The Plane Effect
PQube
Genre: Adventure
Nintendo Switch
The Plane Effect is a powerful, narratively driven adventure that pushes the limits of storytelling in gaming. In The Plane Effect, players go through their last day at their workplace, now ready to go home to their family. Unfortunately, a cosmic force is watching over, throwing players into a dystopian hell. The way home feels surreal, with mazes, puzzles, and a long commute.
The surreal concept of a winding trip home hits its mark with this one. The minimalistic yet surreal visuals fit the game’s themes well. It’s a dark ride with tons of haunting imagery throughout the 4 or so hour journey. Players won’t always know what’s going, but they will feel motivated to keep pushing forward. The soundtrack is simple yet constantly contributes to the experience. As far as presentation goes, The Plane Effect checks every box that it intends to.
The gameplay is less than stellar though. The puzzles vary in quality and difficulty. Some of mind-numbingly boring while others aren’t solved intuitively. When you throw in the somewhat tanky controls, The Plane Effect becomes a game that doesn’t always feel good to play. Fortunately, there aren’t too many puzzles, and The Plane Effect is more of a walking simulator than a puzzle game. It’s far from perfect, but it is an experience that will sit with players long after they finish.
The Plane Effect
The gameplay leaves a lot to be desired, but The Plane Effect has a narrative and atmosphere that will stick with you long after finishing the game.
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Gameplay
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Presentation
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