Category Archives: Might and Delight
[REVIEW] Pid
Marcus Estrada
(PC, Xbox 360 [REVIEWED])
We have seen many tough platforming games crop up in the past few years. Now, with the release of Pid, we are seeing another. This time around, though, the game isn’t given a retro aesthetic, but something more modern. Regardless, does a game like this stand a chance, or is it not creative enough to stand against others in the genre?
For the most part, Pid is an adventure worth taking. It stars a young boy named Kurt who, on the way home one day, is dropped off on a strange planet. He has no idea where he is, as well as no way to leave. For some reason, those in control have made it so that leaving the planet is nearly impossible. Your goal is to lead Kurt wherever he needs to go to leave the miserable place. It’s much easier said than done.
Near the very start of the game, Kurt discovers a strange orb that attaches itself to him. This moment is when the game really starts, as it gives you the main gameplay feature – gravity beams. Armed with the object, you are able to shoot one or two beams on many parts of the world. Using gravity is imperative to reach high places, maneuver through spiked walls, save yourself from attacking enemies, and pretty much everything else the game throws at you. Learning to use gravity to your advantage is easy enough, although that doesn’t mean it will be a simple journey.
For the most part, Pid is an adventure worth taking. It stars a young boy named Kurt who, on the way home one day, is dropped off on a strange planet. He has no idea where he is, as well as no way to leave. For some reason, those in control have made it so that leaving the planet is nearly impossible. Your goal is to lead Kurt wherever he needs to go to leave the miserable place. It’s much easier said than done.
Near the very start of the game, Kurt discovers a strange orb that attaches itself to him. This moment is when the game really starts, as it gives you the main gameplay feature – gravity beams. Armed with the object, you are able to shoot one or two beams on many parts of the world. Using gravity is imperative to reach high places, maneuver through spiked walls, save yourself from attacking enemies, and pretty much everything else the game throws at you. Learning to use gravity to your advantage is easy enough, although that doesn’t mean it will be a simple journey.
Visually, the game definitely deserves some credit. Designs of enemies, as well as worlds, have a definite style that doesn’t emulate other titles. Unlike the swarm of 8-bit styled platformers, this game has 3D visuals in a 2D plane all covered with a sort of dream-like fuzzy camera lens. Boss enemies in particular tend to look very cool and unlike things we’ve seen in other games. The graphics make it seem as if Pid is a friendly experience, although players will quickly realize it isn’t.
Progressing through the game is quite difficult at times. Although you often have ideas of what to do, putting them into action easily becomes frustrating. Pid is excellent at judging what players will do, and setting up enemies and the like in just those spots to get you. Level design is definitely smart, although perhaps a bit too cruel at times. I can’t even count the number of times that Kurt befell death thanks to rigidly difficult sections. Sometimes the game will become outright mean, but more often than not, you will be the only one to blame for losing yet another life.
If gravity beams seem like a very barren ability, then realize that there are many more items to equip and use as you continue playing. Useful items such as bombs and a shirt (which allows you to get hit twice) are introduced near the start. Other objects come later that become integral parts of your inventory, such as a slingshot. It feels though that the game might have worked better if all these items were accessible sooner. Sure, it may have been overwhelming initially, but would have made some extremely annoying sections less so.
Progressing through the game is quite difficult at times. Although you often have ideas of what to do, putting them into action easily becomes frustrating. Pid is excellent at judging what players will do, and setting up enemies and the like in just those spots to get you. Level design is definitely smart, although perhaps a bit too cruel at times. I can’t even count the number of times that Kurt befell death thanks to rigidly difficult sections. Sometimes the game will become outright mean, but more often than not, you will be the only one to blame for losing yet another life.
If gravity beams seem like a very barren ability, then realize that there are many more items to equip and use as you continue playing. Useful items such as bombs and a shirt (which allows you to get hit twice) are introduced near the start. Other objects come later that become integral parts of your inventory, such as a slingshot. It feels though that the game might have worked better if all these items were accessible sooner. Sure, it may have been overwhelming initially, but would have made some extremely annoying sections less so.
This is one of the biggest issues with Pid. It manages to be a fun platformer, but then it drags itself down with much more difficult puzzle sections in between. It doesn’t feel as if the designer had any real insight into how hard some spots were, so just shuffled them in from beginning to end. It would have simply flowed better to have a slight incline of difficulty ramping up throughout, rather than continuous spikes. As is, players may become incredibly frustrated when barely into the game.
Of course, if you are a hardcore puzzle/platformer fanatic then this won’t be as big of a deal. Mastering gravity and other items early is a must, and will get you through things as long as you can work out the solutions. Sometimes they are even simpler than you might think. For all the inequality of difficulty throughout, the adventure lasts 8-12 hours. The hours in between are all dependent on your own ability to figure out what to do. If you like simpler platformers, but not puzzles, then this is definitely not the game to try. Puzzle fanatics will push aside all complaints, work their brains on Pid, and enjoy it, too.
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