Clockwork By Rjgsuper - Independent Review

Review by spinachie on Thursday, June 23rd 2016

If you take the time to play through the Epic Game List, you�ll notice that every entry has one thing in common. Whether it�s an interesting mechanic or well-constructed plotline, all of them have something that is unique to them; something that, at least at the time of development, had never been done before. In fact, it could be argued that originality is king when it comes to making a great game. Many of the site�s best creators are known for their ability to give players something fresh that stands out from the glut of mediocre platformers and shooters. Rjgsuper�s Clockwork attempts to follow this pattern, drawing inspiration from something as inconspicuous as a clock and turning it into an interesting and unique concept.

The game uses a number of gameplay elements in order to overcome the mundanity of its inspiration. However, Clockwork doesn�t just shove all of these mechanics into your face at once, instead opting for a subtler delivery method. The first few levels do a brilliant job of introducing the various elements to players at a pace that makes them easy to understand. This tutorial section also has a well-constructed difficulty curve, and the game�s introductory puzzles are strangely satisfying to solve. It�s clear that Rjgsuper didn�t fall into the all too common trap of assuming that every player would know what they�re doing. As such, he was able to create a game that is neither harsh on beginners nor condescending to experts, instead making it accessible to both groups.

The combination of mechanics used is also interesting for several reasons, one of which is the amount of freedom it gives players. Due to the way that Clockwork is designed, many of the levels can be successfully completed in a number of different ways, making the experience unique for each player and more satisfying overall. More importantly though, the simplicity of the mechanics in addition to the plethora of ways in which they are used creates emergent difficulty, which effortlessly allows the game to become more and more interesting as the player progresses. Through these clever design choices, Rjgsuper built a (mostly) solid interest and difficulty curve which does a great job of drawing players in and keeping them hooked.

However, Clockwork is at times a victim of its own complexity. At certain points, the otherwise steady difficulty curve becomes too steep, with some sections going from easy to mercilessly hard and back again. Tragically, the most common cause of these spikes is the sheer number of mechanics used; a few levels require the player to focus on three different gameplay elements at once, creating an unprecedented amount of stress. This issue is compounded by the occasionally awkward level design, which sometimes renders the section unwinnable, forcing the player to reset. Got your only available gear stuck between two walls? Too bad, you�ll have to start all over again.

There are also several issues with the game�s physics, the most annoying of which is a glitch where one of the movable elements becomes stuck, causing you to lose the level. Additionally, some of the game�s blockades can be moved, allowing players to cheat their way through certain levels. The hitboxes of both hazards and the main character are too large, which is especially bad given the overcrowding that already exists in some of Clockwork�s levels. The coloured squares that indicate the player�s targets persist even after they have been triggered, making the path of progression unclear at times. Some of Rjgsuper�s aesthetic choices are also awkward, particularly the gaudy colour scheme, which begins to confuse the player in later segments. All of these minor mistakes, as well as a few major ones, make certain parts of Clockwork unenjoyable and potentially even unplayable for some, which is a shame considering how solid the concept is on paper.

The Verdict:

Clockwork is a game that would�ve been more enjoyable if it didn�t have to sacrifice solidity in design for the sake of originality.