Candleman is obviously a nice little game with an undeniable poetic touch and nice gameplay mechanics that evolve as each chapter goes by. The game is quick to beat but for 15 euros it's tough to be picky.
The game didn't really get on the best foot with me. Initial levels are *very* easy; so much so, I I thought I bought a 'cute' kids' game. I am not a gamer, I don't have super reflexes and precision, so it really is saying something. There are no puzzles to speak, or rather they are pretty obvious. Collectibles for once are easy to find (I count it as a plus) and the levels are short, but typically have just one checkpoint - having to replay long sections induces impatiance, which certainly doesn't help in a platformer. The game also suffers from the common 'translated from chinese' symbol, which doesn't bother me in games like 'Unruly heroes' or other somehow tied to that culture, but when you attempt to tell your story through a poem, you'd better hire someone who can speak English; as it is, it really comes out as something a 12 year old could write, and is just about that deep.
While platforming in utter dark, sparing just a split second flash to gauge the distances is fresh in itself, it wasn't used for anything much, and I kept thinking about all the things they could do: setting things on fire, avoiding setting things on fire, avoiding splashes, warming stuff up.... However, just about when I was ready to quit, the difficulty started increasinig. Never to anything devilish, but at least It became engaging. What's more important, about one third or one half in, the game started pulling out new ideas. but then came invisible platforms, platforms you can see only in a mirror, chinese fireworks. The game fortunately isn't very long and every three (short) levels or so, the setting and means of movinig changes, which certainly helped to make me keep playing. Overall I do think that the title brings new stuff to the table and is a worthy addition to the genre, not just another pretty, but bland, indie wannabe. It is not for the impatient though.
I took a chance on this title, having never heard of it. I am so glad I did. Some of the most beautiful, clever and simple-yet-challenging platform games I've seen.
The environments are beautiful and the whole mechanics of light and dark, shadow and mirrors, etc are used to very creative effect.
Levels are challenging but short enough that it's not frustrating to try again.
In a list of greatest platformers of all time, I'd say Candleman gets a spot. A very unique game which is definitely worth being enjoyed.