Thanks to PC Game Pass, I also played Somerville a few days back, and it was an intriguing experience; that tried to break away from the usual side-scrolling adventure games. I could definitely see the influence of Limbo and Inside, but Somerville has its own story to tell.
The game starts with a father trying to find his family after an alien invasion, and it really pulls you in with its emotional storytelling. However, as much as I enjoyed the beginning, the ending left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. It tries to mix personal drama with a larger conflict, but the two don’t always blend well, leaving some loose ends by the time the credits roll.
The gameplay is pretty engaging, revolving around puzzles that you solve with a cool supernatural ability. This power lets you manipulate alien structures, which adds a nice twist to the usual puzzle mechanics. However, I found myself wanting more from the puzzles. They start off strong but don’t really evolve as much as I hoped they would. There are moments when new mechanics are introduced, but they often feel like they’re over too quickly, which is a bit of a letdown considering how much potential they had.
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One thing Somerville does well is pacing. The difficulty ramps up gradually, which kept me hooked as I progressed through the game. That said, some of the chase sequences were a bit frustrating. The game plays around with a pseudo-3D environment and shifting camera angles, which looks cool, but it can also make it hard to navigate certain areas, especially when you’re being chased. There were a few times I died simply because I couldn’t quite figure out where I was supposed to go, which got a bit annoying.
Visually, Somerville is pretty impressive. The game uses a lot of desaturated colors and minimalist designs, which create this bleak, tense atmosphere that really pulls you in. The lighting and camera angles make it feel cinematic at times. However, I did find the environments a bit repetitive. A lot of the game takes place in caves, and after a while, I started wishing for a bit more variety in the scenery but it isn’t a major issue though.
TSHC Score: 6.8/10
Somerville is a game with big ambitions, but it doesn’t quite hit all the marks. The emotional story and unique visual style are definitely worth experiencing, but the narrative and gameplay don’t fully come together in the way I’d hoped. It’s a short game, but if you’re into this kind of atmospheric, puzzle-platformer, it’s still worth checking out. Just go in with the expectation that it might not be the fully satisfying experience you’re looking for.
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