Monochroma REVIEW
By Edwin Velez
Reviewed on Xbox One
Sluggish and Dull, Monochroma has little to look forward to
Monochroma is a puzzle-platformer made by Nowhere Studios. The game originally launched on pc in 2014, and has recently made its way to Xbox One. The game follows the unfortunate events that happen to a pair of brothers. What started as a normal evening quickly becomes a fight for survival in a story that is all about protecting your younger brother from the dangers at hand. The concept and art style seemed so promising, but the end result may not be one that is worth your time. A beautiful, charming opening sequence is soon muddled by dull environments and anger inducing mechanics. After playing Monochroma, it’s sad to say it just doesn’t satisfy.
After your younger brother gets injured tracking down his runaway kite, you are tasked with carrying the now injured boy back to safety. That safety never comes, as a conspiracy seems to unravel right before their eyes, chasing them every bit of the way. The adventure takes place across four areas which seem to be in an earlier 1900’s industrial area. Fit with factories and blimps alike, it is no place for these boys to be alone. While the story is not spoon fed to you, its ideas are there, even if they are hard to interpret. What we do know is that a rather large goon is attempting to kidnap you, for some apparently dastardly reasons that we get brief glimpses of later on in the story. Several of these themes make you care about what is happening, but during much of the game you will feel like you are being dragged along without any reason to feel for what’s going on. Thankfully, some strong puzzles will make you appreciate the title, at least in partial.
Though many of the puzzles are simple and easy to get past, others are quite impressive. In addition to these impressive puzzles is one great section that features, well to avoid spoilers, it features a rather large creature that watches you. You have to dart in and out of cover to avoid death. This was by far my favorite point in the game, but like many other points in the game, it left a sour taste in my mouth due to the game’s inconsistent and unresponsive mechanics. Death in many puzzle-platforms is usually an enlightening experience, one that will test you while also illuminating your mistakes and how to capitalize on them. In Monochroma, however, death is a pure nuisance, one that four out of five times will be caused by the mechanics and not user error. Countless times I died a meaningless death, and whether it was an ill-performed jump or slip off a ledge, I knew the fault was not my own. It wouldn’t be as bad if the game had a quicker response in reloading a segment, but even that feels dragged out. From the character animations to the actual actions, it all just sadly feels sluggish. Puzzle-platformers beg for quick and responsive controls, and Monochroma just doesn’t stand up to other titles in the genre.
Though many of the puzzles are simple and easy to get past, others are quite impressive. In addition to these impressive puzzles is one great section that features, well to avoid spoilers, it features a rather large creature that watches you. You have to dart in and out of cover to avoid death. This was by far my favorite point in the game, but like many other points in the game, it left a sour taste in my mouth due to the game’s inconsistent and unresponsive mechanics. Death in many puzzle-platforms is usually an enlightening experience, one that will test you while also illuminating your mistakes and how to capitalize on them. In Monochroma, however, death is a pure nuisance, one that four out of five times will be caused by the mechanics and not user error. Countless times I died a meaningless death, and whether it was an ill-performed jump or slip off a ledge, I knew the fault was not my own. It wouldn’t be as bad if the game had a quicker response in reloading a segment, but even that feels dragged out. From the character animations to the actual actions, it all just sadly feels sluggish. Puzzle-platformers beg for quick and responsive controls, and Monochroma just doesn’t stand up to other titles in the genre.
Unfortunately, not even the graphical style could save this one from feeling lifeless. As I mentioned earlier, the intro is brilliant. From the visuals, the music, and even the pacing, it’s great. After that though, the heartbeat of the game grows faint. The soundtrack is pretty good, but it is used very minimally, so much of the game is rather quiet. Emotional responses between the pair is often justified and works well for the story, but is the only bit of human response that you will see in the entire game. Towards the very end, the tone ramps up really quick, with a powerful ending that will make you wish there was more of that side of the game throughout. The ending, as well as much of the game, was once again hindered by technical issues. In a segment before the final boss, a key platform for me to land on failed to load where it should have multiple times. In the actual boss fight, deaths were easily triggered with seemingly no margin of error to be had near obstacles. There are also other technical issues, like oddly loaded lighting, screen tears, and other directional choices that just make the experience feel off.
I wanted to like Monochroma, like really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, at the end of the day it just does not cut it. It’s dull and lifeless, and while some puzzles are great, the experience as a whole leaves more to be desired. Death in puzzle-platformers of this nature should be meaningful, and make you tackle issues in brand new ways. In Monochroma, death is an obstacle that is brought forward by poor controlling mechanics, and is a complete annoyance. Monochroma has a great art style, but everything else is just less than stellar.
*Note: A copy of the game was provided for the purposes of the review
I wanted to like Monochroma, like really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, at the end of the day it just does not cut it. It’s dull and lifeless, and while some puzzles are great, the experience as a whole leaves more to be desired. Death in puzzle-platformers of this nature should be meaningful, and make you tackle issues in brand new ways. In Monochroma, death is an obstacle that is brought forward by poor controlling mechanics, and is a complete annoyance. Monochroma has a great art style, but everything else is just less than stellar.
*Note: A copy of the game was provided for the purposes of the review
FINAL SCORE: 6/10
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+Art Style
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-Poor, unfair mechanics
-Technical Issues -Lifeless |
Release Date: 6/24/2016
Developer: Nowhere Studios
Publisher: Nowhere Studios
Developer: Nowhere Studios
Publisher: Nowhere Studios