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Sights & Sounds

Up and down
- This is admittedly a minor gripe, but this game has just about the worst title screen I've ever seen. It looks like it belongs in a 2002 flash game, and not even one of the good ones
- Immediately upon spawning in to Viewfinder's world, though, I was pleased with the bright, colorful geometry reminiscent of what I've seen in clips of other fairly recent puzzle games like The Witness and Superluminal
- Thankfully, the design ideas are carried further forward by being couched in a neat scenario arising from the game's plot: What if you gave a bunch of researchers the ability to code their ideal office, lab, and living spaces?
- While I had hoped that this would have led to some further distinction in the areas formerly inhabited by those researchers, it really doesn't. Be prepared for things to get a bit stale
- Ultimately, the overuse of levels with interior walls but no exterior walls was a choice that wore out its welcome after a few hours. Sure, it looks cool, but it seems weird to me that every character would have their personal spaces designed in the same way when their imaginations were the limit
- The skyboxes are indeed impressive looking. They would feel more special if you didn't see them constantly
- Still, though, there is some cozy charm in finding little sitting spaces where the world's previous inhabitants would admire grand vistas or nooks for reading or playing music
- Speaking of music, I'd criticize it in the same way as the visuals. It's quite nice until you begin to see some missed opportunities. For example, the soundtrack could have been used to distinguish each reseacher's spaces, but like the visuals, they fail to
- It's still a well-composed soundtrack of often open-sounding synth compositions that manages to inject a little jazz for variety from time to time
- There isn't a ton of voice acting in the game, but it, too, earns a split verdict. The researchers are all fairly well voiced, and I really liked the direction and performance for Cait, your AI cat friend. Unfortunately, the voicework for your handler/boss can be hammy and grating at times

Story & Vibes

Familiar territory
- The game starts off by dropping you in a mysterious courtyard to poke around while your handler muses on what you're seeing and offers some tutorialization
- Within a few minutes, it's clear that you're exploring some sort of simulation of reality left behind by researchers who were working on some highly secretive and very important technology
- Through various scattered notes and audio logs, you'll piece together why the simulation exists, what the scientists were looking in to, and what's happening in the world outside
- I enjoy breadcrumb storytelling, but the "scattered logs" approach is a bit hackneyed. Without delving into spoilers, I'm disappointed to report that the secrets you uncover by listening to and reading through logs and notes are also very familiar sci-fi tropes
- Still, I appreciate the game's take-home message. Not like the problem it highlights is getting any better

Playability & Replayability

Clever, evolving puzzles
- Although the game throws you right into the action, you'll soon see that it employs a hubworld design where you enter levels via computers dotted around the map. As you progress, Cait will guide you to the monorail to the next hub
- As the title implies, Viewfinder's principal puzzle hook involves you using a special camera to capture pictures of objects, then placing those objects elsewhere in the level
- This mechanic is used pretty well throughout the course of the game. Sometimes you'll use it for things like freeing a needed object from behind an obstruction, but in other instances, you'll use it move actual geometry to form bridges and staircases. You'll often even replicate entire rooms or level features to solve puzzles
- As you progress, levels will throw special elements at you that are immune to your camera's abilities, having a special texture over them that prevents replication
- Although most puzzles appear to have an intended solution, I like that there are sometimes different ways to achieve the same goal if you're creative (or just occasionally blind to the obvious answer like me)
- I haven't played Superluminal yet, but a lot of reviews assure me that Viewfinder's perspective-bending gameplay is notably similar
- I'm obviously unqualified to weigh in, but the distance/perspective manipulation mechanic I recall from the clips and trailers I've seen of Superluminal seem different
- For example, if you take a picture of a bridge in Viewfinder, it'll always be the same size and distance away relative to your position when you took it. You won't be manipulating the size of anything to solve puzzles
- No need to replay this one after 100%ing it; it's a fine enough game, but the story isn't anything that's going to reel me back in

Overall Impressions & Performance

The cat kinda saves it
- I wound up playing this one after one of the guys from Nextlander wouldn't stop talking about how cool it was. It's a neat puzzle game and all, and some of the puzzle solutions are quite clever. I didn't really encounter anything that blew my mind or tested my skills too much
- I loved the personality that Cait lends to the game. Viewfinder's pretty but austere world would have felt very uninviting without such a kind host who also manages to tug on your heartstrings as you get to know him better
- Ran wonderfully on the Steam Deck

Final Verdict

- 7/10. Despite some inventive gameplay and the friendly Cheshire cat, it's hard to overlook some of the audiovisual swings and misses and the ho-hum narrative. Still a worthwhile game for puzzle afficionados, but maybe wait for a discount