EDGE was one of the first indie games that I have played, and it seems to stand out in its own way. The level of simplicity and fun is impressive, as is the addictive soundtrack that accompanies it.
Developed by French-based indie game maker Mobigame, and published for the PC and MAC through Steam by Two Tribes, EDGE takes the player through a puzzler that juxtaposes retro and modern elements. The game is simple – the player controls a multi-colored cube and maneuvers it through a maze, avoiding moving blocks serving as obstacles and taking advantage of them to progress through the level. Additionally, players are tasked with nabbing as much colored prisms to gain points and speed. The main objective of each level is to make it to the finish by reaching a colored platform in the fastest time possible.
The gameplay of EDGE is not just the standard collecting of points. At the end of each level the game tabulates not only the total time taken and prisms obtained but also the total “EDGE” time and number of deaths. EDGE time refers to how long the player can hang onto the edge of a block – similar to how long skateboarders can balance their boards on rails. Your number of deaths is tabulated by counting up how many times the player falls into empty space just off the edges of the platform mazes.
The difficulty of levels also progresses as gamers get deeper into the game. It begins with simple tutorial levels that have the player adapting to the gaming environment and controls. After which, the player faces more challenging levels, with some requiring a bit of thought on how to complete them. There are also squares marked with a question mark to assist the player on how to proceed within a certain area of each level, as well as an ability to shrink players’ cubes in order to help them make their way past narrower tunnels. Some levels may be more difficult than others, but nearly any gamer will eventually be able to complete them and feel a sense of accomplishment in the end.
In addition to the main game, Mobigame also offers up some playable bonus stages and extended levels. Note that these can only be obtained by joining the Steam community or by purchasing them online through Steam. They are nice little optional extra pieces of content for anyone who becomes totally absorbed in EDGE.
The controls are quite simple; there is the option to either use the familiar WASD keys, the arrow keys, or the numpad keys to maneuver the cube. Still, they can take some time to get used to. The movements of the cube slant towards a realistic approach. The player is required to take extra caution on how much pressure is put into the arrow keys, as too much will often lead to a premature death via falling during the process of making it to the next floating block, for instance.
Though this adds realism to the gameplay, it can be a bit frustrating at first, particularly when a it results in having to start over from the beginning. Overall, however, the movement is not choppy but smooth and realistic. It will just take a lot of practice to master the audacity of the controls, and to eventually beat a level at a shorter amount of time with the least amount of deaths.
The visuals conveyed in EDGE are simple, yet sleek and clean. The game gives off a retro feel without the use of heavy detailing, yet it also takes a more modernistic approach by rendering everything in three-dimensional form. This adds more uniqueness to the visual style of the game.
In addition to the artistic feel and look of the game, the soundtrack also adds to the retro style implemented in EDGE. The developers have created a unique set of “chip tunes” tracks for each level that deeply immerse the player into the game. The tracks are also memorable because the music adds to the nostalgic feel of the title.
With the massive collection of different levels and the simplicity of its design, EDGE is an enjoyable game to experience. Anyone who picks it up is able to simply move around a prism cube through a level while still encountering the right amount of difficulty to thoroughly enjoy it all. The soundtrack also adds to the fun factor of the game, taking players back in time with its nostalgic vibe.
Thanks to these wonderful elements, EDGE will have many yearning to come back to it when it is put down. Each level can be replayed over again until it is mastered to the point where when the lowest time taken possible and least number of deaths are successfully pulled off. It is also possible to become an “EDGE Master” by doing the most “EDGE” tricks in each level, if the player chooses to. This is one game that puzzle lovers should not miss.
