Strawhart

OK game. It has some weird level design that makes figuring puzzles out kind unintuitive. In the mansion for instance there is pumpkin that is shot into a previous puzzle chamber if you don't grab it. So first I assumed I have to use the previous puzzle again to get the thing, or why else give access to that room? Or when the Tavern was later set on fire, the box I used previously was in a spot where I couldn't retrive it. So I had to reload the checkpoint to respawn the box. Which is why portal gives you a button where you can do that yourself. And also having to constantly throw or catch something midair in split seconds with insta death becomes tedious very quick.

Feels like I'm playing Portal for the first time again. The puzzle mechanics were stellar and the dialog was surprisingly witty. If this game had a level creator and workshop integration, it might even surpass portal for me. EDIT: Thanks for updating the bosses. They had to be the weakest part of the game pre-1.5.

Very atmospheric, well paced, and well designed. The puzzles are challenging enough to keep you interested but not so tough where you feel like it's unfair. The game also rewards exploration and encourages taking on harder puzzles by offering collectibles and a bit of lore behind challenges for those who want to try. But imo the brightest part is Strawhart himself. He gives the game a strong extra dose of charm and wit that makes you happy to see him whenever he shows up. All in all, a super fun game and well worth a playthrough. I know I look forward to doing a completionist run :)

I like the puzzles in this game. Boss fights aren't the greatest and may take you couple of tries. Good game otherwise.

Had a fun time playing! The puzzles were interesting and i really like the concepts of the abilities. Will probably get around to another playthrough to find all the colectables.

Edit: having now finished the game, I have to reiterate that this a buried gem among puzzle platformers on Steam. In the end, I only had to Google once because of a time-limit puzzle run that at one point misdirects you into a room that isn't really the puzzle. However, I found the rest of the puzzles pretty great, so I can forgive this one dirty trick (which may not trip up more observant players than I). I wanted a bit more from the story ending, but it was conclusive enough to meet baselines. I can definitely see myself playing again in the future just to find more of the hidden lore pieces; but even if I didn't replay, I certainly got my value and found this to be a memorable, oftentimes charming and funny experience. I'll look forward to future work from this developer. Strawhart has a very clear sense of what's it's trying to be: a puzzle platformer tied to a fairy tale that is both dark and lighthearted, focused and surprisingly funny. The puzzles are well-executed, bringing a fresh take to cube/switch/traversal mechanics. New mechanics are unlocked as you progress, which helps the puzzles stay fresh. Often, the answer is a matter of perspective, but it isn't obvious. I've breezed through one puzzle only to take 10-30 minutes on the next. This suggests to me a good sense of pacing (and variety) by the developers. The graphics aren't revolutionary, but they aren't meant to be. They're comfortable, upbeat, and easy to look, reminiscent of a bygone era when not everything needed to be "gritty and real." I'm really surprised to see that this game is a little over a year old and still has only 14 (now 15) reviews. Maybe the hype from Elden Ring and other triple A's released around the same time drowned it out, which is a shame, because this is one of the more attention-grabbing Indie games I've played in a while.