Bound (2016)

Bound is fun. Abstract art, family trauma - a perfect mix!

As an art-game, I would give this 5/5 - the sheer kineticism of the environment as a metaphor for the fractured psyche is genius and my god everything in this game is moving and twitching like me that time I drink a case of red bull trying to finish an assignment due the next morning, but as a game game I was honestly bored out of my mind.

There are a few points where the platforming was fun, but it straddles between wanting to be a puzzle platformer and wanting to be more of a narrative focused walking (dancing?) simulator. The inclusion of the 'real life' sections was a bit on-the-nose for me, and the cycle of repetition set in (which is particularly problematic considering the game's short length).

Also not to belittle anyone's trauma but it was pretty low-stakes, the crux of the modern pregnant lady on the beach arc being her going to attempt a reconciliation with her father who walked out on the family. It also felt weird for that to be the main point when I felt like the game had made it pretty clear that mom was no angel either! But yeah it was a cute story, breaking the cycle etc. etc. - (why is it that every Sony game is abt breaking cycles btw? )

Also, for a game built around dance, the soundtrack and sound design was really underwhelming to me. I ended up putting my own music on in the background.

In terms of art direction and music, this game is perhaps one of the best indie titles out there. Everything is so goddamned beautiful and the animations are so smooth and realistic.

Yet, in terms of gameplay, it just isn't fun. There is not much to do. And doing the little things you can do is not fun either, because the controls are just so hellishly bad. I rage-quit after my 100th failed attempt to finish a level, and there was just not enough incentives for me to go back.

I can't comment on the story because the developers chose the mysterious narration style of Journey but for me it wasn't a good choice. Had I known more about the story and the characters, I might've reconsidered coming back but I just couldn't care less about the story because I absolutely knew nothing about it.

Bound might entertain you for an hour or two, but in my opinion, it's not even worth playing once.

Este hermoso y surreal viaje es un perfecto ejemplo de que los videojuegos solo son un medio de "entretenimiento y ya".

Bound es una obra de arte audiovisual que mezcla danza interpretativa, arte cubista, surrealismo e interactividad para contar de forma simbólica como una mujer uso el arte de la danza para superar sus traumas familiares. El ponernos en control de la bailarina "la princesa" lo dota de cualidades y una profundidad que el cine, la literatura o la pintura no podrían alcanzar contando la misma historia.

Es una delicia poder explorar a nuestro propio ritmo escenarios tan impactantes y bizarros. Es una lástima que los elementos de plataformas no estén tan bien pulidos y sea tan difícil calcular nuestros saltos y movimientos, pero ya que es principalmente un juego para explorar no es un gran problema. De todos modos se cuenta con un modo de speedrun que permite sacar el máximo jugo de los atajos y maniobras que permite el diseño de niveles.

Es una lástima que sea tan corto. Sus tres horas se habrían podido ampliar un poco para profundizar mas en la psique e historia de la protagonista y tal vez presentar algunas sorpresas jugables.

Pros:

+ This game is absolutely beautiful. The visuals are terrifically imaginative and I found myself frequently staring in awe at them. This is a game where you want to stop and smell the roses. The dancing animation is also amazing.

+ The musical score is equally gorgeous and really help heighten the mood.

+ The dance mechanic is unique and fun.

+ For players who are so inclined, there's a lot of hidden meaning to dig out.

+ Multiple paths allow players to make the journey as long or short as they want.

+ You can't die and even if you fall off a platform, the checkpoint system starts you back almost exactly where you fell.

+ There's a speedrun mode for added value.

Cons:

- Gameplay is fairly repetitive; every level begins and ends the same, and a lot of the stuff in the middle can be quite similar too.

- The frame narrative isn't all that interesting, and the visuals of the grounded setting clash with the more fantastical allegorical locales.

- Camera and controls are quite fiddly; most of the times I fell off a platform it felt like the game's fault.

- It doesn't quite muster up the emotion Plastic Studios were probably hoping for, perhaps because the frame story is so vague.

- The £15.99 asking price is a bit steep for what can be a 90-minute game.