Unravel Reviews
Unravel is one of the best 2D platformers that I've ever had the pleasure to play.
EA/Coldwood's charming adventure comes apart in the gameplay.
Unravel is truly something special, and full credit to both the developer, and indeed EA, for stepping back from the blockbuster nonsense to back a more personal, artful project. It's a beautiful game about human emotions and memories, and while I hope there's never a sequel, I cannot wait to see what this team comes up with next.
Unravel is disappointing on several levels, simply because it rarely steps outside the box mechanically to deliver a fun or interesting experience. The narrative is what drives the game, and even some of that feels obtuse at times. I wanted to love Yarny and his adventures, but the game wrapped around it is simply mediocre in design to the point that as brief as the journey was, I simply wasn't having fun pushing through it, which is sad because Yarny appears to have more heart than most bigger-budget games.
If you're looking for gameplay that could be called anything better than unobjectionable (or you simply aren't a fan of platforming), you may be better off somewhere else. Yet, even if you fall with the latter, Sahlin and Coldwood Interactive's persona which permeates the title is hard not to support.
Unravel puts all its cards on being cute and charming while having repetitive, lackluster gameplay. If you're looking for a very casual cute game, you might forgive its shortcomings
On the surface, Unravel appears to be a simple puzzle-platform game that offers a moderate challenge, but has little in the way of impediments to progression. Scratch a little deeper, however, and it becomes clear that communicating the sense of place and atmosphere, as well as telling what is a very touching story is really the goal here.
Unravel is an ode to cherished memories, but doesn't create any of its own. It is gorgeous to look at and listen to, but its repetitive, sometimes laborious and frustrating, puzzles undermine the game's relaxed tone without offering much in the way of a challenge.
With a delightful main character and tight-knit platforming mechanics, Unravel is a simple adventure that is worth playing.
This generation has seen a glut of puzzle platformers grace the PlayStation 4, but fortunately for those interested, Unravel is absolutely one that deserves attention. While it feels like more could have been done with its mechanics, the game's charming and has a great lead character. It's also sublimely presented. It's not quite the epic yarn that we were anticipating, then – but Coldwood's meticulous needlework makes it worth a look at least.
Unravel is artistic to its core; it makes up for its limited complexity by shaping an atmosphere that draws you in and makes you see Yarny as more than just a cute mascot, with music that's both mood appropriate to the game and a relaxing soundtrack outside of it.
The game earns its beauty, though the narrative isn't always as tightly knitted together as it needs to be.
Stunningly rendered close-ups of nature make Unravel's somber fable and irritating death traps just worth surviving.
Unravel isn't a bad game on any level but it can be frustrating and the margin of error is not very forgiving for some of the puzzles. Nonetheless, it does have its moments of glory which did keep me interested and motivated to finish the game. Graphically, it's a beautiful looking title on the PlayStation 4 but at times it is hampered by the puzzle mechanics but its story without words is a combination of melancholia and hope.
When everything comes together, there’s a beautiful flow to Unravel; there’s a tranquillity to moving through these stunning environments and exploring its past. Sadly, the game design and platforming interrupts this flow and breaks the immersion, weakening the impact of what is a relatively strong game conceptually and thematically.
Unravel liefert eine packende Geschichte in einer wunderbar verpackten optischen Präsentation, schafft es aber das gesamte Spiel über nicht wirklich den Spieler wirklich zu integrieren bzw. zu fordern. Die diversen Rätsel und Gegner lassen zwar große Herausforderung und spielerisches Geschick vermuten, sind aber immer wieder viel zu simpel gestrickt und wirken (wie der großteils des Spiels) nur wie eine schöne Kulisse die euch auf der Reise begleiten soll.
Review in German | Read full review
Despite some flaws, Unravel is an injection of warmth and love, providing an incredible storybook adventure that's filled with wondrous memories that people can relate to.
Yarny's journey might have its ups and downs, but it's brief and beautiful. It is a mostly wordless message of love.
Coldwood did put their hearts into Unravel and I can definitely feel that when I play. But despite his woollen charm, Yarny stayed well away from my own heart strings.
As a metaphor for the ties that bind a family together, Yarny and Unravel are exceptional; beautiful, and invoking a quiet contemplation, It's just hard not to wish it was a better game.