The controls aren’t as precise as I would have liked, making some of the more precarious segments a little more frustrating than they should be. This isn’t to say that this cerebral journey is pure bliss – it has its problems along the way.

The majority of objects and rooms are presented in a simplistic mixture of black and white, which makes the bright and beautiful colors of the game stand out so much more. What’s most striking is the game’s subtle and effective uses of color. What looks like a dead end could be something else, what looks like a pit of death may actually be a path to something more and so on and so on. Did you just walk down a flight of stairs and then up another flight that both led you back to the same room? Turn around and go back the way you came – everything is changed.įollowing the many puzzles in the game are usually humorous illustrations on the wall along with a piece of advice, such as “Sometimes the hardest step is the first one,” “Some choices leave us running around in circles,” or my favorite, “Life isn’t about getting to the end,” which I found inside a door labeled “Exit” as you can see below.Īs I stated at the beginning, nothing is truly as it seems in this game.

The biggest thing I can say about the game that will both describe what it’s like and give you a huge tip is that, for the most part, nothing is what it seems. There are no enemies to fight, no combat of any kind, no killstreaks or perks or anything like that, simply you traversing a series of wondorous puzzles. Instead of any type of introductory sequence or tutorial, the game throws you directly into the world – this is a common theme throughout. If you look around the room you’ll notice an image with a message after clicking, as well as a map. Instead, there is a wall with white letters describing the controls that also allows you to tweak several of the game’s fundamental options. After the opening logos roll, you’re not even presented with a title menu. The clever and intuitive puzzles, minimalist and striking visuals and the sheer sense of accomplishment with each passing moment make this (already) one of the standout indie game experiences of the year.įrom the very beginning you know that you’re not really dealing with a normal game.

Antichamber is unlike anything else out there and you owe it to yourself to experience this beautiful work of art. However, for those even passively interested in it: I urge that you set aside an afternoon, buy the game, put on a nice headset (or earphones) and just enjoy the experience.

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