14 DAY TRIAL // Thank god for photocopiers with extra charges. I pick up one picture, take a look around, and quickly realize I have no idea where to find the teleporter that will take my character out of this level and back to the hub. So I explore the small space around, floating in a big void, and find this piece of tech. I make five copies of the image I have and then start putting things together.
There’s a set of stairs I need to reach, so I tilt one of the copies until I manage to use one piece of its architecture to create a bridge. I get up the stairs, find no exit, but learn a little more about this world and a prototype its creators were working with. Nothing related to a way out of this level.
A closer look at the original image, with its color intact, reveals that something I originally thought to be a chair is actually the teleporter I have been looking for. So I pick an empty bit of background, align the image, and place it, which brings the pace into reality. Now I have to find a way to place the rest of my copies to reshape the world and create a path to the exit.
Viewfinder is developed by Sad Owl Studios and published by Thunderful Publishing. I played a preview version on the PC and the game is also headed to the PlayStation 5. The title mixes exploration and world manipulation to explore levels and complete challenges.
The game starts with no preamble, with players in control of one character in a world where he can pick up certain images and turn them into reality while looking for teleporters that lead to new areas. For example, take a photo of a sunset and use it to eliminate a wall, then pick up the battery hidden in the now accessible room to power up the exit and return to a hub world.
There’s a partner in the main character’s ear, offering commentary, and both written and audio messages offer more narrative context. This universe doesn’t follow real-world rules, with the companion repeatedly mentioning the possibility of a simulation.
All of the title’s mechanics are built on world manipulation. A picture can become a bridge. A drawing can lead to a new area. An image can be manipulated to reveal a hidden space. A change in perspective opens up new spaces.
The main character doesn’t fully understand how and why this happens. But the game is intuitive and gives players plenty of hints on how to move forward. It also has a fully fleshed time rewind system, which makes it easy to jump back to a stable situation and try out new ideas for a puzzle.
Viewfinder looks good, which is important given how much its gameplay and presentation are intertwined. All areas are designed to make important objects or images stand out, giving players a clear idea of how to make progress. The hubs also have different themes, presumably based on the personality of their creators. The voice work is good and points to mysteries that will be revealed along the way.
Conclusion
The solid gameplay is complemented by an interesting narrative premise and a solid presentation. The game does need to make sure it offers variety to make sure players remain immersed in its universe. I really want to see how Viewfinder develops its gameplay mechanics and what secrets its story holds.
A preview key was provided by the publisher
