July 18th 2023.
Viewfinder is one of the most imaginative puzzle games of recent years, giving you the power to manipulate reality itself with a simple polaroid photo. In a medium where game-changing technological advancements are few and far between, this game stands out with its unique gameplay.
Despite the complexity of the concept, it's surprisingly straightforward to get to grips with. The developers have also released a free demo for the game, so you can try it out and see if it's for you. What's more, the game is constantly adding new ideas and concepts until the end, ensuring there's plenty of content to keep you hooked.
In theory, Viewfinder should be an incredible game. But in practice, it falls short of its potential, with lacklustre storytelling and presentation that just doesn't do it justice. The game's main idea is similar to the perspective-shifting Riddler puzzles from the Batman: Arkham games, and also reminiscent of older games like Crush and FEZ, which played with the idea of switching between 3D and 2D.
The main concept involves taking a polaroid photo and superimposing it onto the world around you. You can use the photo to create a new area in an empty part of a level, and even rotate it to create ramps and platforms. As you progress, you're given the use of static and portable cameras to create your own photos.
The puzzles are clever, but the game can be quite restrictive. There's often only one solution to each situation, and it can be quite fussy about how the photo surfaces interact with the existing reality. And although the portable camera gives you more freedom, it's only available in certain levels.
Ultimately, Viewfinder is a game that lives on the edge of greatness. It has clever and imaginative concepts, but many of them are used in the least appealing way possible. The artwork is bland, the storytelling is pretentious, and the game is disappointingly short. It's still an enjoyable experience, but with more engaging elements it could have been something truly special.
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