Degrees of Separation Reviews
However, too many negatives just leave you underwhelmed. Whether it's the lack of polish, the short playtime length, or the number of weird bugs that can leave you completely frustrated. As it is, there are too many good 2D platformers on Switch to recommend it unless you're playing it with someone who really finds the presentation speaks to them.
Degrees of Separation has a great hook that it, unfortunately, squanders through mindless, repetitive puzzle solving.
Degrees of Separation has a great deal of heart built into it. Ember and Rime bring a light but appealing dichotomy to the world that's fun to solve puzzles with. However, both narrative and gameplay pacing suffer greatly due to creative choices. In the right hands, Degrees of Separation could be a personal favorite. However, a great companion is required to overcome this game's frequent, repetitive shortcomings.
Degrees of Separation opens like a touching fairy tale complete with well-written narration and a soft tone of lovers determined to find one another. Sadly, the game betrays them and the player alike by structuring progression exclusively around collectibles.
In a week where I had two puzzle-platformers land in my lap, Degrees of Separations comes out on the bottom. The entire time I was playing it, all I wanted to do was switch back to The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince. Especially once I hit the third world in Degrees of Separation, where puzzle solving was no longer a fun challenge, but a grueling test of my patience. I wanted to love it; the art, the soundtrack, and the story were what had my heart set on enjoying while playing this one. I hate to say it, but I'm not sure if I'll ever attempt to put all the stars back in the sky.
Degrees of Separation is a visually gorgeous and charming game that, while having some innovative mechanics, devolves into tedium due to a poorly paced story and repetitive puzzles
Degrees of Separation is difficult to judge. It features a traditional side-scrolling progression with hand-drawn graphic, but it's somehow limited by its own design. This brings to a lot of puzzles that are actually frustrating instead of brain-ticklers. But this game also features an incredible fairy-tale atmosphere together with a great soundtrack. And are these features that save it from the abyss. But only from it.
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If you're a hardcore puzzle game fan that also loves non-linear world design, then you'll appreciate what Degrees of Separation has to offer. Otherwise, this pretty little Indie title is one you can pass on.
Aside from the small gripes and varyingly difficult puzzles, each level is beautiful and brings in novel mechanics and an interesting outlook on relationships. Degrees of Separation is a fresh and challenging game designed to be played with a significant other but remains a worthwhile experience alone.
Degrees of Separation is definitely not great, but it's not exactly bad either. Instead, it's something potentially worse: forgettable. An intriguing premise is wasted on dull gameplay that never rises above simply being serviceable.
If you really like puzzlers then it will have something for you but be prepared for the odd frustration. And also bear in mind whether you will be playing this solo or linked up with a friend, the latter will probably keep your blood pressure down a touch.
Degrees of Separation is a beautiful puzzle game with a lovely story of a couple with conflicting backgrounds just trying to be together but is let down by a large amount of monotonous scarf collecting and various bugs.
When it comes down to it, Degrees of Separation is a mixed bag.
Favouring narrative and visuals, Degrees of Separation is a game that you'll either love or hate - with a decent range of puzzles and an almost frustratingly broad set of environments to be explored.
In this Valentine's Day metaphor, it's six roses short of a dozen.
In a way, game mechanics of Degrees of Separation keep you from having a fun, immersive experience. The collecting of scarves takes you out of the story, which is unfortunate. The narrator continually gives you clues and story exposition, but it's easy to ignore as you get knee deep in finding the scarves. It's a shame, really. The narrator's voice acting is lovely and the story is very sweet and endearing. It's a fantasy story with star crossed lovers that can't be together. The focus should be on the story and not finding scarves. Degrees of Separation can be enjoyed in small bursts, but overall it's hard to recommend.