?: N/A
- Special peripherals needed?: no

Introduction: Crazy Machines Elements is a puzzle game that revolves around completing Rube Goldberg style machines, much like the old "The Incredible Machine" franchise. It has 110 puzzles where you must use a specific set of parts to finish a machine, 20 challenge puzzles where almost nothing is on the board and you must assemble most of the machine yourself from a greater selection of parts, and an editor that allows you to build (but sadly, not share) your own puzzles. All of the puzzles and challenges must be completed for 100%, and you will have to fulfill some specific scenarios in the editor as well.

How difficult you actually find this game will depend on whether or not you use the guide for every puzzle or try to figure it out on your own first. If you just use the puzzle solutions right away, you'll probably find that this game rates more in the 2 or 3 out of 10 range. If you decide to try things on your own first, you'll find that the rating will be a bit higher depending on how good you are at problem solving.

There are no "playthroughs" and no missable trophies. This game has no campaign mode or anything that would need to be replayed from the start. When you first play, you'll have access to a few easy puzzles, and as you complete them, you unlock more puzzles and other gameplay modes, such as the challenges and the editor. Once you've unlocked something, you can go back to it and play it as many times as you want.

The overview makes note that no special peripherals. The game supports, but does not require, Playstation Move. If you have Move, you can use the Motion controller (that's the one with the giant glowing ball on the end) to control the game instead of a standard Dualshock 3 controller if you wish. I only noticed four major difference between the two controllers:

  1. While using the Dualshock, the selection cursor sometimes randomly jumps around when you're in the inventory trying to select a part, which can be a minor annoyance. The Move controller does not have this problem; the cursor goes to wherever you're pointing at on the screen and doesn't jump around.
  2. The Dualshock uses the and buttons for rotating parts around, and you can tap them slowly to get precise angles easily. The Move controller requires you to rotate the controller as if you were twisting a doorknob to rotate parts. The only way to get precise angles is to rotate slowly, and even then, I personally found it to be less precise than the Dualshock. This usually only comes into play when you're dealing with lasers and have to set up mirrors to direct the laser beam around the level, and in these instances, the Dualshock's ease of picking a precise angle is a huge plus over the Move.
  3. The Dualshock allows use of for slower, more accurate placement of parts in addition to being able to use to quickly move across the screen. The Move controller once again can only get slower movements if you move the controller as slowly as possible. The dpad will be preferable in many puzzles where pieces have to be in exactly the right spots in order for the machine to work.
  4. With the Dualshock, you zoom in by using and . With the Move controller, you have to hold down and then move the controller closer to or farther away from the screen. Zooming with the Move controller can be awkward.

Overall, I recommend the Dualshock. One minor annoyance that barely hinders gameplay and three fairly large advantages that come into play when needed. No matter what controller you use, however, the controls are always displayed along the bottom of the screen for your convenience, so feel free to switch between the two as you like until you find your preference as you won't need to do the tutorials twice to learn each set of controls.

Step 1: Play and complete Puzzle mode. There are 110 puzzles. Along the way, you'll unlock access to the Editor and later the Challenges, but stick with the puzzles until you complete them as it will help you get better at the game. Keep at it until you also get all the Bonus Nuts and unlock the Perfect Puzzler trophy.

Step 2: Go for all the Editor related trophies (Builder, Creator, Pyrotechnician, Fastest Counter, Candlelight, Twin Shot, and Weatherman). At this point, you should have both unlocked the Editor itself and the Collector trophy, meaning you'll have access to all the parts and should have no problem either using the solutions in the guide or coming up with your own.

Step 3: Complete Challenge mode. There are 20 challenges, and by this point, you should have a pretty good handle on how the game works, making this a bit easier. See Challenger in the guide if you need assistance.

[PS3T Would Like to Thank mjc0961 for this Roadmap]

Crazy Machines Elements Trophy Guide

Printable Guide
Show completed trophies
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12 trophies ( 7  )

  • Solve your first puzzle.

    You'll unlock this as soon as you solve your first puzzle. The most obvious puzzle to start with is the puzzle "First Step" in the "Introduction" pack. The puzzle is already completed for you, and all you'll need to do is follow the tutorial instructions to get credit for solving it. First you'll need to press to toggle the objective bubbles, and then press on a Dualshock controller or on a Move motion controller to start the machine. After the basketball collects the bonus nut and breaks the vase, the puzzle will be solved and the trophy will unlock.

  • Solve all puzzles.

    This only requires you to complete the objective of each puzzle, which is displayed in blue text bubbles at the start of each puzzle. You do not need to collect all of the golden Bonus Nuts for this trophy, just finish each puzzle. Unfinished puzzles will have a gear icon, finished puzzles will have a bronze or silver puzzle piece icon, and finished puzzles with all Bonus Nuts will have a gold puzzle piece icon. You only need to get the bronze or silver puzzle piece icon on each puzzle to unlock this trophy.

    See Perfect Puzzler for puzzle mode solutions.

  • Solve all base puzzles as perfect.

    This requires you to both complete the objective of each puzzle and collect every golden Bonus Nut in each puzzle. All of the nuts must be collected before you solve the puzzle; any nuts collected after you hear the "complete" sound effect and the applause starts do not count. Puzzles that you have solved and collected all Bonus Nuts in are marked with a golden puzzle piece icon on the puzzle selection screen. All 110 puzzles need to have this icon to unlock the trophy. The playlist linked below contains solutions for every puzzle.

    Crazy Machines Elements (PS3) - Puzzle Mode Solutions - YouTube

    Here's some general tips that can be used in nearly every level if you'd prefer to keep trying on your own instead of going directly to the video solution.

    • If you're sure you have the right solution but it's not working, try moving some of your parts to slightly different locations. As odd as this sounds, sometimes the machine refuses to work properly depending on where you put your parts. Moving something slightly could make the entire thing work even if the part you moved had no relation to where the machine was failing. This is especially true on some of the later, more complex puzzles.
    • Start the machine as soon as the puzzle loads. Many times, you'll get to see things start moving and get a feel for where you need to start placing parts to keep things moving.
    • Look at where the Bonus Nuts are located. Sometimes, they form a path that can give you a clue as to where things in the puzzle are going to be moving to.
    • Go to the "Help & Options" section of the menu and select "How to Play". On page 2, there is a key telling you what the various symbols on the part tooltips mean. Knowing them can help you know your parts better and give you a better idea of how to use them in each puzzle. Also, reading the part tooltips is a great way to learn about new parts you're not familiar with. You can see tooltips for any part in the puzzle (both already on the board or in your inventory) by hovering your cursor over them.
    • If you have any Flexible Sheets or Fuses in your inventory, take them out and see what shape they are. These parts are unique as their shape can be changed in the editor, but not the puzzles themselves. Thus, you'll never know what shape they are until you look at them, and once you know what shape they are, it may become obvious where you need to place them.
    • Look at the background for small circle or square shaped sections of empty wall. These usually indicate that you need to place a part there.
    • Look at the name of the puzzle itself. Sometimes they might be a hint about the puzzle's solution rather than just some generic name. Pressing will toggle the puzzle's objectives and name on the screen.
  • Unlock all parts.

    Parts are unlocked as you solve all the puzzles in a puzzle pack. To unlock all the parts, you need to solve all the puzzles in the first 5 packs: "Introduction", "Rigid Basics", "Boom, Pow, Poof", "First Elements", and "More Elements". You do not need to collect all the Bonus Nuts in the puzzles to unlock the parts, just solve them. See Perfect Puzzler if you get stuck trying to solve any of the required puzzles.

  • Solve all challenges.

    Challenge mode is locked at the start of the game. To unlock Challenge mode, you need to solve the first 60 puzzles in Puzzle mode, which are the puzzles in the first 5 packs: "Introduction", "Rigid Basics", "Boom, Pow, Poof", "First Elements", and "More Elements". You do not need to collect all the Bonus Nuts in the puzzles to unlock Challenge mode, just solve them. See Perfect Puzzler if you get stuck trying to solve any of the required puzzles.

    Challenge mode consists of 20 challenges. Unlike Puzzle mode where you have a nearly completed machine and a few parts in your inventory, in Challenge mode, you have only a few parts on the board and have to use whatever is available in your inventory to come up with your own solution. There are many possible solutions for each challenge. If you get stuck on any of the challenges, check the playlist below for help. The solutions in this playlist are not designed to get you the highest score on the leaderboard, but just to clear the challenge so you can unlock the trophy. Huge thanks to the following people for sharing their solutions for this guide: gomerfx, XaberRiderZ, TheBrutalbrute, morgansmith666, Ali3nSt0rm, XMrGorillax, and A47A47.

    Crazy Machines Elements (PS3) - Challenge Mode Solutions - YouTube

  • Build an own level.

    You'll first need to unlock the editor by solving the first five puzzles of the "Rigid Basics" pack in puzzle mode. See Perfect Puzzler if you need help with this. Once you have access to the editor, begin creating a new level. Press to bring up the inventory, and just put anything in the level. It doesn't have to be an actual puzzle, just a single part will do. Then pause the game with and select the "Save Game" option from the pause menu. Press or to confirm that you want to save. The trophy will unlock during the rather lengthy saving process.

    You'll also be able to unlock Creator and Fastest Counter as soon as you can access the editor. Here's a video showing how to quickly unlock all three trophies:

  • A little wind blew in the snowy night.

    You'll first need to unlock the editor by solving the first five puzzles of the "Rigid Basics" pack in puzzle mode. See Perfect Puzzler if you need help with this. Once you have access to the editor, begin creating a new level. Press to access the Settings menu. First, open the "Properties" section and change the Wind setting so that it's one to either the left or right of the default setting so that you'll have a little wind in your level. Then go back and open the "Visuals" section. Here, change the Season setting from sun to snowflake, change the Weather setting to the cloud with rain option, and change the Time of Day to the moon and stars option. Leave the Settings menu now to return to your level. Simply start the machine; it doesn't matter if there's anything in the level or not. The trophy will unlock shortly after you start the machine.

    You'll also be able to unlock Builder and Fastest Counter as soon as you can access the editor. Here's a video showing how to quickly unlock all three trophies:

  • Launch fireworks for 20 seconds!

    You'll first need to unlock the editor by solving the first five puzzles of the "Rigid Basics" pack in puzzle mode. See Perfect Puzzler if you need help with this. You'll also need to complete at least some of the puzzle packs to unlock the cannon and other useful parts, although it helps to just wait until you've unlocked Collector so you'll have everything at your disposal.

    Credit for the following method goes to A47A47. Start a new level in editor mode, and take the fireworks from your inventory. Place three of them on the ground, and then press to light the fuse before placing a fourth. Now go to your inventory and select the heater. Place one next to each set of fireworks that has an unlit fuse. Then get the chip controlled power socket and place it next to each of the heaters. Plug all of the heaters in, and then get a timer chip. Using to add one second to the countdown, place one chip with a 5 second countdown, one with a 10 second countdown, and one with a 15 second countdown. Then get a wire and connect each of the timers to one of the power sockets.

    Start the machine. If set up correctly, one set will already be lit and start launching. Before it runs out, the 5 second timer will have finished and lit the second fireworks, causing them to begin launching before the first set runs out. This should repeat with the third and fourth sets as well until they have all finished, after which the trophy will unlock.

  • Count one counter chip to 200 within ten seconds.

    You'll first need to unlock the editor by solving the first five puzzles of the "Rigid Basics" pack in puzzle mode. See Perfect Puzzler if you need help with this. Once you have access to the editor, begin creating a new level. Credit for the following method goes to spyderman1. Go to page 4 of your inventory where the various chips can be found. Start by placing an Impulse chip (chip that has a digital display on the bottom with a circle with a line through it above it) in your level. Second, place a XOR chip (chip with an X on it) to the right of your Impulse chip. Third, place a NOT chip (chip with a ! on it) to the right of the XOR chip. Fourth, take a Counter with Display (chip that has a display of three 0's surrounded by a purple border on top of it) to the right of the NOT chip. Finally, take the wire and link the chips together. Link the output of the Impulse chip to one of the inputs of the XOR chip. Link the output of the XOR chip to the input of the NOT chip. Link the output of the NOT chip into both the input of the counter and the second input of the XOR chip. Once everything is placed and connected, start the machine. Your counter should reach 200 in far less than ten seconds and the trophy will unlock.

    You'll also be able to unlock Builder and Creator as soon as you can access the editor. Here's a video showing how to quickly unlock all three trophies:

  • Light the level with candlelight for 30 seconds.

     

    You'll first need to unlock the editor by solving the first five puzzles of the "Rigid Basics" pack in puzzle mode. See Perfect Puzzler if you need help with this. You'll also need to complete at least some of the puzzle packs to unlock the cannon and other useful parts, although it helps to just wait until you've unlocked Collector so you'll have everything at your disposal.

    Credit for the following method goes to A47A47. Start a new level in editor mode, and select the candle from your inventory. Place one in the level, and then press to light the flame before placing a second. Next, get a heater and place it above the unlit candle. Take a chip controlled power socket and place it above the heater, and plug the heater into it. Now get a timer chip, use to set the countdown to 15 seconds, and place it near the power socket. Finally, use a wire to connect the timer chip to the power socket.

    Start the machine. If you set it up correctly, the first candle will already be lit and slowly begin melting. Before it melts completely and goes out, the timer will have finished counting down, activating the heater and lighting the second candle. Shortly after the second candle goes out, the trophy will unlock.

  • Shoot two cannonballs with one cannon - at the same time!

     

    You'll first need to unlock the editor by solving the first five puzzles of the "Rigid Basics" pack in puzzle mode. See Perfect Puzzler if you need help with this. You'll also need to complete at least some of the puzzle packs to unlock the cannon and other useful parts, although it helps to just wait until you've unlocked Collector so you'll have everything at your disposal.

    Start a new level in editor mode, and select the cannon from the inventory. You'll need to place two into the level. Press until the cannon is pointed as high up as it will go, and then set it down on the floor. Now press to angle the next cannon so it's pointing down again, and then use to flip the cannon and to automatically light its fuse. Place this cannon in the air to the left of the first cannon. Now get the metal board and place one under the second cannon so it won't fall to the floor and another directly to the left of the first cannon so it can't roll to the left. Next, rotate the board so that it's angled downwards from left to right, and place some to the right of the first cannon's barrel to form a ramp. Now rotate the board until it's completely vertical and place two to the right of the first cannon's barrel to form a wall. Make sure that one of them is to the right of the barrel so that the cannon can't roll in that direction either. Next, get a heater from the inventory and place it next to the first cannon's fuse. Then get a chip controlled power socket and place it next to the heater. Be sure to plug the heater into it! Now take a timer chip. Use to set the timer to 5 seconds and then place it next to the power socket. Finally, use a wire to connect the timer to the power socket.

    Now start the machine. If you set it up correctly, the second cannon will fire and its ball will bounce off of the wall onto the ramp, and then roll into the first cannon. Then the timer will start the heater, lighting the first cannon's fuse and letting it fire both cannonballs.

  • Create three different clouds within one simulation with one cloud machine.

    You'll first need to unlock the editor by solving the first five puzzles of the "Rigid Basics" pack in puzzle mode. See Perfect Puzzler if you need help with this. You'll also need to complete at least some of the puzzle packs to unlock the cannon and other useful parts, although it helps to just wait until you've unlocked Collector so you'll have everything at your disposal.

    Credit for the following method goes to A47A47. Start a new level in editor mode, and select the cloud machine from your inventory. Set it down somewhere in the level. Next, get a power socket (the one with the yellow block and red lighting bolt symbol, it's just called "power socket") and set it down near the cloud machine. Plug the cloud machine into the power socket. Now get the flaming ball from your inventory. Press to light the ball on fire, and place two balls above the cloud machine's switch (the gray and red handle sticking out of its left side). Be sure to leave plenty of space between the first ball and the switch and between the two balls. Finally, get the wooden board from the inventory. Place one in between the first ball and the cloud machine, and then place two in between the two balls. Be sure not to let these two boards touch.

    Start the machine. If set up correctly, the cloud machine will immediately begin producing a rain cloud. Meanwhile, the two flaming balls will light the wooden boards under them on fire. Once the first two boards are burned, the first ball will drop on the switch and change the cloud machine over to a thunderstorm cloud, while the second ball starts burning the final board. Eventually, the cloud machine will begin producing a thunderstorm cloud, and the last wooden board will burn, allowing the second ball to drop on the switch and change the cloud machine over to a tornado. Now just wait for the cloud machine to finish the thunderstorm cloud. Once it starts creating a tornado, the trophy will unlock.

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  • mjc0961

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