ChromaGun Reviews
There just isn't a whole lot to say outside of what's already been said. ChromaGun is a competent puzzler that's only firing on a few cylinders and not much has changed in the several years since its launch. If you haven't pulled the trigger yet and are an avid puzzle fan the VR-ification is the excuse you need, just don't expect a whole lot.
If, like me, you like this sort of thing, you’ll sort of like ChromaGun. The game’s inspirations are obvious, and although its puzzle credentials are well earned, it ultimately feels inconsequential. ChromaGun has just received a free demo on Switch, which is handy, as it’s the perfect example of something to try before you buy.
ChromaGun seems to try and be like Portal, but when it tries to be a unique experience it mostly succeeds, and is a worthy addition to any puzzle enthusiasts library.
Pixel Maniacs’ effort might share an awful lot in common with Valve’s Portal series but those parallels are only skin deep. At its core, ChromaGun takes something as simple as colours (something we’re all familiar with) to craft an inventive puzzler unlike anything currently on Switch. Outside its short runtime and sometimes frustrating difficulty, ChromaGun is still a smart and entertaining challenge perfect for those that like their brain being truly tested.
While unique and interesting in concept, ChromaGun falls flat in execution owing to numerous flaws with its gameplay and presentation.
In the end ChromaGun is an interesting perspective (quite literally) on a puzzle game and offers a series of clever challenges that will test your planning and patience. If you’re able to appreciate the details of presentation for what they are rather than perhaps what they were aimed to be that will also help greatly. While it isn’t quite on target, for puzzle fans looking for some variety it delivers something unique on the Switch.
ChromaGun is, for the most part, a great port, but it doesn't fix issues like the difficulty spikes that have always been present in the game. There's some truly excellent puzzle design in the sharp looking test environments that will keep you entertained, in what is likely the closest thing to Portal that the Nintendo Switch will ever see.
While not being the perfect child of its inspirational father, ChromaGun brings forth a very well executed mechanic and some very compelling puzzles that will put the player's wits and creativity to the test. Its audiovisual component could certainly be improved and the game is lacking as far as the atmosphere is concerned but fans of creative puzzle games have something to explore.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If not revolutionnay, ChromaGun is a plesant variation of Portal basing its core mechanics on primary colors more than the laws of physcis. Quite fun and challenging as soon as it takes liberties from its primal inspiration, Pixel Maniacs' game unfortunately suffers from a lack of consistency from start to finish. Those able to forgive the most forgivable puzzles will get a decent experience that will give your brain a hard time.
Review in French | Read full review
ChromaGun has to place you at the whim of a crazy, pseudo-friendly corporation because that's what Portal did. ChromaGun's underlying mechanic is delightful and extremely interesting, unfortunately rather than building a game around that mechanic, developer Pixel Maniacs opted instead to shove it unceremoniously into a pre-existing game. There is some fun to be had here, but not nearly as much as there ought to be.
Overall, I think ChromaGun is a solid title that has a fairly unique presence on the eShop at this moment. If you’re into Portal or something like Q.U.B.E. then you’ll probably get along just swell with this one. It’s a simple concept that does make you think and it’s satisfying solving the sometimes difficult puzzles. On the other hand, the steep price will, and should, make you think twice when it’s available on other platforms more affordably. You can also claim they haven’t done enough to scale the game up visually for the Switch. In that regard, ChromaGun gets a decent seven out of 10. If the price is cut down in the future then you could consider adding a half or one to this score, but as it stands, that’s my feeling on ChromaGun.
Clever color mixing puzzler, which convinces with many new ideas and exciting puzzle mechanics, but weakens on the narrative level.
Review in German | Read full review
Despite feeling a little too short in all, there's no denying the satisfying allure of ChromaGun's first-person puzzlery. More a hat-doffing love letter to Portal than a clone, it offers a unique experience on Switch - one sure to having many a cheek flushed with happy colours.
Yes, you could easily dismiss this as 'just another Portal clone', but it's more than that - it uses its own original gameplay mechanics to provide some genuinely thoughtful, tricky puzzles.
ChromaGun answers a question nobody wanted answered: What if Portal made a few really terrible game design decisions that soured the whole experience? Don't get me wrong, ChromaGun is not without enjoyment. It certainly has its moments. At $19.99, it may be worth buying. But it could have been so much better.
Chromagun is a solid and entertaining puzzle game in the style of Portal. Some of the riddle can really shine but the game suffers from technical problems and an unbalanced difficulty.
Review in German | Read full review
In trying to be a new Portal not just mechanically but in tone, style, presentation, humour, and narrative as well, ChromaGun sets itself up for a comparison that could never end well for it. It constantly reminds you that you're not playing Portal by highlighting all the ways that it falls short of Valve's beloved puzzler. ChromaGun came at the king, and it missed.
Very high complexity, the lack of a strong narrator behind the scenes, the high cost of mistakes and the general monotony can leave many fans of the genre exceptionally disappointed. If you are ready to accept such problems and hungry for Portal-like games, then you can add one point to our final score. Otherwise, you can just just skip ChromaGun and pay attention to more interesting new games.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Chromagun wears its influences on its sleeve but fails to recreate the magic of its forebears.
ChromaGun is a fun and challenging first person puzzle game that achieves what it set out to be. The game constantly kept challenging me to think in new ways on how to mix the colors and use what I had at my disposal in order to reach my goal. I wasn't fond of having to replay portions though every time I made a mistake and I made a lot as a got further and further into the game. If you can look past that and are a fan of puzzle games ChromaGun is a must play in my opinion.