Nearly thirteen years ago, Portal, a game renowned for its innovative mechanics, was released and quickly became a personal favorite. Upon viewing the trailer for Relicta, I immediately recognized familiar elements that piqued my interest.
The game casts you as a scientist stationed on the moon in the future, 100 years from now. As the narrative unfolds, an incident occurs, compelling you to leverage your cognitive skills to ensure survival.
Relicta proved to be an engaging experience from the outset. As previously mentioned, the core mechanics share similarities with aspects of Portal. Players manipulate cubes, strategically placing them on pressure plates to progress. However, instead of utilizing portals, the game introduces two distinct force fields that either attract or repel cubes. Teleporters are also integrated into the puzzle design. Each challenge presents a limited number of cubes, requiring players to employ them strategically and in a specific sequence. The puzzles are not always straightforward and occasionally require considerable thought to solve.
The game’s reliance on physics, magnetism, and gravity to solve puzzles offers a refreshing and enjoyable experience. The compelling gameplay overshadowed some shortcomings, such as the simplistic graphics and the inconsistent quality of the voice acting. Furthermore, the prevalence of profanity within the dialogue felt unnecessary and detracted from the overall experience. Despite these minor drawbacks, Relicta provides several hours of engaging gameplay at a reasonable price point.
In conclusion, Relicta is an enjoyable title that offers a stimulating alternative to action-oriented games, encouraging players to exercise their problem-solving skills. As such, it warrants a recommendation.
