Fez

Blog Post: Fez Review: I Want That Hat

bombstopper — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 02:27:00 GMT

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Look up any optical illusion on the internet and picture it within an interactive 3D space. This is a quintessential example of how Fez, The somewhat recent release on the Xbox Live Arcade, operates. You play a character named Gomez who from within the first fifteen minutes is endowed with a magical Fez (I just said the name of the game!). The reason I first mentioned optical illusions is because much like the games of yore, Fez plays in a 2D environment, but operates in a 3D one. How this works exactly is that at any given time you can change your perspective to be of any four possibilities, working as if you can operate on any side of a square at any given time. It is a hard concept to try and preach on paper but it is executed perfectly and makes or some head spinning puzzles and some very cool epiphany moments in the later stages of the game that add more environmental platforming sections as well. With similar attempts made by games (the most popular probably being the Paper Mario series).

Your task is to repair the universe (naturally) by harvesting 32 cubes (each of which is made from 8 cube bits, although some come whole) throughout the world. There is a lot of backtracking within Fez which to those who used to play games in the early 2000’s or late 90’s will know that can be more then frustrating. Luckily warp devices are found throughout the world but that doesn’t necessarily make the trek any more enjoyable after the 10^th time when you keep missing a piece on one section and decide to do it later. This is a small complaint though because it is possible to go through each section and complete it before the next making this problem a player one and not entirely a poor development choice.

Fez is not easy. The main portion of the game could be considered easy because of the helpful map that lets you know where you need to go, but the other half of the game (full of extras) require a higher cognitive thinking that borders hair brain insanity. This game however is a precious piece of creative ingenuity and tender care and attention. Developed by a lone pair of people operating on a time operation from a Canadian government grant (for more information I highly recommend Indie Game: the movie on steam or DVD), who, with help from multiple people, made something truly unique. The art style is a throwback as well.

Gomez and the world around him are presented in precious 8 bit-style pixel art that fits well within the theme of cubes and squares. The soundtrack as well is complementary to the experience as it is chip-tune (which for those that don’t know what this is just look up the Super Mario Bros. theme song). Fez is a rewarding experience because it challenges players to think in ways that other puzzle games (both video or not) have not done yet. Challenge aside, the fact that is a puzzle/platformer aside, Fez stands as a great experience that everyone should try once, even if you just bum a few minutes off your friend’s Xbox.

Wiki: Fez Guides

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 22:58:00 GMT

Guides for Fez

Blog Post: A New Perspective on Videogame Possibilities

Orochisama LEVON, Spectre — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:17:00 GMT

Fez is one of the most definitive examples of ways that simplistic ideas can evolve into grandiose and complex journeys throughout the imagination. Throughout the course of the entire platformer, you'll spend most of your time rotating and shifting your view to reach new places and solve puzzles. Yet these moments will bring about some of the most fascinating and revelatory gaming experiences you've ever had, and it all begins with a little kid named Gomez.

You begin in a two-dimensional world, in Gomez's hometown, and then later find yourself thrust into a daring and alien new reality after Gomez acquires a magical hat that allows him to see the world in three dimensions. So begins the typical quest to save the universe by collecting items, this case in the form of cubes. If you think this is a clone of the old classics, you're very mistaken. Fez is in a league of its own.

Don't let the minimalistic retro art style fool you; each set piece has its own sense of character and easily sells the same level of wonder Gomez must be experiencing in a world that has suddenly breached all previously known possibilities. There are also plenty of special areas paying homage to classic games, from entrancing Mario-themed sewers to even the Legend of Zelda. Each of these references enriches the game and are a marvel to discover; Fez seems like a love letter paying tribute to them.

Visually, some levels are especially striking, implementing bold colors that create a fascinating visual aesthetic, whether it's a gigantic mass of ruins or secret dungeons; even immense floating islands with waterfalls and futuristic monoliths filled with steampunkish architecture. Spooky levels with lightning constantly striking as rain plummets nonstop are just one example of the vivid atmosphere Fez can evoke, and each is ingeniously designed, building a level of excitement I haven't experienced in a long time. Fez introduces players to a world that seems limitless in imagination. This doesn't even include the score, rife with myriad different styles that also embellish each world, from ambient music to energetic and quirky pieces that capture the energy of the more challenging levels featured in the game.

However, the kid-friendly atmosphere is also deceptive; this game is certainly welcoming, but it's also equally one fraught with challenges. Each world you visit becomes an unending odyssey through the mind, filled with puzzles that have solutions that seem impossible to find; until you change your viewpoint. Single platforms will reveal a floating staircase players can climb. Doors to dungeon worlds will appear when the world is shifted a certain way. Even seemingly impossible distances to travel will reveal platforms through the most inconspicuous objects as players shift their view of the engrossing world. You can literally shift the odds in your favor with levers that allow you to manipulate the environment around you by aligning ladders or uncovering hidden passages with doorways that allow you to reach rooms with those coveted cube shards or treasure chests filled with maps you'll need to find secrets.

Impossible areas to climb will soon be tackled with solutions that will always give the player a sense of accomplishment - and shame, in some cases, given how obvious they'll become once they've been mastered. In this sense, Fez is a thinking man's game without the steep learning curve, which serves to add to its addictiveness, especially with all the hidden items players can discover by solving the myriad riddles each world brings. Timed events will sometimes unlock, demanding a strong understanding of each level's nuances, while others will require you to use bombs to destroy certain areas in order to reach new regions. This provides players with a surprisingly deep gameplay experience that in essence will recall the ingenuity of Portal at its finest moments. However, games as complicated as Fez naturally come with their own blemishes.

Framerate problems and occasional loading issues are its primary flaws. In addition to this, players will occasionally find themselves lost and traveling repeatedly to previous realms to solve problems once thought unfeasible. This can create more tedium than enjoyment with an equally confusing world map. More than a few puzzles are incredibly hard to master, and finding those anti-cubes can be a royal pain, but it eventually pays off in the end, as every new success dawns upon you. Soon, spotting otherwise difficult solutions to tough puzzles will become a cinch as players train their minds to constantly change the ways they perceive the many worlds of Fez, an idea it hammers into the player's mind with surprising grace and subtlety.

Concluding, Fez is both a celebration of the mind's creativity and the power of videogaming in general. Fez, like those rare few games we all cherish, gives us true depth and dimension in an age where "3D" often holds little more value or significance than a game's graphical quality. Lastly, Fez, by inviting and simultaneously forcing the player to change the way they perceive the worlds around them, introduces them to a place that will captivate more than they'd imagined possible.

Blog Post: A Whole New World

Mike Mahardy — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:07:00 GMT

Fez begins much like any other 2D platformer. The rules governing the game world are made clear to the player, who in turn learns the vocabulary quickly. One can only jump so far, green vines can be used to traverse a single wall, and falling too far will result in a respawn on the previous ledge.

It is only when the protagonist Gomez dons the titular hat that the rules of platforming are almost completely negated. Wearing the fez, players can rotate the camera around an axis, revealing that the 2D world is not exactly 2D after all. Platforms that were previously out of reach are now connected to a nearby bridge. New doors and patrons are visible on the flip side of the village, allowing the player to access other areas of the game world. Gaining a new perspective on various situations in Fez opens up solutions to platforming and puzzles alike.

I spent as much time as I could exploring the protagonist's hometown, and every subtle nuance the new gameplay mechanic revealed. However, once I traveled beyond the confines of this small map, it was clear just how much fun there is to be had in Fez. From towering lighthouses to dank, rat-infested sewers, every environment imparted a new sense of wonder and adventure. The music itself differentiates each new branch of the map from the others, and acts as a love letter to games like Zelda and Mario. Much of the driving force behind the game comes from obtaining access to new areas, even if it means constant backtracking.

Every new area holds cubes and anti-cubes, essentially keys to unlocking unexplored dungeons and environments. While cube bits lying in plain sight offer easy access to the yellow variety, some of the most devious puzzles reward the player with anti-cubes. These dark versions of the normal ones can be obtained through several different methods. Whether it be deciphering the language of the ancients in order to read the writing on the walls, or guiding an explosion around the perimeter of a tower, changing perspective every time the fire has no place to go, the player's mind will constantly be challenged. Some of the game's most captivating puzzles are either too big or too obvious to recognize at first glance, but constant learning and exploration will often times come to fruition. However, a handful of the puzzles can be too enigmatic. I have no problem with turning to a friend for advice on the last few cubes, but some of them almost demand that you consult an online guide.

I touched lightly upon the backtracking element of the game, and this is another area where developer Polytron could have streamlined a few aspects. The world map is shown as a 3D web of interlocking worlds, and works well with the idea of perspective, as you can rotate it any which way. Unfortunately, the map does little to help with navigation seeing as how the entrances and exits to areas aren't indicated clearly. This leads to trial and error, when the player spends more time in transition than in the actual worlds themselves. The nebulous map has a solid premise, but weak execution when it comes to design. I wish that it hadn't, but the arduous process of traveling sapped a little bit of the fun out of the engaging puzzle-solving.

For all of its frustration, Fez never ceased to amaze me as I discovered new ways to tackle a puzzle. Three segments of a ladder rest on separate walls when Gomez's back is to the player, but rotate the screen 90 degrees and they become one ladder on the side of a singular wall. After deciphering a Rosetta Stone passed down by the ancients, the writing on the wall instructs the player to rotate the screen in different directions until an anti-cube appears. While there is little back-story in Fez, I had absolutely no problem ignoring that fact. The origins of the hat's powers are unclear, but the immediate possibilities are almost endless.

Fez is a game that takes a minute concept and expands it into a fully realized project. Without the different vantage points, it is just another simple 2D platformer. Add another three planes and a rotating camera, and you have one of the most engrossing mechanics in any game to date. As the journey with Gomez comes to an end, your perspective on his world will inevitably change. The most astonishing fact is that it will affect your perspective on video games in the same way.

Blog Post: Fez Review

Adam Robert Paris — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 02:46:00 GMT

More often than not, a game with a troubled development cycle is destined for mediocrity. Since its announcement nearly five years ago, "Fez" has gone through several iterations as its creator, Phil Fish, sought perfection from his deeply personal product. Despite its perpetually delayed release date, "Fez" has finally emerged as a beautifully crafted game that forces players to change their perspective uncovering the world's many mysteries.

The game opens in a 2D world whose inhabitants have no perception of alternate dimensions. You play as Gomez, a happy member of this primitive society who suddenly discovers that his 2D village is merely a snapshot of the 3D world he actually inhabits. Gaining the ability to shift dimensions due to his newly acquired fez, players must recover the hidden cubes necessary to restore the recently shattered universe.

Gameplay revolves around this perspective-shifting ability. Every object has four sides that appear as 2D planes, but when you shift perspective they often work in tandem to help the player advance or solve various puzzles.

Some areas may have a platform on an alternate side you can jump on, or you may have to rapidly shift perspective to latch onto some climbable ivy around the corner. Puzzles are challenging but rewarding with a solution often revealing itself before frustration sets in.

Many of the more cryptic puzzles will require mind-numbing amounts of concentration, but these are often relegated to additional collectibles that aren't imperative to the main story.

New gameplay elements are constantly introduced throughout each distinct environment as well. Whether it's following an explosion around the various sides of a building, shifting directions of rising platforms or time-sensitive climbing puzzles, every new wrinkle diversifies the puzzle solving while working within the confines of the game's primary dimension-shifting element.

The sheer number of collectibles is impressive, collecting the 32 cubes required to complete the primary path took around eight hours. However, that was only half of the 64 cubes in the game and while skipping most of the more esoteric puzzles. Polytron has smartly included a new game plus option that allows players to continue their dimension-shifting quest with all their previous collectibles intact.

The world itself can be overwhelming; new levels open up rapidly and players can easily get lost amid the many backdoors and secret passages. Exploration and losing oneself in the gorgeous environments is entertaining, but it can make it difficult to return to areas once you've unlocked most of the map.

Although they include various warp gates for speedier transport, having to traverse many of the puzzles again to reach a specific point I wanted to return to was more tiresome than enjoyable.

There are five main gates to unlock, each one leading to a vastly different setting. The graphics appear primitive because of their pixelation, but the art and various environments are wonderfully animated. A pitch perfect musical score also underscores the tone of every new locale.

On its surface, "Fez" is a fairly simplistic game, you work on a 2D plane traversing new areas hoping to find the most basic of 3D objects: a cube. Yet, when you take a closer look, you're forced to shift your perspective and the brilliance of "Fez" becomes apparent.

Almost every puzzle provides that wondrous "ah-ha" moment when you finally discover the solution. Each environment offers new gameplay to expand your shifting repertoire and gives the player another wondrous landscape to explore.

Despite the sometimes tiring exploration and loading issues, "Fez" stands out as one of the best downloadable games this generation. With limited story, the amazing gameplay is the main attraction throughout the entire experience, an idea every gamer should relate to no matter what perspective they're viewing it from.

As published by The Daily Cardinal

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Blog Post: awesome

jasonsax — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:52:00 GMT

when does it come out on steam!?! i can't wait to play this game!

oops, thought i was just commenting. i obviously can't give an honest review, and i can't figure out how to delete this comment... blah.

Blog Post: Change Your Perspective

Matt Miller — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:35:00 GMT

Take two small objects and hold them out in either hand directly in front of your left and right eyes. Now move them both to the center point between your two eyes, like both objects are rotating a quarter turn around an invisible center axis. In your perception, those two objects now look like one; they’ve merged on the horizontal plane in front of your eyes. This simple optical illusion is the foundation of Fez, the brilliant new puzzle/platformer from Polytron. While others have teased the potential of this trick – most notably Echochrome and Paper Mario – no other game captures the potential and magic of the concept like Fez. The result is one of the most accessible, clever, and mind-altering experiences on the gaming market.

You are Gomez, and your small 2D world has just been flipped on its head by the arrival of a magical fez. Your new hat lets you shift your perspective and perceive the 3D world that’s always been outside your perception. Echoing storytelling and themes presented decades ago in the novella Flatland by Edwin A. Abbot, you set out and discover that the world is far bigger and more complex than you first imagined.

The guiding principle behind the joy of Fez is the sensation of discovery. Every new level is a process of pulling back the curtain a little further. Secrets and mysteries abound: Hidden warp doors send you careening across the map to different locations, bright red treasure chests hide keys and artifacts, and looming obelisks tease concepts you might not grasp until hours later. The rabbit hole goes incredibly deep; some of the most involved puzzles are so complicated that you can easily pass them by without even realizing a puzzle was present.

As you reveal these mysteries, you collect glowing cubes – the keys to saving the universe, naturally. Reaching these tantalizing cubes is the real trick, requiring you to rotate the entire world around to get a new view of the action. Changing perspective makes impossibly distant gaps between platforms appear to be only a few feet away, or a ladder on the opposite side of a wall show up where it seemed invisible from your initial viewpoint. Where another game would have you staring at the same screen for five minutes trying to figure out what to do next, many puzzles in Fez are built around motion and dynamic interaction. I love what this mechanic does for puzzle design. The solution is usually right in front of you, if you change your view on the situation. Puzzles are challenging, but for most of the game you’re solving them at a steady and rewarding pace.

Several magnificent and original brainteasers wait in the later hours, but the pace of progression dramatically slows. Confusing navigation and the likelihood of frequent backtracking are the game’s only real flaws; far flung clues and the inability to move quickly between unsolved levels takes its toll, and the conclusion sits frustratingly out of reach for several hours. Fez alleviates some of this slowdown by offering two different types of cubes that can be used to reach the end. One set is generally easier to reach, but they both combine to create the total you need to witness the endgame. Completionists may return afterwards to put together the wildly challenging full picture. Those dedicated players are in for a treat, since Fez offers a New Game+ feature with an intriguing twist that will change the way you see Gomez’s world.

Fez’s 8-bit art style is simple but charming, and plays well into the fiction of this strange universe of flat shapes and hard corners. Occasional frame rate stalls during autosaves and location loads aren’t enough to hurt the otherwise smooth visual presentation. The sparse musical soundtrack heightens the atmosphere at key moments, and drives home the ‘80s nostalgia vibe.

The most striking moments and puzzles of Fez are the ones I’m most reticent to spoil. The initial core mechanic of changing your perspective on the level is actually a preface for deeper layers of gameplay. Whether it’s the subtle shifts in lighting during the day and night cycle of a level, translating seemingly meaningless symbols into meaningful clues, or even paying attention to the specific vibrations of your controller, Fez challenges players to think and see in new ways. It’s a puzzle game with genuine moments of revelation and subtlety, and deserves all the acclaim it will undoubtedly receive.

File: Fez Review Screens