Growbot is a point-and-click journey that succeeds on the energy of its visuals and (most of the time) its puzzles. Now, if you happen to’re searching for a narrative to maintain you engaged coupled with a sturdy soundtrack, you may wish to have a look at a few of the different titles developed or revealed by ASH Video games as a substitute. But when eye sweet and a gentle circulate of distinctive puzzles are your issues, hold studying.
The sport takes place on an area station with you controlling a robotic, or ought to I say growbot. The bots all seem like they’ve cloche domes on their heads, with vegetation for brains; I’m positive inexperienced thumbs will get an additional kick out of this. However whereas the characters are cute and distinctive for probably the most half, the story’s paced in such a method that your curiosity might wane. Thus these characters have to tug further weight by means of humorous and typically hippyish interactions. However hey, what else would you anticipate for a recreation that has you tending “energy flowers.”
Once more, the sturdy level of this recreation is its lovely visuals. The sport has a really interesting, fashionable look. The darkish background makes the varied flora and equipment pop with real vibrancy. Animations, digital camera motion, and lighting make the house station really feel full of life.
The music can’t get such excessive reward. Can ambient music be too mushy and refined? Whereas the music doesn’t distract, it doesn’t actually calm both, until you rely the odd second of combating to remain awake as calming. I discovered myself reaching for the clicker to show up the quantity. I’m satisfied that a part of my disappointment stems from the builders evaluating this recreation to the LucasArts basic Loom. That recreation has music from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, which raised the bar excessive, a bar Growbot didn’t even try and get near.
Truly, the place Growbot “is impressed by basic journey video games like Loom” is its gameplay. Many, if not most, of its puzzles are sound-driven. You purchase flower sounds all through the journey, utilizing them in several orders to progress deeper into the house station. It’s not the best to explain with the restricted phrase rely of a assessment, however that speaks to its relative uniqueness. With a Pleasure-Con in hand, it clicks.
Quantity points (severely, the place are the audio choices) and the odd maze apart, the puzzles are appropriately difficult with out being irritating. Although if you happen to get caught, you might have considered trying somebody with a musical ear, because the hints could be sporadic. How a lot you determine particular person notes often is the distinction between beating the sport in a easy three or 4 hours versus 5 or 6.
Going again to my earlier touch upon tempo, whereas it appears the sport may end at varied factors, it retains progressing. So the precise finish might come as an abrupt shock. Whereas it does wrap issues up successfully, I can see why some could also be let down. Once more, even if you happen to lack a musical ear, Growbot isn’t a really lengthy recreation. Which isn’t dangerous in and of itself, however this recreation is $19.99.
I’d wish to see an extended sequel go all-out with the soundtrack, however Growbot’s enjoyable characters and distinctive puzzles make it a good selection, albeit one for a future sale.
