Parallax
- March 10, 2015
- Toasty Games
Get on Steam"Parallax" is a single-player puzzle game featuring spectacular mechanics of moving between two overlapping black-and-white worlds. With good graphics and soundtrack, players solve mind-bending levels using switches, boosters, and gravity. Prepare to think outside the box and expect your brain to melt.
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Reviews
- The game features great puzzle design with a satisfying difficulty curve that escalates nicely as players progress.
- Visually stunning with a unique monochromatic aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience.
- The mechanics are simple yet effective, allowing for engaging and mind-bending puzzles that challenge spatial reasoning.
- Many puzzles can feel overly simplistic or linear, lacking the depth and 'aha' moments found in other puzzle games.
- The game can become tedious due to some player-hostile mechanics and a lack of meaningful challenge in certain levels.
- There is no story or character development, which may leave some players feeling disconnected from the experience.
- gameplay27 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this puzzle game is characterized by simple mechanics that gradually introduce complexity, leading to a satisfying difficulty curve. While many players appreciate the elegant design and mind-bending challenges, some criticize the pacing and certain mechanics as dull or frustrating. Overall, the game offers a mix of engaging puzzles and polished visuals, though opinions vary on its overall excitement and challenge level.
“Very satisfying how complex the puzzles can be with only a few simple mechanics.”
“Just the right amount of mind-bending -- the mechanics are introduced nicely and the level designs are challenging but not cruel.”
“The puzzle mechanics are minimalistic but they all blend really nicely.”
“I hate to say it, it's very polished looking (and I didn't get very far, maybe it switches it up later on) but the gameplay thus far is extremely dull.”
“The gameplay is your regular first-person puzzle game: puzzles take a long amount of time and the character walks like a turtle with a controller stuck up its arse.”
“Additionally, many of the mechanics introduced later in the game are player-hostile, such as the laser walls (which are functionally identical to normal walls, but deadly) and the gravity changing (which, like the game disoriented, only serve to obscure otherwise simple puzzles for the sake of confusion).”
- graphics19 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalistic and monochromatic art style, utilizing only two colors that can switch based on player interaction. While some players appreciate the clarity and aesthetic appeal, others find the visuals too simplistic or "bare." Overall, the graphics effectively complement the puzzle gameplay, creating a unique and stylish experience, though they may not appeal to everyone.
“The art style that this game is implementing looks really nice: with two-colored worlds that switch colors if the player passes one of them.”
“The pure black and white visuals work surprisingly well, along with the musical change between dimensions.”
“Even if Parallax doesn't break any new ground in the audiovisual department, its simple yet futuristic looking monochromatic art style along with electronic beats lend themselves well to the game, creating a pleasant overall experience.”
“The graphics sometimes seem more 'bare' than 'minimalist'.”
“There's not much to it though, no story, no graphics beyond black and white.”
“The graphics are simple and you can change the two colors involved, but you are still limited to only two colors.”
- story16 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many reviewers noting that it lacks a coherent plot or narrative depth. While some appreciate the focus on puzzles and the unique aesthetic, others express a desire for a more engaging storyline or immersive world to enhance the experience. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay over storytelling, which may appeal to puzzle enthusiasts but leaves narrative-driven players wanting more.
“There's not really a story, but it does a good job of gradually introducing content until you get a mind-bending four-dimensional sludge of trippy puzzle solving.”
“TTP is immersed in a story which drives and motivates the player (much like Myst or Portal) with its mystery and philosophical ideas.”
“If you want all the puzzle content of 'Portal' without the heavy story of 'The Talos Principle', this is the game for you.”
“There doesn't appear to be any resemblance of plot or story.”
“There is no story, no environments or landscapes to explore, nothing -- just level after level of puzzles.”
“There's no story or enemies in the game, although it does have a weird inter-dimensional atmosphere and some mood music.”
- music12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as calming and fitting, enhancing the overall atmosphere with a decent soundtrack that complements the black and white visuals. However, some users find the music repetitive, consisting of only a few simplified instrumental tracks, while others note a lack of thematic variation, particularly in darker areas. Overall, the soundtrack effectively contributes to the game's mood, though opinions on its enjoyment vary.
“Great mechanics, great difficulty curve, pretty nice soundtrack, and a neat visual style.”
“The pure black/white visuals work surprisingly well, along with the musical change between dimensions.”
“The soundtrack provides an excellent mood, relaxing, zen.”
“Music can become a little bit repetitive, because it really is just another one of those simplified instrumental tunes, and features approximately 4 or 5 of them.”
“Really my only complaints would be that there aren't customizable color schemes and there's no thematic music on the dark side of all the puzzles.”
“-no real music, just ambience”
- replayability7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability, primarily through the challenge of achieving perfect runs and faster completion times after mastering the puzzles. While some players may find limited replay value after completing all levels, the scoring system and the opportunity for self-improvement provide enough incentive for repeated play. Overall, it appeals to fans of first-person puzzle games looking for a satisfying challenge.
“Overall, it's a very satisfying puzzle game, with just that little bit of replay value for the perfect runs to help you get more out of it.”
“The first time you play any level is generally a struggle to understand what's going on, but scoring through the number of actions adds another level of depth and some replayability for a perfect score.”
“The game's price is perfect for its length of 4 chapters with 8 levels each, and it still has a lot of replayability to offer after completion.”
“Although I must say, after mastering all the puzzles, there isn't much replay value.”
“The game's price is perfect for its length of 4 chapters with 8 levels each, but it still has a lot of replayability to offer after completion.”
“The replay value is raised quite a lot by challenging yourself to beat each level as fast as possible.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Parrallax generally offers smooth performance with occasional frame rate drops upon entering new levels. While it lacks a feature to track best level performances, it compensates with a more detailed in-game timer and a dedicated timer for speedrun mode.
“Parallax runs smoothly with only a few frame rate drops when you enter a new level.”
“While it still doesn't keep track of best performance, the game now has a much more detailed in-game timer, and in speedrun mode, there's a timer for your full run as well.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a calming, monotone ambiance enhanced by mood music, creating a unique inter-dimensional feel. While lacking a narrative or enemies, this serene environment helps mitigate the frustration of gameplay challenges.
“The game has a unique inter-dimensional atmosphere that captivates players, complemented by an intriguing mood music.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its surreal world despite the absence of a traditional story or enemies.”
“Even without a narrative or adversaries, the game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, creating a sense of wonder and curiosity.”
“The music is calming, which adds to the monotone atmosphere that lessens the pain of falling off the edge you weren't paying attention to.”
“There's no story or enemies in the game, although it does have a weird inter-dimensional atmosphere and some mood music.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's approach to grinding, noting that it avoids excessive length and tedium by implementing original ideas effectively, resulting in a sleek and enjoyable experience.
