History VideoGame / SpaceChem

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Certain levels are named "[[ThisIsGonnaSuck Prelude to a Migraine]]" and "No Ordinary Headache". As you would expect, this is where the game starts throwing curveballs at you (randomized input, etc.).

* ShoutOut: One level is named "[[GratuitousRussian KOHCTPYKTOP]]", after a previous work (''Kohctpyktop: Engineer of the People'') by the author. And on this level you have to produce silicon fragments, which are the main element you use at that game.

* {{Unobtainium}}: In a special promotion along with ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', a new set of levels were added to the game, based on the atom "Australium".
** With fusion reactors, it is possible to make atoms of elements of very high atomic number (100 and more), which in reality are postulated to exist but cannot be sustained for any realistic length of time.

* BossSubtitles: For the EldritchAbominations bosses at the end of each planet.

* ArtMajorPhysics: Chemistry doesn't actually work like this -- molecules are ''three''-dimensional, a machine to pick up single atoms could never be built, different elements are different sizes, fusion and fission Do Not Work That Way, etc. -- [[RuleOfFun but that doesn't really matter, does it?]]
** And to be fair it ''does'' have a fair amount of actual chemistry; such as atoms only having so many bonds (though the game doesn't distinguish between ionic and covalent bonds, which does screw with a few numbers).
* ArtisticLicenseChemistry: See above. Near the end of the game, the reactions introduce [[spoiler: elements that don't exist]].
* BossSubtitles: For the EldritchAbominations below.
* EarthShatteringKaboom: Fail to defend your control center, and the proprietary Reaction Mediation Device in said center annihilates the planet. Which includes you.

* GratuitousGreek: The input and output regions are labeled with Greek letters. Also, [[spoiler: the aforementioned fictional elements]].
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Certain levels are named "[[ThisIsGonnaSuck Prelude to a Migraine]]" and "No Ordinary Headache". As you would expect, this is where the game starts throwing curveballs at you (randomized inputs, etc.)
* LevelEditor: The Journal of Reaction Engineering, which contains a comprehensive editor and nearly 200 user-made levels.

* MegaCorp: [=SpaceChem=].
* NintendoHard: Later into the game. Some of the user-made levels manage to be even harder.
* SpeedRun: The game includes statistics on how fast other people's reactions ran, how many reactors they used (in production levels), and how many symbols they used ''in'' their reactors, giving {{challenge gamer}}s at least three realms on which to compete.
** There are also certain in-game challenges to beat particular times on levels, starting with "Complete 'Nothing Works' in under 1000 cycles".

* LevelEditor: Once you beat the first level of World 7 ([[spoiler:Atropos Station]]), you gain access to the Journal of Reaction Engineering, which contains a comprehensive editor and over 100 user-made levels. Of course, you can access it before that point if you want to.

* ArtisticLicense/Chemistry: See above. Near the end of the game, the reactions introduce [[spoiler: elements that don't exist]].

* {{Unobtainium}}: In a special promotion along with ''TeamFortress2'', a new set of levels were added to the game, based on the atom "Australium".

* Unobtainium: In a special promotion along with ''TeamFortress2'', a new set of levels were added to the game, based on the atom "Australium".

* LevelEditor: Once you beat the first level of World 7 ([[spoiler:Atropos Station]]), you gain access to the Journal of Reaction Engineering, which contains a comprehensive editor and over 100 user-made levels.

* {{Unperson}}: [[spoiler:You -- it's heavily implied that sometime during or after the events of the ending, [=SpaceChem=] expunged all traces of evidence your employment.]]

* UnexpectedGenreChange: While most of the levels have you designing machines to meet quotas of output molecules, the defense missions require you to design a machine that you can use to respond to external events.

* NintendoHard: Later you get into the game. Some of the user-made levels manage to be even harder.

* ArtMajorPhysics: Chemistry doesn't actually work like this -- molecules are ''three''-dimensional, a machine to pick up single atoms could never be built, different elements are different sizes, etc. -- [[RuleOfFun but that doesn't really matter, does it?]]
** And to be fair it ''does'' have a fair amount of actual chemistry; such as atoms only having so many bonds (except that Nitrogen '''cannot''' have 5 bonds. It doesn't have enough empty orbitals for it). It does flub up though with the complicated machines. We already manufacture many of the product chemicals, and the whole process they're using is incredibly over elaborate. Chalk it up to RuleOfFun.
*** Technically nitrogen could have 5 bonds - 4 covalent bonds when positively ionized, plus one ionic bond (the game doesn't distinguish between covalent and ionic bonds), e.g. ammonium chloride. However, ammonium compounds won't fit into the game's square grid...)

* EldritchAbomination: The last level on each planet (save the tutorial) is a battle to destroy one of these. Unfortunately, they are played all too straight, remotely possessing and causing the gruesome deaths of several named characters, and killing large swathes of the company's local workforce in their rampages.
* ElementsDoNotWorkThatWay: See ArtMajorPhysics. Near the end of the game, the reactions introduce [[spoiler: elements that don't exist]].

* NintendoHard: Starting with the planet Alkonost, which features levels like "Prelude to a Migraine" and "[[LeaningOnTheFourthWall No Ordinary Headache]]", where the game starts throwing multiple molecules down a single input.
* SpeedRun: The game includes statistics on how fast other people's reactions ran, how many reactors they used, and how many symbols they used ''in'' their reactors, giving {{Challenge Gamer}}s at least three realms on which to compete.

* ShoutOut: One level is named "Kohctpyktop", a previous work (''Kohctpyktop: Engineer of the People'') by the author. And on this level you have to produce silicon fragments, which are the main element you use at that game.
* TheBlank: [[spoiler:Quororque does this to Joel, to the absolute horror of the protagonist.]]

* YourHeadAsplode: [[spoiler:Tim's fate.]]

* ShoutOut: One level is named "Kohctpyktop", a previous work (Kohctpyktop: Engineer of the People) by the author. And on this level you have to produce silicon fragments, which are the main element you use at that game.

* BreatherLevel: The tutorial stages when they introduce new tools.
** "Danger Zone", a level on Hephaestus IV, is a simple bonding/sensor mission in the middle of a planet filled with rotations.

* EldritchAbomination: The last level on each planet (save the tutorial) is a battle to destroy one of these. Unfortunately, they are played all too straight, [[NightmareFuel remotely possessing]] and causing the gruesome deaths of several named characters, and killing large swathes of the company's local workforce in their rampages.

* NightmareFuelUnleaded: Hello there, [[spoiler:Joel...]]

* NintendoHard: There is a level called "[[LeaningOnTheFourthWall No Ordinary Headache]]". ''[[ItGotWorse Early on]].''
** There's one shortly before it called "Prelude to a Migraine." It starts hard and just gets worse....

* UnexpectedGenreChange: While most of the levels have you designing machines to meet quotas of output molecules, the defense missions require you to design a machine that you can use to respond to external events. {{Your Mileage May Vary}} on whether this is a good thing.

*** Technically nitrogen could have 5 bonds - 4 covalent bonds when positively ionized, and then one ionic bond (the game doesn't distinguish between covalent and ionic bonds), e.g. ammonium chloride. However, ammonium compounds won't fit into the game's square grid...)

*** Technically nitrogen could have 5 bonds - 4 covalent bonds when ionized, and then one ionic bond (the game doesn't distinguish between covalent and ionic bonds), e.g. ammonium chloride. However, ammonium compounds won't fit into the game's square grid...)

*** Technically nitrogen could have 5 bonds - 4 covalent bonds when ionized, and then one ionic bond (the game doesn't distinguish between covalent and ionic bonds), like in ammonium chloride. However, ammonium compounds won't fit into the game's square grid...)

* FutureFoodIsArtificial: One of the products [=SpaceChem=] manufactures is ... fish cakes.