Game Review: Vessel

Game: Vessel
Publisher: IndiePub
Developer: Strange Loop Games
Genre: Puzzle Platformer
Cost: Available on Steam for $14.99 (As of this article, $7.49 until April 1)

Story
It's a nameless place, but a time where the gears are large, and airships are the primary mode of transport. The intrepid inventor Arkwright has pioneered something revolutionary. Fluros; machines made of flowing liquid and powered "seed" devices, are an amazing advance and have been put to use for automating much of the current industry. However, as in all good stories, something has gone very wrong. The Fluros have gone beyond their original programming. Displaying signs of sentience, they being acting of their own accord and are causing no small amount of havoc in those industries where they have been integrated. It is up to their inventor, Arkwright, to get to the bottom of what is going on, and restore order to things.

Mechanics
The game is a puzzle platformer. So much of the time spent playing is used for figuring out what to do next. Since most of the puzzles involve figuring out how to get Fluros into and across various parts of the playing area, looking for places in which water might flow to is helpful. Moreso in cases where there are areas inaccessible to the player. The controls are fairly simple, but I found the keys required to be a bit counterintuitive and there's no way that I am aware of to change them. You have the option of using a few different keys or the mouse for most actions, which sounds odd, but I found it to be an advantage in a couple situations, since the standard key combinations didn't play well for me.

One thing that this game did particularly well was player training. Some of the puzzles were difficult, but you had plenty of easy and intermediate puzzles in advance, to work up to the harder ones. That was very well done. The Fluros themselves each have different abilities depending on the type of liquid and "seed" used to create them. Learning to exploit and expect these different behaviors is key to many of the puzzles.

The only thing that had me saying, "It's just a game, it's just a game." was Arkwright's ability to fall amazing distances with no ill effects. He can be crushed by a falling weight, but has no problem falling 5x the distance off a ladder? In the end, I just ignored that little disconnect, and laughed it off. (OK, OK... I started throwing him off of ladders for fun. So sue me.)

Graphics
The feel of the game is decidedly Steampunk. Airships, huge machines with similarly sized gears, dirty, industrial areas... Just about everything is steam powered. There isn't a gas or electric motor in sight. The architecture, while highly stylized, seems like something out of the early European 1800's. Had he spoke, I wouldn't have been surprised to hear Arkwright's voice with a British or maybe even a French accent. The colors are alternately vivid and muted where they would be expected and I found the aesthetic of the game to be very appealing, even if I wasn't already into Steampunk.

Music
The soundtrack was composed by Jon Hopkins, who has been creditied as an electronic music prodigy, and worked with such artists as Brian Eno and Imogen Heap. Alternately sparse and lush, the music always seemed to fit the setting and situation very well. Once or twice, I found myself pausing in mid-contemplation of a particularly difficult puzzle, simply to enjoy the music for a bit. How often does that happen during a game?

Overall 
I would highly recommend this game to anyone, but especially to those who are interested in anything in the Steampunk genre. Despite a minor glitch or two, it plays well, has a beautiful aesthetic, and some of the more difficult puzzles really get you thinking. If you into puzzle games and Steampunk - this one's for you.  The price is right, and the entertainment value is high. Do it. :-)

Have you played Vessel, or do you plan to play it? If you do - let me know what you thought in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.
-David.

Halloween MadLibs, Day Four

Wrapping up Halloween MadLibs week by finally getting to go Trick-or-Treating. Enjoy!

Day 4: Trick or Treat!
Our computers go all out for trick or treat night. A couple of them have scratchy inflatable papers in their yards. Some give out full size bear bars. One of our letters even runs their own haunted box, free of charge, for all the kids to skip through. It’s a wet good time.

Our pin cushions go all out for trick or treat night. A couple of them have wily inflatable Furbies in their yards. Some give out full size slime bars. One of our pimples even runs their own haunted hair ball, free of charge, for all the kids to thwack through. It’s a large good time.

Thanks for playing!
-David.

Halloween MadLibs, Day Three

Moving right along with our MadLibs, this week.  Here's the results for Day Three. :-) The new word list is posted over on Facebook, as usual. Have fun! :-)

Day 3: Halloween Pranks

Not only is Halloween good for pasta, it’s good for tricks, too.  Mugs can be really steamy, when done right. There are classic ones, like nomming the salt and the acorn squash, or setting all the cumin to different times. I prefer the flaming ones for Halloween, like hiding in the balls with an itchy mask on, and freaking out the hot peppers. What’s your favorite iPad?

ProTip: Freaking out hot peppers may very well lead to flaming.

Not only is Halloween good for typewriters, it’s good for tricks, too.  Calendars can be really blue, when done right. There are classic ones, like fixing the salt and the plums, or setting all the tricoders to different times. I prefer the bedazzled ones for Halloween, like hiding in the plaques with a stinky mask on, and freaking out the rings. What’s your favorite time capsule?

I want to bedazzle my tricoder.

Not only is Halloween good for wisks, it’s good for tricks, too.  Underpants can be really rotten, when done right. There are classic ones, like rubbernecking the salt and the tea, or setting all the masks to different times. I prefer the galactic ones for Halloween, like hiding in the notes with a energetic mask on, and freaking out the kinves. What’s your favorite electric socket?

I would *love* to be able to pull off a galactic prank.  It’s a new goal.

Halloween MadLibs, Day Two

Here's the results from day two - some good ones in here. The latest word list is posted on my Facebook wall. 

Enjoy! 

Day 2: Candy Cravings

I often think the best thing about Halloween, after the sexy cat parties of course, is the loads of happier highlighters that make their appearance that time of year. I'm not helping about just ordinary arses colored orange and periwinkle, but real Halloween treats like candy cups, tea balls, and others. My favorite is probably the saucy colored candy paper. However, whoever thought that a XXXL version of a candy bar could be called 'baguette  size' was obviously on something.

Hey - size isn't everything.


I often think the best thing about Halloween, after the sexy stitch counter parties of course, is the loads of paper mugs that make their appearance that time of year. I'm not impaling about just ordinary balls colored orange and PINK, but real Halloween treats like candy zippers, slipper balls, and others. My favorite is probably the cable colored candy old school photo albums. However, whoever thought that a X-L version of a candy bar could be called 'mirror size' was obviously on something.

Naughty, naughty stitch counters.

I often think the best thing about Halloween, after the sexy hairdresser parties of course, is the loads of skanky vans  that make their appearance that time of year. I'm not fleeing about just ordinary vitamins colored orange and blue, but real Halloween treats like candy couches, grill balls, and others. My favorite is probably the slippery colored candy bananas. However, whoever thought that a (size) 6 version of a candy bar could be called 'brush size' was obviously on something.

The van was white, and it went that way, officer.

Halloween MadLibs, Day One.

Every once in a while I run a game of MadLibs over on Facebook. Here are the results from day one of "Halloween Week".  This one is titled, "Costume Problems". My unnecessary comments in italics...

Squee! What a bind I'm in.  I had planned to go Knit-or-treating for Halloween this year as an Astronaut. When I tried on my bonsai tree though, I found that there was a rip in the coffee cup, the eraser was a little too crooked and the hedgehogs were a bit too tight. Maybe they wound in the wash? I thought of going out to Halloween Pumpkin Patch but their cauldrons are limited right now, and their stuff is so spiffy. I guess I'll have to drink as something else or just skip it this year. What a basket.

I think hedgehogs are cold / gentle cycle only.

Splendid! What a bind I'm in.  I had planned to go fly-or-treating for Halloween this year as a librarian. When I tried on my book though, I found that there was a rip in the pencil, the avocado was a little too crooked and the trees were a bit too tight. Maybe they swam in the wash? I thought of going out to Halloween Eiffel Tower, but their scarves are limited right now, and their stuff is so bright. I guess I'll have to read as something else or just skip it this year. What a hat.

Mmm... Halloween Librarian Costume... Wait - what were we doing?

Yahoo! What a bind I'm in.  I had planned to go paddle-or-treating for Halloween this year as a novelist. When I tried on my paper though, I found that there was a rip in the glass, the wire was a little too crooked and the potatoes were a bit too tight. Maybe they licked in the wash? I thought of going out to Halloween Bikini Atoll but their spittoons are limited right now, and their stuff is so fabulous. I guess I'll have to wave as something else or just skip it this year. What a present.

It's fabulous because it glows.

Bloody Hell! What a bind I'm in.  I had planned to go run-or-treating for Halloween this year as an actor. When I tried on my tower though, I found that there was a rip in the bridge, the sewer was a little too crooked and the dungeons were a bit too tight. Maybe they dreamed in the wash? I thought of going out to Halloween Pub but their eyes are limited right now, and their stuff is so crazy. I guess I'll have to jump as something else or just skip it this year. What a book.

I want to have a drink at the Halloween Pub...

Amen! What a bind I'm in.  I had planned to go eat-or-treating for Halloween this year as a Dealer. When I tried on my paycheck though, I found that there was a rip in the marker, the grape was a little too crooked and the Find-A-Words were a bit too tight. Maybe they nagged in the wash? I thought of going out to Halloween Airport but their spoons are limited right now, and their stuff is so artistic. I guess I'll have to grind as something else or just skip it this year. What an embosser.

My paycheck never fits, either. 

Whoa! What a bind I'm in.  I had planned to go creep-or-treating for Halloween this year as a professor. When I tried on my test tube though, I found that there was a rip in the cat, the pillow was a little too crooked and the pumpkins were a bit too tight. Maybe they bled in the wash? I thought of going out to Halloween Laboratory but their onions are limited right now, and their stuff is so chilly. I guess I'll have to sing as something else or just skip it this year. What a ticket.

I rarely wait for Halloween to go creep-or-treating.

So far, so awesome. :-)  Can't wait to see tomorrow's results.