Magrunner: Dark Pulse

As everyone else has so aptly described, Magrunner is a puzzler in the vein of Portal. I did thoroughly enjoy the concept of using magnets instead of portals, and they executed that very well. Generally, I found the puzzles to be easier than Portal, with the exception of a couple that were almost masochistic. Some of the earlier puzzles can be frustrating, as there aren't really any tutorials on the subtleties of the magnets: the text tips on the loading screens tell you what you need to know, but unfortunately seem to be displayed in random order, which means you may not see the tip you need until after the chamber where you need it. The main reason for the drop in stars is that the writing and voice acting are pretty terrible. The Lovecraft element, while prominent in the last third of the game, seemed very forced. I agree with others who said the enemies didn't seem very threatening because of their slow, lumbering animations. I was also pretty disappointed in the ending; it seemed to be a cop out that degraded into vagueness. Overall, the fun in the mechanics makes up for quite a bit, though it ultimately can't save the writing, plot, and voice acting from taking down the quality.

Like others said, it borrows *a lot* from Portal(s), thus the comparison is inevitable. Yet the mechanics are different enough, so it didn't feel such a total rip-off to me. Yes, the puzzles are hard, and some are rather frustrating - but not that much more than Portal's. I could solve them all. Well, those based on logic anyway. Even The Damned (yup, that's the level 40's name) seven parallel platforms. What got me stumped though, was when authors didn't stop at Damn Hard puzzles, but crossed the threshold into unfair. Level 38 is unsolvable until you step to a specific point (not hinted at in any way) and look at just the right angle at a well-hidden switch!?! I mean, *why* would they do *that*? >:# The story is also quite different: In Portal, the excuse for test labs' deterioration was current manager (GlaDOS/Johnson/Wheatley) slipping to insanity. Here, it's an invasion of Lovecraftesque Old Ones - a very questionable choice for a platform puzzler IMO. And to make a monster kill you tens of times before you realise there *is* a way to outrun it - by using reflexes instead of brains? It's just WRONG for this sort of game! In Portal 2, I couldn't wait to finish a level just to see what silly thing happens next. Wheatley's quirky comments or Johnson's rants really made me LOL - right up to the hilarious Singin' Turrets end. Here, I rushed forward to get away from the increasingly morbid surroundings and forgettable characters. Until the weird end - which is neither here nor there. Quite literally. Replayability is also rather low even though it is possible to solve (some) puzzles (a bit) differently than the first time. Why **** then? Well, the puzzles are quite good, physics is really excellent (apart from the same magnetic poles attracting each other - WTF?) and Newton, the magnetic dog, is adorable. :) Bottom line: you do get quite a lot of gameplay for €8 and, all the bad things aside, solving the problems does give you a good sense of accomplishment.

Magrunner has some good gameplay, it's very Portal inspired, except you use magnetism to solve puzzles instead of portals. The story is pretty neat too. It takes a lot of inspiration from Lovecraftian horror, involving Cthulhu and Shub-Niggurath. However, until the third act the game doesn't really mesh the two together very well. Aside from a couple small areas, you go through test chamber after test chamber for... some reason, the story doesn't really provide any motivation for the main character to keep doing the tests. Between the chambers you're on an elevator, and there's usually some minor plot points that don't really have any effect on the gameplay. Then the third act comes along where you're thrust out of the test chambers into some cosmic mess. The third act kinda came out of nowhere, but it is rather interesting and is definitely where the game shines. It introduces hostile enemies, and combines gameplay mechanics in unique (And sometimes difficult) ways. However, I feel it took too long to reach and didn't last long enough considering the buildup between chambers in the previous acts. Magrunner is okay. It hits some good notes, but doesn't blend them together well.

Having previously finished at least eight well-known first person puzzle games, I don't really think this game stands out among them. But it's still above avarage. Although, the core mechanic is kind of original, somehow I just didn't have so much fun with the game (as with let's say Portal) nor was it perticularly compelling in any other way (as for example the Witness). Still, it provides some good puzzles, and has a story, but like I said nothing about this game was particularly memorable. 3.5 stars out of 5.

Entering the game with the expectations of a Portal-like experience, I wasn't disappointed. The mechanics of magnetism are interesting (Although I'll stop here and point out that opposite magnet charges attract while same magnet charges repel. In the game it's the reverse which doesn't make sense), and the setting even more so, starting from Portal-like testing chambers to a horrific and eldritch nightmare, and making use of magnetism to survival. You'll find puzzles that'll test your ability to think around the environment. That said, the graphics are getting in the way most of the time, but I think that's intentional. It takes some time to wrap your head around the landscape and making use of that landscape to figure out how to get to the next room, because of the graphics. Loading screens are quite often so be prepared to spend a little time being interrupted by loading. Hopefully they are accompanied with hints and reminders about the game and its mechanics. Really do note that some things seem rough. For example, if you're coming for an epic final boss, sorry. The enemies end-game, while worthy of jumpscares, don't move naturally which makes for some sort of disconnect. Also the game would do better with the main character's animations. However the game does make a point, that you are powerless against these abominations. As for the other non-gameplay things, the graphics are good if you're a graphics guy, the music is sort of good, but the story is where things get weird, however it doesn't shy from Lovecraftian works. It embraces them. Also the story does get its horrific moments, but might lack in tastes sort of. Also, your main character's mentor, Gamaji, is one cool character. And that's it for the day. Four stars for excellent gameplay and the setting, one star off for rough things.