It seems that games of this genre metroidvania There is no limit to their ideas, as it never ceases to amaze me the number of new designs that emerge. The last one I had the chance to meet is actually one of the most curious. This is a management game Raphael Granier De Cassagnac, an expert in nuclear and particle physics who is engaged in various international researches. Your latest challenge? Create a game that combines your passion for Science and story.
That’s Exographer, a metroidvania that puts us in the shoes of INI, the mysterious protagonist who must execute rescue mission on a deserted planet. We know that an ancient civilization inhabited such an interesting place, and it’s our job to find out everything we can about its technology and the strange matter that invades its various locations. All in the game scheme where they are exploration, platforming and puzzles. If you are intrigued by the design, keep reading because this is not a conventional design at all.
Science-based metroidvania
I have to admit that my first contact with Exographer was nothing spectacular, and in fact the same must have happened to you if you check the screenshots that accompany this text. Its pixel-art can be pretty at times, but it doesn’t dazzle. At the end of the day, this game has to be placed in the development context in which it was created six workers of Polytechnic School of Paris who decided to start their own video game developer: SciFunGames.
All powers are based on science, with a completely realistic explanation
And this is the result. It is not a serious game, but it is a title with which the creators told us that they want to cause certain interest in scientific aspects: “If you play the game and then go look up what a certain power means on the internet, I’ll be happy.” This is how Granier De Cassagnac expressed himself about the goals of his video game, the most special feature of which is that six powers which we get during the adventure are based on real scientific discoveries.
Gluon shoes allow us to walk on walls or ceilings, while a photon ball allows our protagonist to walk through elements of the stage. These are the skills we gain as we progress (with very Metroid), while exploring the 20 available levels set in a total of six different atmospheres, which from what I’m told give 15 hours longwhich is not bad at all for a development of this scale.
One of the most interesting mechanics is taking pictures and solving puzzles
In any case, don’t let anyone think that this is a game to learn, but that it’s designed to be enjoyed with a gameplay that I’m very interested in seeing where it can go. Basically, I’m very interested in powers and what you can do with them, as well as options take pictures decoration and thereby put into practice the solution of various puzzles. I know it sounds mysterious but there are very unique things about this title and it’s something that can work in favor metroidvania who wants to break out of the conventional.
What is the reason to believe this? That he has no fightsor at least I haven’t seen any. The Exographer game is entirely based on jumping, using your abilities, taking pictures and solving lots of puzzles. Not a bad approach if those ingredients work and provide satisfying challenges. That makes? Well, I can’t say for sure, at least not until I try it. Of course, their suggestions are not rare, 9 scientists to the rescue, 17 pixels to collect (they are real elementary particles) and a total of 139 images to unlock.
Metroidvania without combat? Exploration, jumping and puzzles matter here
Everything is accompanied by a soundtrack Yann Van Der Cruyssen (of Stray y A cave story), where we are not talking about a fan-made game, but rather have some background within the video game industry. Of course, in this case accompanied by a strong emphasis on science and making us – even a little – interested particle physics. Of course, it’s not the type of metroidvania we’re used to, so it’s worth keeping a close eye and checking its quality throughout 2024.
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