Let`s do some binary. No, I`m not talking about maths, calculations or anything of that kind. Have you seen a game before where you`re tasked with getting two colour balls from point A to B, without getting it dropped onto a pale of spikes? No? Did I mention that both of the balls are synchronized so they move at the same time? No? Did I mention that they both are on separate tracks and will not be synchronized in terms of their obstacles? No? We`re about to enter the creation and mind of Ant Workshop who have developed the game Binaries for Xbox One in the last few weeks. Is it a game though that will enravel you into the mind of the developers and the puzzle strategic viewpoint of the creators? Or is it a game that you`re going to stay well away from? Sit back, enjoy, because you`re actually in for quite a fun and puzzling game.
Binaries is developed by Scottish ID developers Ant Workshop and is a strategy and puzzler that will get you gripped in straight from the beginning. You are tasked with getting two colour balls, orange and blue, from their starting point to the end point without dying. Using jumps and rolls and more, you may think that it isn’t a difficult task. I mean, what could be so difficult about going through point A to B jumping and ducking and weaving your way through obstacles? They`re not on the same track. You`ll see two views, a blue coloured setting (Which you could guess is home to the blue ball) and an orange coloured setting (which again, you can guess, is home to the orange ball). You have to get them from point A to B, in two different setting scenarios. But that`s not the end of it. The balls are in synchronisation with each other, and they are on two tracks. Which means that the obstacles that you may find in the blue track, are not going to be identical in the orange track. You`re task is to get it from A to B, in synchronization, ducking and weaving through obstacles through both tracks.
Now, it`s a game that is going to challenge you. Some gamers prefer to be fully challenged and tested in a puzzler, and that`s the sort of reaction you`re going to get from Binaries. Starting at an easy level, you`ll work your way through 70+ levels aiming to beat the level and get both coloured balls to their end goal. You`ll die, you learn the game, you learn to strategize, as this is a game that relies heavily on strategy. You`ll need to work out how you`re going to get past that spike that`s causing you problems galore, how you`re going to get to that chequered ending where it wants you to go? It`s a game that`s going to ask you to think, and as I`ve mentioned, strategize big time.
Don’t get me wrong. It doesn’t take a huge amount of challenge and strategic approaching in the game. You`ll die a few times, you`ll get to know the bounces and how you`re going to get it past the obstacles. It`s a game that will get frustrating after a while, but it does actually offer an element of fun, and an element of real challenge. Too many games I`ve found in the past, especially ID ones, are either pretty easy and very small, or very difficult and it`s pretty hard to get into it. I don’t feel like that with Binaries. I feel what we have is a new challenge on the ID market, but it`s also a game that will get you addicted. Many times I found myself wanting to beat that level, however hard I try, I wouldn’t give up until I`d done it. Addiction and a strategic approach are two key things that Binaries is going to get you doing.
Binaries is a very fun game that offers something a bit different to the market. It`s style of gameplay and strategic approach is something that offers a good challenge, addictiveness, but does have the potential to get rather frustrating after a while. There`s nothing more frustrating than being right at the end of the level and dying. But, Binaries is a game that will give you enjoyment, a challenge, and is a good addition to the ID market.
A huge thank you to XCN for supplying us with a review copy.
Game: Binaries
Developers: Ant Workshop
Publishers: Ground Shatter LTD
Price: £7.99