After completing the “challenge” I was satisfied with the game and decided to write this review. I think this game is close to being a masterpiece of a puzzle game, but it does not excel in any other category, and that is fine.
I am amazed at how much the developers managed to do with such a simple mechanic, creating a whole game, with over 20 hours of gameplay, based on drawing a line from a circle to complete a puzzle (they probably went into rehab after making this). Going around the island I was always looking for more, seeing new twists to the puzzles, finding clever solutions thought up by the devs, not only using the tablets and the symbols, but also using the environment in so many different ways had me in awe. Truly a unique and refreshing experience.
Even though I did love the game I have to address it’s flaws. If you are expecting a story or a well written narrative, then you have come to the wrong place. The question of “why am I here and what is my purpose” always loomed in the back of my head. As I was traveling around I got some hints to a story, small bits and pieces, but nothing that really made me want to engage with it, so I never did. And after looking up the narrative online, I don’t think you should either, it’s not worth it.
One of the puzzles was a bit too abstract for me, and that is the shipwreck door, it has to be the hardest puzzle in the entire game(that I found at least), but luckily for me I was told this door was stupidly difficult before I even found it. After half an hour of jotting down sequences and trying to make sense of the sounds and the door, I gave up and looked up the solution online, and I still didn’t get it. After more research I found out the logic and I do respect the difficulty of the puzzle, but I can’t say it’s well crafted.
I do develop games myself so I can see why it wasn’t included in such a big 3D world, but a colorblind mode would have been great. Some of the environmental puzzles were actually impossible for me and the bunker and the epilepsy puzzles in the mountain were pretty difficult to get a read on.
To end it I have two personal tips to make the game a better experience. First of all is the addition of different people. I think having friends/family look at the puzzles and creating a dialogue around them makes for a fun and social experience of the game. I had people around for 50% of the game and I think that boosted my experience by a lot. Second is the use of your phone, especially with the sound sections. I filmed and slowed down the sounds of the birds to get a better understanding of the sequence and I think that was a must for actually enjoying the area.
I am amazed at how much the developers managed to do with such a simple mechanic, creating a whole game, with over 20 hours of gameplay, based on drawing a line from a circle to complete a puzzle (they probably went into rehab after making this). Going around the island I was always looking for more, seeing new twists to the puzzles, finding clever solutions thought up by the devs, not only using the tablets and the symbols, but also using the environment in so many different ways had me in awe. Truly a unique and refreshing experience.
Even though I did love the game I have to address it’s flaws. If you are expecting a story or a well written narrative, then you have come to the wrong place. The question of “why am I here and what is my purpose” always loomed in the back of my head. As I was traveling around I got some hints to a story, small bits and pieces, but nothing that really made me want to engage with it, so I never did. And after looking up the narrative online, I don’t think you should either, it’s not worth it.
One of the puzzles was a bit too abstract for me, and that is the shipwreck door, it has to be the hardest puzzle in the entire game(that I found at least), but luckily for me I was told this door was stupidly difficult before I even found it. After half an hour of jotting down sequences and trying to make sense of the sounds and the door, I gave up and looked up the solution online, and I still didn’t get it. After more research I found out the logic and I do respect the difficulty of the puzzle, but I can’t say it’s well crafted.
I do develop games myself so I can see why it wasn’t included in such a big 3D world, but a colorblind mode would have been great. Some of the environmental puzzles were actually impossible for me and the bunker and the epilepsy puzzles in the mountain were pretty difficult to get a read on.
To end it I have two personal tips to make the game a better experience. First of all is the addition of different people. I think having friends/family look at the puzzles and creating a dialogue around them makes for a fun and social experience of the game. I had people around for 50% of the game and I think that boosted my experience by a lot. Second is the use of your phone, especially with the sound sections. I filmed and slowed down the sounds of the birds to get a better understanding of the sequence and I think that was a must for actually enjoying the area.