The Excellent Pencil instantly grabbed my consideration with its hanging hand-drawn artwork type, however after spending a while with it, I spotted there’s rather more beneath the floor. Like many video games on this style, it explores themes of self-reflection and interior demons. The darker material may not be for everybody, however for some gamers it could supply one thing surprisingly relatable. You play as John, who wakes up in an odd world stuffed with unsettling creatures and surreal environments. The story leans closely on symbolism somewhat than a simple narrative, and along with his distinctive evaluation potential, John should fairly actually use his head to uncover the secrets and techniques of the weird world he’s trapped in.
The gameplay is traditional 2D Metroidvania. You’ll discover interconnected areas, unlock skills, and backtrack to uncover hidden paths. Fight is straightforward however satisfying; you employ a large pencil to fend off enemies whereas navigating the panorama. Boss fights pop up often, typically representing fears or challenges tied to the story, they usually add some memorable selection with out feeling overwhelming. The designs for a few of them are downright gross, in a disturbing Silent Hill type of approach. Seeing the entire completely different enemy designs was certainly one of my favourite components of the sport. This recreation jogs my memory of a Tim Burton movie, however the focus is psychological well being and your child doesn’t need to go see it.
The Excellent Pencil’s standout mechanics is John’s evaluation potential. Outfitted with a projector-like head, he can scan objects, environments, and NPCs to disclose hidden lore and secrets and techniques. It’s a neat system that encourages curiosity and exploration, rewarding gamers who take their time to research the world as a substitute of dashing from one struggle to the following. For those who pay shut consideration and really scan all the pieces, you may uncover lots about ol’ John, his story and his psychological state. And let me inform you, issues usually are not going properly.
Visually, the sport shines. The hand-drawn type provides all the pieces a cool, typically creepy attraction, and every space feels distinctive. Alot of those monsters are how John truly views himself. Coupled with the eerie sound results and music, it builds a surreal environment that’s each fascinating and unsettling. It’s an ideal match for the sport’s story and provides a variety of character to the exploration. My predominant criticism with the gameplay is how far you must journey earlier than you attain one other save level. I needed to surrender a number of instances simply because I didn’t really feel like repeating an entire space or sequence once more. In any other case, The Excellent Pencil runs easily in most conditions, and the controls really feel responsive for exact platforming.
Whereas the gameplay isn’t revolutionary, the mix of exploration, unusual characters, and storytelling makes it a memorable expertise that’s value enjoying. It received’t be a cheery journey, however it will likely be an fascinating one, with a variety of darkish themes and self exploration. For those who get pleasure from platformers with a surreal twist and don’t thoughts piecing the story collectively, The Excellent Pencil is unquestionably a recreation value testing.
