This won’t be the first time I talk about the games in todays round up. In fact I won’t go into lots of details about either of them today. But both of these are right in the reckoning for my end of year awards. Read on to find out why.
Linkito
Linkito is essentially two brilliant games in one. You have the basic core concept of the game, which is solving puzzles using logic and learning very basic programming rules. Then you have the story, which is filled with mystery and intrigue.
The story is worth discovering completely on your own, knowing asd little as possible. So as usual with these round ups, I won’t say much, so as to ruin any surprises. But the basic premise, you are selected from the great unwashed masses to be given a chance at Albatross Industries as an Engineer. You must solve puzzles to prove yourself and move up the ladder, whilst intereacting with various people both within and outside the company.
The story acts as a wonderful way to teach you the various rules, techniques and concepts the game has to offer and can be finished in a few short hours, depending on how quickly you grasp each puzzle. In and of itself it is a really good way of guiding the game.
But it is the puzzles themselves where Linkito shines. At its most basic, you are wiring up circuits to make something work. That is the foundation of the entire game. But it goes from a simple ‘place this wire from here to here = success’ to a little more complicated ‘this wire goes here to activate that button, which then needs wiring to this gate, which changes the power line to then get to the goal’.
It is a really intuitive system and unlike games from the likes of Zactronics, Linkito understands it is a game first and foremost and not something for established programmers. That’s not to say there isn’t room for both, because I think the Zactronics games are some of the best ever made, even if I find them beyond what my small brain can handle.
What Linkito does brilliantly is use the more basic functions if/else, and, or, etc, etc. It then builds everything around layering thise functions in a easy to understand way. Allowing you to approach each level as a puzzle with an understanding of what you will need to do.
There is complexity of course and many of the puzzles are difficult, but never looking impossible. As simple as turning on a light, to having to difuse bombs under time pressure, there is so much on offer. Even beyond the gamin game, there is a weekly puzzle, community built levels and if you are up for it, intergrations with Twitch and even being able to interact with real world physical items.
How that last part works? No idea, but I love it becomes an options.
Linkito impressed me during Steam Next Fest but the full game takes things to a whole new level and is not only one of my favourite puzzle games of the year, it is right up there with some of the best of all time. Perfect on desktop and Steam Deck alike, this is simply a must own game.
The Operator
Why have one great game this week when you can have two? Because The Operator is utterly, utterly brilliant. But how do you recommend a game when you literally shouldn’t say anything about it? Because this really needs you to go in fresh.
So do me a favour, just go and pick it up now, play it and soak it all up. With one slight caveat (for now), I wouldn’t play The Operator on Steam Deck, as it requires a fair amount of typing and whilst the developer is working on controller support, it isn’t there yet.
If you are still here, then some slight background to the game. You take on the role of Evan Tanner, newly employed to the FDI as an agent who uses his computer to help agents in the field solve crimes. That’s it, that’s the game! Sort of (wink wink).
Set in the 90’s the tech is obviously a little dated, but enough for you to be able to search for and work out clues and provide the info to the various agents you interact with. Everything is voice acted, which really adds to the overall atmosphere, as you can get totally immersed and believe you are Evan, working in a dimly lit office.
You may hear The Operator described as X-Files meets Her Story and that description couldn’t be any more accurate. Because that is exactly the vibe I got from it. Her Story is one of my most treasured games of all time. Now this might not be quite as perfect as that, but it comes pretty damned close. But I think a lot of that comes down to the wonderful performance of Viva Seifert in carry that game.
Anyway, that’s me going off track because Sam Barlow entered my thoughts again. However the fact The Operator evokes that in me, should tell you everything you need to know. I played the 40 minute demo numerous times trying to find all the secrets, ways I could break it and more. Because nothing is ‘locked’ as such. It is your knowledge of the cases, learning names, places, etc that guide you. The full game builds on the demo in the most wonderful way and I was gutted it had to end.
You will search your own name in the Human DB, because despite knowing in your heart of hearts you will not be in the game, you won’t be able to help wonder if the FDI might have a file on you. That is purely down to how immersive the who experience is.
I don’t know if I want this to me a one and done experience, because of how special it was to me. Or do I want a sequel? More stories as DLC? What I do know is that developer Bureau81 has earned the right to do whatever they want.
I WANT TO BELIEVE… That The Operator is a truly special game. And it is.
