Magrunner: Dark Pulse

Only in the beginning. At first I loved this game, but like most puzzle game that I played after few levels it start to be really difficult and not fun to play. When you start you need to complete same really clever puzzle and the story it's ok... but when you try to play for more the story will begin to make no sense and you will need to do things multiple times because you start to die and, even if you know how to do a puzzle, bad controls will be on your way. But I dropped it after a magnetic dog was unlocked... It was already difficult to do some puzzle without worring about a stupid dog that is always on your way when you want to do a puzzle without it... And when you need to use, it it's a nightmare (it's difficult to put that dog in the right spot while you are moving). 2 stars because I like the idea of a puzzle game that use magnetic force... but I usually finish every game I start (even if I get them for free like in this case), and I could not finish this one. If you really want to play it I suggest you to just play until you get that damn dog... Until that point it's a 3-4 stars game, and you will still get some hours of fun. After that point I really cannot recommend this game.

The good: Visuals are stunning and simplistic, I love this. The voice acting is pretty damn good. The plot, what little I experienced was pretty interesting. The really frakking bad: A game about magnets sounds like such a fascinating premise, electricity and playing around with potentials in a room puzzle environment. The mere idea is awesome to say the least. The problem though is that the game doesn't follow the very simple rules of magnetism. Early on, sure this appears to be a convincing simulation of magnetism, but later on when literally the laws of physics refuse to work, the game stops being a magnetism simulation and starts being a game of you trying to meta-game the puzzles. Because if all the rules are arbitrary and make no sense, the only way out is through trial and error. So yeah, I really wanted to like this game, but I've had my fill for a lifetime with Myst when it comes to pointless trial and error.

Played several starting levels, several levels agter the light started flickering and just got bored. Not a fan of puzzle games, sadly, didnt get to Cthulhu levels. Would recommend this game only for puzzle-loving people.

... and it doesn't meet P2's highest standards. Maybe I'm just fed up with puzzle games (played vvvvv, thomas was alone, swapper, elemnt4l in a row), but I didn't find any aspect that would keep me playing magrunner - finished maybe first 10-12 levels and moved to Trine 2 which I enjoy much more. The biggest flaw for me is the fact the levels are difficult to observe initially to get an idea what components are present - too often some item is hidden from view and to find it you you need to make sure you look very closely everywhere (as opposite to solving some puzzle to find it). Which is not optimal given there are up to 4 different colours repeatedly used in every level, so it's easy to overlook something at first. The narrative in the game feels articicial and forced - seems it tries to duplicate the 'you have to play to our rules and go from level to level' setting of P2 and fails to be interesting. Though I admit I don't know how it ends. (And I don't care.) Somehow this game lacks identity imo - except for the idea to use magnetic fields I didn't find anything new or at least 'tweaked' it brings.

The story is not very deep, but it might help to keep you engaged. The puzzles involve bit of jumping and some looking around, but mostly they requirethinking which is great. I really like how the game is structured. I wish it was bit longer, but that is what I wish for Portal too:) Overall it is very similar to Portal, only you use magnetism instead of portals. And your main enemy is not as talkative as GlaDOS. and there is no cake:) I have finally managed to get all the achievements, and I must say that the game gets whole nedw level of difficulty when you have to avoid death, yet it is also way more rewarding when you succeed. The game looks great. It is not the best graphics there is, but the artistic feel is really good, and I wish more games could do something similar to the Act III of this game.