[REVIEW] Vessel

Myles Milligan
(PC [REVIEWED])

Ever since I joined the GameSparked team, I’ve had the opportunity to expose myself to a wonderful array of indie games. After playing through so many of them, I have developed a genuine appreciation for the smaller game developers, and the creativity that they are able to produce on a more limited budget. A big problem that many indie developers suffer from is that most of their budget gets used up in the developmental process, so when it comes time to market their product, resources are even more limited. It makes me think, how many good indie games have been over-looked because of lack of representation? Truth be told, this was totally the case with me when it came to Vessel. I had seen previews for it on Steam, and what I did see didn’t seem all that appealing. But perhaps there was something I wasn’t quite seeing. Perhaps there was actually something more to this seemingly unappealing game.


When you select a new game for the first time, the menu seamlessly transitions into the game, and quickly acquaints the player with a little exposition told through pictures. In a nutshell, the protagonist is an inventor who created living machines made of liquid, called Fluros. The sole purpose of these Fluros is to work efficiently and tirelessly in factories and other places of labour. The game kicks off when a single Fluro locks you out of your laboratory, and then proceeds to cause havoc throughout the rest of the structure. Written narratives by the protagonist shed more light on the current events, and also highlight the task at hand. The game is a bit lacking in the story department, but it’s a simple side-scrolling/puzzle-solving game, so it doesn’t take that much away. 


Vessel excels in the categories of aesthetics and sound. The environments are rendered with an interesting look, achieved by layering seemingly 3D characters and objects over a 2D background. Colours pop with good contrast in areas like factories, orchards, and mines. It’s always welcoming to see a game that’s easy on the eyes. Sound effects have been engineered well, from footsteps, to machines turning, to the splashing of liquid; it all matches up with what’s happening. My favourite thing about this game is, unequivocally, the music. It is always intriguing to listen to, and did its job well in setting the tone for each stage of the game. Composer Jon Hopkins did an amazing job by mixing classical piano sounds with electronic bass, which ignited a sense of exploration in me.

Anybody up for some underground zip-lining?

Vessel, by nature, is a simple game that does extraordinary things. Whether you play with your keyboard and mouse, or with a controller, it makes little difference in terms of learning how to play the game. Everything comes with natural ease, and that’s a great quality to have in any game. But what I find so brilliant about Vessel is how the game sets players up to teach themselves how to play. Well planned events that occur throughout the game compliment the experimentation that players will naturally do when playing around with the properties of the game. The need for extensive tutorials becomes non-existent, and the end result is a more rewarding experience for the player. A tip of my hat goes to Strange Loop for the amount of ingenuity that they brought to this project. 


I’ll just go ahead and say this now, Vessel is totally like Portal, but with liquids. Gameplay-wise there isn’t a whole lot of difference between the two. Puzzles are engaging, and require some thought process. Working through them and finally figuring them out was a rewarding experience in and of itself. It’s no wonder why games like these have such lasting appeal with fans.


The physics engine, that was custom built by Strange Loop, did an excellent job at rendering liquids in the game. It was really fun to experiment with the properties of the liquids and to see how they reacted with one another. Because the game is so heavily influenced by the use of liquid, it was imperative that it worked accordingly with the puzzles. There were a few times that the liquid did act out of the ordinary, but for the most part it was entertaining, and didn’t hamper my progression through puzzles.


Speaking of liquid, the concept of Fluros was an interesting idea that was implemented. Like I said before, Fluros are living machines that were created for the purpose of labour. As you progress, you’ll discover different types of Fluros, each one having their own special mannerism. These mannerisms are what allow you to complete puzzles, and they can be manipulated to do so. Be wary, however: although the different types of Fluros can aid you on your journey, by the flip of a coin, they can also be the bringers of your untimely demise. Not only that, but they will eventually adapt and change to fit their surroundings. This leads to some pretty intense boss battles, all of which were very creatively thought out.

It’s getting a little steamy in here.

To me, Vessel is one of those gems that you just so happen to stumble upon as you’re sifting through the endless list of titles that are available for purchase. I consider myself fortunate that I did eventually play this game, rather than carelessly dismissing it as just another unworthy candidate. Vessel does suffer from a few minor issues, and a somewhat weak story, but, ultimately, the game was beyond fun, and I had nothing but a great experience. What more can I say? Oh yeah, this has got to be my favourite indie game of this year thus far!

Here’s the title track from Vessel if you’re interested in listening. Seriously, It’s really good.