I’m not going to lie, when this game was first announced, I was sad that the PlayStation fanboy like myself was not going to be getting it, as it was a temporary exclusive to PC and Xbox, but now, it has arrived. “Somerville,” developed by the emerging company Jumpship, offers a captivating cinematic puzzle platformer adventure. Notably, one of the game’s producers is a co-founder of Playdead Games, the studio responsible for the acclaimed titles “Limbo” and “Inside.” As a huge fan of both of those titles, I was stoked to finally get my hands on this one and see what it was all about. Set in the serene countryside, the narrative revolves around a small family – a presumably married couple, their newborn infant, and their loyal dog. The tranquil evening spent watching television takes a dire turn as a full-scale alien invasion suddenly engulfs the planet. The once-cozy scene quickly transforms into a fight for survival. When you get your hands on the controller for the first time, you assume the role of the husband, who finds himself unintentionally separated from his wife and child, accompanied only by his faithful canine companion. A crucial turning point occurs when the husband encounters a dying space soldier and gains a peculiar ability to manipulate alien matter.
Gameplay primarily involves navigating the hazardous environment alongside the loyal dog to reunite with the rest of the family. Remarkably, “Somerville” employs a silent approach, devoid of written or spoken dialogue. The characters communicate and express emotions exclusively through physical interactions on-screen, and the backdrop serves as a canvas for conveying the story’s essence. The desolate set pieces, featuring abandoned locales and scenes of devastation, eloquently narrate the unfolding chaos. The newfound power allows you to control the density of alien material obstructing your path, utilizing light sources strategically to progress.
Similar to its predecessors’ “Limbo” and “Inside,” the game embraces an enigmatic storytelling style, leaving ample room for players to immerse themselves and conjure their interpretations of the narrative. The second half of this game can get a bit trippy, and while I enjoyed the overall story, I didn’t find it to be the strongest of these three titles. The gameplay features a blend of puzzles, with a predominant focus on supplying power to various areas. This, in turn, enables the protagonist’s alien matter manipulation to clear obstructions and advance. While most puzzles are straightforward, some prove more challenging. Unfortunately, there are instances of clunky gameplay mechanics that impede efficient puzzle-solving. Interacting with objects really lacked my desired smoothness, which in part did hinder a bit of my experience. Another notable drawback is the variable character movement speed, I know it was a creative decision to match the walking or running speed to the mood of each scene, unfortunately, this variance contributes to the already not-so-fluid controls. For a game with very simple gameplay, this is something that stands out a lot more than it would normally.
The minimalist art style is a visual delight, expertly setting the mood for every scene that follows. The adept use of color really made some areas stand out, and all the artistic choices done in this regard were very well chosen. Remaining faithful to the trend set by “Limbo” and “Inside,” “Somerville” maintains brevity, offering a four to five-hour gameplay experience. Though not without its flaws – a somewhat lackluster narrative and occasionally frustrating controls – the game kept me mesmerized in this War of the Worlds like tale. Despite its shortcomings, “Somerville” managed to captivate me and leave me yearning for more, cementing its place as a memorable addition to the producer’s gameography.
8/10
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Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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