Gorogoa presents a unique puzzle experience, with its story-driven gameplay and 100% visual instructions. The sparse hints and reliance on trial and error led to some moments of frustration while playing, but I was quick to appreciate the beautiful pictures and clever ways they clicked together. I can tell that the designers have intended to create an air of mystery, where the player must rely on luck and experimentation to progress. My opinion is that this approach can either engage players who enjoy a challenge or deter those who prefer more guidance.
The mechanics of Gorogoa heavily influence the types of fun experienced by players. The challenging nature of the puzzles creates a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when you finally crack the code and are able to move onto the next one. The game offers a sense of discovery as players unravel the story and navigate through intricate puzzles. Additionally, the visuals and sensory elements enhance the sensation of being immersed in the game world. It is through these mechanics that Gorongoa creates a unique experience, appealing to players who enjoy the challenge of puzzles and the thrill of uncovering a captivating narrative.
For first-time players, the absence of verbal cues and heavy reliance on visuals might make the game feel boring or confusing. Without clear instructions, it becomes necessary to have patience and explore the game’s world through visual cues alone and rely a bit on luck to figure out the first few pieces of the puzzles. The game seems to target players seeking a mysterious and sensory experience intertwined with visuals, puzzles, and a captivating story (with some mystery involved, as I was intrigued by the war scenes and was wondering what they might mean– personally, that would have been the main element of the game that would have kept me playing, so players who like stories are also their target audience).
Playing the game on an iPhone personally presented some challenges. The individual squares on the game board are small, which can make it difficult to see the hints clearly. Constantly zooming in and out to magnify each square becomes necessary, leading to a slightly more tedious gameplay experience. Optimising the user interface for smaller screens or providing a zoom feature would greatly improve the playability of the game on mobile devices, or to simply offer it on desktop or tablet.
In conclusion, while Goronoa offers an intriguing puzzle adventure, it has its share of drawbacks. The scarcity of hints, lack of verbal cues, and challenges presented by playing on a smaller screen can detract from the overall enjoyment for a completely new player. Nevertheless, I found the sensory experience of seeing the puzzle pieces click together and break apart to be very pleasing, compelling, and intelligently designed.
