OLYEN

Despite its flaws, I really enjoyed brainstorming this game's puzzles. We get to manipulate light using different kinds of spheres to lower pillars and find keys that allow us to the next area. The puzzle logic somewhat reminded me of The Talos Principle. Storywise, we play as Olyen Mirole, a speleologist who accidentally discovers the remnants of ancient research facilities once run by four scientists studying light as a source of energy and its effects on living organisms. As we progress through the game, documents we find reveal their stories, while also providing important information about their discoveries and how to use the different light spheres. I found some of the puzzles quite tricky, so I wouldnt recommend this game if you are new to this kind of puzzle game. I got stuck at one point because I hadnt used a sphere correctly. The game also featured a high-jump mechanic that could be used to reach higher ground, and I was pretty bad at it. Thankfully, it wasnt required too often. I also found the game's final puzzle confusing, but thankfully I was able to find some info on how to solve it on the game's forum. All in all, if you enjoy puzzle games with light and laser …

First of all, the game’s unusual title is actually the name of your character, an archaeologist who falls into a hole while researching an ancient site. This is all the information you get because the story isn’t important; it’s all about gameplay and puzzle-solving. The hole leads to an underground structure that’s perfectly preserved, but it’s mostly empty, with flat marble walls and ceilings. If you’re thinking you’ll be stuck in a maze or a series of same-looking rooms, that’s only partially true. After the first door, you end up outside, surrounded by structures and objects from ancient times that were never ravaged by the passage of time. It’s as if the entire location was frozen in time, yet without a single living soul left to maintain it. If you want to learn more about the people who lived here, you can read books scattered around the environment. Each diary belongs to one of four key characters, and the entries reveal their thoughts about each other and the project they worked on. They’re entirely optional and not tied to any collectible features, but they contain clues about the secrets of this place. From the starting point, you have a couple of doors you c…

[h1] ▶️ Gameplay [/h1] (to be updated) [h1] 👍 Pros [/h1] + Beautiful graphics + Captivating music, very calming + Interesting lore/characters + You can reset the puzzle stage if you made a mistake + You can 'escape' if you find yourself trapped or want to leave the puzzle area + Cozy and relaxing when exploring + You can save your progress and continue (click 'exit and save') [h1] ❗Cons [/h1] - Too much time spent wandering aimlessly and/or hoping to stumble upon doors and/or clues (some of which feels randomly placed sometimes) - While the general environment is relaxing, the puzzle experience is anything but. The puzzles are challenging and some of the puzzles are time-sensitive (e.g. you have to jump at the right time). It's quite stressful and frustrating. - The graphics are a bit choppy/jittery if you move your cursor around quickly - The settings for volume etc are only accessible in the main (starting) screen, which is pretty inconvenient - There is no explanation on what keys to use (i.e. keyboard WASD + mouse). This is probably intuitive for many gamers, but not for beginners. [h1] 🤔 Conclusion [/h1] Disclaimer - I LOVE puzzle and exploration games, and I was excite…

I really wanted to like this game. However, after hours of poking about trying to work out what to do next I give up.

AMMENDED REVIEW: After quitting this game in frustration a few times (and eventually coming back to it each time) I must change my review to a very cautious "Yes, I recommend this game." My caution would be along the lines of what at least one other reviewer has offered, and that is that many of this game's puzzles are so tricky that the game can't be recommended to people who are new to these puzzle-adventure types of games. I was such a person when I picked up Olyen, so my frustration with its puzzles was immense -- it took me over 25 hours of playing time to complete the game. Having completed it, I must admit that it's a stunningly beautiful and challenging adventure. ORIGINAL REVIEW: It was fun for the first hour or so, solving interesting puzzles in a charming atmosphere; but it quickly became boring and frustrating trying to figure out what to do next. I wanted to get a new door to open, or to get something new to happen, or to solve a puzzle, or to get someplace I hadn't been to before. ANYTHING! This game is much more frustrating than fun.

Great game! The puzzles are smart and satisfying to solve. Exploring the valley is a fantastic experience, and the puzzle buildings are full of charm and mystery.