Albert & Otto: The Adventure Begins (PS4)

Albert & Otto is an ambitious indie project in the making. It was created by the development team over at "K Bros Games", and is published by Digerati Distribution. This first part of a potentially four part mini series (assuming this game is a successful sale) mimics ever so slightly games like 'Limbo'. The game is a puzzle platformer like said game, and utilizes a similar type of flat coloring scheme with 2.5D level and character designs. The colors in this particular story driven adventure are a mixture of white, red, and black along with some other tones. Albert is represented with white, Otto with red, and the various background and environmental set pieces a mixture of said limited color palette. This, of course is all packaged with an underlying story. A story of a brother hunting for his abducted sister with the help of her left behind red rabbit.

The embedded story which takes place in 1939 Germany is suggestive at best in this entry point telling, but drops hints through in-game features as to what direction the developer/s will be taking the plot. As for me I couldn't quite figure it out due to the cryptic nature of the game, and this seems to be what the developer wants. They want the gamer invested in the story, and anxious for each new installment. They want us seeing it through to the end where everything is finally revealed as it really is. With things like message inclusive postcards featuring child-like drawings that hint at the missing sister's whereabouts, and a shattered picture puzzle made of collectible shards the journey from start to finish leaves a lot to the imagination, and could be interpreted in a couple of different ways if not more. One being a psychiatric hospitalization, and another a WWII era holocaust scenario, among other things.

Whatever the case may be "Albert & Otto" has you playing the part of the worried brother who makes use of his sister's magic rabbit as he sets out to find his missing sibling. Albert who is the brother in this sordid, and thematic tale harnesses a handful of platforming capabilities. On his own he can jump, and push objects. He can also shoot a pump action gun as well. With the help of Otto, the red magical rabbit, he can even use electric powers to levitate environmental objects, turn on/off electric switches, and double jump. While these are only a handful of platforming tools they will come into play along the way working in tandem with the many different environmental triggers, traps, and interactive elements to help the player in their process of solving puzzles. Masterfully crafted, and increasingly difficult puzzles which will take you from section to section, and eventually through seven titled stages of related yet varying themes.

The levels play out from left to right like most platformers in the genre with the occasional ups, downs, ins, and outs thrown in for good measure. All in a chapter by chapter format that is seamlessly connected for the most part. The catch is that with Albert & Otto players must solve increasingly difficult multi-layered puzzles while using their abilities, and the environment around them as the key. This is made ever more difficult by the presence of environmental hazards, locked off sections, and ominous creatures that can only be warded off in specific ways. For those of you worried about level progression there are checkpoints along the way to save you the trouble of starting completely over, and thankfully so. In regards to side objectives outside of the main puzzle solving you'll find Albert collecting postcards from his sister at special drop boxes as well as picture puzzle shards that will ultimately show a completed image adding further depth to the tale at hand. Keep in mind though that this is the first of four installments, and that it has no definitive conclusion. It ultimately leaves the player with a cliffhanger, and a lot of questions at the end supposing they can tough it out, and see it through.

It should be noted that the postcards, and shard puzzle can be viewed in their respective "OPTIONS" menu listing while in-game. Also included in the "OPTIONS" menu is a controller diagram, and the option to go back to the title menu of the game. At the title menu you'll find a few options including "New Game", "Resume", and "Chapter". The "New Game" will take you to the beginning, and the "Resume" option to where you last left off. The "Chapters" option will bring you to a chapter inclusive menu with related postcard images, and their respective titles for instant access to the chapters you've already completed.

The Verdict ...

In execution Albert & Otto's journey isn't without it's flaws. Certain platforming, and control features hinder what should otherwise be smooth progress. At times the game gives up almost entirely on the challenging nature of the puzzles (which were impressive), and places the difficulty curve more on perfect timing. The problem with the latter focus is that movement is done with the left thumbstick. This coupled with Albert's slippery and floaty movement makes precision jumps aggravating at times, and unfairly so. Other things such as the levitation ability hinders movement as Albert gets stuck with the levitating object in his possession facing one way in a tight squeeze unable to correct his position, and catch up with moving environmental platforms that are in the opposite facing direction. To further add salt to the wound the game will sometimes glitch out making aiming with the right thumbstick impossible, as well as force Albert off an edge upon restart due to automated movement that the player did not make. It gets extremely frustrating towards the end of the game, and usually has to be restarted from the main menu to correct the glitch. Thankfully there are well placed checkpoints in the game, and restarting isn't the hassle it could be.

I seriously wanted to love this game, and appreciate it as I think it deserves praise at base level. That being said the game has some serious design flaws that need to be patched. Flaws that aggravate progression, and frustrate the player unnecessarily. Until the glitches and flaws are patched I'll cautiously give you the go ahead in regards to a purchase, but only because I think this series has potential, and because I think the developer can fix what's wrong. I liked what I experienced when the game wasn't infuriating me to the point of cussing. The game will release on January 10th for the PS4.