Developer: Candleman Games
Rrp: £11.39 (Gog.com, Humblebindle and Steam)
This a beautifully crafted platform puzzle game that keeps itself short and sweet. Too many games like this feel the need to cram as many puzzles in as possible even if it negatively affects the pacing or narrative of the game.
I particularly love the ‘burn’ mechanic. Since you play as a sentient candle with legs you can burn your wick to give yourself some illumination in the often part areas of the game as well as to set other candles alight around you. The issue is you have a grand total of ten seconds of burn time, if you go over that time you lose a life, of which you also have ten per stage. This encourages the player to perform a quick burst of flame in order to see what lies ahead and try to remember it. This ‘quick burst’ technique that is instilled in the player in the early stages becomes an absolutely crucial skill later.
Candleman also has a really nice difficulty curve that goes as far as being challenging without being punishing. There aren’t too many checkpoints in level (which are represented by large candles that you set alight to activate) but the levels themselves tend to be quite short.
This is also a beautiful game to look at as you travel from the bows of a abandoned ship through to the lush foliage of a light sensitive forest and beyond.
I definitely recommend giving this game a go, I don’t think any one who gives it an honest chance will be disappointed in what they receive.
