Thank you to the developer and publisher of Somerville, Jumpship, for providing a solid good game for me to escape, explore and enjoy.

My steam rating Positive

*Apparently at launch there were some issues? I had none.

An absolutely beautiful 2.5D side scrolling, platforming adventure game that hits all the right marks, Somerville is an easy recommendation but a few negatives could sway your time and money.

The story of Somerville is a simple sci-fi story about finding your family after an intense event occurs. There is no voice acting or any sort of lore to read so your take from the story will come from your actions and visuals. This all works like in most of the genres other titles such as Inside, Little Nightmares, Black the Fall to name just a few. The problem though with this title, it comes with 4 endings(There is chapter select so only one play through needed) which IMO was a bad idea and weakens the ending's impact. In addition the last chapter where this choice occurs seems to drag. While the ending was not for me it only slightly lessened the complete journey.

As mentioned you will be controlling a man as you wander the above and below grounds of Somerville. You will receive a brief tutorial at the start of the game where you will learn to move, grab and pull objects that are visually identified with a gold/yellow mark. As you venture you will receive the ability to manipulate solid objects into a liquid form and then be able to put it back into a solid form but will require a light source to complete. This ability will be for solving the handful of puzzles which for the most part will open up a path to proceed in the game.

All of the above works fine but I wanted to mention the walking speed of the character. I understand for storytelling purposes you want to keep a certain pace but with a slow walking speed It really felt like the whole time I was in quicksand. There is no run option, it's done automatically in sections, and with mud and water making you even slower it for myself was a little annoying and I def would have preferred an ability to run and a bump in walking speed.

I don't know how this genre does it but this game easily gets the screenshot simulator stamp of approval. The game uses that abstract, realism painting aesthetic that makes every scene pop in its use of colors and lighting. The lighting really shines in some scripted chase sequences and when using your abilities. All of this of course is great but becomes even better with the amazing sound work that is included. Truly top tier sound engineering at work here.

If you like this genre there is absolutely no reason you should not play Somerville. It’s a simple sci-fi story about finding your family with amazing visuals, sound design and scripted sequences. I would have preferred one ending and a little bump in movement but these are minor issues to my time spent in Somerville and overall it was pretty amazing.


Positives

Good sc-fi story
Simple controls and puzzles
Screenshot simulator-Looks amazing
Sound design
Perfect game time 4 hrs


Negatives

Multiple endings
Last chapter seemed to drag
Movement speed-No run option
Weak achievement list
No replayability

Thank you to the developer and publisher of Somerville, Jumpship, for providing a solid good game for me to escape, explore and enjoy. My steam rating Positive *Apparently at launch there were some issues? I had none. An absolutely beautiful 2.5D side scrolling, platforming adventure game that hits all the right marks, Somerville is an easy recommendation but a few negatives could sway your time and money. The story of Somerville is a simple sci-fi story about finding your family after an intense event occurs. There is no voice acting or any sort of lore to read so your take from the story will come from your actions and visuals. This all works like in most of the genres other titles such as Inside, Little Nightmares, Black the Fall to name just a few. The problem though with this title, it comes with 4 endings(There is chapter select so only one play through needed) which IMO was a bad idea and weakens the ending's impact. In addition the last chapter where this choice occurs seems to drag. While the ending was not for me it only slightly lessened the complete journey. As mentioned you will be controlling a man as you wander the above and below grounds of Somerville. You will receive a brief tutorial at the start of the game where you will learn to move, grab and pull objects that are visually identified with a gold/yellow mark. As you venture you will receive the ability to manipulate solid objects into a liquid form and then be able to put it back into a solid form but will require a light source to complete. This ability will be for solving the handful of puzzles which for the most part will open up a path to proceed in the game. All of the above works fine but I wanted to mention the walking speed of the character. I understand for storytelling purposes you want to keep a certain pace but with a slow walking speed It really felt like the whole time I was in quicksand. There is no run option, it's done automatically in sections, and with mud and water making you even slower it for myself was a little annoying and I def would have preferred an ability to run and a bump in walking speed. I don't know how this genre does it but this game easily gets the screenshot simulator stamp of approval. The game uses that abstract, realism painting aesthetic that makes every scene pop in its use of colors and lighting. The lighting really shines in some scripted chase sequences and when using your abilities. All of this of course is great but becomes even better with the amazing sound work that is included. Truly top tier sound engineering at work here. If you like this genre there is absolutely no reason you should not play Somerville. It’s a simple sci-fi story about finding your family with amazing visuals, sound design and scripted sequences. I would have preferred one ending and a little bump in movement but these are minor issues to my time spent in Somerville and overall it was pretty amazing. Positives Good sc-fi story Simple controls and puzzles Screenshot simulator-Looks amazing Sound design Perfect game time 4 hrs Negatives Multiple endings Last chapter seemed to drag Movement speed-No run option Weak achievement list No replayability