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Developer Croteam has a fantastic portfolio of games that only seem to get better with each passing project. Famous for Serious Sam, the developer created The Talos Principle, an intensely acute puzzle game that challenges your wits and your patience. The remaster elegantly revives the original’s philosophical fantasy while preserving the strange feeling of something much larger than yourself looming somewhere in the background. As you run from puzzle to puzzle, collecting shapes and sigils to unlock more areas, the gorgeous overworld creates an umbrella of interest that motivates you to seek out more. However, between feeling consistent motion sickness and switching between locations, I started to feel that there was a bit too much repetition for my liking.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
The Talos Principle features a complex storyline where you play as an android on a mission to explore this gorgeous world you’ve woken up in, driven by your own curiosity to uncover new areas and secrets by solving intricate puzzles. As you progress, you are guided by a disembodied voice named Elohim, who encourages you to solve these puzzles while subtly influencing your understanding of the reality in which you exist. It sounds incredibly complicated, but I promise, you’ll soon get a handle on things!
For every new location or level you get to, you’ll find computer terminals that hold information about civilization from those who likely worked with Elohim or the Androids many years ago. It’s within these terminals and the spoken word of Elohim that the entire story unfolds. There really aren’t any cutscenes or other significant characters you interact with who help walk you through what’s going on. Moreover, I quickly realized that reading everything on the terminals or speaking with any of Elohim’s Messengers didn’t really matter. It wasn’t as though the puzzles had anything to do with that information.
I decided early on not to stress about every terminal or bit of information available to me. There was an overwhelming amount of data, making it challenging to determine what was crucial to the story and what was relevant to the broader world. Once all the puzzles were completed, the game’s tone shifted significantly, resulting in a deeper narrative experience. I felt this change added more depth and life to the journey, allowing me to better appreciate my experience.
Master of Puzzles
Every puzzle in The Talos Principle is exceptionally well-designed and presents unique challenges that enhance your appreciation for problem-solving. As you progress through the game, the puzzles introduce more interactive elements and become increasingly intricate based on the various props you unlock. What makes the unlocking feature intriguing is that different buildings and areas offer distinct puzzles that reward you with the same sigils, providing multiple opportunities for progression.
I quickly realized that, regardless of how many props and variations you add to puzzles, a sense of repetition is inevitable. There are various hub areas you can explore, each containing several smaller areas with different puzzles. For example, in the first location, Building A, there are seven areas with a total of 32 puzzles. This is just the first building of three on the first floor, which consists of six floors in total, along with a host of intricate puzzles.
I’ll admit that although I sometimes felt a sense of repetition, each time I encountered a new puzzle type or prop, I was genuinely excited about figuring out how to make it work to my advantage. However, my main issue was that many puzzles following the introduction of a new prop tended to rely solely on that one element.
Feel the Wind Brush Against My Metallic Brow
The visuals and sounds in The Talos Principle are stunning. Croteam clearly understands the importance of creating a visually and sonically captivating puzzle game. The game features various areas with different biomes, allowing players to solve puzzles in lush forest landscapes, harsh desert environments, and ancient stone ruins. I find it fascinating how a game focused on technology can immerse me in the beauty of a world that feels so natural and organic.
Despite ensuring that motion blur was lowered, I did find myself having issues with motion sickness, regardless of whether I played in first or third person. It’s likely this won’t affect everyone playing, but I wanted to mention that paying attention to the flora and architecture did have its downsides at times.
In terms of sound design, I believe the team did an excellent job of conveying a sense of loneliness. They accomplished this by focusing on organic sounds, such as the sound of footsteps and the way the wind rustles through the grass. Additionally, the various recordings added a vibrant quality that enriched the exploration of the plot. The best way I can describe the feeling I experienced while solving mindless puzzles in a lush environment is similar to working on a long project while listening to a podcast in the background: the work is still stressful, but the calming vibes in the background provide a relaxing atmosphere.
Conclusion
The Talos Principle: Reawakened is more than just a test of logic. It’s a contemplative journey that challenges you to be curious and move forward toward discovery. While repetition and occasional motion sickness were bumps along the way, they didn’t diminish the overwhelming sense of wonder and reflection the game offers. Croteam has managed to weave together stunning visuals, a hauntingly serene atmosphere, and mind-bending puzzles into a philosophical experience that lasts far after the final sigil is unlocked.
Overall, I would recommend The Talos Principle: Reawakened to those who enjoy games like The Room franchise but want something a bit more involved. I can only hope that alongside this remaster, DLC can be created so I can dive back in.
The Talos Principle: Reawakened (PC)
The Talos Principle: Reawakened is a thoughtful fusion of striking visuals and unique puzzles that, despite some minor discomfort and repetition, still delivers a memorable journey driven by curiosity and discovery.
Pros
- Gorgeous atmospheric visuals.
- Unique and challenging puzzles.
- Incredibly lore-driven.
Cons
- Puzzles can be a bit repetitive.
- The lore can get easily confusing.
- No direct quests might be challenging for some players.
