Vesper (2021)

Vesper: Zero Light Edition might've needed to stay in the oven a bit longer, but there's still a decent game here for puzzle platformer fans. The heaviness of the time-based stuff combined with fiddly Switch controls and your slow-moving android eventually takes a toll. But when the puzzle mechanic works unencumbered, it's clever and satisfying, and the audio/visual package goes a long way. With better balancing, Cordens Interactive should have a hit with their next release.

Vesper: Zero Light Edition is a tense, stunning, and cinematic platform-adventure game that any genre fans should add to their collection. Wait till the sun goes down, or whip out your own Drive Gun to absorb the light in your room, boot up your Switch on the big screen or undock your OLED and immerse yourself in the gorgeous colors, sublime sound design, and cleverly haunting world of Vesper: Zero Light Edition.

I feel conflicted after roughly five hours with Vesper: Zero Light Edition. I won’t soon forget its gorgeous backdrops and searing colors, but I also wasn’t hooked by its gameplay loop. This could be exactly what you are looking for, for those who enjoy stealth games. As for me, I will remember it less for its mechanics and more as if it were a painting.

Every once in a while, a little gem drops onto your review list. Vesper is one such gem. It’s one of those games that stays with you long after you finish playing. What is it about this indie title from Cordens Interactive that I found so enchanting? You’ll have to read my Rapid Review below to find out.

Gorgeous visuals can't mask the emptiness of Vesper's levels or the perfunctory nature of its platforming.