When two designers behind Limbo and Inside are doing a new project, fans of puzzle games are waiting with bated breath. Now that Cocoon is out, I can safely say: the wait was worth it, and the finished project will satisfy genre aficionados and newcomers alike.
Pros:
+ minimalist world design meets 4-dimensional puzzle gameplay
+ the puzzle designs are self-explanatory and require only one button
+ interactions with puzzle elements are logical and trouble-free
+ new elements are slowly introduced at regular intervals
+ old puzzle elements are re-integrated over time in surprisingly smart ways
+ fail states are integrated into the logic of the game world
+ the boss fights are creative and unique
+ ending sequence is very memorable
+ a full playthrough is short and sweet at only a few hours
Cons:
- the narrative, if there even is one, is incomprehensible
- glyph sequence puzzles are not always transparent
- the optional ending elucidates nothing about the narrative
- performance on Switch is pretty shoddy
Playtime: 6 hours and some change. I had to look up the solution for the last glyph puzzle and I still have no idea what exactly the reasoning behind it was.
Magic Moments: Understanding the worlds-within-worlds design for the first time. Using a cannon to shoot trough multiple worlds at the same time.
Verdict:
The minimalist look of Cocoon belies a four-dimensional core puzzle design that is unique in its simplicity and concurrent complexity. While new elements get introduced at regular intervals, the difficulty of the puzzles scales naturally and new elements explain themselves without the use of of tutorials or any other outside help. This feeling of being guided through the game by an invisible hand is quite unique in the genre, and renders Cocoon a worthy successor to the previous games produced by its creative heads.
Even though I would have liked more of a narrative thrust, Cocoon is another must play title in a packed year full of them, and well worth your time.
Pros:
+ minimalist world design meets 4-dimensional puzzle gameplay
+ the puzzle designs are self-explanatory and require only one button
+ interactions with puzzle elements are logical and trouble-free
+ new elements are slowly introduced at regular intervals
+ old puzzle elements are re-integrated over time in surprisingly smart ways
+ fail states are integrated into the logic of the game world
+ the boss fights are creative and unique
+ ending sequence is very memorable
+ a full playthrough is short and sweet at only a few hours
Cons:
- the narrative, if there even is one, is incomprehensible
- glyph sequence puzzles are not always transparent
- the optional ending elucidates nothing about the narrative
- performance on Switch is pretty shoddy
Playtime: 6 hours and some change. I had to look up the solution for the last glyph puzzle and I still have no idea what exactly the reasoning behind it was.
Magic Moments: Understanding the worlds-within-worlds design for the first time. Using a cannon to shoot trough multiple worlds at the same time.
Verdict:
The minimalist look of Cocoon belies a four-dimensional core puzzle design that is unique in its simplicity and concurrent complexity. While new elements get introduced at regular intervals, the difficulty of the puzzles scales naturally and new elements explain themselves without the use of of tutorials or any other outside help. This feeling of being guided through the game by an invisible hand is quite unique in the genre, and renders Cocoon a worthy successor to the previous games produced by its creative heads.
Even though I would have liked more of a narrative thrust, Cocoon is another must play title in a packed year full of them, and well worth your time.