Whenever I
find myself amazed by a video game's graphics, it's usually due to some
fancypants trick with shiny particles, crazy lens flare, or near-realistic
cutscenes. And yet, The Unfinished Swan manages to be constantly awe-inspiring with
the simplest of graphics.
The first
time I started the game, I thought it had frozen up on me. I was given this
blank white screen with a tiny, nearly-unnoticeable circle in the middle. I
moved both control sticks around, yet the screen stayed the same. I pressed all
the face buttons, but nothing seemed to do anything. Except I could hear faint
grunts from a child.
Confused, I
thought maybe if I waited the game would finish loading something that was
supposed to be here? I rested my controller in my lap, and that's when one of
the shoulder buttons was accidentally pressed. On the screen, a black sphere
suddenly appeared and flew down into the empty white void until... splat! Black paint splattered across a
wall I didn't know was even there a moment before. The game had indeed begun,
and it was up to me to find my way, to essentially draw my way out of this
featureless room. Without the paint, it's nearly impossible to navigate the
area... and yet, use too much and you lose critical environmental contrast and
you can end up in a blank room again.
An hour or
so of gameplay later, my face flush with childlike wonder, I finished the game;
Aching for more, yet still basking in such a rich, creative experience.
The
mechanics of the game change throughout its short play-time, from stark paint
and clever use of water, to controlling light and shapes. If I truly find any
big fault with the game, it's that each mechanic is segregated to its own part
of the game. You never come to a part where you can swap through your abilities
to progress. It's a shame they discard mechanics as the game goes along, which
limited the puzzle potential. The game is devoid of danger for the majority of
the time, and when there are enemies to avoid, it's almost disappointing
because you just want to explore.
Despite my
initial befuddlement, the lack of a hand-holding tutorial or any annoying tips
popping up was a breath of fresh air. It was quite rewarding when I figured out
I needed to use my throwing spheres to manipulate certain items rather than
just to reveal paths. One of the many fresh experiences I had during this game.
There wasn't even any true HUD elements, aside from the unobtrusive aiming
reticule. The only other on-screen icon I had was one I unlocked to help me
find balloons (the game's token collectible).
I can not
gush enough about this game. It fills a void I didn't know even existed. I
didn't go looking for such a fascinating
game... it was just there, smiling unassumingly up at me. I'm just so glad it
exists. Give it a try, all of you.
4 out of 4 Stars
Recommended
for: Everyone looking for a majestic, unique and undemanding gaming experience
over a short period of time.
Franchise
fixes: This game cries out for episodic content. In fact, it probably would have
been easier to swallow if the 3 Acts were released separately for 5 bucks a piece,
instead of $15 as a whole. I would definitely pay for future DLC to add new
play mechanics to the creative arsenal. Also, a GTA-sized open-world
environment would be a magical playground.
Trophies/In-Game
Rewards: For once, I didn't pay much attention to the trophies as I played. I
was enjoying the experience. Weird. But you get half the achievements just for
playing the game, then there's a few more if you can accomplish certain tasks;
a decent list. In-game unlockables can adjust how you work with your
paintballs, but nothing too fancy.
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