Figment imaginatively dives into the consciousness of nightmarish trauma and produces an artistically creative, albeit occasionally thinly drawn, isometric melodic adventure of surrealism.
WHAT I LIKED:
+ Optimism versus pessimism. Dusty, a downbeat retired protector of the conscious mind, reluctantly fights the horde of nightmarish invaders with his incredibly optimistic flying friend Piper. Nestled within the colourful illustrations that provides Dusty with a sense of adventure, is a deep story revolving around seeking lost courage. Replenishing a sense of bravery. The deepest corners of the worldly mind, zany characters and rock-inspired music emphasise the meaningful story that, more often than not, relishes in its own subtlety.
+ Salvador Dalí's masterpiece 'The Persistence of Memory' clearly inspired the surrealistic illustrations within Figment's world-building. From kettle-shaped houses perched on the floating islands of Freedom Isles to mechanised tracks supplied throughout Clockwork Town. Each of the four main areas, including Cerebrum City, stylistically resembled a different aesthetic whilst employing a consistent illustrative style, making each level colourfully beautiful to glare at.
+ Make sure your thinking cap is equipped! Figment attempts to balance its mundane yet mandatory combat with an array of logic puzzles. From sliding block obstacles that provide weight to unlock a new path, to reflecting enemy projectiles so that they erode cursed vines entangling specific items. The level design from a game mechanic perspective was excellent, and admittedly some of the puzzles in Clockwork Town were deviously fiendish.
+ Remember, remember. Lost memories are scattered throughout Figment's world. Though entirely optional to collect, they provide an additional challenge that almost certainly will force the player to backtrack through those surreal lands.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
- Whilst the aforementioned puzzles excelled in their design, their repetitive instances consequently made them more tedious with each encounter. They become longer. They become harder. And, before your filthy mind thinks of something else, they rarely introduced any new obstacles within them. More time will be spent pushing and pulling blocks rather than actually progressing through the creatively designed levels, and depending on the player's patience, will regrettably test their devotion to completing the story. The piano puzzle? Perfect design. The sixteenth light box puzzle? Not so much.
- The lead game designer, whom is also a musician, was inspired to provoke a melodic undertone through Dusty's adventure. The nightmares themselves sing spiteful lyrics during their boss encounters, with Piper piping up occasionally. At their best moments they are cheesy, however at their worst it proved to be more of a distraction from the central narrative. Most likely comes down to personal taste, coming from someone who is not a particular fan of that style of music...
- The puzzle involving three instruments needing to be pitched perfectly in order to obtain an item from a ear-shaped tree? No, thank you. As a tone deaf gamer who can't decipher a good note from a bad one, this was a heck of a frustrating puzzle!
VERDICT:
5/10 endorphins
WHAT I LIKED:
+ Optimism versus pessimism. Dusty, a downbeat retired protector of the conscious mind, reluctantly fights the horde of nightmarish invaders with his incredibly optimistic flying friend Piper. Nestled within the colourful illustrations that provides Dusty with a sense of adventure, is a deep story revolving around seeking lost courage. Replenishing a sense of bravery. The deepest corners of the worldly mind, zany characters and rock-inspired music emphasise the meaningful story that, more often than not, relishes in its own subtlety.
+ Salvador Dalí's masterpiece 'The Persistence of Memory' clearly inspired the surrealistic illustrations within Figment's world-building. From kettle-shaped houses perched on the floating islands of Freedom Isles to mechanised tracks supplied throughout Clockwork Town. Each of the four main areas, including Cerebrum City, stylistically resembled a different aesthetic whilst employing a consistent illustrative style, making each level colourfully beautiful to glare at.
+ Make sure your thinking cap is equipped! Figment attempts to balance its mundane yet mandatory combat with an array of logic puzzles. From sliding block obstacles that provide weight to unlock a new path, to reflecting enemy projectiles so that they erode cursed vines entangling specific items. The level design from a game mechanic perspective was excellent, and admittedly some of the puzzles in Clockwork Town were deviously fiendish.
+ Remember, remember. Lost memories are scattered throughout Figment's world. Though entirely optional to collect, they provide an additional challenge that almost certainly will force the player to backtrack through those surreal lands.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
- Whilst the aforementioned puzzles excelled in their design, their repetitive instances consequently made them more tedious with each encounter. They become longer. They become harder. And, before your filthy mind thinks of something else, they rarely introduced any new obstacles within them. More time will be spent pushing and pulling blocks rather than actually progressing through the creatively designed levels, and depending on the player's patience, will regrettably test their devotion to completing the story. The piano puzzle? Perfect design. The sixteenth light box puzzle? Not so much.
- The lead game designer, whom is also a musician, was inspired to provoke a melodic undertone through Dusty's adventure. The nightmares themselves sing spiteful lyrics during their boss encounters, with Piper piping up occasionally. At their best moments they are cheesy, however at their worst it proved to be more of a distraction from the central narrative. Most likely comes down to personal taste, coming from someone who is not a particular fan of that style of music...
- The puzzle involving three instruments needing to be pitched perfectly in order to obtain an item from a ear-shaped tree? No, thank you. As a tone deaf gamer who can't decipher a good note from a bad one, this was a heck of a frustrating puzzle!
VERDICT:
5/10 endorphins