Eclipsed Demo

Escaping danger is a thrilling experience, especially if the danger in question is an illusion instead of a real one. Hence, video games are a great way for people to experience vicarious thrills, not to mention the fact that we now have virtual reality to help as well. On the other hand, the gameplay mechanics must be refined and enjoyable, otherwise the players are too busy fighting the controls instead of enjoying the experience.

Eclipsed is a 2D puzzle-platformer that takes place in a dark, monochromatic world filled to the brim with traps and enemies. Your goal is to escape this world and stay alive as you avoid the obstacles that block your path. Naturally, the actual task is far more complex than that, but the mechanics are straightforward enough to be worth the trouble and your time.

Not much can be said about the story, because there is no actual plot to keep you engaged, at least not in the demo at hand. The official description tells us that the story is based on the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck, but it’s pretty difficult to tell if that’s the case as you are playing along. Thankfully, the plot is not very important in the grand scheme of things.

One of the most interesting features of the game is the level design, because the designers managed to make use of the darkness in a clever way. Hence, that which cannot be seen does not exist, and this allows you to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles. Darkness can be used to your advantage, but it can also be an impenetrable barrier, depending on the level.

Lastly, the monochrome world is presented using a pretty basic visual style, but the simple level design can be the right solution sometimes. Thankfully, this happens to be the case here, because the contrast between light and darkness is depicted to be as significant to the gameplay as possible. On the other hand, the actual platforming can be a bit repetitive and dull sometimes, but that can be overlooked.

In the end, Eclipsed is up to something, but it’s not quite there yet. Granted, the game is in early access at the moment, so it’s far from a finished product. Thus, the final version should be a lot more polished and enjoyable.