The Pedestrian

I have to admit that I was hesitant about the concept, even though I enjoyed at least the "first half" of The Witness (if you finished it, you probably know what I mean). I suspected that the environments would feel gimmicky. But actually, a bit similar to The Witness, I find myself sometimes pausing between puzzles and just looking at the environments. Even though they're not quite as artistically intriguing, you can still tell that a lot of effort went into them, even though they're usually just in the background. Sound and music also matches what's going on and transitions very elegantly. As for the puzzles themselves - I've only played a few hours so far, so I don't know how everything will unfold yet but I've had a blast so far and the mechanics that have been introduced so far are all very engaging. The way the puzzles are set up is very innovative as well, as you've probably seen in videos. But since GOG seems to hate this game (Or maybe one has to pay to get mentioned on the landing page? But there were also shenanigans with the "date added" order in the store. When it was added, it got listed after ones I had already seen. Which is why I almost missed it.), I decided to post my review right now already. Plus, I feel like I've already gotten my money's worth.

Fun concept, right amount of difficulty, lasts just as long as it should. A couple of the mechanics took a while for me to figure out, but I never had that "frustrated in retrospect" feeling that so many puzzles do after the solution becomes clear. The music faded into silence from time to time, which messed with the pacing a bit, but the rest of the pacing (difficulty and setting-wise) was good. I was left with the feeling that I might have missed something, but despite that I'd recommend this if you like a few different kinds of abstract thought. I'd probably buy a second one (or another game made by the same people) if they made it. [Bonus points (in spirit) for making a game that can run on Linux natively!]

As a great fan of "The Witness", i've found a brand new way to blow my mind on this touching game. Thank you for this masterpiece

Not normally my type of game in a while, figuring out the puzzles was WAY more fun than I expected. The unique way some features are made and how you move from one section to another is very entertaining, the ending not what I expected. I fully expect a sequel based on the ending.

The Pedestrian is an indie game about that stick figure you see on bathroom doors and street signs. But this little guy (or gal if you so choose) isn't just stuck on his sign. He run around and travel to other signs, exploring the world that way. The game has the block-pushing, key-finding, obstacle-jumping action of classic platformers, and would not be noteworthy if that's all it had. But besides running and jumping, you actually build the levels by connecting signs to each other so that you can reach the exit. It's a twist that makes this game as challenging and inventive as Braid and Portal. The Pedestrian has high production values, featuring not just a stick-figure running through simple 2D signs but also the detailed 3D industrial environment in which those signs are hung. The music alternates between smooth jazz and cinematic (which reminded me of the American Beauty soundtrack), and reacts dynamically by getting louder and adding instrumentation when you finally make progress. There is a story of sorts. The hopeful inner thoughts of your stick figure are told through Achievement text. Whatever the game reveals in the end is also part of the plot, though I can only guess as to what it's all about. Some reviewers are saying Pedestrian can be finished in an evening. They're either pretty good at puzzles or used hints. It took me 12 eyeball-straining, brain-melting hours. The final puzzle is a real porker that took me about 2 hours to figure out, though it was fun because it was so different from everything that came before. Puzzle-solving isn't my forte, and platformers aren't my favorite genre. But like Braid and Portal, Pedestrian has the right mix of difficulty and aesthetic appeal to stay fun enough for me to complete without giving up or using hints. I recommend it if you like such games or just want a new way to appreciate your stick figure friend on the bathroom door.