Thomas Was Alone: A compelling tale about quadrilaterals (PS4)
Game visuals are improving all the time - with the latest mainstream releases looking increasingly stunning and realistic, it has to be said.
But you don't need phenomenal graphics to tell a great story.
Mike Bithell's Thomas Was Alone is one game which proves this many times over.
It is a puzzle platformer starring - initially at least - a red rectangle named Thomas.
Thomas finds himself in a world he knows little about and sets out to explore, encountering all kinds of hazards and challenges along the way.
The goal in each level is to get Thomas to a portal in order to progress.
As he journeys on, he is joined by other quadrilateral companions and here's where things get interesting - each of them have their own abilities and limits.
For example some can jump higher than others, some move faster, some can float in water, some can double jump and so on.
Couple these abilities with each of their differing shapes, together with the clever layout of each level and what you're faced with is a juggling act where every team member is needed.
You really have to make the most of their skills because each of them serves an essential purpose in getting from the start to the end of the level, where they all have to line up with their own portals.
The thing that makes this more than a standard puzzle game though, is the story.
Now, you're probably wondering how a game about quadrilaterals can possibly have a compelling story.
I can honestly say that the superbly voiced narration which accompanies each level really gave every one of those shapes their own distinct character and motivated me to emotionally invest in their journey.
What you're looking at on screen is enhanced so much when you hear the thoughts, the joy, the banter, the fears and the hopes of each of those shapes as they band together to defy the odds and make their way through the world of Thomas Was Alone.
Needless to say I won't give any of the finer details of the plot - that is best discovered for yourself.
Control wise, I have no complaints here - they are simple and responsive, which is all you could ask for in a game like this.
I also enjoyed the soundtrack - it nicely mixes instruments with electronic sounds and makes solving the puzzles a nice relaxing experience.
There are plenty of puzzles to take on but it isn't an extensively long game.
It can be completed in a single sitting of a few hours if you really go for it - but I really felt it was the right length, short and sweet.
Overall this is a great game and I would definitely recommend giving it a go.
Have you played Thomas Was Alone? What did you think? Let me know below!
But you don't need phenomenal graphics to tell a great story.
Mike Bithell's Thomas Was Alone is one game which proves this many times over.
It is a puzzle platformer starring - initially at least - a red rectangle named Thomas.
Thomas finds himself in a world he knows little about and sets out to explore, encountering all kinds of hazards and challenges along the way.
The goal in each level is to get Thomas to a portal in order to progress.
For example some can jump higher than others, some move faster, some can float in water, some can double jump and so on.
Couple these abilities with each of their differing shapes, together with the clever layout of each level and what you're faced with is a juggling act where every team member is needed.
You really have to make the most of their skills because each of them serves an essential purpose in getting from the start to the end of the level, where they all have to line up with their own portals.
The thing that makes this more than a standard puzzle game though, is the story.
Now, you're probably wondering how a game about quadrilaterals can possibly have a compelling story.
I can honestly say that the superbly voiced narration which accompanies each level really gave every one of those shapes their own distinct character and motivated me to emotionally invest in their journey.
Love the narrator in Thomas Was Alone too. He really tells the story well :) #PS4share pic.twitter.com/4aSzHOh5Wm— Stevo (@JetSetStevo) February 25, 2019
Needless to say I won't give any of the finer details of the plot - that is best discovered for yourself.
Control wise, I have no complaints here - they are simple and responsive, which is all you could ask for in a game like this.
There are plenty of puzzles to take on but it isn't an extensively long game.
It can be completed in a single sitting of a few hours if you really go for it - but I really felt it was the right length, short and sweet.
Overall this is a great game and I would definitely recommend giving it a go.
Have you played Thomas Was Alone? What did you think? Let me know below!
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