Space Hole 2018 Reviews

This game is like if Yume Nikki was a ball-rolling game, except [i]way[/i] more psychedelic [i]and[/i] confusing. Despite that, it's a lot more free than you'd think while still managing to keep you on edge. You are a shuttle in the middle of space. You can fly freely, and the goal is to dive down rabbit holes upon rabbit holes while collecting gems. However, pretty much the only way to do that is by entering balls you find across the maps, as the majority require you to be in a ball. I honestly like this gimmick, because the free flying allows you to look all around the area to look for hidden gems or hidden gateways, and [i]then[/i] you can go for it. It gives you a lot more freedom to play as methodically as you want. The music is really, REALLY good. Most of the soundtrack seems to be split into two halves. One half of it is some atmospheric ambient, which I'm a sucker for, and the other is some post-rock which I'm [i]also[/i] a sucker for. My personal favorite is "abide, moment!" by Joy Wants Eternity, the song used in Departure. All of you, thank you for the amazing soundtrack. I like how the visuals change in every room, giving an even deeper sense of that Kairo/Yume Nikki type feel. Helps to give each area it's own personality, allowing non-hub areas to be just as memorable if they wanted to. If you ever think you're getting lost, you can return to any area and see what leads to what simply by pressing ESC. That's all you need to do in order to get yourself out of a dead end (If you think you've reached one, that is.) I think this hub is a nice way of allowing you to tie up any loose ends, by returning to an earlier area that you saw a different space hole in, so you can easily explore every branch of every path. I think the variety and surrealism of these types of games are the main thing that makes them so appealing to me. I like being in a world that I don't entirely know, getting completely lost and letting the game drift me on through, especially when the developers design the game as if they know this. I'd say, overall, this was a really good experience. For $4 especially.

The price tag on this is basically free. If you're not photosensitive, this will keep you busy for a while. It's like 90% a marble game with insanity tacked on.

ok this may seem like a meme review but it's not. this game is actually incredible. it's genuine art. it's a surreal masterpiece. please play it and immerse yourself. get lost in the abstract, empty atmosphere. it's truly beautiful.

Now this is where it's properly at. Gone are the awkward controls of SH'16, replaced with more precise feeling input. Additionally rather than discreet individual levels, here the entire game is one big nonlinear voyage. You can pop out of the ball at any time to explore, change the shape of the ball, rewind time to try and undo errors and above all else it looks absolutely gorgeous. It is a little bit glitchy (I managed to completely knacker the camera to the point of needing to reload the level entirely) but that just adds to the charm. The weird physics abuse stuff is still here unfortunately but seeing how the aforementioned rewind power was something I unlocked by exploring, I have to imagine I will eventually find more powers that will let me access further areas. Absolutely worth picking up and playing.

The Best of the Space Hole games (try the others to form an opinion though, they are cheap and the bundle is a good deal), and I would rate it around equal to Extreme Evolution (the one I like better flip flops, EE is probably a bit better but this is more accessible). This is a very unique marble game, rather then a liner set of stages you go through an interconnected map of stages, connected by portals. Gems are scattered across each level and collecting certain amounts of them will open up doorways to new levels. You are given several abilities (grow/shrink, reverse time, become a cube etc.) throughout the game, giving it a soft metroidvania feel - you are also able to find interesting tech with these abilities which might not be immediately obvious. The best ability is there from the start however, the ability to exit you ball and fly around freely as a marble, this is very fun and allows you to reach new areas and scout the level - however all gems and most portals can only be accessed with a ball, therein lies the challenge. Outside of game play the aesthetic of the game is incredible and will immerse you in a almost completely abstract world, this game, above EE creates a vast diversity of environments that invoke various types of emotion. There are also some very memorable music tracks which augment this experience In terms of story, where it is present it is very open to interpretation. I do feel however that this game manages to escape the disconnect I sometimes feel with competently abstract games, I guess it is the immersive world rather then a traditional story that carries it in this aspect. There is however an ending and I found it decently satisfying. It is also worth noting that there are a few bonus toys that you eventually unlock, including a drawing tool with psychedelic filters, though far from the focus this is a fun distraction and welcome addition.

Easily one of the best Indie games I have ever played, and will probably ever play. The graphics, the psychadelic scenery, colors, abstract shapes and themes are incredible. HIGHLY recommended if you're looking for something new and different to play. I find this particular game relaxing, engaging, exciting, and so, SO much fun. I sincerely hope that this series is continued! EASILY worth the price.

if you're reading this review there's a chance you're wondering if you should play the Space Hole games before Extreme Evolution. or maybe you're wondering if you should play any of Sam Atlas' games. lets do a little Q&A Q: is this weedslop? A: is your heart so cold and broken that you cant appreciate the abstract? it's trying to alienate you! it's a crawl through hostile and unfamiliar spaces. overstimulation being wielded as a weapon and tool for atmosphere! I think it does it very well. and yes, it is "smokeable". moving on. Q: is this game hard? do I need to be experienced at ballplay A: this game is begging for you to break it. if you've finished a difficult level without feeling like you cheated, then you're probably doing something wrong. you'll be fine. Q: should I play this before Extreme Evolution? or if I've already played that one? A: should you play anything? it's super cheap, it's not very long. it's basically impossible to "waste" your time playing any video game over another unless the game you're playing happens to be the kind of shit that's tuned in a lab to waste your time (MMOs, rougelikes, gacha, team based competitive multiplayer). if you like it then great! you've won your leisure time! if you don't like it maybe you'll learn something about your taste. what a terrible fate. anyways this game is pretty good. there should be more metroidvanias without combat. there should be more platformers in which you ball. eagerly anticipating 2020 and then Extreme Evolution.

This game is hella jank and you probably will not like it. It is more of an art piece than a game and perfectly encapsulates the feeling of exploring something strange and unknown, jumping from portal to portal, suddenly being thrust into new and strange environments. I am very fond of this game myself. For the price it is it is definitely worth a try if you like rolling ball games

When we finally give up on the giant rockets and instead upload partial copies of our consciousness into smaller and faster spacecrafts to blindly hurdle them into every direction of space - this game is how I imagine it must feel like, a naked thought printed on silicon trying to make sense of the distance, dreaming up nonexistent details of dead histories, and futures that will never return. Rest in peace space shuttles.

This seems to be what Sam Atlas was aiming for all along. This newest Space Hole has a lot more of the Antichamber vibe and is overall a great improvement on 2016. Here's why. ________________________ Pros + Visually a lot more interesting now. Full on psychedelia, the inner workings of a mass hadron collider, giant chess sets, hypercubes, Saturday Night Fever disco floors the lot. + More varied levels this time. Not just a get from point A to point B anymore. You sometimes need to exit your ball and fly around to scope out the large levels to see where you are supposed to be heading and work out a strategy. + Levels ask you to think a bit more now rather than brute force your way through levels where you can clearly see the exit. + Very interesing sound effects from static radio (with Johnny Depp in the background talking about HST in Las Vegas?), opera music, trippy trance and electronic beats, rock and sci fi noises from 60s movies. Don't get me wrong, I loved just listening to Beverly Crusher in the last game constantly but this has done something different with the soundtrack and given each level a distinct feel. _________________________ Cons - Some levels are tough to solve. I'm currently stuck in Chess World with no exit in sight. - Controls on k+m as the shuttle are a bit rough but maybe a controller solves this issue. - If you suffer from seizures you can't really play this game as there are lots of flashing lights and colours. - No keymapping. _________________________ 2018 differs from 2016 in that this new game is much more about immersing yourself in a weird and wonderfully psychedelic world and feeling your way blindly through it. At the moment I'm really not sure what exits lead to which other parts of the maps and find myself endlessly tumbling down the rabbit hole (or Space Hole I guess) which leaves me utterly baffled until I pop out in the hub and sigh with relief but also wonder how the hell did I even get here? 2016 was all about hitting your exit. 2018 wants you to stay a while, explore and just enjoy the sights and sounds. If you liked Antichamber then this game will serve you well. If you like finding easter eggs and secrets this will also scratch that itch. I have found a few but I'm sure that from even the start menu there are things waiting to be discovered....