In this review, we jump to some buttons in the Pc/Steam game Refunct. We find out how well this adventure game plays.
This game was released in 2015. this game also happens to be the subject of one of our first impression videos.
There really is no story to this, you just appear in a water-like world with a minimal number of platforms. Each platform you get to turns green and contributes to your overall completion score. Stepping on buttons will permit more platforms to rise from the water.
You can also collect strange cubes. While playing, I never really figured out what they are for, but they can contribute to achievements on various platforms such as Steam.
Along the way, you can encounter yellow platforms. These serve as elevators. While you are ascending these elevators, you can jump and get a boost in height in the process of jumping.
Additionally, there are yellow springy platforms that sit on top of platforms. These are basically just trampolines. You can jump on them and get height. Jumping on them repeatedly can give you extra height in your jumps.
Also, there are pipes. Some can move you from one platform to another. Other pipes and shoot you into the air while others can push you into the water. Speed going through these are pre-determined, though what you do on exit is entirely up to you.
Movements is very flexible. You, of course, have a standard jump and crouch movement. Standard WASD’s movements along with mouse look come standard. Additionally, you can climb up ledges assuming you can reach them. Mixed in are wall jumps. This is executed by pressing the space bar (jump) again when you come in contact with a wall. You have unlimited number of jumps while wall jumping so long as you have contact with a wall when you hit space.
There is also swimming involved, but the amount you need to swim is very minimal. To swim below the surface, simply use crouch (left shift by default).
To beat the game, all you have to do is press the yellow button. This, of course, shows up at the end of the game, but that is the ultimate goal.
There is a lot to appreciate about this game. One is the risky move of offering a very stripped down experience. Just loading it up, you simply go straight to the opening part of the game. There are no long introductions or back story, you just appear on the starting platform and you can just get into it.
Additionally, there isn’t much for power ups other than just rebuilding the world. The Heads Up Display (HUD) simply contains a dot for a crosshair in the middle. There are no real-time statistics gathering like you would see in other games. It’s just you and the open world. There isn’t even damage and health at all in this game, though as you go along, such a thing seems unnecessary based on how this game is set up.
Movements are probably the hardest things to master in this game and it’s not all that difficult to master. Probably the most confusing part was being tossed into a pit. The only way of getting out is wall jumping. The game doesn’t tell you anything about this, you just figure it out on your own.
Probably the only real complaint I have with this game is length. I was personally able to 100% complete the game in under an hour. No prior knowledge needed for this accomplishment, either. The entire game would work great as a first level, but for the whole game, it feels like a letdown in this regard.
Generally speaking, this game has a lot going for it. It’s intuitive and has a shallow learning curve. The difficulty curve is nicely realized. It’s first person perspective platforming offers a novel twist to a familiar concept. Probably the biggest pitfall (and, indeed there is only one, but it is big) is the fact that it’s a very short game. It’s very easy to beat this game in less than an hour from start to finish and 100% at the same time.
The graphics are well done. The water and the textures are nicely done. That background works quite well. Probably the best part about the graphics is the fact that it has day/night simulation. Those transitions are very well realized and gives the game some nice graphical range. The only drawback to this game is the length in all of this. You only have one world (one level, really) to work with. As such, the graphics are somewhat stunted in that regard.
Audio is quite nicely done. The music really is a feature that shines through quite well. It has a nice relaxing ambient sound throughout which gives the game a nice pleasant mood. The sound effects, while limited to the small variety in the game, works quite well. I’d say it’s a great effort all around.
Overall, this game has one big pitfall: length. You can easily make it through all of the content in less than an hour. However, what is there is quite well realized. There is the intuitive nature of progression and overall movements. The well done difficulty works quite well. This game features some nice variety within the confines of what is presented. Graphics are great and the audio is also great. So, a great game, though mind the length.
Overall
Furthest point in game: Beat the game with 100% completion.
General gameplay: 21/25
Replay value: 8/10
Graphics: 8/10
Audio: 4/5
Overall rating: 82%
Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.
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