The Witness
Steam Description:
You wake up, alone, on a strange island full of puzzles that will challenge and surprise you.
Episode Summary:
The Witness: A Puzzle Game with Intuitive Gameplay
The hosts of the Video Gamers podcast discuss their deep dive into the puzzle game "The Witness." They highlight the game's lack of tutorials and intuitive gameplay, where players are dropped into a world and must figure out the puzzles without any guidance. They also discuss the progression of complexity in the puzzles and how the game teaches players on the fly.
Puzzle mechanics and biomes in The Witness
The longer you play The Witness, the more your brain adapts to its puzzle mechanics, making the game easier over time. The puzzles in the game are not purely logic-based, but instead require players to consider perspective and visual cues. The game features different biomes, each with its own theme and set of rules for solving puzzles. However, the lack of guidance in the game can lead to players getting stuck in areas they are not yet ready for.
A Challenging Puzzle Game with Reflections, Shadows, and Light
The witness is a puzzle game that challenges players to solve puzzles using reflections, shadows, and light. The game progresses in difficulty, with puzzles becoming more complex and obstructed by objects. The game also incorporates different biomes, each with their own unique mechanics. Players can expect to spend 20 to 40 hours completing the game, with the Treehouse area being a fan favorite. However, some puzzles, such as the Tetris puzzles in the swamp area, can be frustrating for some players.
Mixed Feelings on "The Witness"
The reviewer played through "The Witness" and enjoyed the creative and unique puzzles up until the endgame content. They found the endgame puzzles to be frustrating and uncreative, relying on artificial difficulty. While they appreciated the revelation moments and hidden puzzles throughout the game, they felt that the lack of progression and binary nature of the puzzles detracted from the overall experience. They question whether the game is worth its $40 price tag compared to other cheaper puzzle games available.
Review and Ranking of "The Witness" Puzzle Game
The reviewers discuss their opinions on "The Witness," a puzzle game. They debate whether the game is worth its $40 price tag and compare it to other puzzle games. They ultimately rank it on their leaderboard, with one reviewer placing it at number 44 out of 103 games and the other ranking it around number 35. They conclude that while "The Witness" is a top-tier puzzle game, it may not be as enjoyable as other genres like open-world or RPG games.
Key Points Covered
1. The Witness: A Puzzle Game with Intuitive Gameplay
2. Puzzle mechanics and biomes in The Witness
3. A Challenging Puzzle Game with Reflections, Shadows, and Light
4. Mixed Feelings on "The Witness"
5. Review and Ranking of "The Witness" Puzzle Game