Relicta – Review (PC)
From developer Mighty Polygon comes Relicta – a narrative driven first person puzzler that uses magnetism, physics, and momentum as its primary mechanics. We were drawn in by Relicta’s high production value and promise of a positive spin on familiar first person puzzle tropes. What maintained our attraction was its expert use of magnetic physics and complex design despite an overbearring narrative.
Relicta isn’t shy in revealing its inspirations. As a first person puzzle game where you manipulate both the environment and physics to progress through a mysterious sci-fi atmosphere, it’s clear that the developers drew influence from Portal. Where Relicta immediately sets itself apart is in its use of magnetism to drive its puzzle design. This unique and creative mechanic is expertly put to use in so many intuitive and interesting ways throughout the game.
Players will need to utilize cubes to clear puzzle stages. By using super special science gloves, players can manipulate a cubes electrical charge. By making one cube positive and another cube negative, two cubes will attract to each other and stick together. Conversely, by making one of the cubes the same charge as the other, the cubes will separate and fling each other apart. These charges can also be applied to certain level elements such as wall or floor mounted pads. These allow players to ferry cubes across stages and move them to otherwise inaccessible areas. Further to charges, you’ll also be given the ability to alter a cube’s gravity. This allows cubes to float and propel further when ejected from a similar charge.
Certain spots within stages are gated. These areas will allow the player to pass through – but will not allow a cube. Some gates can be temporarily deactivated using switches while others are permanent. The way in which these obstacles need to be overcome quickly gets complicated and intricate. Clearing stages generally involves using several different cubes in tandem and carefully planning their charges and interactions several steps apart. What quickly stood out about Relicta’s puzzles was the complexity and layered design. It can be overwhelming walking into a new puzzle room and seeing all of the different gates, pads, switches, and cubes that need to be used to clear the way forward. This makes clearing stages all the more rewarding and satisfying. There were a few times where puzzle solutions seemed ambiguous and not entirely intentional. Luckily, these instances were few and far between.
Where Relicta stumbles is in its story delivery. The game has an insistence on throwing so much narrative and lore at the player in a short period of time. It didn’t take long for us to become confused by the number of different characters, places, and experiments that are referenced in dialogue conversations. Each level is book-ended by an awkward and unnecessary return to Chandra Labs. This is where the majority of NPC conversation takes place, along with picking up story collectibles. These areas are bloated, difficult to navigate, and completely devoid of life. The lack of puzzles in these mid-level checkpoints makes them a complete drag and only serves to interrupt the momentum of the game.
Further breaking the immersion is the game’s writing. Why characters needs to swear at each other like they are acting out a scene from Casino is beyond me. You’ll also hear scientists refer to each other as ‘bae’ and talking about each other’s ‘hubbies.’ It’s a shame, especially since the voice acting in Relicta is strong and was clearly given high production value. But it was difficult to ignore these awkward and cringey moments. Toning down on the narrative certainly could have helped draw some of the focus back on what really sells the game – that being its complex and creative puzzles.
When it comes to story in puzzle games, less is more. Relicta takes a risk by trying to encapsulate an engrossing story within an imaginative puzzle experience. The narrative side of the game unfortunately doesn’t pan out and creates a bipolar experience – with intuitive puzzle design and fresh mechanics on the positive side – and a convoluted and unnecessary story on the negative. Fortunately, the majority of your time playing will be spent within puzzles which is where the game really shines. Relicta’s expert use of magnetism, physics, and momentum coupled with its complex design are what make it easy to recommend for fans of the genre.
Relicta releases on Steam, Playstation 4, Xbox One and Stadia on August 4th, 2020.
Relicta was given to the reviewer by the publishing company but this fact did not alter the reviewer’s opinion*
