The Talos Principle 9+

AMAZING game for a great price!

I’m literally blown away but the sheer amount of content there is for this game, and that it’s available for anything under $30!! Most games like these I can finish in a day or two, but this one kept me (someone who is very ADHD) occupied through quarantine for like a week! There’s so many little easter eggs and hidden treats that make exploring every inch of the world absolutely worth it. On top of all that, I found the story remarkably relevant considering uh...the global pandemic, LOL. It was really nice to see the sheer love for humanity, even with all our past and current mistakes, in practically every inch of the story. So many stories that deal with the kind of situation this game presents would take the “humanity is inherently evil and destroying the world” path and I’ve heard enough of that ecofascist bull in the past weeks to last me a lifetime, so it was a treat to be able to open up this game and see a story that actually values life, individual lives, and just all the beautiful creativity of humanity. Thank you so much for helping making my quarantine a little less hellish!

A beautiful game that is frustrating at times

This game is beautiful to play but also frustrating at times. I’m using the default controller settings (touch and swipe) but the deeper I get into the game the more frustrating the experience, especially when I need to move quickly. Also, i don’t mind figuring stuff out on my own but there is little to no guidance on what to do or where to go next and, if you get stuck you’ll need to look for an iOS walkthrough for support. Lastly, it seems access to menu settings/options is only available at certain points in the game, like after completing a section, but not when you are working on obtaining an item. Maybe I’m missing something but it would be nice to have access to menu/settings/options at any point during game play to adjust sound, tweak controls, etc.

Otherwise this is a fun and interesting experience that is enhanced by great visuals and intriguing premise. I installed the recent update and have no issues with graphics or gameplay on my iPhone 7+. I think the lack of guidance is intentional but would also appreciate a bit more in-game help or some next step hints as it sometimes feels like I’m not sure what I should be focusing on or what the current mission is.

Developer Response ,

For the menu, please swipe from the left upper side of the screen and the menu controls will appear. It is auto-hidden to increase the immersion by uncluttering the HUD.
As for the lack of guidance - it's all part of the game's mystery. Please take your time to explore and discover things. Puzzles don't have to be solved in order, and if one seems impossible, it may be that you need to either take some time to think, or you haven't yet discovered something else. Look around, go solve some other puzzle... and revisit this one later.
The point of your existence will become more and more clear as you go along... ;)

AAA title for $5

I’m only about an hour in and I am entertained, intrigued, and very pleased. This is easily one of the best games available for iOS and deserves to be permanent resident in the top sales charts.

If you’re perusing the reviews to decide if this is worth buying, my opinion is a resounding “yes”. Solid and satisfying puzzles are the heart of the gameplay; immersive lighting, graphics, and ambient sound effects create a beautiful and believable world; top-notch voice acting hints at your place in this world; and an excellent plot and presentation keeps you searching for answers (and questions).

The only negative points I saw in the reviews pertained to a somewhat frustrating default control scheme (switch to the virtual stick in the menu found in the upper-left corner of the screen), and occasional downloading problems (bug Apple).

Scrolling through the reviews, I’m impressed that the devs are paying a lot of attention to what is, for them, an older game (originally released in 2014). As someone who paid for Bioshock and Xcom (not cheap by iOS standards) only to see them abandoned and unplayable, I appreciate Croteam’s commitment.

Apart from the obvious references to Greek mythology and Paradise Lost, I’m also picking up vibes from Portal, 2001 - A Space Odyssey, and even the original Battlestar Galactica (the first voice reminds me of the Ship of Light). Just my impressions, and I’m sure others will have equally varied thoughts.

TLDR summary- buy it.