Lair of the Clockwork God

1. AgentMilkshake1

   Mar 5, 2020

   10

   I've been waiting for this game a long while and honestly it was definitely worth it! I also had to wait a little longer to experience it asI've been waiting for this game a long while and honestly it was definitely worth it! I also had to wait a little longer to experience it as the launch window fell the week I was moving house - sods law!
   
   After finally playing and completing the game, I can honestly say that it's the best Point-And-Click game I've ever played, and certainly up there in the top few Indie Darling platformer games I've ever played too. The unique way in which the two genres are combined sounds weird at first, but Size Five achieved effortless synergy of the two in this game (no doubt through A LOT of trial and error during development). The end result was certainly one for the ages, perhaps we can hope to see more genre-mashing in the future!
   
   As for the game - it's incredibly funny, emotional in parts (What, you're telling me a Ben and Dan game is going to make me FEEL things? pffft) (yeah, one or two parts got A LOT deeper than I was expecting), well thought through, and generally executed to a fine tee.
   
   The puzzles in the game have well designed solutions, some were silly/easy solutions (as mocked by Ben), and some solutions hit Hideo Kojima mind-blowing levels of meta design . I'd love to see more of Ben and Dan's puzzle design in the future, it's only gotten better with age... like a fine wine!
   
   The sheer amount the game achieves in terms of variety, mechanics, polish (such as lines for a considerable number of random interactions for Ben) is honestly impressive considering how small the core development team is - primarily Dan Marshall and Ben Ward. Their experience from past titles is clear as day with ever evolving adventure game tropes building on BTDT, TGP, and the old adventure games they're such big fans of; smooth platforming mechanics with inspiration from The Swindle, Gun Monkeys, and of course the many indie darling platformers the game regularly pokes fun at (as well as highlighting some of it's best qualities and testing our assumptions of well defined linguistics of the genre a couple of times).
   
   There are a few jokes in the game I missed out on, either I'm not old enough to get the reference, or I've not seen the particular game/film/tv show to truly appreciate the punchline - but that's okay, not every joke is going to land with everyone, and the number that stick the landing vastly outweighs those that flew right over my head! I genuinely found myself laughing out loud at home alone to some lines I'll remember for a long time!
   
   As a quick round off of some other features - the accessibility options are thorough, clearly a step above from their past titles and even most other games on the market. Whilst the humour might be immature in parts (plenty of poo, bum, and penis jokes) it's never distasteful, and sensitive topics are treated with the respect they deserve (a reflection of Ben and Dan's own growth in the past 10 years no doubt) and poke fun at the negative sources of these remarks rather than the subject matter itself (for example - racists and sexists are the butt of the joke). Whilst the overarching themes of the game might touch upon gloomy, the journey along the way is light-hearted and memorable.
   There are a couple of aspects of the game that people might not "get" or could cause them to think of the game in a poor light but people should give it a chance, there's always more under the surface you're not aware of! Everything has purpose, and Size Five have not overlooked that one bit.
   
   Overall the game is an absolute blast, well deserving of all the positive critic and user reviews coming it's way. I would expect in the future this game could become a milestone we look back upon to see where adventure and platforming games are at in the early 2020's. Hopefully we don't have to wait another 10 years for a sequel, but equally if it's as polished, well executed, and consistent as this then I look forward to the sequel in 2030!
   
   P.S. If you're reading this and still have any doubt in your mind about whether to buy it, you REALLY should - it deserves a lot more recognition. Plus the additional sales will (hopefully) bring us more of that Ben and Dan design, humour, and fun that we all love.… Expand

   • 2 of 4 users found this helpful
2. SirMosh

   Jun 24, 2020

   10

   A very creative game with nice graphics and funny dialogues. We should have more games like this one.

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
4. chiphead

   Feb 26, 2020

   10

   Hilarious point-and-click/platformer hybrid from the creators of "Ben There, Dan That!" and "Time Gentlemen, Please!".

   • 6 of 8 users found this helpful
5. n3dst4

   Mar 5, 2020

   10

   I literally created a Metacritic account so I could come here and leave a review telling you to play this game. It's the best-designed gameI literally created a Metacritic account so I could come here and leave a review telling you to play this game. It's the best-designed game I've played in ages, and also one of the funniest and best-written. I don't play a lot of platform games, but the platforming in this game is spaced out by the more "me" puzzling elements so I'm enjoying both halves. It's just so charming - sometimes very rude, but never mean. Every level adds something new and fun.
   
   On release day I called it as my early GOTY nomination and stand by that. it's REMARKABLE.… Expand

   • 3 of 4 users found this helpful
6. luthier1729

   Feb 27, 2020

   10

   An absolute must for fans of classic point-and-click games (and/or platformer fans, and/or people who enjoy games that are tremendouslyAn absolute must for fans of classic point-and-click games (and/or platformer fans, and/or people who enjoy games that are tremendously funny). Very fun to play, with clever puzzles and lots of humor. Go play it!… Expand

   • 5 of 8 users found this helpful
7. Jist

   Mar 4, 2020

   10

   This above all a very funny game. If you're not into laughing then this maybe isn't the game for you. If you *are* into laughing and generallyThis above all a very funny game. If you're not into laughing then this maybe isn't the game for you. If you *are* into laughing and generally just having a very nice time then it is easy to recommend.
   
   It is a smart and well made game that challenges the player but never punishes them. It isn't a game you beat, it is a story game that is going to let you see the ending as long as you're willing to put some thought into it. It is also just really clever and inventive in its puzzles. If you are interested in games then this is must play. It is far more interested in delivering eureka moments than it is in making you sweat over the same puzzle for ages. Those eureka moments the heart and soul of a puzzle game but this game has them in bucket loads.
   
   Interesting, funny, thoughtful and satisfying.… Expand

   • 5 of 9 users found this helpful
8. JohnMalcolm

   Mar 3, 2020

   8

   I don't normally do platformers anymore, but this isn't a normal platformer. It's two guys with a weird sense of humor who have collaboratedI don't normally do platformers anymore, but this isn't a normal platformer. It's two guys with a weird sense of humor who have collaborated on a totally original genre: part platformer, part point-and-click, and all wicked fun.
   
   To begin with, you see the usual corporate credits on the march. It goes on and on, and you may begin to feel you're being had... and you are! Then you meet the two guys, one of whom can jump like crazy and the other can cleverly manipulate objects but can't get up onto the sidewalk from street level. Their dialog is a stitch and the solutions to their problems will tie your brain into knots.
   
   Highly original and makes me smile (though my head is ready for a warm bath every time I get to a save point).… Expand

   • 5 of 7 users found this helpful

See all 11 User Reviews