Tough Love Machine is a puzzle game uploaded to Newgrounds on July 27, 2015 by Andrew Morrish. It was featured on Pixel Love on August 6, 2015. The player controls two hands tasked with pushing two pink hearts together.
Tough Love Machine has 24 levels with each including both hands, a structure of blocks forming platforms, and two pink hearts placed in certain areas of the levels. If either pink heart falls of the screen or touches a spike, the level will be failed and the player forced to restart.
Tutorial[]
The tutorial of Tough Love Machine is contained on the menu screen with white diagrams indicating which keys control each hand. The level consists of two parallel horizontal platforms with the two pink hearts in between, and both hands attached to the opposite sides of the bottom platform. To complete the level, the player can simply use one hand to touch one heart and push it into the other one.
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Level 1 - Press R to reset[]
Level 1 consist of two horizontally parallel platforms with a heart on the top left side of the upper platform, the other heart on the top right side of the lower platform, and both hands flanking the bottom platform. To complete the level, the left hand simply need to push the upper heart onto the right hand, go into the gap between the platforms from the left side, and push the heart on the bottom platform to the other one.
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Level 2 - There is no undo button[]
Level 2 consist of the right hand placed in the middle of a roughly u-shaped block formation, a tall vertical platform placed next to it with a heart on top, a smaller two-block platform placed a short distance away with a heart on top of it, and a rough c-shaped platform housing the left hand in the middle.
To complete the level, the player needs to move the left hand extend straight all the way to the tall platform, then have the right hand push the heart off so it falls onto the left hand, make the left hand move up in line with the top of the platform, and then have the right hand push the heart off the left hand so that it falls on its "arm" below. Then the left hand should retract down to the side of the heart, the heart should be pushed across the left hand's "arm" till it is above the heart on the lower platform, then the left hand should be completely retracted to let the heart fall onto the one below.
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Level 3 - Shouldn't you be working?[]
Level 3 consists of two three blocks long platforms placed vertically parallel to each, one block placed in the middle of the upper platform from which the hands are attached to by its flanks and one heart is placed on top of it, the lower platform having a pink heart placed on top in the middle of it, and a block structure surrounding most of the area.
To complete the level, the player should have the left hand extend out a pace to the left and then extend downwards to be one pace above the bottom heart, have the right hand push the heart on the upper platform two paces to the left to be on top of the left hand, have the right hand extend downwards and underneath the bottom platform so that the hand sticks out one pace from beneath it, then have the left hand push the bottom heart onto the right hand, and finally detract so that the upper heart falls onto the below one.
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Level 4 - They will step on you to get higher[]
Level 4 consists of two blocks placed far apart from each other, one being placed higher and the other lower, with a hand attached to the outer side and a heart on top of each block. To complete the level, the player should have the left hand move under its block and extend out to be two paces away from the right hand's block, make the right hand move underneath its platform and then push the nearby heart onto its right-most segment, retract the right hand to be underneath the heart and extend upwards, move two paces out and then up to then curve around and push the heart one pace forward, have the right hand retract to underneath the pink heart, move the left hand one pace forward, and then make the right hand move up, right, then push the heart onto the right hand. From this position the player should then retract the right hand push the heart down the left hand's "arm" to the block at the far end, have the left hand retract back to underneath the heart, then push the heart upwards so that the two are side by side.
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Level 5 - Go to Bed[]
Level 5 consists of a structure on the left-most side containing a heart on top of a single block with a vertical three-block structure above it, the left hand placed a pace away in a vertical position with a single block above and below it, the right hand attached to a single block placed in line but still a significant distance away from the left hand, and a three-block horizontal platform placed at the top with a heart on its right-most side.
To complete the level, the player should extend the right hand horizontally to be directly underneath the upper heart, have the left hand push the upper heart from the right side onto the hand below, retract the left hand and make it move directly under where the heart is on the left hand, and then partially retract the right hand so the heart falls onto the below hand. From this setup, the player should then place the heart on top of the single block platform by a process of retracting underneath the heart, pushing upwards, and to the left. After the moved heart is in this position, the left hand should then retract to go under the platform from the right side to stay in the gap between the platforms, the right hand push the heart off the upper platform so that it falls onto the hand below, which will finally result in the two hearts touching.
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Level 6 - Score = 0[]
Level 6 introduces gears and consist of two structures, which are mirror images of each other, with a block placed far above the gap between them. The structures are composed of a horizontal "T" shaped block from which the left and right hands are connected in the middle at the top it, two blocks placed diagonally across from the lower vertical flank of the "T"'s top, a gear placed on the other vertical flank of the "T"'s top, a "C" shaped section surrounding the gear, and a pink heart directly on top.
To complete the level the player should have one hand extend upwards to the top of the structure, move above the heart and one pace over, push the heart over one pace, retract the hand to the flank of the structure's top-most side, move one pace outwards then extend upwards, move one pace over the heart, and then push the heart onto the hand's "arm". From this setup the hand previously used should then extend across the top of the platform, move down one pace once the end of the platform is reached, extend across to the other structure, then have the other hand push the heart on its platform onto the stretched out hand two paces, make the hand currently in use retract and go under its structure to extend below the gap between the "T"s, and have the stretched out hand retract.
With the heart on the below hand, the below hand should move one pace both out then up, push the heart one pace forward, retract under the heart, then push it up, move one pace outwards, and push it into the structure's gap. The upper hand should now retract and push the heart on it onto the top of its structure, have the upper hand retract back and then repeat the same motions to stretch across to the other structure, have the other hand push its heart onto the stretched hand, then the active hand should retract, move below the structure, extend upwards to be besides the vertical block closets to the other structure before placing itself in the gap between the "T"s, and have the stretched hand retract. Then the upper hand should retract, move under the other hand directly below the heart, have the upper hand retract to be besides the heart on the other hand, push it across on pace, then have the other hand retract under the heart and move up.
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Level 7 - That outfit makes you look ambisinistrous[]
Level 7 consists of a two large platforms forming the shape of heart, a space between them, and a hand attached at the top row of each end of the bottom platform. On top of the bottom platform, placed in the middle, is a gear with a heart on either side placed a pace away. To complete the level the player should have either hand extend over the heart closets to it, go beside it and push it to the edge of the platform, fully retract the active hand, extend one pace outwards, then move upwards over the heart and push it onto the hand's "arm". Now the other hand should move one paces outwards, perform the same movements as necessary to get the heart on its "arm", then retract under the heart and push one pace up. From this setup the player should then move the inactive hand up one pace, move forward push the gear to be besides the other hand, have the other hand push its heart onto the gear and across the extended arm, and then have the extended arm to retract as necessary to have enough length to push the two hearts together.
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Level 8 - Score = -1000[]
Level 8 consists of an rectangular-like enclosed area containing a heart at the bottom slightly away from the middle, a vertical six-block platform above it, a gear placed on top one pace away from the right edge of the platform while the left hand is attached to the left flank, a square four-block platform two paces above the gear with the right hand attached to the upper side, and a nine-block platform with a pink heart on top placed to the right of the four-block platform. To complete the level the player should move the left hand under the platform to push the bottom heart into the far right corner, then fully retract, move one pace out then go to the side of the upper heart making sure to flank the wall, have the right hand push the gear onto the left hand's "arm", make the right hand retract, and then have the left hand push the heart off the platform and then retract under the gear. From this setup the player should then move up one pace, extend across the platform to push the heart off, and the hearts will then be side by side.
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Level 9 - Did you do something? I wasn't looking[]
Level 9 consists of a rectangular enclosed area containing a structure in the middle of which the hands are attached to while two hearts and two gears are placed around it. On the top of the structure, on the far left edge, is a gear with a heart having a gear on top placed two paces away. Two paces downwards from the left gear is the left hand which is attached to the back of a small alcove while the right hand, in like manner, is placed on the far right side one row down. Two rows down from the right hand, on the left side, is a the second pink heart at the back of a two-pace alcove.
To complete the level, the player should extend the left hand out to the wall, move upwards and one pace over top of the left-most gear, move down one pace and push the gear onto the left hand's "arm", and then retract completely to let it fall below. Then the left hand should extend out to be next to the heart above while staying close to the wall, the right hand should extend upwards to the gear, push the gear over the left hand to fall below, and the left hand should fully retract while the right hand should go next to the heart. Then the right hand should push the heart over the left side to fall below, then the left hand should extend downwards to the heart that has just fallen, and push it into the heart in the alcove.
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Level 10 - You might actually be getting worse[]
Level 10 consists of a rectangular enclosed area containing both hands, two hearts, and two gears. Located in the bottom right corner, in a one-block alcove, is the right hand with a gear two paces away from it and a heart two paces away from the gear. Above the heart and the gear is a a four block platform with a gear placed two paces from the far right. Above the top gear is another platform above that is attached to the wall and sticks out to the left, while attached to the opposite wall, a pace above and a short distance away, is a heart on a two-block platform. Located near the very top of the enclosed area, partially in the middle, is the left hand in a one-block alcove.
To complete the level, the player should push the gear closets to the right hand next to the heart, retract the right hand and put it in line with the nearby platform, then have the left hand extended downwards to the upper gear and push it onto the right hand. The right hand should then retract completely, push the gear one pace forward, and move upwards to rest on the above platform. From this setup the left hand should then retract and push the upper pink heart from behind off its platform, when the heart lands it should be pushed off the platform by the right hand moving forward, and finally the right hand should extend downwards from the platform and push the hearts together.
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Level 11 - Local maxima[]
Level 11 consists of a rectangular semi-enclosed area containing both hands, two heart, and three gears with one placed in the middle of an enclosed square area located at the top right. One pace to the left of the enclosed area is a four-block platform with one heart placed on top of it and a one pace gap between the platform and upper part of the semi-enclosed area. In this gap to the right of the platform is two gears stacked on top of each other that are resting on a small platform. Two paces below the left edge of the small platform is the left hand in a small alcove while, to the right side of the platform one pace away, is a two-block vertical platform. In line with the left hand, in a same sized alcove on the far right side, is the right hand with the second heart on the block to the right of it.
To complete the level, the player should
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Level 12 - Give up, robot[]
Level 12 consists of a somewhat rectangular enclosed area containing both hands in a small alcove in the walls, two hearts, and three gears with two being in inaccessible enclosed sections. Placed partially in the middle of the level are two platforms with a small gap between them and the left platform having a heart on top of it while the right platform is a row larger. Beneath the right platform is a raised section on which a gear is placed in the gap between it and the platform above. One pace away from the left side of the raised section is a single block with a heart placed two paces downward in line with the gap. The left hand is placed partially near the middle of the rectangular area in the far left wall while the right hand is located in the top right section.
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Level 13 - They live, we sleep[]
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Level 14 - This is the oldest you've ever been[]
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Level 15 - The worst moment in your life is coming[]
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Level 16 - Ticktockticktockticktock[]
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Level 17 - Health = 0[]
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Level 18 - You look older[]
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Level 19 - Don't even bother with this one[]
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Level 20 - Somebody else already beat this one[]
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Level 21 - Trying is the first step towards failure[]
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Level 22 - Health = -1=[]
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Level 23[]
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Level 24[]
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Ending[]
This navigational box contains a spoiler. Click [show] to open.
The ending depicts the word "END" made out of blue blocks with a single hand placed on either side of the middle slant of the "N". Words below, in simple white text, read "thanks for playing!" with similar text below advertising Andrew Morrish's website.
Interactive objects[]
Pink hearts - Two are always included in the level and can be pushed around. Falling off the screen results in the level being failed, while being pushed together results in the level being complete.
Gears - Can be pushed around and function as a barrier towards pink hearts.
Bubbles - Float in air and can be moved around, but will prevent pink hearts from moving.
Hazards[]
Spikes - Are placed on platform surfaces and will cause, if contact is made, the pink hearts to break, cause hands to rebound, and bubbles to pop.
Trivia[]
While most levels have a subtitle, level 23 and 24 both lack one indicated by an ellipsis of "...".
ADWS keys - Move the left hand
Arrow keys - Move the right hand
