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"[GAME] Antichamber (PC)"

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Tue 06/05/14 at 08:54
Regular
"eat toast!"
Posts: 1,466
With large gaming publishers/developers content to release sequels for their well known IPs, more discerning gamers look to Indie developers for a different type of experience. A recent(ish) game that has caught people's attention in a big way is Antichamber, winner of over 25 awards. So what sets Antichamber apart from other games and is the critical acclaim deserved?

Antichamber tasks players to escape a maze by overcoming its numerous puzzles. Most of these falling into the category of either hitting switches or simply trying to reach the other side. What sets Antichamber apart from other puzzle games is that it's one massive mind bending optical illusion. The game tosses logic, reason and conventional gaming concepts out of the window and instead toys with the player's perceptions both visually and mentally. Players must employ a combination of ingenuity, a willingness to experiment with absolutely everything or even simply resorting to brute force. Environments are presented with a simple, yet effective minimalistic style. There are no menu screens and everything is done literally in game. Antichambers Clean and sterile appearance is calming, yet oppressive atmosphere gives a feeling of being stuck a giant science lab experiment . Predominately white, what colour the game does use is used effectively for visual information and enhancing the optical illusions players will frequently encounter. It messes with players minds so well that it's creates a unique experience that even simplest of tricks come as an unusual and pleasant surprise. At the lowest level false walls and floors are used. By games end going through the same corridor in different directions can result in different things happening. Stare at an object intently and suddenly find that you're standing in a different room altogether. Jumping up whilst staring at an icon will result in the floor disappearing and players plunging into the next room to progress.

But whilst Antichamber's optical illusion and logic defying ideas work in its favour on the whole, it's also a source of occasional frustration. Although players are allowed to warp to any discovered puzzles , navigating the maze can still be a real chore and at times difficult thanks to its Idiosyncratic pathways. With no logical linear paths, players can get lost very easily. This is especially true when some puzzles can only be solved by completing the previous one or 2 puzzles to obtain enough blocks to even attempt the current puzzle. Sometimes solving different puzzles will result in going into previously explored areas or open up to a dead end. Another concern are the game mechanics. Whilst simple and perfectly adequate, occasionally it makes a simple task harder than it should be. For example, separating a single block from a regenerating chain of blocks requires a needless amount of clicks. This minor inconvenience soon becomes a source of frustration especially when finesse is required from players or the space to manipulate the objects is aggressively small.

Overall, Antichamber doesn't disappoint. Even despite the occasional missteps, the game provides a refreshing gaming experience that is both enjoyable and unique at the same time. For an indie developer this is a massive accomplishment and is unsurprising that has earned 25+ awards. If players are looking for something different, then this game comes highly recommended.

8/10
There have been no replies to this thread yet.
Tue 06/05/14 at 08:54
Regular
"eat toast!"
Posts: 1,466
With large gaming publishers/developers content to release sequels for their well known IPs, more discerning gamers look to Indie developers for a different type of experience. A recent(ish) game that has caught people's attention in a big way is Antichamber, winner of over 25 awards. So what sets Antichamber apart from other games and is the critical acclaim deserved?

Antichamber tasks players to escape a maze by overcoming its numerous puzzles. Most of these falling into the category of either hitting switches or simply trying to reach the other side. What sets Antichamber apart from other puzzle games is that it's one massive mind bending optical illusion. The game tosses logic, reason and conventional gaming concepts out of the window and instead toys with the player's perceptions both visually and mentally. Players must employ a combination of ingenuity, a willingness to experiment with absolutely everything or even simply resorting to brute force. Environments are presented with a simple, yet effective minimalistic style. There are no menu screens and everything is done literally in game. Antichambers Clean and sterile appearance is calming, yet oppressive atmosphere gives a feeling of being stuck a giant science lab experiment . Predominately white, what colour the game does use is used effectively for visual information and enhancing the optical illusions players will frequently encounter. It messes with players minds so well that it's creates a unique experience that even simplest of tricks come as an unusual and pleasant surprise. At the lowest level false walls and floors are used. By games end going through the same corridor in different directions can result in different things happening. Stare at an object intently and suddenly find that you're standing in a different room altogether. Jumping up whilst staring at an icon will result in the floor disappearing and players plunging into the next room to progress.

But whilst Antichamber's optical illusion and logic defying ideas work in its favour on the whole, it's also a source of occasional frustration. Although players are allowed to warp to any discovered puzzles , navigating the maze can still be a real chore and at times difficult thanks to its Idiosyncratic pathways. With no logical linear paths, players can get lost very easily. This is especially true when some puzzles can only be solved by completing the previous one or 2 puzzles to obtain enough blocks to even attempt the current puzzle. Sometimes solving different puzzles will result in going into previously explored areas or open up to a dead end. Another concern are the game mechanics. Whilst simple and perfectly adequate, occasionally it makes a simple task harder than it should be. For example, separating a single block from a regenerating chain of blocks requires a needless amount of clicks. This minor inconvenience soon becomes a source of frustration especially when finesse is required from players or the space to manipulate the objects is aggressively small.

Overall, Antichamber doesn't disappoint. Even despite the occasional missteps, the game provides a refreshing gaming experience that is both enjoyable and unique at the same time. For an indie developer this is a massive accomplishment and is unsurprising that has earned 25+ awards. If players are looking for something different, then this game comes highly recommended.

8/10

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