Recent reviews by Facemeat

I'm going to recommend this game, but just barely. This game, at it's core, is basically a puzzle game with a superficial veneer of third-person "open-world" adventure gameplay. Unfortunately, the puzzles are so linear yet obtuse as to be neither fun nor rewarding. There is only one acceptable solution for every puzzle, and there are hardly any hints to be found. When I actually solve one of the puzzles on my own, it's usually by falling ass backwards into the solution. Often times, it's so frustrating to try figure out what the game wants me to do, I have to resort to walkthroughs for help. It is a very rare occurence when I get a "lightbulb" moment where I can actually clearly see A leading to B leading to C leading to the kill. It's enjoyable when those moments do happen, but they're few and far between. The reason why I'm recommending this game at all is due to its great story, unique premise, and high production values. At times it's an interesting experience, but it's not very fun to endlessly look around for tiny inventory items amidst a sea of things that can't be picked up.

Orborun is simultaneously fun, and at times infuriating. For the most part, there's not much to complain about; it controls well, has great level design, and looks pretty good for what I believe is a mobile port. The only problems I have with it are some design flaws.

The main one being that if your momentum is ever completely stopped, you auto-reset to the last checkpoint. This is where part of the infuriation stems from. Many of the levels require you to hit into walls to slow you down, and if you don't hit at the correct angle, it's back to the checkpoint. And if you don't hit a warp or end portal dead-on? Also back to the checkpoint.

That brings me the next problem: the checkpoints are often bafflingly placed, and if you happen to trigger one as you're about to fall off the stage, you'll have no option but to restart the level, because it places you back exactly as you were when you triggered the checkpoint. The final problem I have with it, is that it actually pays to die a few times before you complete a level; all of the pickups reset, but your score doesn't. So you can get 3 star ratings on most levels simply by playing poorly.

For the current price of 'free' over at Indiegala, it's a no-brainer to at least try this game out. It may be frustrating at times, but it never feels impossible, and it's a rewarding experience to finally make it through a particularly tough level.