In The Great Perhaps, players assume the role of an astronaut who returns to Earth after a century in space to find it desolate. The core gameplay loop revolves around uncovering the events that led to this state. Aiding the player is a mysterious lamp capable of revealing glimpses of the past, specifically the time before the catastrophe.
Deadalic Entertainment, the German developer also behind the quirky adventure Edna & Harvey: Harvey’s New Eyes, presents a departure from the point and click genre, offering puzzle games reminiscent of Inside. The control scheme is straightforward: movement (forward and backward), jump, and interact. Players can carry a single item at a time, with the exception of the time-manipulating lamp. While generally functional, the limited movement can occasionally lead to a sense of restriction, mirroring the experience in games like Inside.
The core mechanic of utilizing time manipulation to solve puzzles is well-executed. Players can bypass obstacles in one era by shifting to another where the obstacle is absent or altered. The lamp offers two modes: a limited view of the past within the light, and a full temporal shift when the activation button is held. Occasional difficulty spikes can be frustrating. Furthermore, failing to save progress before a checkpoint may necessitate replaying sections of the game.
The graphics are clean and simplistic in their execution. However, the minimalist aesthetic occasionally borders on being too rudimentary, blurring the line between intentional design and technical limitation.
The voice acting, while present, struggles to effectively convey the necessary emotional range, such as sadness, fear, and joy. Given the protagonist’s frequent dialogue, this becomes a noticeable issue.
In conclusion, The Great Perhaps is a creative and engaging adventure, and despite its shortcomings, its affordable price point (approximately ten dollars) makes it a worthwhile experience.
