I thought it might be a fun idea to start a monthly thread where people can share and comment on what games they’ve been playing recently. Please try to avoid spoilers for newly released games. I’ll start!
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I’ve been a fan of first-person puzzle games since 1996. That’s when I got my first computer - a Gateway 2000 with a massive 2GB hard drive. It came bundled with a copy of Myst. I was just a kid, but with great effort I slowly worked my way through that game until it was finished. It took me more than a year, and I fell in love not only with the gameplay, but the story and mythos as well. Sadly, Cyan, Inc. doesn’t make Myst games anymore, so I’m always on the lookout for games that capture a similar spirit.
Which brings me to a month ago, when I picked up The Witness during a PSN sale. Watching the trailer had me mildly interested, but the core puzzle mechanic looked repetitive and didn’t seem terribly engaging. But the price was right, and I decided to give it a shot. So far, I’m very impressed. One thing that stands out immediately is the gorgeous environment. It reminds me of Robin Williams vision of Heaven in the film What Dreams May Come. It’s a bright, technicolor landscape with a lot of variety. Another detail that caught my attention right away was the difficulty level - this game is hard! There are many puzzles I still can’t figure out, and whole sections of island I still don’t understand. I could look up the answers online of course, but so far I’ve stuck with my trusty notebook and pencil, just like I did while playing Myst all those years ago. The storyline is pretty abstract so far, but it only adds to the mystery of the abandoned island on which you’re stranded. I hope the game provides some answers the further I progress, because I’ll definitely be playing The Witness for the foreseeable future.
I’ve been playing a few other games as well, but I already got a little carried away here, so I’ll save that for another post!
