Orchid's Whims

As I’ve already mentioned, my experience with video games is quite limited, especially on PC. So now that I have one thanks to my boyfriend, I needed some games. Initially, I looked at free-to-play games, but they’re mostly competitive multiplayer, so I was advised to play single-player games to get used to the keyboard and mouse controls, which was actually quite good advice. A friend told me about Humble Bundle, a website that sells bundles of inexpensive games, with the proceeds going to charity. One of the bundles included Superhot (like me (yes, I dared, because I’m funny)), a rather unique shooter, and The Whitness, a first-person puzzle game. I’d only heard good things about it, so I took advantage of a day off to give it a try.

I start the game and, to my surprise, there’s no menu. I’m thrown straight into the action. I’m in a sort of metal corridor with a door at the end. I don’t know who I am, where I am, or what I’m doing there.

Whoa! I’m spinning around like crazy, the mouse sensitivity is so high! Pressing Escape gave me a menu to adjust the sensitivity, but it says I’m already at the minimum… Oh well, I’ll manage. I hope I don’t get motion sickness!

To open the door, there’s a small dial with a path drawn on it. I understand I have to follow it with the mouse pointer to open the door.

Here I am now, in a cave. Another dial, I repeat the procedure, and a staircase appears before me. I climb it and follow it outside into a pastel-colored garden. It’s peaceful!

Another, more complex dial is in front of me, with a cable coming out of it. I realize the puzzle, and the cable turns yellow. I suppose I have to follow it, so I do.

Yet another dial, even more complex than before. I suppose the game is a series of puzzles, and at least the first part is based on these kinds of labyrinths.

I continue on my way, and the previous puzzle has led me to another panel controlling a new door, which is covered with three latches, one of which is now open. I have to find the other two panels by following the unpowered cables. One of them has two inputs, and the other has two outputs. I suppose the one with two outputs will have to be redone later to unlock something else. Once the large door is open, I return to the previous puzzle to unlock the other exit of the labyrinth, hoping to find the next part of the level. The puzzles are getting more complex quickly. For now, I’m acting all cocky, but I have a feeling I’m going to end up feeling pretty stupid soon!

As I left, I realized I was in some kind of fortress. The second puzzle exit had activated a cable that came out of a tower window. So I went around the fortress to find it. It had opened a portal that led me to a cliff overlooking the sea. I know I don’t know much about this and you’ll probably think I’m crazy, but I find this game incredibly charming.

Here I am, facing a new puzzle that seems different this time. Another maze with dots that I assume need to be connected.

A few puzzles later, what I feared most happened! T.T

I’m working on a puzzle with dots and squares, but I still don’t understand what it’s asking me to do. Luckily, the game is structured like a large map, so it seems I can go elsewhere to solve other puzzles before returning to this one.

I finished the first part of the island, and now in the second part, I have to manage two different paths with an axial and central symmetry component, which is confusing my brain, and to top it all off, some of the grid squares are distorted! My head hurts!

In the last puzzle I managed to solve, I had to isolate squares while collecting points along a path, dealing with a symmetry issue. What’s more, my two paths were different colors, and I could only collect points if they were the same color as my path! Phew!In the last puzzle I managed to solve, I had to isolate squares while collecting points along a path, dealing with a symmetry issue. What’s more, my two paths were different colors, and I could only collect points if they were the same color as my path! Phew!

At the end of the second part, a kind of laser emerged from the ground and pointed at a distant object that seemed inaccessible to me at the moment. A path led me to a sort of ruined temple in the middle of a desert. Inside, I found a new puzzle, but I haven’t yet figured out what I’m supposed to do.

For me, it’s starting to get really complex, but I know I’ll keep playing a little longer. I’m curious to see how the game will blow my mind!

So far, there doesn’t seem to be any narrative. I find that a shame. The promise of learning more about our story and the history of these mysterious islands could be a driving force to finish the game. I hope I’m wrong.

During my journey, I feel like I’ve found a hidden puzzle that’s given me a kind of mysterious pattern. There must be cryptic things to discover. That, in my eyes, is priceless!

In conclusion?

The Witness is a chill game that can be fun to play as a couple or with children. It must be very enjoyable to play in short sessions. In any case, I love it.

The game is available on Steam, but it’s a bit expensive at full price. However, I’ve heard it’s often on sale. Besides that, the bundle that allowed me to get the game is still available for about two weeks for £8.84 or €10.20 and it also contains:

• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
• Risk of Rain Returns
• Citizen Sleeper
• Superhot
• Celeste
• Slime Rancher
• Starbound.

I haven’t launched the other games yet, but I hear they’re good games.

Hugs and Kisses! See you soon.