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- Snapbreak Games AB
- Snapbreak Games AB
- Snapbreak Games AB
- Snapbreak Games AB
The Academy: The First Riddle
Released On: Jun 19, 2020
59
User Score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
59
0% Positive
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
89% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
11% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
59
0% Positive
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
89% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
11% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
At $17.99 on Steam at the time of writing, it’s hard to beat up The Academy: The First Riddle too much. It’s a lot of fun, it’s value priced, and the developers are actively engaged with the community and prepping patches for much of the things I’ve mentioned. Could it be better at launch? Certainly. Does it deliver a compelling stack of puzzles that’ll have you scratching your brain for hours? Absolutely. We have to give credit to Pine Studios for trying something new, even if they might have gotten a C on that “Debugging” class.
A solid set of puzzles and a gorgeous world are largely let down by some odd narrative decisions and middling character development that are just jarring enough to prod you out of the world that Pine Studio has worked so hard to craft. If you’re looking for a Layton style experience in an extraordinary world then this could be for you. Otherwise, take this one at your own pace because school life can be tough at Arbor Academy.
The Academy isn’t a bad game, per se, but promises far more than it delivers. Its influences are too clearly worn on its sleeve and it ends up less than the sum of its parts. The school is too small and the puzzles just not exciting enough to really draw you in. The target audience is probably much less jaded than me and younger players will probably enjoy the combination of Hogwarts-esque schooling and puzzles, but it’s a difficult title to recommend for experienced puzzle gamers.
The Academy can be frustratingly clunky and limited at times, but at its best it’s energetic, likable and packed with puzzling goodness.
The Academy has the kind of premise that should make it feel more special than it is. It certainly shines with its different array of puzzles. But the game's characters and their dialogue make this feel as exciting as Algebra class. I should feel more excited about the extracurriculars, but instead, The Academy's shortcomings had me watching the clock and waiting for the bell to ring.
Overall, The Academy: The First Riddle has an interesting concept and engaging riddles, and Pine Studio clearly displays passion and care with this game. Unfortunately, characterization, pacing and depth issues, along with wide discrepancies in the quality and difficulty of the riddles and puzzles, keep this game from earning top marks.
The Academy has a weak narrative, poor puzzles, and game-breaking bugs. This is one invitation you're going to want to avoid.
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Summary The Academy: The First Riddle is a puzzle-packed adventure set in a school filled with mystery. Leave your mark on Arbor's Academy and find out why it only welcomes the best and the brightest.
Platforms:
- Xbox One
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- PC
- iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Initial Release Date: Jun 19, 2020
Developer:
- Pine Studio
Publisher: Snapbreak Games AB
Genres:
