Nukezilla Review: Lume (PC)
I have to confess that point-and-click games are not my forte, in fact I probably haven’t properly played one for 10 years. I often don’t have the paitence or mental ability to crack their codes and challenges. Sometimes though, you see a game that just begs to be played. Whether it’s a specific feature or, as in this case, the game’s design, sometimes it’s worth going out of your comfort zone to experience something new.
Lume, by indie devs State of Play, is one of those titles. The game is an intriguing mix of real and digital art, fusing together real papercraft levels with vector graphics. You play a little girl called Lumi who’s visiting her grandfather’s house. Once you arrive, you find he’s not there and has left you to explore his house and restore its electricity in order to turn on all the lights.
The challenges are interesting and varied, being very frustrating in parts but overall rather rewarding. I won’t spoil any of the details, but it’s a game that requires logical thinking, as well as good eye for detail. Everything on the level is very deliberate so if you’re stuck it’s because you’re not looking hard enough at the environment around you. You can pick up objects and use those to complete tasks, with a handy pop-out draw at the top holding your items. And they’re pretty tough challenges too; there were times when I was utterly stuck for a good twenty minutes trying to get into locks and the like. I’m also not very good at these things, so keep in mind my ineptitude.
While the challenges are fun, most of all the game’s visual will impress you. All of the backgrounds are real life papercraft models, with your character added on. It’s hard to overstate just how nice this game looks with the visuals adding to the whole experience in a wonderfully charming way. Think LittleBigPlanet, but real. Details such as having tiny model lights actually lighting the space you’re in (pictured above) gives the game a warm glow that you couldn’t easily replicate. There’s also some wonderful transitions as you go from scene to scene, with the real-world camera physically moving around the set.
Added to this is the game’s soundtrack. Soft piano chords, with occasional guitar bits create a lovely tonality and really wraps the whole thing up, adding a lovely warmth and texture to the environment. It’s so nice I’ve had it playing in the background as I write this review.
Lume is part one of a series and thus isn’t a particularly long game, meaning I was a little alarmed when I finished. It’s not that there’s not lots there, it’s more that I just wasn’t expecting it to end right then. I could have easily continued on and perhaps just expected a little more for my £5. Still, I don’t begrudge the developers at all, seeing as the whole experience is incredibly well done. As long as you take your time, enjoy it and don’t cheat you’ll be fine.
If you’re looking for an expansive story then you should probably look elsewhere, but if you want a game that has some incredible visuals and bucket-loads of charm then you really can’t go wrong with Lume.
This sounds very interesting. I’m like you, Sam. Adventure games haven’t been something I can excited about normally. I’ve also got a pretty strong desire for short and concise gaming experiences these days.
I put down the money on this as well, and very surprised that you liked it as much as you did. I thought it was good but… I’m okay paying £5 for one hour, but it wasn’t a well-spent hour. It was fairly empty and the last puzzle was so 100% arbitrary.
Just be aware going into it that you’re getting less than one hour of quite empty gameplay.
@Ugly Duck: I really know what you mean. Like I said, I was quite shocked when it ended. It needed really one more large mission.
However, I think the overall polish and unique style made the whole thing so enjoyable that it didn’t detract from the overall score, in my opinion. I thought about giving it four stars, but I’m not sure that’s fair because, for me at least, it simply made me smile the entire time I was playing it.
I think your view is totally valid though. It’s a short game, and one that if you’re an experienced p&c player, you might breeze through.
@Ugly Duck: One other thing is that due to the game having to be being physically built, it kind of made it worth it to me.
Almost like buying from a local craftsman/store. You pay more, but it’s generally of a higher quality and has a genuine feel to it. If that makes any sense :)
I climbed down the ladder at the very start of the game, clicked on an area off the right of the screen and it jumped to the ending cutscene. Oops :)
@Sam Jordan: I still liked a lot of things about it. I thought the message was really awesome, and I read all the books and drank in the gorgeous hand-crafted scenery. I would have liked a second piece of music since an hour loop of the same piece was a bit tiresome. But it wasn’t much of a game. Overall, I’d still recommend despite the length – provided the future episodes are free. Otherwise, £5 is silly.
I mean, the entire thing is made from cardboard. I wouldn’t be surprised if they broke even selling one copy.
@Ugly Duck:
“I mean, the entire thing is made from cardboard. I wouldn’t be surprised if they broke even selling one copy.”
Haha, that’s a very good point.