If you were shrunk down to a couple of inches tall, what would you do?
Well now... the first thing you'd probably do is go blind and deaf, due to the way light and sound would fail to work with your miniaturised eyes and ears.
Also, your voice would be barely audible to anyone of normal size, so you wouldn't even be able to ask for help.
After about a minute of stumbling around in a dazed, deaf, blind, stupor, squeaking like D.Beckham at a helium party, you'd suffocate because your lungs wouldn't be able to absorb oxygen. Doesn't sound like much fun does it? And yet Electronic Arts - the sickos - have gone and made a game in which you control a tiny, little man.
But wait... he's made out of yarn!
Well now... the first thing you'd probably do is go blind and deaf, due to the way light and sound would fail to work with your miniaturised eyes and ears.
Also, your voice would be barely audible to anyone of normal size, so you wouldn't even be able to ask for help.
After about a minute of stumbling around in a dazed, deaf, blind, stupor, squeaking like D.Beckham at a helium party, you'd suffocate because your lungs wouldn't be able to absorb oxygen. Doesn't sound like much fun does it? And yet Electronic Arts - the sickos - have gone and made a game in which you control a tiny, little man.
But wait... he's made out of yarn!
OLD SCHOOL
Very much an old-school puzzle-platformer, Unravel takes its cue from the best of those side-on games, in that its protagonist has a unique range of abilities built around one central conceit.
You see, being made of yarn, Yarny - for that is his name - trails a line of wool behind him like he's a sort of woollen foetus. Neatly, his umbilical cord can be used as a grappling hook, or to construct rope swings or trampolines.
Yes, that's right, father: now would be a good time to make a joke about him being a "woolly jumper". Also, given that Yarny is using up parts of himself to progress, you'll occasionally need to replenish his supply of yarn.
It's all very physics-based, if you ignore the improbable little red man; rolling apples, or riding downhill atop tricycles, or swinging across chasms, or filling up pits with water. For the most part it's a simple joy to play, and you'll probably whizz through it in a couple of hours. However, on occasion you'll be smacked across the woolballs with an unforeseen death, or be left stranded, unsure where to head next (or - worse - out of wool, and stuck in place due to the lack of slack on your woollen umbilical).
In many respects, it felt like a cross between Cool Spot - remember that? - and Little Big Planet. There's not a whole lot going on that's original... except for Unravel's probably beautiful presentation.
Very much an old-school puzzle-platformer, Unravel takes its cue from the best of those side-on games, in that its protagonist has a unique range of abilities built around one central conceit.
You see, being made of yarn, Yarny - for that is his name - trails a line of wool behind him like he's a sort of woollen foetus. Neatly, his umbilical cord can be used as a grappling hook, or to construct rope swings or trampolines.
Yes, that's right, father: now would be a good time to make a joke about him being a "woolly jumper". Also, given that Yarny is using up parts of himself to progress, you'll occasionally need to replenish his supply of yarn.
It's all very physics-based, if you ignore the improbable little red man; rolling apples, or riding downhill atop tricycles, or swinging across chasms, or filling up pits with water. For the most part it's a simple joy to play, and you'll probably whizz through it in a couple of hours. However, on occasion you'll be smacked across the woolballs with an unforeseen death, or be left stranded, unsure where to head next (or - worse - out of wool, and stuck in place due to the lack of slack on your woollen umbilical).
In many respects, it felt like a cross between Cool Spot - remember that? - and Little Big Planet. There's not a whole lot going on that's original... except for Unravel's probably beautiful presentation.
OLD LADY PARTS
Unravel adopts a poetic, naturalistic style - all sun dappled real-world locations, or dusty attics.
Yarny is expressive and likeable, and he's the perfect guide through a game that is, at times, achingly wistful.
It's effectively a journey through the memories of Yarny's ageing 'mother', and talks of how love connects us like yarn.
As metaphors go, it's as subtle as being run over by a metaphor delivery van, and the game didn't need it - but it does add a sweetness, and another layer, to what would've otherwise been a relatively bog-standard platform game. In conclusion: nice!
SUMMARY: A simple puzzle-platformer elevated by a sweet emotional message, and beautiful visuals.
SCORE: 72 yarn balls out of 99.9 yarn balls
Unravel adopts a poetic, naturalistic style - all sun dappled real-world locations, or dusty attics.
Yarny is expressive and likeable, and he's the perfect guide through a game that is, at times, achingly wistful.
It's effectively a journey through the memories of Yarny's ageing 'mother', and talks of how love connects us like yarn.
As metaphors go, it's as subtle as being run over by a metaphor delivery van, and the game didn't need it - but it does add a sweetness, and another layer, to what would've otherwise been a relatively bog-standard platform game. In conclusion: nice!
SUMMARY: A simple puzzle-platformer elevated by a sweet emotional message, and beautiful visuals.
SCORE: 72 yarn balls out of 99.9 yarn balls
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