Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 Hours or Less

The Bottom Line:

"All flash, no substance"

All flash, no substance actually sums up how i do feel about this game. I suppose this will upset some of the in-braided fans, but i will argue, that this game is actually quite in a surplus of similar plat former games, not bringing much new, albeit gorgeous visuals and music.

Try to picture this game then, without the beautiful and pleasant graphics, change the music to something stale and uninspired. What to you have in the end? A poor plat-former, albeit with some great thought out puzzles; but these are, once solved, not puzzles anymore, and playing the game again is of no point other than achievement points, boredom or nostalgia. By reducing the game as much as i have now, i do believe that what now have, is something not worth playing, or at least use 1200 x-box credits on, when picking up an old console to play mario brothers or something will prove to provide a more pleasurable gaming experience yet again.
I am aware that the music and graphics are of such a high quality, leaving them out, is leaving out some of the essence of the game, indeed. But these have only contributing factors of pure aesthetics, and have nothing to do with the essential parts of gaming.

Would a game be good, solely if the graphics and music where breathtaking and world class, and the controls and playability was really poor or awful? And what of the opposites? Surely you would choose the latter.
But indeed, graphics and music are contributing factors in a game, and could make mediocre games great. But this is only a fact if, and only if the
fundamentals of a good game is present.

I know i haven't given any readers who haven't played the game, a proper insight, and description of the game, for this i suggest reading between the lines, but is basically broken down to: puzzle plat-former with great music and graphics, which in my opinion is not all that great, but it is playable.
Lastly, it does indeed have a story to follow. Some say that it is quite beautiful and touching, i don't know. What i do know is that it is cryptic, or ambivalent. So it is up to the individual to infer, or translate meanings oneself. If someone did like it, great for them, but again it does not raise the quality of the game, which is as explained above, lacking in fundamentals of a good game.
The only great thing about the game, and which is kind of original, is the use of time manipulation to solve the puzzles. This is the best part of the game, and you really have to think out of the box to get the tricky puzzles. But when it boils down to it, it is not enough to save the game from mediocrity.

To fully complete the game you have play it a second time in a speed run, which, bluntly in my view, is so painstakingly frustrating, only geeks and achievement whores bother to do so. I guess the only reason for it, is because the game is very short, and this is supposed to add to playing time or an extra challenge, or perhaps unlock something, i don't know.