Pillar
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Pillar
A promising concept with muddled execution. It alternates between mystifying allegory and largely irritating gameplay
Pillar's legacy will define it as an interesting idea, but nothing more. Basing an entire game around Myers-Briggs personality traits is brilliant in theory, but the execution has to match for the end product to be successful.
To me Pillar is a game that simply exists, and even then I don't see it having an appeal to a broad audience. I really like the premise that Michael has come up with – wanting to set a game based on personality types – but I don't think that idea is fully explored here. Some of the puzzles are fun while others aren't. I don't want to say that Pillar is a badly put together piece of work, because it isn't, and clearly love went into the project. However, it isn't a fun puzzle game, and feels like a missed opportunity.
All in all, Pillar is a very good game. It's pretty, charming, original in its execution and its obvious from the get-go that it was designed with a love for video games and a passion to do something different with them. Basing a game around the Myers-Briggs test (a test I had to take in my day job when I first started) and the personality types associated with it was an interesting idea and I think Mr. Hicks should be applauded for his inventive spirit and his want to make something that stands out from the crowd. We need more things like this in the gaming world.
Pillar should be applauded for its hand painted art style and atmospheric soundtrack, though ultimately it doesn't deliver on the promise of its unique setup. While the gameplay ties into various personality traits in some interesting ways, the puzzles are nowhere near challenging enough, allowing you to power through most of what this title has to offer in just a few hours. As a result, unless you have a penchant for unique indie titles, you won't need to take a test to work out that this probably isn't the game for you.
Pillar is a fascinating set of mini-games, surrounded in a beautiful package of art and music. However only half of the content is worth playing, with the other half unremarkable or frustrating. Pillar is worth a purchase on sale for the art style and interesting concept.
Pillar is a puzzle game set in a small snowy town where you take control of different personality traits in a series of mini-games. If you enjoy puzzle games you may squeeze a couple of hours out of the game but it just may not be that enjoyable.
