FRACTER

Review

Before starting a game, you will be required to setup your controls; to do this you will first have to keep your joystick as close to the centre as possible, which will allow you to sneak around as you move. Next you will need to be able to run; you do this by moving the joystick as far away from the centre as possible. Doing this will require that you to fill a bar on the screen; once filled you will have calibrated your movement. You can play with either WASD or with a gamepad; I played using an Xbox360 pad, which worked very well.

Once you’re done the game will start.  You’ll be greeted with a cryptic message each time you reach a new level, after which you’ll find yourself at the bottom of a staircase that leads up into the darkness. Climbing the twisting stairs, you finally reach the top, where you see a ball of light within the centre of a round room. Strange pillars surround the edge of the room, and there are also floating blocks surrounding the ball of light that is closer to you than the pillars. You move towards the ball of light, which will then float above you as you wander around.

As you visit each of the pillars, the light will activate them, at which point the floating blocks will convene in the centre of the room (where the ball of light was previously). Next a door will open, streaming light from within; as you move closer the light dims and you see your reflection. As you move to touch the reflection something weird happens . . . your reflection glitches. As you make contact with the reflection, a blinding light shines out and from within the doorway many light souls run off like Black Friday sales have just started, disappearing into the darkness.

Once you get back on your feet, the doorway will disappear into the ground. After this happens, one of the pillars will open; moving into the pillar will take you to the first level. You will need to collect all the light souls who are scattered over various levels. As each pillar opens you will see how many light souls can be found on that level. Each level will consist of solving puzzles and collecting any lost light souls you find on the way. These puzzles are easy to start with, as you learn the basics and progress. At the end of each level is a bigger puzzle to complete, before the exit reveals itself to you.

The puzzles consist of connecting and moving light sources so that they connect with certain blocks, thereby opening a path for you to continue.  At times, you’re unable to move a light source directly onto certain blocks, in which case you can use other blocks to reflect light onto them.  You will also need to push large blocks into place or around the levels. Sometimes you will be required to rotate the ground, allowing you to move forward.  Each level you make your way through will become more complex in its puzzles.

You will also have to deal with some creepy zombie-type creatures, which, when they spot you, will drop to their hands and feet and run after you. If they catch you, you’ll die and respawn at the last time the game saved. There isn’t any manual saving but the game autosaves for you, and should you die you don’t normally lose too much progress. You can defeat these creatures by luring them into light. You can also use the light to bar their way, or try sneaking past them.

In the settings you’ll find options for Screen Resolution, Windowed Mode, Antialiasing, Shadows, Bloom, Reflections (On/Off). Joystick Cursor Speed, Brightness, SFX and Music Sliders, Language (English and French). You can also Reset Progress here should you wish to start from scratch again.

The game is enjoyable to play; the puzzles start off easy but will become more complex as you progress through the levels. The graphics are good, the sounds and music give the game a very eerie feel. The first time you have one of the creatures drop on all fours and start running after you will have you screaming “WTF”. After which you’ll become even more on edge as you anticipate what hides in the darkness before you. Certainly worth a bash!

Review written by Piston Smashed™ for Zeepond.com!