Human: Fall Flat Preview
We all know that same experience: waking up startled as if we had fallen through the ceiling and landed roughly on the bed. It’s a simple experience but after we understand what really happened, our hearts racing, we tend to smile it away and get back to sleep. That’s what Human: Fall Flat is like in the best possible way.
Human: Fall Flat sees its unnamed hero navigate various dreamscape levels with wonderfully functional physics puzzles. Levels are unique themes from train stations to a construction site, a medieval castle and more, but what really sells the fun is that there is no set way to complete a level; rather you just have to get to the end by any means necessary. In one level I was presented with several platforms to jump across and climb up to reach the goal. After a few attempts, curiosity got the best of me and I went off wandering, discovering a large wooden plank which I just picked up and, after a few tries, created a ramp which I confidently walked over to the next objective and saved myself the hassle. This is definitely a game worth exploring the small nooks and crannies of these seemingly small levels.
The controls are simple yet perfect for this game: your standard W/S/A/D for movement with the left and right mouse buttons controlling the grab function for each arm respectively. Aiming the arms for grabbing smaller objects can be a little temperamental at times but nothing a few tries won’t fix. Interestingly enough, the orientation of the camera will also affect movement and becomes a key component in climbing. I’m left wondering if there is some sort of veiled larger story to this game? If each level is somehow personal to the hero and this interconnected series of seemingly random levels could be a deeper insight into the hero character? Then again, maybe he just has some really fun dreams.
The graphics are simple with no additional textures but this fit perfectly into the soul of this game, reinforcing the idea that this is a dream rather than the hero’s reality. I’d also like to note it’s very satisfying to start breaking objects and walls. In one level, to advance through a locked door, I picked up a rock and swung my arms wildly to smash it apart. What can I say? Destruction is fulfilling when you really feel like you get to control every part of it. The music for Human: Fall Flat does a great job of accompanying the game with its little mischievous tones while breaking objects and soft trance-inducing sounds while exploring. It’s just a shame the music isn’t a constant and only kicks in at certain times. When trying to solve some of the physics puzzles it would be nice to have the calming music playing at the same time and I hope that kind of small detail gets addressed.
I found myself bargaining that I would only play until the next level, but the curious enjoyment of this nicely polished physics game had me continually losing the bargain with myself as I kept falling deeper and deeper into its wonderfully crazy dream. Ultimately, Human: Fall Flat is still in its development cycle so the fact that I’m having this much fun with it already bodes well for its final release. With a few tweaks and balances, this could end up being a stand out indie title.
*** PC code provided by the publisher ***
