Sandman
- Puzzle
- Platform
Mouse
Flash
HTML5
Sandman is a puzzle platformer Flash game released on February 17th, 2006[1] by Nitrome. An HTML5 port of the game was released on November 13, 2022[2].
The player must guide a group of sleepwalkers to escape the Land of Nod by using sand.
Descriptions[edit | edit source]
Nitrome.com 1.0
Help the sleepwalkers escape from the Land of Nod using the power of sand! Hold down the mouse button to pour sand to build ramps, fill gaps and help the sleepwalkers pass obstacles.[3]
Nitrome.com 1.2
Rescue the sleepwalkers from the land of nod using the power of sand![4]
Nitrome.com 2.0
Pour sand to build mounds and fill in gaps to help the sleep walkers escape.
Controls[edit | edit source]
Mouse - Click to pour sand
Gameplay[edit | edit source]
In Sandman, the player has to guide sleepwalkers over obstacles to a portal located at the end of each level. The player is able to pour sand with their mouse cursor, which can be used to create mounds to help the sleepwalkers navigate the level and interact with objects in the level. A certain number of sleepwalkers will be spawned at the start, and the player has to get at least one to the end. If the player gets more than one to the end, they are rewarded with extra points. Falling out of the level or coming in contact with any hazards will instantly kill a sleepwalker.
Levels[edit | edit source]
Sandman has fifteen levels, each with their own individual names.
01: Stairway to Heaven[edit | edit source]
The player has to pour sand until the sand reaches the edge of the platforms so the sleepwalkers can walk up the slopes.
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02: Road Block[edit | edit source]
The player has to pour sand at the edges of the first two platforms so the sleepwalkers can walk up to the halfway-high point, then pour a larger mound of sand to allow the sleepwalkers to walk to the top platform.
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03: Tap Dance[edit | edit source]
For the quickest way to complete the level, the player should first pour sand at the edge of the first platform to get the sleepwalkers up the ledge. Then, pour sand above the first pane of glass to allow the sleepwalkers to get out of the middle pit. Finally, sand can be poured just to the right of the third pane of glass until it starts rolling down into the third pit, making a mound for the sleepwalkers to walk out of the third pit with
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04: Pit Stop[edit | edit source]
Pour some sand in the first, small pit the sleepwalkers are going to walk in, so that when they fall, they don't die. Next, fill up the pit close to Hot Air all the way to the top. Now, pour some sand in the second pit so the sleepwalkers can get out.
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05: Walking in the Air[edit | edit source]
First, pour sand on the six invisible blocks closest to the sleepwalkers. Then pour sand on only two of the next row of invisible blocks on top. Now, pour sand on the three blocks underneath the other two invisible blocks that have sand on them.
Underneath the three invisible blocks are five invisible blocks, pour sand on all of those. Finally, pour sand on five more invisible blocks that are underneath the previous five. These blocks should be the closest to the portal.
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06: Two of a Kind[edit | edit source]
In this level, the left side of the level is a mirror image of the right. First, on both sides, pour some sand on the first five invisible blocks so the sleepwalkers don't fall to their deaths and land on the L shaped platform. Next, on both sides, pour sand on the next five invisible blocks beneath the first five. Finally, on both sides, pour sand on all but the final two blocks of the bottom row of invisible blocks.
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07: Hold Up[edit | edit source]
First, pour sand in front of the two invisible blocks stacked on top of each other near the top of the beginning of the level to stop the nightmare from escaping. Then pour sand next to all the ledges in front of the second nightmare and lead it to the third one. Then pour sand on the ledge in front of the third portal to allow the two nightmares to get out and walk to the end of the level past the light portal. When they are at the furthest point to the left in the final cavern, pour sand on the invisible blocks to trap them from leaving. Now that the way is clear and free of nightmares, pour sand on the small ledges near the beginning of the level to allow the sleepwalkers to walk to the end.
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08: Deals on Wheels[edit | edit source]
In this short level, pour sand before all the ledges to get the sleepwalkers to the top platform and let them walk into the wooden platform. Then pour sand onto the right side of the wheel to make it turn and move the platform across the watery gap. Then pour sand onto into the corner of the platform to let the sleepwalkers out.
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09: Access Denied[edit | edit source]
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This is a difficult and tedious level. The player cannot pour over glass, so they have to start at the top of the screen and pour sand down a maze to get to the bottom. It's very easy to make a mistake here.
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10: Wild Goose Chase[edit | edit source]
Incomplete section
This section is incomplete. You can help by adding the missing info.
A very short level. The sleepwalkers are the right side and the nightmares are on the left side of the level. Quick timing is important so that the sleepwalkers don't fall off the wrong side of the platforms. The nightmare should not pose a threat.
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11: The Great Escape[edit | edit source]
Incomplete section
This section is incomplete. You can help by adding the missing info.
Another level in which the player has to navigate the sleepwalkers while holding off the nightmares. At one point the player needs to turn a wheel so a barrier would open and allow the sleepwalkers to pass through. Keep turning the wheel and don't let the barrier fall or it will crush a sleepwalker.
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12: Make A Splash[edit | edit source]
Quick thinking is required in the beginning of the level in which the player has to quickly use sand to build a path across water while blocking the sleepwalkers from falling into the water. Then the player has to use sand to build a path to get onto the platform, and use the wheel to move the platform to get to the exit on the other side.
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13: Bridge The Gap[edit | edit source]
Good timing is critical on this level. The wooden platforms move by themselves so the player must know when to get the sleepwalkers onto the wooden platform.
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14: Long Way Round[edit | edit source]
The player has to navigate through a maze for a round trip and eventually reach the exit. However, there is a shortcut. Because the exit is on the platform right next to the player;s beginning platform, the player could pour a lot of sand to fill the gap between the beginning and end platforms so the sleepwalkers could just walk through that gap, to complete the level the easy way.
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15: Don't Look Down[edit | edit source]
In this level, the sleepwalkers continuously drop down from a higher to a lower platform. The player must be careful that the sleepwalkers are dropping down to the correct platform and that they don't drop off too much and die. The end portal is on the same line as the nightmares portal so the player has to use sand to block off the nightmares at the end.
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Ending[edit | edit source]
This collapsible box contains a spoiler! Use [show] to reveal.
The ending depicts, on a faintly starry purple sky, the sleepers sleeping in a large bed while beneath a few bright eyes, possibly of nightmares, visible peering out of the darkness. White, partly curlicued, text above reads "Congratulations". Identical text is present below the bed reading "You managed to get the sleepwalkers back from the Land of Nod! As a reward you have the power of multicoloured sand!".
Interactive objects[edit | edit source]
- Light portals - Spawns the sleepwalkers at the beginning of the stage and ends the stage when a sleepwalker reaches the ending portal.
- Dark portals - Spawns nightmares.
- Glass - The player cannot pour sand with the cursor on glass.
- Invisible blocks - Blocks that sleepwalkers can fall through but that sand will touch.
- Wooden water wheel - Pouring sand on this moves a wooden beam.
- Wooden beams - Helps transport sleepwalkers across gaps, or blocks their way. They may be controlled manually or move on their own.
Enemies[edit | edit source]
- Nightmares - They will kill a sleepwalker on contact.
Hazards[edit | edit source]
- Water - Will drown a sleepwalker if one walks into it.
Development[edit | edit source]
Mat Annal, while being interviewed by gotoAndPlay, stated that the inspiration for Sandman came when "trying to build a sand art application and wondering how we [Nitrome] could make a game out of it"[5]. The game was developed in 1 month and ended up bringing in more revenue than Hot Air[6].
Credits[edit | edit source]
| Design | |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Music | |
| Testers |
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Glitches[edit | edit source]
Level skip[edit | edit source]
Occasionally after completing a level and clicking the "Next Level" button, the player will be brought two levels ahead instead of one.
Falling animation glitch[edit | edit source]
Sometimes when sand is poured on a falling sleepwalker and is continued to be poured on them as they hit the ground their falling animation will continue to play but they will move side to side like normal on the ground.
Music[edit | edit source]
The music for Sandman was composed by Lee Nicklen and it was composed in January 2006[7], roughly a month before the game's release. Four tracks were composed for the game, with only two being used in the final product. The music for the game was made available for listening on Kayotix[7], Lee Nicklen's website, with the tracks that made it into the game being watermarked so that the listener would have to purchase the songs through Nitrome's Shop to listen to them without interruptions. The music was later made available to stream for free in Soundcloud[8].
The naming of the tracks may differ between Kayotix and Soundcloud.
| Official links | File | Heard in | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayotix | Soundcloud | |||
| Menu Theme Song | Menu Song | Menus | ||
| Main Game Theme Song | Main Song | Levels | The track highly resembles the song Mr. Sandman | |
| Alpha Track 1 | Extra Song 2 | |||
| Alpha Track 2 | Extra Song 1 | |||
Cameos and references[edit | edit source]
Nitrome cameos[edit | edit source]
- Hot Air - Hot Air appears in some levels with a realistic design.
- Chick Flick - The squirrels and a chick appear in some levels.
Cameos in other Nitrome games[edit | edit source]
- Chick Flick - Sleepwalkers appear in Level 2 of ''Chick Flick'' on the background.
- Gift Wrapped - A wrapping design features the sleepwalkers in red clothing to resemble Santa.
Cameos outside Nitrome games[edit | edit source]
- Classic skin - Sleepwalkers, nightmares and a portal make an appearance in the skin.
- Party skin - Sleepwalkers make an appearance in the skin.
- Nitrome 2.0 skin - Sleepwalkers make an appearance in the skin.
Cultural references[edit | edit source]
- The game's name is based on the mythical character Sandman.
- Level 01: Stairway to Heaven's name is a reference to the song Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Logos[edit | edit source]
Logo as seen on the menu
Icons[edit | edit source]
Nitrome 1.0 icon
Nitrome 1.2 icon
Nitrome 1.5 icon
Nitrome 2.0 icon
Search engine thumbnail
Screenshots[edit | edit source]
Slider animation
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Sandman is the first Nitrome game to have levels with names.
- Sandman is the first Nitrome game where the player is rewarded with a bonus feature after completing it.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nitrome.com October 4th 2006 - News: 17-02-06 - Sandman [Date is written in Day/Month/Year format]
- ↑ Game Developer's Blog - Nitrome: Over 30 More HTML5 Games, November 13, 2022, retrieved September 4, 2024. [Although not directly announced, Sandman was not present on archived versions of the HTML5 games page until the November 28, 2022 capture].
- ↑ Internet Archive Wayback Machine: Nitrome - Sandman, 15 June, 2006, retrieved 10 September, 2024.
- ↑ Internet Archive Wayback Machine: Nitrome - Play Free Online Games, 16 November, 2006, retrieved 10 September, 2024.
- ↑ gotoAndPlay - Spotlight: Nitrome
Q: What are the games that influenced you the most in your work?
A: ...Even client briefs can have an influence [on game ideas]…..Sandman [game idea] came from trying to build a sand art application and wondering how we could make a game out of it. - ↑ FreeGamesNews: Matthew Annal (Nitrome) Interview, ?, retrieved 28 Feb 21.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sandman site on Kayotix
- ↑ Sandman playlist by one of Lee Nicklen's accounts on Soundcloud
| v • d • eSandman | |
|---|---|
| General | Sandman • Sand • Sleepwalkers • Land of Nod |
| Hazards | Water • Nightmares |
| Interactive objects | Portals • Dark portals • Glass • Invisible blocks |
| Wooden objects | Wooden water wheel • Wooden beams |