Geometric Interactive is led by alumni from Playdead, the studio behind Limbo and Inside, and you may actually inform. Its debut sport, Cocoon, shares a lead gameplay designer in Jeppe Carlsen, and his experience shines via in one among this 12 months’s standout releases — indie or in any other case. With an ingenious idea fuelling its myriad puzzles, that is an extremely lean and compelling sport from begin to end.
Cocoon is a puzzle journey by which you management a bug-like creature on a multi-world odyssey. Set in a collection of environments from alien deserts to biomechanical caverns, the sport has you hopping between them with a purpose to clear up puzzles. At set factors in every degree, you may leap out of 1 world and into the following, with the place you simply left contained inside an orb you may carry in your again. It is tough to wrap your head round, however it makes much more sense in motion.
To start out with, you will enterprise via one stage, fixing environmental puzzles inside it. These embody transferring platforms utilizing switches, decreasing obstacles, that type of factor. Finally, you will come to a checkpoint from which you’ll be able to leap out of the world and into the following one up, so to talk. The extent you had been simply inside is totally contained in a big marble, which you will then want to hold round as you discover this new space. Later, once more at set factors, you may hop again into that unique world after having solved extra puzzles within the latter degree. Finally, you will be coping with a number of orbs, carrying one into one other to finish beforehand not possible conundrums.
Not solely do these orbs comprise entire levels, they finally achieve talents. The primary, for instance, beneficial properties the facility to point out invisible walkways, permitting you to achieve new areas. Every of those further talents is after all tied into the puzzle design, and the sport finally ends up with a good quantity of layers you want to bear in mind.
Whereas it sounds convoluted on paper, Cocoon is an extremely tightly designed sport with a wonderfully pitched issue curve. It begins you off gently, constructing as much as its core concept, then expands upon it little by little. It is executed so properly you will barely discover, however new concepts are being launched to you proper as much as the top of the journey. The result’s a puzzler that gives a constant problem, conserving you engaged however by no means making issues too tough.
It is the way in which these concepts and challenges combine collectively that is maybe most spectacular. As talked about, the extent and puzzle design on show right here is immaculate. Each sq. inch of the sport has objective — all the pieces is positioned simply so, not losing any area. Development is linear, however the way in which every world interconnects with the others is so intelligent. You will use orb talents to open up different ranges, hold orbs inside different orbs to hold multiple, and way more in addition to. There are lots of moments all through Cocoon’s sub-10 hour runtime by which ranges have an effect on one another or hyperlink up in some unexpected method, and it is extremely gratifying.
Whereas nearly all of the sport has you fixing these splendidly satisfying puzzles, it breaks issues up with a handful of boss battles. Every world is guarded by a big creature you will must defeat. With no fight talents to talk of, these engagements are principally about evasion. Nevertheless, every battle has a easy and distinctive mechanic permitting you to combat again. For instance, flying round on a sort-of jetpack ball earlier than dropping it in your enemy, or zooming into crystallised weak spots. If a boss hits you, you are flung from the world you are at present in, and might rapidly dive again in for one more strive. This resets progress within the combat, which is a contact irritating, particularly as the big bosses can typically obscure your view of your diminutive character.
Regardless of seeming sophisticated with orbs you may soar out and in of, talents to bear in mind, these uncommon fight encounters, and naturally the puzzles themselves, your entire sport is performed utilizing simply the left stick and the X button. Conserving the controls so easy not solely makes it a really accessible expertise, it additionally means you may deal with what’s in entrance of you. Pair that up with the minimalist presentation, and you’ve got a sport that basically will get out of its personal method. With no complicated controls to grasp and no HUD cluttering your view, it actually attracts you in, working hand-in-hand with the regular circulate of puzzles for a super-compelling expertise.
It helps that the worlds you are exploring are visually and sonically fascinating locations to be. Each has an imposing, mysterious vibe that’ll have you ever questioning how and why they’re linked. The graphical fashion right here is smooth and easy, with daring colors and shapes making every alien panorama stand out. Accompanied by an ethereal, synth-based soundtrack, the sport does a terrific job of creating you are feeling like a small half of a bigger universe.
The one factor we’ll say concerning the world of Cocoon is that, upon reaching the top, we had been left with extra questions than solutions. Your complete sport is freed from dialogue and textual content, leaving the storytelling as much as the setting round you. Whereas it is actually an intriguing place to discover, the sport leaves just a few issues unanswered. It is unusual — the story is in some methods tied up properly, however in others, it did not fairly scratch the itch.
Conclusion
In a 12 months full of sensible video games, Cocoon manages to face out because of its distinctive mechanics and a number of the greatest degree and puzzle design we have seen in years. It holds your consideration with an intriguing sci-fi world, challenges you with puzzles spanning a number of worlds, and retains you hooked with accessible controls and minimalist presentation. With solely essentially the most minor grievances holding it again, we’re assured in saying that is up there with 2023’s greatest.
