A mysterious, wizened elder figure sets you down in a stark landscape. It tells you that a mechanical monster has devastated the world. The land is poisoned. Safe ground is rare in this dying world. The desert sands are toxic leaving few places to rest. You are the last hope. Collect the resources that will restore life to this home.
So, beings Bolverk Games new 3D platformer Glyph. You, in this case, are an orb-esque, scarab-like, TRON-styled… creature, and must restore the fractured civilization from the jaws of doom. Runaway technology has destroyed everything. But the elder being has given you just enough information to figure out controls before he sends you on your quest. It’s a familiar trope and not an unwelcome one.
The simple set-up and even the play-by-play walkthrough does a very good job of drawing the player in immediately while giving a taste of the difficulty that awaits. The barren landscapes have a cell-like aspect that reinforces the desolation of the gameplay field. And even though the main ‘character’ of Glyph (also named Glyph) might not have much personality, its charged ups and beetle-like unfurling only add to the ethereal-ness of the game.
Physics are your friend!
Immediately upon starting, comparisons with the old Archer Maclean’s Mercury from the PSP days came to mind. The rolling, tumbling, and bouncing of Glyph are very sensitive and a slight tap with a little too much force will send you careening off course. You will do well to pay very close attention to your shadow on the ground as you bounce around. One false move and you’ll wind up exploding on the sand and starting the entire level from the beginning.
And there is a LOT of Glyph to play. The creators included 80+ levels in Exploration mode, meaning serious effort is needed if you’re a game completionist. Then there’s 30 levels in Time Trial mode to test your skills with control. 100+ secrets and upgrades start being unlocked right from the game’s start (the creators boast that there’s no extra charge for skins or unlocks, a welcome aspect in today’s gaming world). And the final boss… Let’s just say it’s tough and you’ll benefit from the multitude of replays.
If at first you don’t succeed…
Glyph is accessible for both casual players and those that prefer to speedrun a game. The non-linear level selection is designed such that players can jump around if stuck on a certain puzzle, so completion of every level isn’t required to finish the game. But then that makes it all the more satisfying when you DO return to a difficult level and have honed your skills enough to conquer it.
While a little short on story, what makes Glyph so enjoyable is the pure nostalgic platforming it gives players while utilizing modern graphics and controls. You genuinely get farther in the game by getting better by playing it. The controls and using the environment in combination are what helps you progress. And with no timer counting down, players can play at their own comfortable speed.
Overall, Glyph does what it sets out to do, creating puzzles, action, and adventure with repeated playability. Glyph is available on PC through Steam shop and on Nintendo Switch.
VERDICT
GOOD
GOOD
A fun, well designed, good-looking puzzle platformer that creates an intriguing world without needed too much explanation. Good replayability and just difficult enough to be challenging without frustrating.
