P
enumbraconfusinglyshares
a name,andagenre,with
FrictionalGames’Penumbra
series, so be suretoincludethe
developer, AdamKehl,inyour
Google search.It’sahorrificpuzzle
game that willhaveyoustroking
your chin onemoment,and
jumping in frightthenext–an
inspired combination,ifnotan
especially palatableone.
The story’s enjoyablymysterious.You
wake up at a snowydigsitehousing
an ominous, 2001-stylemonolith.
Like all the bestmonuments,this
one’s rich in mysticalenergy,
transporting youtoasurrealrealm
full of spatial puzzlesand
supernatural creatures.Butthe
puzzles are well-implemented,and
fairly original,comprisingaseriesof
deceptive environmentsthathaveto
be traversed inaveryspecific
manner. ThinkAntichamberand
you’reintherightballpark,butwith
adashofthehedgemazetoo.
Ifitsoundslikeadelightful
puzzlerthatyoucouldhappilylose
yourselfin,that’sbecauseIhaven’t
mentionedthespideryet.There’sa
giantspiderinoneareathatservesas
Penumbra’sminotaur,askittering
arachnidthatscampersaboutwhile
youfathomadifficultmaze.Ifitgets
you,you’rethrownbacktothe
entrance,andyoujusthadtoendure
themosthorriblesound.
Idon’tknowaboutyou,butthat’s
alevelofpressurethatIdon’tfind
terriblyconducivetothepuzzling
process–althoughadmittedlyitdoes
transformabasicmazeintoadeadly
gameofcatandmouse.I’mnot
convinced‘horror’and‘puzzles’are
twowordsthatlookgoodtogether,
butitdidfeelnovelusing
mybrain,evenwhena
massivespiderwasdoing
itsbesttoensureIdidn’t.59
Maze gone
It’s a scream in PeNumBra. By Tom Sykes
EXPECttOPaY
FreeDEvElOPEr
Adam KehlPublishEr
In-houseNeedtoKNowContact with an enemy will put
you back a short distance.It’s a nice-looking game, with
thoughtfully strange environments.H
ere’sashort,sadgame
fromUndertaleartist
TemmieChang(with
lovelymusicbyTobyFox,toboot).
Youplayasanunnamedgirlwho
hasdevelopedafearofleavingthe
house,aninconvenientphobiato
havewhenbothofherparentshave
gonemissing,andstrangethings
havestartedhappeninginsideher
home.Foronething,amysterious
travellerhasappeared,spouting
crypticmessagesabouthermum
anddad.Foranother,herhouse
appearstoresideinsideagradually
collapsingvoid.Toputthingsright
she’llneedtomakeaterrible
choice,withnorealcluewhatthe
repercussionsmightbe.
Initsatmosphere,thisshort,
story-focusedgameremindedmeof
YumeNikki,butwithamoreconcrete
narrative,andafarstrongersenseof
melancholy.There’ssadness
everywhere,fromthedistinctlyblue
colourpalette,tothemournful
soundtrack,andthegirl’salmost
heartbreakinginteractionswithher
environment.Youexamineherpet
snake,andofcourseit’snearlydead.
Youlookatpicturesofherparents,
wholeftherallalone.TheTV,with
itsdailysnippetsofcartoons,isreally
heronlyfriendhere.Butbalancing
themelancholyistheheroineherself,
whoretainsahintofhopeeven
thoughherworldisgoingtohell.
Ifoundthestoryalittleaffecting
thankstothewell-observeddialogue,
andtheexpressivepixelart,which
depictsalonely,confusedgirlwho’d
ratherliveinsideherdreams.You’ll
desperatelywanttogetheroutofthe
house,evenifyouhavenoideawhere
she’llendup.Themultipleendings- foralltheir
mysteriousness–do
deliver,inapretty
catharticway,onthat.
81
Hole new world
Feeling blue withescaPedchasm. By Tom Sykes
EXPECttOPaY
FreeDEvElOPEr
TemmieChangPublishEr
In-houseNeedtoKNowSureit’sinavoid,buthave you seen
non-voidhouseprices lately?The girl is, frankly,
adorable.Penumbra/EscapedChasm
FrEE GaMEs rEviEW