Semblance
Semblance is an innovative platformer with deformable terrain, set in a beautiful minimalist world. It’s a game that asks, what if you could deform and reshape the world itself? Semblance takes the idea of a ‘platform’ in a platformer and turns it on its head. What if platforms were actually part of the gameplay, part of the way you solved problems?
Explore a world where the default is soft, where the property of ‘hardness’ doesn’t exist. Each of the game’s three worlds explore a new consequence of a planet that can shift, change and deform. Beat back the strange, crystalline infection of hard material by freeing the world’s life essences and uncover the dark cause for its appearance.
- Unique and innovative deforming platform gameplay:
Can’t reach a collectible? Just deform and elevate a piece of the ground so that the point you jump from is higher. Nasty spikes in the way? Just deform and push-down the ground lower so that you can pass by. Squish, bounce, squash and transform the world- and yourself to solve problems. - Beautiful Minimalist Aesthetic Design:
Explore 3 worlds bursting with colorful minimalist charm, quirky critters, and calming vistas. Become hypnotized by each world’s dynamically layered score, each with a hint of African aural distinction. - Explore non-linearly
The game allows you to move between puzzles as you wish, never forcing you to find a solution in order to progress and enabling you to come back later. Similarly, the game’s narrative is presented expansively, allowing you to explore- and piece together the story for yourself as you roam the game.
Semblance Review
African developer Nyamakop nails their freshman effort with Semblance. The twist here is that the platforms that you use for traversal can also be molded to solve puzzles. This terrain deformation works great in practice and I found it to be a cool spin on the genre.
The gameplay is delightfully simple in its delivery yet leaves solutions somewhat open to interpretation and gives the player some agency in solving puzzles. I found the design quite intuitive as well. Semblance teaches you everything you need to know without words or prompts, save for the opening moment of the game. Can’t seem to fit through that passage? If only I could flatten myself out…ah ha! I had many of these eureka moments which I find to be a great hallmark for any puzzle game.
Another thing that I really appreciated was the quick reset upon death. In an age where nearly every indie game feels the need to through in Rogue-like elements and punitively punish the player, I found it refreshing when I dies and immediately respawned. Add to this that your deformation and progress on the puzzle stays in tact as well.
Semblance uses a wonderful palette of colors and can look quite striking at times. I found the art to be very clean and really pop on screen. Combined with the minimalistic low-key soundtrack, the game presents a great overall presentation that is a perfect backdrop for puzzle solving.
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