Cocoon Evaluation (PS5) | Push Sq.

Geometric Interactive is led by alumni from Playdead, the studio behind Limbo and Inside, and you may actually inform. Its debut recreation, Cocoon, shares a lead gameplay designer in Jeppe Carlsen, and his experience shines by means of in one in every of this yr’s standout releases — indie or in any other case. With an ingenious idea fuelling its myriad puzzles, that is an extremely lean and compelling recreation from begin to end.

Cocoon is a puzzle journey wherein 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 as a way to resolve puzzles. At set factors in every stage, you may leap out of 1 world and into the subsequent, with the place you simply left contained inside an orb you may carry in your again. It is difficult to wrap your head round, but it surely makes much more sense in motion.

To start out with, you will enterprise by means of one stage, fixing environmental puzzles inside it. These embody transferring platforms utilizing switches, decreasing obstacles, that kind of factor. Finally, you will come to a checkpoint from which you’ll leap out of the world and into the subsequent one up, so to talk. The extent you have been simply inside is absolutely 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 stage. Finally, you will be coping with a number of orbs, carrying one into one other to finish beforehand inconceivable conundrums.

Not solely do these orbs include complete phases, they ultimately achieve skills. The primary, for instance, beneficial properties the facility to point out invisible walkways, permitting you to achieve new areas. Every of those extra skills 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 recreation with a wonderfully pitched problem curve. It begins you off gently, constructing as much as its core concept, then expands upon it little by little. It is executed so nicely 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, retaining you engaged however by no means making issues too troublesome.

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 function — every part is positioned simply so, not losing any house. Development is linear, however the way in which every world interconnects with the others is so intelligent. You will use orb skills to open up different ranges, preserve orbs inside different orbs to hold multiple, and far more apart from. There are lots of moments all through Cocoon’s sub-10 hour runtime wherein ranges have an effect on one another or hyperlink up in some unexpected manner, 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 have to defeat. With no fight skills to talk of, these engagements are largely about evasion. Nevertheless, every battle has a easy and distinctive mechanic permitting you to struggle 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 struggle, 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 bounce out and in of, skills to bear in mind, these uncommon fight encounters, and naturally the puzzles themselves, the whole recreation is performed utilizing simply the left stick and the X button. Holding 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 recreation that actually will get out of its personal manner. With no advanced controls to grasp and no HUD cluttering your view, it actually attracts you in, working hand-in-hand with the regular stream of puzzles for a super-compelling expertise.

It helps that the worlds you are exploring are visually and sonically attention-grabbing locations to be. Every one has an imposing, mysterious vibe that’ll have you ever questioning how and why they’re linked. The graphical type right here is glossy and easy, with daring colors and shapes making every alien panorama stand out. Accompanied by an ethereal, synth-based soundtrack, the sport does an important job of creating you’re feeling like a small half of a bigger universe.

The one factor we’ll say relating to the world of Cocoon is that, upon reaching the top, we have been left with extra questions than solutions. Your entire recreation is freed from dialogue and textual content, leaving the storytelling as much as the atmosphere round you. Whereas it is definitely an intriguing place to discover, the sport leaves a number of 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 yr full of good video games, Cocoon manages to face out because of its distinctive mechanics and a few of the greatest stage 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.