The Pedestrian

I will try to explain the best I can, english is not my first language. I don't know why but this game made me feel like a child again: the music, the animation, the atmosphere, everything... I am battling depression and anxiety for years and I have not felt such pure and simple joy and wonder in anything, let alone a game, for a very long time. Again, I can't explain why, but this game brings me memory of my youth, when everything was simpler and lighter. These feelings were so powerfull that I cried. It might be my depression, but the feelings are true. Anyway, from a more objective point of view, the game is really well made, beautiful. The puzzles are very interesting and the game never gets boring. Some people might say the game is short. I prefer quality over quantity , the game has the exact length so it is not repetitive.

A very nice game, well crafted and fun so far. I may update the review later on since I'm not far in yet, but a word of warning for the Linux users like me: You have to have the steam client running in the background in order for this game to start. Could be different if steam is not installed at all, but at least if it is installed make sure it runs. And yes, I'm talking about the gog version. ;) Stalls forever with the message "[S_API FAIL] SteamAPI_Init() failed; create pipe failed." when Steam is not running.

This is a cute 2-D puzzle platformer with some enticing visuals—but that is really all it is. The puzzles do include some innovative elements, but they are generally unchallenging. Too often, I found that their solutions involved identifying a single quirk, as opposed to in-depth experimentation or thought. In this way, there was a contemporary art feel to the game—superficially edgy and unique, but essentially lacking in depth. Probably the most enjoyable aspect of the game involves the sense of exploration as you move through the city that serves as a backdrop; this is where you can see the care and attention to detail. The music is decent but forgettable. It is also worth mentioning the poor ending. The last puzzle is difficult not because it represents the culmination of the challenges in the game, but because it involves a fundamental shift in game mechanics. When I finished the game, I felt more impatient and frustrated than anything else, which is a shame because most of The Pedestrian is at least quite fun, in a tepid way.

I'll keep this short: this game is phonominal. I've been waiting 4+ years for its release since I learned of it, and the end product is wonderful. So much detail, so much charater, this game just takes something simple and guides you through, building up your skill set and being rewarding and drawing you further along, while being visually lovely, and playing through a basic but charming 'story' along the way. This game is something special. I hope to see an expansion or sequel to this - they have me hook, line and sinker, and I absolutely adore it.