The Norwood Suite Demo

Surreal adventures are pretty common in the world of video games, but not many developers manage to get it right. Just plastering the game with zany characters and landscapes that make no sense is not enough to create a proper atmosphere, which is why many “surreal” games end up being very boring in a matter of minutes. However, that is certainly not the case here, fortunately.

The Norwood Suite is a first-person puzzle game with exploration elements, in which your goal is to explore a hotel while investigating the staff and a few other mysteries that pop up along the way. The game uses music to keep the atmosphere tense and engaging, and it works wonderfully well under the circumstances. The visuals are very enjoyable as well, even if the object quality can be a bit of an issue sometimes.

The story starts with the main character at the gates of the Hotel Norwood, and the goal is to get in and investigate both the building itself and the characters staying there. You can eavesdrop on conversations, admire mind-bending scenery, as well as solve puzzles along the way. In fact, the gameplay pretty much revolves around your ability to unravel riddles and find your way to secluded areas of the hotel.

There are all sorts of items that can be picked up and stored in your inventory, some of which come in handy when you need to solve puzzles or interact with characters. The interface is very simple and friendly, since the mouse is all you need in order to get by. You may stumble upon some collision issues or weird animations, but the game as a whole is pretty polished in this aspect.

Speaking of which, the graphics play a major role in a surreal adventure, and they hit the mark in the case of The Norwood Suite. Every landscape is both colorful and intriguing at the same time, with interesting sculptures and all sorts of weird rooms to explore. The soundtrack is incredible too, especially since it’s such an important part of the experience.

When it’s all said and done, The Norwood Suite is a great follow-up to Off-Peak, the developer’s previous game. However, it’s certainly more ambitious and more polished than that, especially when it comes to the story, the soundtrack and the graphics.