Monument Valley

Game Info

In Monument Valley, the player leads the player-character princess Ida through mazes of optical illusions and impossible objects, which are referred to as "sacred geometry" in-game, as she journeys to be forgiven for something. The game is presented in isometric view, and the player interacts with the environment to find hidden passages as Ida progresses to the map's exit. Each of the ten levels has a different central mechanic. Interactions include moving platforms and pillar animals, and creating bridges. The player is indirectly cued through the game by design elements like color, and directly cued by crow people, who block Ida's path. Critics compared the game's visual style to a vibrant M. C. Escher drawing and Echochrome. The game includes a camera mode where the player can roam the level to compose screenshots. It includes filters à la Instagram.

Name

Monument Valley

Companies

Ustwo Games

Released

4/3/2014

Platforms

Android, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows Phone, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, iOS

Engines

Unity

Type

Puzzle, Strategy, Adventure

0

izigame

members favorited

Reviews

Monday, August 5, 2024 11:12:57 AM

4 Steam users votes up

b man448

Steam user

This review is based on 100% completion and 2.8 hours of gameplay.

Recommendation:

Would I recommend this game? Absolutely. This is a really lovely little puzzle game to chill out and play for a bit. While there isn't much replayability, it's a perfect one-off game to help you unwind and de-stress. The game is not long and can be completed in a couple of hours, but those hours are really enjoyable.
I loved how the game played with the environment and incorporated it into the puzzles. The spinning wheels, columns, and changing perspectives to move forward all worked really well together. This was my first time experiencing a gameplay style like this, and I feel they really nailed it. The puzzle maps were interesting and beautiful. I especially enjoyed the two maps that are set inside a box. The interaction with the environment within this cube and the way it moves was amazing and had me hooked—definitely the highlights of the game for me.
The puzzles themselves are easy and not hard at all. They're simple enough to be relaxing but just challenging enough to make you think a little bit, so it’s not so easy that it becomes boring. This balance of difficulty is definitely one of the game's charms. The art style and sound design are both beautiful and amazing. Nothing felt out of place, and they complemented the other elements of the game, providing a solid experience from start to finish.
The only complaint I have gameplay-wise is that rotating the perspective or objects felt janky and unintuitive at times. Smoothing out this experience in future games would be an improvement that I would love to see. Another semi-complaint is related to the story. The game felt more like, just a series of puzzles rather than a cohesive game if that makes sense. If there were more lore or story elements, it would have felt more like a journey rather than just a puzzle simulator I feel. That’s not to say it was bad, but it could have been done a bit better. I would love to explore more of the story they are trying to tell because you don’t pick up much during the short playthrough. I feel more story elements would have enhanced the experience.
All in all, this game is a great pick-up to unwind and relax. It's perfect for a break between games or just a quick escape from life. I do find the base price almost a bit too steep for what you get, even though it's very good. If you can wait, the game regularly goes on sale, and this is more than fair for the content you receive. But if you can’t wait and are happy with the base price, go for it—this is not a bad pick-up at all.

Achievements:

All achievements in this game can be completed in a single playthrough. They are all tied to completing the levels, so you'll get them all by the end.

For more in-depth yet straight-to-the-point reviews, feel free to check out my curator page here.