Figment Demo

Surrealism in video games is not uncommon, but it’s not often that the developers get things just right for the atmosphere to be engaging and not confusing or downright silly. When you are toying with concepts that alter reality itself, it’s easy to go overboard and end up with a picture that doesn’t make sense, which is why the list of memorable surreal games is pretty short.

Figment is an action-adventure game that looks and feels very cozy from the first minutes of gameplay, especially since music is such an important piece of the experience. Sure, the landscapes and the characters are undoubtedly weird, but not in a confusing or repulsive way. The project is very refined in terms of mechanics and level design, which is rare to see in an indie production.

The whole action takes place inside a hypothetical human mind, but more accurately inside a person’s imagination. You play as Dusty, who is the embodiment of courage trying to get back to his old ways and clear the mind of the fears that have since overwhelmed it. Dusty also has a chatty companion throughout the adventure, namely Piper, who is very optimistic about everything, thus keeping Dusty motivated when things get rough.

Gameplay-wise, Figment plays like a top-down action game with a few environmental puzzles to overcome along the way. Dusty can use his weapon to hit things, but more often than not you are required to go from place-to-place in an attempt to find objects or interact with certain items. You even have an inventory to store important objects, so you have to open it every now and again to retrieve the item you need.

Lastly, it would be a sacrilege not to mention and praise the graphics, especially the level design itself. The surreal elements are very creative and beautiful at the same time, which is why you often find yourself looking at a particular building or scene for minutes on end. On top of all this, the music is dynamic and somehow included in the environment itself, making the atmosphere that much more engaging and memorable.

In the end, Figment is worth a shot even if you are not particularly fond of surrealism or similar concepts, because this game is certainly going to change your mind on the subject. The gameplay is fun and rewarding, and the voice acting is particularly neat as well.