Developer: Over the Moon
Publisher: Over the Moon
Rrp: £13.49 (Humblebundle, Gog.com and Steam)
Released: 13th February 2018
Available on: Humblebundle, Gog.com and Steam
Played Using: Mouse and keyboard (and also an Xbox 360 Control pad at times)
Approximate game length: 10 Hours
Ever since completing The Fall I’ve been eagerly waiting for a sequel to appear. Well apparently while I wasn’t looking one not only got crowdfunded but also released! I absolutely loved the original game and have since gone back and replayed it a few times.
The story continues to follow A.R.I.D however this time she’s in a bit of trouble, her body is in jeopardy and she has been separated from it. Luckily she’s an A.I so she dives into the internet to find help.
The game has you take limited control of other robot characters, these characters each have their own strengths and weakness as well as inbuilt limitations. For example early on you take control of a robot butler who has a ridged (and endlessly repeating) schedule that it will absolutely refuse to deviate from. You have to work from within that schedule to attempt to force the butler to take you where you need to go.
The puzzles feel more complicated and creative than they did in the previous game. Forcing you to think a bit outside of the box in order to solve them.
Sadly there is one major let down with this game… the combat. They’ve implemented two separate combat types and while one works the other is just infuriating. The one that works is actually pretty much ripped straight off of One Finger Death Punch. Let the enemies walk into your zone and press the directional button to kill them. Simple, right? However the other combat system is clunky, imprecise and, to be frank, buggy. When in cyberspace you’ll get attacked by viruses. You have to shoot them with your gun when they turn blue. That works just fine when there are only one or two enemies. However when you get say, five on screen it becomes a clusterfuck. You are able to auto-aim with the touch of a button but for some unknown reason it will occasionally change target, usually on to one that is currently invulnerable. Also who’s bright idea was it to have the shooting and jumping use the same stamina bar? Grrrrrr…..
Is it worth it? I hate to say this but… no. I like the story but that god awful combat system nearly made me quit repeatedly. Maybe wait for the price to drop and then grab it.
If this appeals to you perhaps try;
The Fall
The Talos Principle
Soma
