Review
Annie here!
This week I've brought you a special treat that's a little different in the best ways.
Phonopolis isn't fully released yet, but the demo is available for free on Steam and shows we can expect some real greatness from Amanita Design.
It's a point-and-click puzzle game with super fun and whimsical interactions and the most unique and interesting art style I've seen in ages.
The creators used real cardboard, paint, and printing methods to make the assets in the game, combined with a really interesting mix of 2D and 3D assets. It all comes together in a way that feels truly mind boggling. This game looks like a movie, but simultaneously looks more like real life than anything else you've seen. Gameplay
The mechanics of Phonopolis are basically just grabbing and fiddling with anything you can find. In true point-and-click game fashion, there's really no way to mess things up, just keep touching everything and you'll figure it out. This makes for a world that feels almost like a playground. You can just have fun exploring, messing around and enjoying the intriguing political intrigue happening around you. Graphics
Like I mentioned, the visuals in this game were made with a combination digital art and practical cardboard pieces that were scanned in. I don't know everything that went into the visuals but there is a "making of" video included in the demo. Regardless of whatever witchcraft they did, this game came out looking so good it's tragic that more people haven't played it. Story
Even though the visuals are incredible, somehow the story is still where this game shines. Who doesn't love a quirky mystery set in an authoritarian dystopia, especially nowadays? The story is fully voice acted by rich narration that makes you feel like you're being read a bedtime story and this is all happening in your head.
While the demo is short, there's enough content here that I'm confident the story will be something truly juicy to unpack. Final Thoughts
While Phonopolis isn't out yet and probably won't be for a while, this demo is a delicious nugget of what's to come and even if you don't try it out now, I hope you'll join me in adding it to your wishlist and waiting with bated breath to hear more.
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