Pros:
+ fresh central idea with unique puzzle designs
+ interface and controls are clean and transparent
+ art style and architecture never detract from the puzzles
+ a well-tampered difficulty curve steadily introduces new elements
+ many puzzles have various solutions (and some can be brute forced)
+ anti-frustration features like placement icons are perfectly implemented
+ not all puzzles have to be solved at any given time to progress
+ hint system is rooted in the story as well as the world design
+ a lot of hidden puzzles and easter eggs to uncover
+ bite-sized reveal of the story is engaging and motivating
+ music never gets annoying, even after hours of play
+ voice of Elohim is perfectly cast and sparingly guides the player
+ story is intricate and lots of food for thought
+ the QR code leaflets throughout the world tell their own story
+ Alexandra Drennan audiologs are amazingly written and acted
+ the final quest to ascend is exhilarating and brings all elements together
+ backup system allows to explore more endings after beating the game
Cons:
- not all endings are equally satisfying and one important Milton variant is not telegraphed
- not all elements of the puzzles are adequately introduced (boxes on orbs?)
- some of the final puzzles require pixel perfect placement
- puzzles involving the recording mechanism are often mind-bendingly difficult
- 2D Tetris puzzles can only be brute forced and get tedious fast
- the amount of texts and documents in the terminals can get overwhelming
- terminal discussions with Milton often lead to annoying "gotcha" moments
- the DLC is just more of the same but with a brutal difficulty
Magic Moment: Finding a hidden element behind wooden planks in the hub area and realizing how much there is to explore.
Best Puzzle element: The trusty jammer (in combination with the turrets).
Playtime: 16 Hours. All main puzzles, 50% of stars, a handful of solutions looked up online and two main endings explored. DLC explored for some time but shortly abandoned.
Verdict:
Who would have guessed that CroTeam, famous for creating one of the most mindless FPS series and protagonists in Serious Sam, would one day create one of the best 3D puzzle games in recent memory? Not only are the presentation, controls, interface, and world design perfectly tailored to emphasize the puzzles and their solutions, the team have also created an engaging science-fiction story about the nature and fate of our species that is not only told in text form, but also with the help of incredible audiologs that stayed with me long after the credits had rolled. This technique of slowly revealing the truth at the heart of the tale is engaging enough to overcome even the most difficult challenges, and the hint system and possibility to enter and leave puzzles at any time preclude any lasting frustration. Finally, The Talos Principle never overstays its welcome, while also holding enough secrets and optional puzzles for anyone interested in exploring this world beyond solving its main puzzles.
These perfectly tailored systems converge into an entertaining and ultimately human experience that should be played by everyone interested not only in 3D puzzles, but also the philosophy of mind and the ultimate fate of humanity in light of our craving for creation and destruction.
+ fresh central idea with unique puzzle designs
+ interface and controls are clean and transparent
+ art style and architecture never detract from the puzzles
+ a well-tampered difficulty curve steadily introduces new elements
+ many puzzles have various solutions (and some can be brute forced)
+ anti-frustration features like placement icons are perfectly implemented
+ not all puzzles have to be solved at any given time to progress
+ hint system is rooted in the story as well as the world design
+ a lot of hidden puzzles and easter eggs to uncover
+ bite-sized reveal of the story is engaging and motivating
+ music never gets annoying, even after hours of play
+ voice of Elohim is perfectly cast and sparingly guides the player
+ story is intricate and lots of food for thought
+ the QR code leaflets throughout the world tell their own story
+ Alexandra Drennan audiologs are amazingly written and acted
+ the final quest to ascend is exhilarating and brings all elements together
+ backup system allows to explore more endings after beating the game
Cons:
- not all endings are equally satisfying and one important Milton variant is not telegraphed
- not all elements of the puzzles are adequately introduced (boxes on orbs?)
- some of the final puzzles require pixel perfect placement
- puzzles involving the recording mechanism are often mind-bendingly difficult
- 2D Tetris puzzles can only be brute forced and get tedious fast
- the amount of texts and documents in the terminals can get overwhelming
- terminal discussions with Milton often lead to annoying "gotcha" moments
- the DLC is just more of the same but with a brutal difficulty
Magic Moment: Finding a hidden element behind wooden planks in the hub area and realizing how much there is to explore.
Best Puzzle element: The trusty jammer (in combination with the turrets).
Playtime: 16 Hours. All main puzzles, 50% of stars, a handful of solutions looked up online and two main endings explored. DLC explored for some time but shortly abandoned.
Verdict:
Who would have guessed that CroTeam, famous for creating one of the most mindless FPS series and protagonists in Serious Sam, would one day create one of the best 3D puzzle games in recent memory? Not only are the presentation, controls, interface, and world design perfectly tailored to emphasize the puzzles and their solutions, the team have also created an engaging science-fiction story about the nature and fate of our species that is not only told in text form, but also with the help of incredible audiologs that stayed with me long after the credits had rolled. This technique of slowly revealing the truth at the heart of the tale is engaging enough to overcome even the most difficult challenges, and the hint system and possibility to enter and leave puzzles at any time preclude any lasting frustration. Finally, The Talos Principle never overstays its welcome, while also holding enough secrets and optional puzzles for anyone interested in exploring this world beyond solving its main puzzles.
These perfectly tailored systems converge into an entertaining and ultimately human experience that should be played by everyone interested not only in 3D puzzles, but also the philosophy of mind and the ultimate fate of humanity in light of our craving for creation and destruction.