When development of the game started, Relativity was its working title, and it was heavily inspired by the works of Escher, along with many other earlier puzzle games such as Portal and Antichamber. When I first saw screenshots of Manifold Garden, before I knew anything about the game, I was immediately reminded of the famous lithograph Relativity by M.C. More than anything, it does what a good puzzle game should: it makes you equally baffled as to how anyone could conceive of such madness, and feeling like a genius when it finally clicks-when you realize, at long last, you're able to read the language of the world and react accordingly with less trial and error. The Portal comparison here is apt: while narratively the two are drastically different (this has a narrative of sorts, though it is decidedly esoteric and implied), the feel of moving through the world is similar, as is their length. It's not the longest game of its ilk, but I find that to its benefit-much as I loved a lot of The Witness, I found it overstayed its welcome by. But the vision for this is something truly unique, and for me it worked. This thing is stunning to look at, engaging as hell to play, and only a wee bit daunting at times. Granted, that response was anxiety, due to how it asks you to constantly take leaps of faith and just be lost for long stretches while you analyze and find your way through, around, up, down, and over your surroundings. Once you crack that first egg open, there’s few twists and turns when it comes to the actual gameplay mechanics which can get a little on the repetitive side.Maybe the only time a puzzle game (outside of a narrative-driven one, like Portal) has managed to evoke a genuine emotional response from me. The game spans four-hours which isn’t too long – that would be all fine and dandy if the puzzles ever amounted to more than their initial premise but, unfortunately, moving cubes is about the extent of the ride. Those first few moments in William Chyr’s world aren’t just a glance at a brilliant imagination, but a true reel. Controls are responsive and, whilst boasting a complex concept, getting into the rythm of this graceful puzzle-based adventure is easy enough given the intuitive design and welcoming introduction. Thankfully, it holds up on the less-powerful Switch with crisp visuals and smooth gameplay. Also, please consider supporting us on Patreon so that we can continue to do what we love doing. It’s calm, but the distinct bleak palette and abstract art direction serves to add eerie overtones to the otherwise surreal landscape.Įnjoying our Manifold Garden Switch review (Quick) so far? Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more Nintendo Switch content. That mysterious layered narrative that’s not blatantly hurled into the player’s face is what works so well as it serves to act as a reel, continously pulling you deeper and deeper into the abyss. What exactly is unclear but that feeling of revival calls back to indie classics like Flower, albeit with far more engaging gameplay. There’s this strong notion of rebuilding, bringing back something once lost. However, it’s not just an arts-y puzzle visual extravaganza as there’s a slither of story tucked neatly behind the bending world of Manifold Garden. Given the twisty turny nature of your perspective, this can be a tough nut to crack, but getting it down to a science is oh-so rewarding. The catch? Getting said block to match your orientation whilst also dodging obstacles. Lying on your bed as a kid, head upside down, tilted to the side, making the walls out to be the floor and the floor the ceiling was always a trippy but satisfying sense of wonder and Manifold Garden takes that concept of shifting perspective in a truly Inception esc manner and runs with it alter the gravity of your surroundings to complete puzzles which are, in description, fairly simplistic – plop a block onto a button and you’re golden.
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