Oblitus (2015)

A charming platformer to match those in the indie game hall of fame blow-for-blow, Oblitus is an experience that mixes pleasure with pain and can be in parts both utterly punishing and wonderfully rewarding.

Oblitus could have been a great game, but unfortunately it's not. It's hard to get into, what with the lack of story and context for your actions and the fact that you have to start all over when you die.

It's an old trick: as players, we grow experienced enough to master a toy to completion; this is the basis for videogames, and the basis for the nostalgia of early-era Nintendo. Incremental successes build slowly into one ultimate success. But Oblitus' ultimate success isn't the culmination of one playthrough; it's the culmination of several. Rarely does a game acknowledge the cycle of play, die, repeat, and finally, succeed. Oblitus instead not only acknowledges it but embraces it; draws a parallel between its protagonist and its player, their movements synchronized, following the same unknown task. Unearth the task; finish it. Parvus is set free. So is the player.

Every time I just started to enjoy some aspects, others smacked me back down. I can see players being pulled in by its mysterious charm, but unless you're a glutton for punishment with little inspiration to move forward or rewards, I don't see folks getting much enjoyment out of this. It downright feels unfinished at times.

The beautiful yet treacherous world of Oblitus will certainly leave a lasting impression with players, but whether it is a positive or negative impression will undoubtedly vary from gamer to gamer.