[h1] I thoroughly enjoyed playing Bloat [/h1]
Loading up Bloat for the first time, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew Bloat was a puzzle game, and featured a squishy and endearing creature, but that was it. The developers claim that the game is relaxing. I put that to the test.
The game introduces the player to the control scheme. The initial controls shown to me were the cursor/arrow keys, as well as using the mouse to perform interaction and jumping. For those used to using the good old W,A,S,D keys, you're in luck! They worked out of the gate, with the "F" key handling interactions, and spacebar doing the old jump duty. using the W,A,S,D keys, spacebar for jumping, and the left mouse button for interaction was most comfortable for me.
Tutorials and controls out of the way, it was time to start playing. I entered the first reliquary, and started my first puzzle stage. It was relatively simple, and the movement and mechanics were fluid. I solved the puzzle, and moved to the next level. This continued for the next good few minutes with each level introducing new mechanics, as well as new combinations of already introduced ones. Soon, I was done with the first reliquary, and moved to the second one.
I took around 90 - 100 minutes to complete the stages in 4 of the 7 reliquaries. I enjoyed each stage, with some being quite easy to solve, and others being a touch cheeky with the challenge they provided. The levels were starting to take longer to complete though, which meant that the challenges were ramping up.
I continued with the game, and boy oh boy... The challenges ramped up. Don't get me wrong though. They weren't unforgiving, but I did start to smell something strange in the room as the stages progressed. It was a burning smell. Similar to the smell when your car's clutch gets too hot. Disconcerting for any PC owner. Turns out my PC was fine, and the smell was my brain that was processing, and overthinking the puzzles :P
[b] Jokes aside! [/b]
The last few levels of the game brought many mechanics together in order to wring your brain-thinker-machine-thingie a few more times before letting you go.
What I found after finishing the game (3.5 or so hours playtime) was that it actually [b]was[/b] relaxing. Moving the squishy pink Bloat blob around was never a chore, and I never found the puzzles frustrating, as in some puzzle games. When I finished a stage, I jumped right into the next one to see what would be coming next. Solving the puzzles felt good. Some were far easier than others, but good nonetheless. There is also a light story element that entices players to see what happens next.
Visually, the game is very interesting. In a good way. Bloat is an adorable critter. In my game, Bloat always wore a grin regardless of how moronic I was being with solving the puzzles. The level design ranges from straightforward to mind-bending, and the look of the various elements in each level look great. There is also some good use of lighting and other psychedelic effects here and there, but nothing overwhelming. A decent balance, in other words.
The music is also a highlight. It lends atmosphere to the game whilst boosting the relaxing qualities of the gameplay. It flows with the game very well.
All in all, my first play through of Bloat was very enjoyable. If a chilled puzzle-solver is what you're looking for, then this will check all those boxes.
