Pony Island continues the trend of breaking the fourth wall with this deceptively dark game. Considering the tagline tells you it's not a game about ponies, it's certainly not for kids.

The story is full of mystery from the get-go: You are stuck playing an arcade game titled "Pony Island." Why are you playing this? Why does it look like it's starting to glitch out? Why are we operating a computer on an arcade cabinet? Well, those answers become clearer and clearer as the game progresses. It's a mystery best left to discover yourself, but when I say that the way the story is woven into the gameplay is fantastic, I mean it. The game development commentary throughout the game also enhances the metahumor and fourth-wall breaking experience.

You eventually learn your soul is trapped in a state of limbo where the Devil is attempting to claim your soul for Hell. The Devil, interestingly enough, also tried his hand at making video games, but because he isn't very good at it it glitches out like crazy and eventually the game shows its true colors as a soul-sucking machine.

The puzzles in this game are very refreshing and have a lot of thought placed into them. Most puzzles are done through a series of interchanging icons that determine where a key will land, and there are requirements that make the key fit with the lock at the end. The other half of the gameplay is an on rails shooter where the player takes control of a pony and has to dodge hurdles while also avoiding floating enemies through the use of a laser beam. These segments require precision and can be quite difficult in the beginning until one gets used to it. The boss fights/puzzles were creative and I have to especially commend the second to last boss fight for its ingenious use of fourth wall breakage. I won't spoil it, but it's quite cool to see it play out.

While the game is never outwardly scary, the music ambience makes it creepy at times, and the pixelated art helps to add onto this feeling. The overall presentation of the game is very polished, with good writing overall that is both menacing and tongue-in-cheek.

It's a fun puzzle game that you'll love if you love meta stuff, and it's simultaneously challenging and intriguing. Definitely recommended.

Pony Island continues the trend of breaking the fourth wall with this deceptively dark game. Considering the tagline tells you it's not a game about ponies, it's certainly not for kids. The story is full of mystery from the get-go: You are stuck playing an arcade game titled "Pony Island." Why are you playing this? Why does it look like it's starting to glitch out? Why are we operating a computer on an arcade cabinet? Well, those answers become clearer and clearer as the game progresses. It's a mystery best left to discover yourself, but when I say that the way the story is woven into the gameplay is fantastic, I mean it. The game development commentary throughout the game also enhances the metahumor and fourth-wall breaking experience. [spoiler]You eventually learn your soul is trapped in a state of limbo where the Devil is attempting to claim your soul for Hell. The Devil, interestingly enough, also tried his hand at making video games, but because he isn't very good at it it glitches out like crazy and eventually the game shows its true colors as a soul-sucking machine.[/spoiler] The puzzles in this game are very refreshing and have a lot of thought placed into them. Most puzzles are done through a series of interchanging icons that determine where a key will land, and there are requirements that make the key fit with the lock at the end. The other half of the gameplay is an on rails shooter where the player takes control of a pony and has to dodge hurdles while also avoiding floating enemies through the use of a laser beam. These segments require precision and can be quite difficult in the beginning until one gets used to it. The boss fights/puzzles were creative and I have to especially commend the second to last boss fight for its ingenious use of fourth wall breakage. I won't spoil it, but it's quite cool to see it play out. While the game is never outwardly scary, the music ambience makes it creepy at times, and the pixelated art helps to add onto this feeling. The overall presentation of the game is very polished, with good writing overall that is both menacing and tongue-in-cheek. It's a fun puzzle game that you'll love if you love meta stuff, and it's simultaneously challenging and intriguing. Definitely recommended.