How to Ruin a Great Puzzle Game
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- Опубліковано 13 жов 2024
- These are my first impressions of the new puzzle game - Islands of Insight. For some strange reason, they decided to make it an MMO. This on top of randomly throwing too many puzzles in your face take away from what could have been (and might still be hidden underneath the clutter) a great puzzle game.
Sure, there may be the issues above and a lack of direction, but some of the puzzles really are worth fighting through it all for, and I'm hoping they refine what they have here, and something amazing rises from the ashes.
Orrrr idk, that one guy who made the Witness could just make a sequel, that would work too.
Anyways, I wanted to rant a lot about this game because it blew my mind that they actually went through with this wacky idea, but I actually have been enjoying it, so in the end I take it as a win. My hate comes from a place of love.
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#minnow #islandsofinsight #review #puzzlegame
I just got done watching one of the developers walk viewers through the game concept and systems, and I was like, "Oh, OK, this is The Witness, but with a minimap ... and quest markers ... and XP ... and perks ... and ... and ... and ... and ..." The video just kept going and going, with system after system. This video was recommended as a followup, and seems to confirm my fears. The problem is, at least in part, that there are too many systems. Amusingly, the dev video did not make it clear to me that the open world was a shared space MMO at all, though maybe I somehow missed that?
I always play puzzle games with my friend, we always start at the same point and speedrun levels one at a time, watching the other on discord screen share after one of us finishes. This game being multiplayer and being able to be in a party together makes it SO much easier to be able to ping the location of a hard puzzle we found, or after clearing an island, being able to ping hidden cubes so the other person doesn’t lose their mind trying to find that last invisible SOB.
Also, one of the most common issues with open world games is that they feel barren and boring, and there’s not enough stuff in them. I think if your complaint with the game is that it has too much stuff in it, that’s actually a success for the devs, because time and time again, it’s been proven how hard it is to accomplish that.
Having someone to help find the invisible fellas would be huge, I gotta say. Also so true with rather having more than less - at least im wondering around looking for something to do. I just wish it was more organized but there’s still a solid puzzle game in there
When you said online I thought it sounded cool. But MMO is not what I thought. Running around with a couple of friends in voice CO-OP style would be pretty neat though.
I think they had more ideas for co-op originally that didn’t pan through in the end. I could be wrong about that though, maybe it was a purposeful pivot but who knows. They could always add some more elements in the future and refine what they have which could be cool!
This game does a lot of things really well, and some things quite poorly, but I do want to defend the multiplayer aspect a bit. One of my main issues with open world puzzle games is how incredibly lonely they feel. Sure, there is you, and there are puzzles to keep you occupied, but if you step back you have vast worlds that are just... there. Detached from all reality, a canvas for your puzzle solving. If it wasn't for the environmental secrets, I would almost prefer a free-form level select screen like Baba Is You than a huge world with puzzles to explore.
But this is where the 'MMO' aspect of this game really shines. As you run about the world you bump into other people, all on their own quest of solving puzzles, all at different stages of it and taking different paths, thanks to the open world letting people do stuff at their own pace. This means you rarely will follow a stranger for more than a few puzzles, but it'll be enough to alleviate the lonely feeling that curses games like this. Even the NPC's roaming around Talos Principle 2 didn't do it for me, because they were sluggish and separate from the puzzles. Acknowledging them, but not interacting outside of scripted dialogue/scenes. Meanwhile here everyone is interacting with the world in a natural, chaotic way; and it's a joy to just bump into other players as you bounce from puzzle to puzzle.
The multiplayer aspect is not done well, I'm not gonna say it is. It feels quite underdeveloped, which isn't too surprising given this is a first(?) game of this kind (that I know of on this scale). But what little functionality there is really did make my experience significantly more pleasant and less melancholic
Even though the multiplayer idea isnt for me, I definitely do at least give points for trying and its actually cool to hear that it made your experience better. I think it comes down to personal preference, as I actually really like the lonely feeling of an open world puzzle game because then as I explore it and start finding its secrets, the world begins to feel more like my own. Thats where the multiplayer hit me poorly because this world is definitely not my own, but I do see what you mean.
I will say as Ive played more and started going into much less populated areas of the map, it does occasionally feel cool to see someone else walk by after hours of being alone. We’ll sort of look at each other for a second and then carry on with our business as I watch them fly away to some cube, and I do the same. So, although its not my cup of tea and given the choice I would much rather it be my own world, Im finding my own rhythm here and am enjoying it more and more as I go!
What you see as clutter I see as a mechanic to get you explore the islands and find all the puzzles.
Sorry you don’t feel this way and all the love to the devs who very clearly poured their hearts into this one ❤
Fair and dont get me wrong, my criticisms come from a place of love and I do think there is a great game in here. I just personally prefer to explore on my own, and make my own discoveries rather than feeling forced because there’s an invisible cube hidden in a bush on the back side of a mountain. Although i do feel cool when i find it, so there may be something to it haha
@@MinnowStream yeah, while i love the multiplayer aspect, i think they should have definitely allowed people like you that don't to just opt out of it and play it completely single player
Nice to see a small creator on this. I am mostly with you in the multiplayer aspect being unusable in its current state however if you wanted to play with friends and run around and just have a good time and chill this game is great for doing so. My biggest pet peeve is moreso the puzzles in the map resetting without the option to leave them completed as in that way striving for 100% completion just doesnt seem possible. I understand its there for people to farm mastery and therefore player level but player level is useless after 35 and even then the return beacon doesnt stay down long enough to even be useful. If the game gave more quality of life things like slight nudges in the right direction on some puzzles without giving the solution away (Music grids being insanely difficult for no reason sometimes, Enclaves/the open world having that one puzzle you just can't find, the precision lining up viewfinders, etc.) Giving players more to work toward other than 100% which seems like an impossible goal from the point of beating all the enclaves and having most mysteries done. Mysteries are another niche thing thats done really well but some of them are extremely vague and then seem difficult to look for even when paying attention and running around for what you think is right. Anyway thats my rant on the game. I still love the game but it certainly is overwhelming to look at everything I'm still missing even after nolifing the game for a fair amount of time.
Definitely some good points. Even after sinking a lot more time into it over this past weekend I still have a lot to see. Im excited for the mysteries as ive enjoyed the ones ive done so far, but the whole 100% thing is definitely tough with it being so far out of reach because often thats what I like doing for puzzle games. But anyways, solid thoughts and im liking the game more and more as I play which is a good sign, and its sweet to see others doing the same!
I went into this expecting to be annoyed by the online aspect, but honestly it hasn’t been bad. The worst is the rubberbanding, and out of 4 sessions I only encountered it once, on a Friday evening.
I was worried about getting spoiled on environmental puzzles, but in my experience the other players have been spread out so I rarely have more than 1-2 people in the same area as me and they’re easy to ignore. The one time I was spoiled, a player and I were trying a stone sentinel together, and they got it first & pinged the location. I wasn’t even annoyed because it felt like a collaborative effort / race. Also, there’s a few HUNDRED of them in the game so one gimme isn’t all that bad in the big picture, lol.
Besides, the puzzles I really care about solving are the logic grids, and it’s impossible for someone to spoil them. Overall I’m having a great time with IOI 👍🏼
Super true super true! The more I play it, the more I actually find myself really enjoying the game, even the puzzles I found annoying when I made this video. I’m slowly beginning to forgive them for making it an online only game and such haha. Forgive and forget is where im at right now
A bit misleading title but fair click bait. I think the idea was that people could work together on puzzles but got lost along the way. I like that they are taking chances, and it is definitely one of the biggest puzzle games ever made. For the price I think it is a really good deal for any puzzle game enthusiasts.
I agree, I think they had an idea somewhere and it either didnt pan out how they wanted to or something else happened and it was too late to go back. The game itself though is actually pretty solid after I got used to a million puzzles being around and learned to focus on my own journey. Overall solid for puzzle game enthusiasts I’d say