Wonderful short little puzzle platforming experience that feels like Journey + The Pathless light. With no story to speak of really, I never cared what was happening at least, it still manages to deliver all the vibes. Controls are relatively smooth and there are just enough interesting new mechanics and traversal abilities to keep it interesting. I also just really dig the art design and creativity of the different creatures, as well the always soothing musical score. I appreciate not every game trying to be difficult and allowing the player to have a chill 5 hours, explore thoroughly, and achieve a Platinum trophy for their efforts.

What an incredible experience. The mixture of rhythm-based combat and traditional rhythm game input controls of timed button pressing made for a varied, challenging, but super satisfying gameplay experience. The art style is just gorgeous to look at and all of the characters have memorable personalities. The story is just solid, but the dialogue/banter enhances it quite a bit. If I'm nitpicking, there was probably a bit too little enemy variety and some of the levels were probably too lengthy (though I personally enjoyed the heck out platforming around gathering collectibles and currency). What overcomes that in a big way, though, is how this game's emotional arc slowly hits you and builds to some absolutely phenomenal late game moments. There is brilliant momentum (fitting for a high-energy action music game like this) where the game just gets better and better and goes out on a high note (pun intended). Leaves you with a big old smile on your face and warm heart. Then you learn that there is tons of stuff to do after finishing the story - you dress your cat up like a rapper and put your robot buddy in a hot dog costume and go right back out for some more fun with new modes and other stuff to find in the levels that has become unlocked. Bravo, Tango Gameworks. Bravo.

We (my 17-year old son and I) really enjoyed the puzzle solving in this one and the interesting cast of zany characters and the wonderful writing. The art style, while admittedly off-putting at first, also grew on us strongly over the course of our journey and we came to love it. I do think the game drug on far longer than it needed to with several sections requiring an unreasonable amount of back and forth style solutions, and there were a couple of puzzles that I truly don't believe anyone was going to get without using hints, but overall we were able to come up with most of the answers on our own and felt very pleased doing so. What didn't work for us was the ending. The choices made are ones we can understand intellectually, but they did not result in what either of us would consider a satisfying finale to the game or series as a whole. It's tough to enjoy a game so much and then feel like the ending just falls completely flat, and unfortunately that left a sour taste in our mouth.

Enjoyable, short little platforming puzzler with very simple mechanics used in some interesting ways. Some levels were definitely challenging but not because precision was needed. Once we figured it out and had the light bulb moment (heh), we immediately felt like we should've noticed the solution sooner. The way the game's two potential endings wrap up are well worth seeking out on your own without looking up spoilers. Leaves you with a little something to chew on that you don't normally get in a game like this that seemingly has no narrative whatsoever attached to it.

Floored by this game. I came to it, already a fan of Josef Fares' other work, knowing only that it's "the prison break" one. But goodness gracious, it's so much more than that. I have so many feelings right now but want to tip-toe around any potential spoilers even that hint at my full reaction because I want others to have the same experience that I did. What I will say is that what makes Fares' work so special is how the game design informs the emotional response to the narrative. It's utterly spellbinding when you get to the end and look back at how you arrived there. He knows how suck you in and keep you interested with varied gameplay that, while certainly not always the most crisp or polished, shifts in style to keep things interesting and present aspects of the story in realistic ways. Going through this with my best friend was so amazing, and my relationship with these characters so deep. Instantly takes a place among my favorite games of all-time.

My son and I played through entirely with split-screen co-op and it is incredible how well the game replicates the experience of a real escape room with inventive challenges. Co-op is truly superb. The way you can solve puzzles at the same time or separately, and share items, really allows you to work through each scenario in bite-sized chunks just like you would be doing in real life. I imagine the game would be more challenging and not quite as fun solo. The time limit is plenty generous and in a few more difficult rooms did have the intended effect of "speeding us up" so that we had to deal with pressure. The story is simple and silly and features some eclectic characters. They aren't really fleshed out and that's just fine. For a puzzle game, it was enough to keep us entertained as we went from one to the next. Honestly, this is one of the best games of the year. A total hidden gem! We've already purchased the DLC and are excited to go through it all.

Phenomenal experience. This game and Control probably have my favorite combat in gaming. The mechanics are so innovative and fun to use. Remedy's expected excellent storytelling through collectibles is present plus a genuinely intriguing (and expectedly confusing) sci-fi time travel story. The unique structure of live-action TV episodes in-between gameplay acts was incredible and I really wish that we could get a sequel to this story in the same way. It could definitely be better but for a first attempt at something so fresh, it's hard to complain because it was plenty effective and entertaining. The final boss fight mechanics drove me nuts and was the only time I remotely struggled in combat. Otherwise, most of my issues are minor and will be easily forgotten because my memories will be of how immersed I was in this world for 12 hours over two days.