Player2Reviews
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Latest
    • Xbox One
    • PS4
  • Watch Us
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Latest
    • Xbox One
    • PS4
  • Watch Us
  • About
  • Contact
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

9/28/2016 0 Comments

Binaries Review

Picture
You Don't Have The Balls
By Edwin Velez
Reviewed on Xbox One

Released on August 29th, 2016 for Xbox One (Also on PS4 & PC)

Developer: Ant Workshop Publisher: Ground Shatter Ltd.

​Blue. Orange. Challenge. My brain has been melted into this simple algorithm after playing a couple hours worth of Binaries. Like a slot machine that kicks you in the groin each time you put a coin in, Binaries is deviously challenging yet temporarily addicting. It is a constant “just one more” situation, yet most of the time the “one more” is not a new level, but one you have repeatedly died on and need to complete. Though my feeble mind is too weak to beat the entirety of the game, what I did play was a smart and hilariously arrogant puzzle game from Ground Shatter Ltd. In a game with only two buttons being used, what can go wrong? A whole lot actually.
 
Binaries pits two colored balls, one orange and one blue, in deadly maps that you must navigate them across to see them to the finish line. With the levels being immediately intimidating, you may think that the obstacles in front of you are the only thing standing in your way. But you would be terribly wrong, as the game will tell you time and time again. You actually have to move both balls at the same time. Move left, they both go left, move right, they both go right. You get the idea! This makes the game as challenging as they come. With moving obstacles, deadly spikes, and other things like ninja stars trying to kill you, managing only one ball would be a trying task. Now you have two. Like an unexpected second child, the stress piles up as you bounce your attention back and forth while hoping the other one is okay. The levels are seemingly designed by Bond villains as well. The game is straight up evil (but in a good, puzzle game way I assure you). The silver lining is that as smart as the obstacles are, there are also smart ways to navigate them. The maps are typically orange and blue as well, and when you roll your ball on the opposite color, it is safe from any death causing obstacles that do not match it. So orange spikes are no match for a blue ball, and blue ninja stars won't scratch the orange ball. There is also other cool things like warp holes, jump pads, and time extensions that will change the way you play. Though my time was mostly filled with pain, agony, and self-doubt, there were some good times to be had.
These good times were backed up by some surprisingly funny moments. On many of the levels you will see text across some of the more open sections of the layout. In most cases, it is the game mocking you and egging you on, trying to get a rise out of you. Sometimes it is just funny, witty comments that keep you smiling. I would like to imagine that GlaDOS is somewhere behind the scenes, coming up with each bit of text that serves as a punch to the confidence (it would make sense considering the color scheme.) I would have never expected to have this level of humor in the title going in blind, and it is a welcoming as well as fitting aspect to the overall package. The game also has some charming and funky tunes that made me feel like I was listening to a glorious Dreamcast era Sega title screen. There is just something about the music that stuck.
 
As I mentioned earlier, I am not able to beat the entirety of the game. Not even close. But as a puzzle title, I feel this is more than understandable. Binaries is like the Dark Souls of puzzle games, and if you are into the sort of punishm...I mean challenge, it is definitely wo
rth looking into. As a complex puzzle game, it is not for everyone. From what I played though, there is a lot to offer here for the puzzle fans out there, and for only $10 you can test your brain and raise your blood pressure. Binaries is systematic punishment, but in a bright, groovy, smart and witty package. You have been warned.

*Note: A copy of the game was provided for the purposes of the review

Final Score: 7.5/10

​+Popping Colors
+Smart in essence and humor
 +Challenging
-Really ​Challenging
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    WELCOME!

    Player2Reviews aims to be a reputable second opinion on the gaming industry covering news, reviews, and commentary on all things pop-culture!

    Categories

    All 3DS Batman #BreakdownsAndBrews DLC Giveaways Google Play Hardware IOS/Android Late Night Netflix Let's Play Movies News Nintendo Nintendo Switch Original PC Player2Plays Preview PS4 PS5 PS Vita Review Reviews Steam Submissions #TBTReview Trailers Twitch Unboxing Video Games Xbox Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Youtube

    Tweets by @Player2Reviews


    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    RSS Feed

Support

Contact
© COPYRIGHT 2015-2019 PLAYER2REVIEWS.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.