Game Details
- Publisher: nDreams
- Developer: nDreams
- ESRB Rating: “T” for Teen
- Genre: First-Person Puzzle
- Pros: Fascinating story; nice presentation; exploring is fun
- Cons: Not enough puzzles; too easy and straightforward
- MSRP: $20
Originally released as a VR title on PC and PS4, The
Assembly comes to Xbox One as a standard TV display game. This may seem like it makes this version
lesser than the others, but this isn’t exactly the type of game that “needs” VR
to stand out. In fact, by stripping
away the VR gimmick The Assembly has more room to show off the things it does
well, such as the puzzles and storytelling, without the extra tech baggage and
expectations and is likely a better experience because of it. Judging by the PS4 and PC reviews it
definitely seems like it is a better experience in standard mode, at least.
You play as two playable characters in The Assembly with
concurrent storylines. Caleb Pearson is
already an employee at The Assembly but has discovered some shady and unethical
practices that are extreme even for a lab that is intentionally hidden from
regulations for exactly those purposes, and is trying to escape with the
information. The other character,
Madeline Stone, is an incoming recruit with a bit of a troubled past who has to
pass a series of tests before she can join The Assembly.
In terms of gameplay the two storylines are quite different
even though both take place in a first-person view and focus on puzzle
solving. Cal’s levels take place in the
laboratories and offices of The Assembly and you’re free to explore at your
leisure as anyone that would suspect him is watching Madeline’s trials. In these levels you can search through
people’s desks for computer and door passcodes, find non-essential information
tied to side quests (and achievements), and do some light puzzle solving such
as reprogramming an A.I. with different combinations of server cores. Figuring out passcodes from context clues
and solving the other puzzles in Cal’s levels is very satisfying because it all
feels surprisingly real and believable.
Madeline’s levels are made up of a series of simulated tests
that task you with first doing simple block puzzles before moving on to more
interesting things. These tests include
solving a murder mystery or allocating resources during a global virus
outbreak, among other things. These
puzzles are more intellectual than the practical real world puzzles on Caleb’s
side, but just as fun to solve.
My only real complaints about The Assembly are that there
aren’t enough puzzles overall and that the puzzles here are easier and more
straightforward than I would have liked.
For a game that seems so clever and smart at the outset, the puzzles are
actually disappointingly easy and obvious.
The murder mystery in particular was a letdown because of this. The puzzles are still enjoyable, but I was
just hoping for more of a challenge.
The Assembly also isn’t very long – you can beat it well under 4-hours –
so I also wish there were more to it.
The presentation in The Assembly is quite nice overall. The game uses Unreal Engine 4 so everything
looks good, though some environmental objects have surprisingly low-res
textures and can look pretty bad if you get up too close. Most of the time, however, the game is very
sharp and clean looking. The sound is
also well done with some fantastic voice acting that make Cal and Madeline
likable and easy to root for.
All in all, The Assembly is a pretty solid walking sim even
if I do have some nitpicks. The story
is interesting, exploring the labs is fun, and the puzzles are generally good
despite me wishing they were more challenging and there were more of them. I also have to admit I probably partially
like it simply because it is a “smart” game that doesn’t rub your nose in it
constantly the way a game like The Witness does. Cause, man, screw The Witness.
I don’t exactly love the $20 asking price for The Assembly, since it is
pretty short, but you should definitely give it a look when it hits a price
you’re comfortable with. There’s a lot
of good stuff here that is absolutely worth checking out for walking sim and
puzzle fans.
Disclosure: A review code was provided by the publisher.
