Unravel Reviews
ColdWood has succeeded in a handful of bold ways with Unravel. It is showing EA the value in smaller, quieter games. It also feels like another fresh take on the side-scrolling platformer. And while Unravel drove me mad a couple of times, I was mostly thrilled by its wonder and adventure.
Poetic Swedish platformer about a yarn creature reliving the pictorial memories of an elderly woman is a must-play
Cloying adorability is Unravel's saving grace. Propped up on a crutch constructed from mawkish sentimentality, it gets away with a fair few missteps and manages to claw together a smattering of memorable moments. This pretty shell, however, is undeniably a shell, and no amount of pretty little animations can make up for a total drought of engaging game design.
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.
Coldwood Interactive's Unravel is a moving puzzle platformer bolstered by strong level design, a creative mechanic, and an unbelievably endearing main character.
Yarny heads a fantastic 2D platformer that suffers from one or two issues, but ultimately becomes one of the more enjoyable experiences in recent memory. The music is peaceful, challenges are introduced intelligently, and the visual design is stunning. Unravel is an absolute delight of a video game.
Short, sweet and really rather good.
Yarny's journey might have its ups and downs, but it's brief and beautiful. It is a mostly wordless message of love.
Unravel is an undeniably great looking game that packs a lot of heart.
Unravel is a gorgeous, tender, heartwarming experience. Endearing to the last thanks to a well-designed world and achingly sweet protagonist.
Oozing charm and sentimentality, it won't just pull at your heartstrings, it'll tie them up in great big wooly knots, attach them to a boulder and drop them off the edge of a cliff.
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 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.
… Unravel doesn't miss a step. A wonder to play, a joy to experience, a feast for the senses and a heartfelt story told by a team of passionate developers.
It might be tempting to write off Unravel as another indie-made platformer, but you'd be denying yourself a surprisingly deep puzzler with an unmeasurable amount of charm. There might not be much replay value, but you'll be glad you took the time to see it to the end.
In an industry that can sometimes feel cold and sterile, Unravel is a welcome injection of warmth and love.
Over the course of my seven hours with the game, it was an enjoyable, simple and easy experience. Unravel doesn't do anything special with its gameplay or narrative, though it does have a magnificent soundtrack and stunning visuals. If you're a person who is a hardcore platforming fan, you will most likely be very underwhelmed with Unravel, but if you're looking for a fun, easy and light experience, then maybe this game is for you.
Unravel is a fleeting yet enjoyable experience, with great gameplay and production design. Experienced players may find it too easy, but it's a gorgeous blend of story and gameplay for everyone else.
Unravel is something special. After my 10-hour journey, I called my parents and some good friends in its honor. Though you may not pick up the game, maybe it will help you take notice of the bonds in your life, even when they are worn and tangled.
Unravel is a stunning and unforgettable game, but its gameplay isn't always as polished as its visuals.