Before Inscryption, there was Pony Island.
Though I unfortunately haven't had the chance to play the former yet, it's impossible not to draw some comparisons. I'm sure PI is much smaller in scale, and it's definitely not as widely-known. But don't let those details deter you. PI is a creative triumph in its own right; and it's one that deserves more acknowledgement.
This is unlike anything I've ever played - and it's better off for it. There are moments within that are truly exceptional, solely because of that eccentricity and boldness. Not since Undertale has a game left me in awe with its meta narrative and ideas. Furthermore, the presentation, humor, interface, and story beats make it an overall unforgettable experience. I really, highly recommend it.
SHORT REVIEW
Visuals: 4/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Story: 5/5
Gameplay: 3/5
Worldbuilding: 4/5
Overall score: 4/5 [4.1/5]
IN-DEPTH REVIEW
Visuals:
Reminiscent of antique arcade cabinets, PI's simple pixel graphics certainly aren't anything fancy. Instead, PI uses bold, techno-feeling red and blue outlines to make the pony and enemies pop from the gray backgrounds. It's a testament to how one unique little twist can make your art design special.
The computer desktop you explore while outside of Pony Island harbors a sinister, ancient-feeling UI. These old-school menus match the arcade game in their dated feel, with pop-up windows and boxy program shortcuts. I mean that in the best possible way, of course; they're nostalgic, while still being creepy and unique too.
[SPOILERS] I must also specifically commend the visual storytelling. Pony Island evolves drastically after your 331 year nap; the previously unsettling models and landscape become childishly cute, colorful, and happy. The change is easy to understand, but still jarring on a visceral level. It makes the gameplay - which would have otherwise gotten stale - stay fresh for a bit longer. [SPOILER ENDING]
At the end of the day, Pony Island's art direction is not something that I will champion as extraordinary down the line, but it's still really good and serves its purpose well. Simple, but effective. Sometimes that's what really counts.
Overall, 4/5.
Sound:
PI has a surprisingly fantastic soundtrack. I only say it's surprising because many other small games totally neglect this design aspect, either adding in half-baked tracks or taking the easy route with royalty-free music. Fortunately, that's not the case here.
The electronic style is a perfect fit for a game that takes inspiration from classic titles. And while many of the tunes are ominous to add to the chilling atmosphere, they're simultaneously energetic and blood-pumping, all to spur you in your journey of gate-jumping and laser-shooting. They're intense, pure fun, and just amazing all around. I think everyone should give this soundtrack a listen on their own time, just to fully appreciate it.
Overall, 4.5/5.
Story:
PI's story is a creepypasta waiting to be written. AKA, it's not exactly the most original idea in the horror community - but the near-flawless game-ifying execution of it here is what makes it special.
I have a fascination with screen simulators, and I'm honestly surprised that I haven't seen this 'trapped soul' idea utilized before. The fact that you are a prisoner in the machine which you're exploring raises the stakes dramatically. It makes every single thing you do feel like it genuinely matters. After all, you're not just navigating a desktop or a phone. You're trying to save yourself, too. What you're doing affects your protagonist directly.
Probably the best part of PI, though, is its ridiculous levels of meta awareness. There are some truly jaw-dropping 4th-wall breaking moments, especially in the later acts. I won't go into further detail, because I really don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that it makes for a constantly enthralling and ever-evolving experience.
The last thing I'll address is the character of Satan. You'd expect, with PI's creepy presentation, that he'd be an equally creepy protagonist. But on the contrary. He's basically just a normal guy, who also happens to be evil incarnate. He likes ponies, game design, and taking souls!
PI does have a great sense of humor in general, but it especially does towards this depiction of Lucifer. It's to the point that he's never actually that mean or punishing towards you. Really, he just gets frustrated when you won't play his game the way he intended. He even has a tendency to give you positive reinforcement when you DO obey him.
His dialogue adds so much absurdity; it gives it a new level of personality to PI that it would sorely lack otherwise. I don't think PI would not be nearly as good without him in it.
Overall, 5/5.
Gameplay:
Making a good puzzle game is a tricky thing. You have to balance design, UI, difficulty, and pacing. And while PI's puzzles aren't downright BAD, they do have glaring flaws that make them a bit of a bore.
The idea behind them is a pretty cool one, to be fair. The hacker feel they have is neat, and the helpful coded phrases plastered across them are interesting. I unfortunately just didn't find them very engaging or rewarding otherwise. This is largely because of their lack of visual engrossment - all there is to look at is words on a screen, with some boxes to drag around.
Speaking of, having to click and drag those boxes around prolong these segments to an annoying degree. This is a problem that could've easily been fixed with a little more time, I think; some sort of UI that allows you to switch out the pieces quickly would have done wonders.
I think the biggest positive that the puzzles have to offer is their pacing. Some of the later ones are pretty damn difficult, but it's nothing that I couldn't figure out on my own. I enjoyed the challenge and the addition of new pieces as time went on.
As for the in-game Pony Island's mechanics, they're very simple - you jump, shoot, and occasionally glide. It's not exactly the most breathtaking loop in the world. But, that being said, it's not terrible either. Later additions (such as the glitched butterflies you must avoid, and the strong floating enemies) keep things fresh, as well as the aforementioned visual updates.
What really makes the gameplay decent is how the meta narrative uses mechanics. The desktop puzzles you must complete are easily the most fun part of PI. They're not as tedious or slow as the hacking puzzles, nor as repetitive as the in-game Pony Island. They're much more creative and fun - navigating menus to find the options you need, finding glitches and system weaknesses to exploit.
The optional ticket collectibles are great, too. Many are rewarded by discovering tiny details or solving hidden puzzles. While a lot of them are probably impossible to get without a guide, I won't let that take away from my enjoyment too much - that tends to be the case with collectibles, after all.
Overall, 3/5.
Worldbuilding:
There's only so much 'lore' you could give to a game like PI. Digging through files to learn more about Lucifer and his project's development history is about the extent of it. So instead, PI focuses on making its desktop and games interesting to explore.
Even within its limits, there are a lot of fun things to discover in terms of easter eggs and details. I never grew tired of searching around. The tickets add a lot of flavor here, too, for reasons I already discussed.
It also finds a really clever way to give its protagonist a backstory, without making it a central plot point. It's not the kind of character you'd expect to control here, either. But that makes it all the more compelling.
Overall, 4/5.
Overall game score: 4/5. I'm honestly shocked that Pony Island is not rated higher here. No, it's not perfect - not by a long shot. But it's so creative and captivating, especially for a game only 2 1/2 hours in length. The music is fantastic, the story is funny and entertaining, and the interactions you have with it are just amazing. This is definitely one of my most highly recommended screen simulators so far.
Though I unfortunately haven't had the chance to play the former yet, it's impossible not to draw some comparisons. I'm sure PI is much smaller in scale, and it's definitely not as widely-known. But don't let those details deter you. PI is a creative triumph in its own right; and it's one that deserves more acknowledgement.
This is unlike anything I've ever played - and it's better off for it. There are moments within that are truly exceptional, solely because of that eccentricity and boldness. Not since Undertale has a game left me in awe with its meta narrative and ideas. Furthermore, the presentation, humor, interface, and story beats make it an overall unforgettable experience. I really, highly recommend it.
SHORT REVIEW
Visuals: 4/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Story: 5/5
Gameplay: 3/5
Worldbuilding: 4/5
Overall score: 4/5 [4.1/5]
IN-DEPTH REVIEW
Visuals:
Reminiscent of antique arcade cabinets, PI's simple pixel graphics certainly aren't anything fancy. Instead, PI uses bold, techno-feeling red and blue outlines to make the pony and enemies pop from the gray backgrounds. It's a testament to how one unique little twist can make your art design special.
The computer desktop you explore while outside of Pony Island harbors a sinister, ancient-feeling UI. These old-school menus match the arcade game in their dated feel, with pop-up windows and boxy program shortcuts. I mean that in the best possible way, of course; they're nostalgic, while still being creepy and unique too.
[SPOILERS] I must also specifically commend the visual storytelling. Pony Island evolves drastically after your 331 year nap; the previously unsettling models and landscape become childishly cute, colorful, and happy. The change is easy to understand, but still jarring on a visceral level. It makes the gameplay - which would have otherwise gotten stale - stay fresh for a bit longer. [SPOILER ENDING]
At the end of the day, Pony Island's art direction is not something that I will champion as extraordinary down the line, but it's still really good and serves its purpose well. Simple, but effective. Sometimes that's what really counts.
Overall, 4/5.
Sound:
PI has a surprisingly fantastic soundtrack. I only say it's surprising because many other small games totally neglect this design aspect, either adding in half-baked tracks or taking the easy route with royalty-free music. Fortunately, that's not the case here.
The electronic style is a perfect fit for a game that takes inspiration from classic titles. And while many of the tunes are ominous to add to the chilling atmosphere, they're simultaneously energetic and blood-pumping, all to spur you in your journey of gate-jumping and laser-shooting. They're intense, pure fun, and just amazing all around. I think everyone should give this soundtrack a listen on their own time, just to fully appreciate it.
Overall, 4.5/5.
Story:
PI's story is a creepypasta waiting to be written. AKA, it's not exactly the most original idea in the horror community - but the near-flawless game-ifying execution of it here is what makes it special.
I have a fascination with screen simulators, and I'm honestly surprised that I haven't seen this 'trapped soul' idea utilized before. The fact that you are a prisoner in the machine which you're exploring raises the stakes dramatically. It makes every single thing you do feel like it genuinely matters. After all, you're not just navigating a desktop or a phone. You're trying to save yourself, too. What you're doing affects your protagonist directly.
Probably the best part of PI, though, is its ridiculous levels of meta awareness. There are some truly jaw-dropping 4th-wall breaking moments, especially in the later acts. I won't go into further detail, because I really don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that it makes for a constantly enthralling and ever-evolving experience.
The last thing I'll address is the character of Satan. You'd expect, with PI's creepy presentation, that he'd be an equally creepy protagonist. But on the contrary. He's basically just a normal guy, who also happens to be evil incarnate. He likes ponies, game design, and taking souls!
PI does have a great sense of humor in general, but it especially does towards this depiction of Lucifer. It's to the point that he's never actually that mean or punishing towards you. Really, he just gets frustrated when you won't play his game the way he intended. He even has a tendency to give you positive reinforcement when you DO obey him.
His dialogue adds so much absurdity; it gives it a new level of personality to PI that it would sorely lack otherwise. I don't think PI would not be nearly as good without him in it.
Overall, 5/5.
Gameplay:
Making a good puzzle game is a tricky thing. You have to balance design, UI, difficulty, and pacing. And while PI's puzzles aren't downright BAD, they do have glaring flaws that make them a bit of a bore.
The idea behind them is a pretty cool one, to be fair. The hacker feel they have is neat, and the helpful coded phrases plastered across them are interesting. I unfortunately just didn't find them very engaging or rewarding otherwise. This is largely because of their lack of visual engrossment - all there is to look at is words on a screen, with some boxes to drag around.
Speaking of, having to click and drag those boxes around prolong these segments to an annoying degree. This is a problem that could've easily been fixed with a little more time, I think; some sort of UI that allows you to switch out the pieces quickly would have done wonders.
I think the biggest positive that the puzzles have to offer is their pacing. Some of the later ones are pretty damn difficult, but it's nothing that I couldn't figure out on my own. I enjoyed the challenge and the addition of new pieces as time went on.
As for the in-game Pony Island's mechanics, they're very simple - you jump, shoot, and occasionally glide. It's not exactly the most breathtaking loop in the world. But, that being said, it's not terrible either. Later additions (such as the glitched butterflies you must avoid, and the strong floating enemies) keep things fresh, as well as the aforementioned visual updates.
What really makes the gameplay decent is how the meta narrative uses mechanics. The desktop puzzles you must complete are easily the most fun part of PI. They're not as tedious or slow as the hacking puzzles, nor as repetitive as the in-game Pony Island. They're much more creative and fun - navigating menus to find the options you need, finding glitches and system weaknesses to exploit.
The optional ticket collectibles are great, too. Many are rewarded by discovering tiny details or solving hidden puzzles. While a lot of them are probably impossible to get without a guide, I won't let that take away from my enjoyment too much - that tends to be the case with collectibles, after all.
Overall, 3/5.
Worldbuilding:
There's only so much 'lore' you could give to a game like PI. Digging through files to learn more about Lucifer and his project's development history is about the extent of it. So instead, PI focuses on making its desktop and games interesting to explore.
Even within its limits, there are a lot of fun things to discover in terms of easter eggs and details. I never grew tired of searching around. The tickets add a lot of flavor here, too, for reasons I already discussed.
It also finds a really clever way to give its protagonist a backstory, without making it a central plot point. It's not the kind of character you'd expect to control here, either. But that makes it all the more compelling.
Overall, 4/5.
Overall game score: 4/5. I'm honestly shocked that Pony Island is not rated higher here. No, it's not perfect - not by a long shot. But it's so creative and captivating, especially for a game only 2 1/2 hours in length. The music is fantastic, the story is funny and entertaining, and the interactions you have with it are just amazing. This is definitely one of my most highly recommended screen simulators so far.