• Home
  • Contact
  • Wraithkal?
Wraithkal: The Indie Gaming Corner – News, reviews, previews and game articles
Wraithkal: The Indie Gaming Corner - News, reviews, previews and game articles
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Wraithkal?
  • Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube

‘Vertico’ Turns Aquatic Exploration Into an Isometric Tile-Based Puzzler

June 3rd, 2014 Wraithkal Free Games, Impressions
‘Vertico’ Turns Aquatic Exploration Into an Isometric Tile-Based Puzzler

At one point or other, most people have delved the deep blue in a video game. Be it scuba diving, in a submarine or something entirely different, it’s hardly the most original setting. But what makes Vertico different, is the way it approaches the diving aspect, tasking players with navigating an isometric maze, going deeper and deeper… and deeper.

Who needs 6DoF (6 Degrees of Freedom), when you can have 3DoF? Tasked with going deeper and deeper in an oddly shaped submersible, searching for who-knows-what, you’ll have to fend off hostile creatures while at the same time keeping an eye on your oxygen meter. We both know what’ll happen once it runs out, after all, and that’s not a pretty sight. So do return to the surface now and then for a refill, eh?

Initially, you won’t be able to dive past one or two ‘areas’, but after picking up additional tanks, your air supply will increase, allowing for a longer journey into the depths below before needing to surface yet again. This is both a blessing and a curse. Figuring out where the terrain gap that lets you continue resides can be tricky, and you’d do well to remember its place for the return trip, but it’s still fun and somewhat rewarding. On the other hand, the submersible is much too slow, which makes the game a… well, patience tester. Oh and some sort of score system wouldn’t go amiss, giving it a proper goal for players to strive for.

Aside from those issues, it’s a fun and clever experience, albeit one that certainly could do with some additional tweaking. As it turns out, the developer seems to be aware of this, as a note on its LD29 page states “I really enjoyed making the environment and creatures and want to do more in the future”. Shouldn’t stop you from taking the plunge right now though, as no one knows when the next build will be available. Dive dive dive!

Vertico trailer
  • Tags
  • ludum dare
  • vertico
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Telegram E-mail
Previous article Nitrome Jam 2014: Make Games 'In the Spirit of Nitrome' This Week
Next article 'Shovel Quest' Sends Players On a Mining Expedition to Gather Sixteen Artifacts
Wraithkal

Wraithkal

Whenever a big AAA title claims it'll "innovate with groundbreaking features", it usually turns out to be a snore-fest; one which simply mimics other games (poorly). This is where my interest indie game interest comes from: pick a random title from a pile of these, and chances are you’ll end up with something genuinely unique - often for well less than $60 too.

Related Posts
'Solstice Snow Globe' Review: She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain...

'Solstice Snow Globe' Review: She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain...

December 24th, 2022
Why I'm Glad Traumatic Trans Tale 'He Fucked the Girl Out of Me' Was Selected for IDFA 2022

Why I'm Glad Traumatic Trans Tale 'He Fucked the Girl Out of Me' Was Selected for IDFA 2022

November 10th, 2022
'The Last Matches' Review: On a cold Christmas night...

'The Last Matches' Review: On a cold Christmas night...

November 3rd, 2022
About us…
Recent Posts
Let's Hear It for the 2023 Indie Games Festival (IGF) Finalists!

Let's Hear It for the 2023 Indie Games Festival (IGF) Finalists!

MAGGIES 2022: Vote on a Year's Worth of MAGS

MAGGIES 2022: Vote on a Year's Worth of MAGS

The Year of the Bunnyman Has Arrived in 'Don't Starve Together'

The Year of the Bunnyman Has Arrived in 'Don't Starve Together'

Let Your Voice be Heard: It's Nomination Time for 'AGS Awards 2022'

Let Your Voice be Heard: It's Nomination Time for 'AGS Awards 2022'

The Wraithkal? Ah, that's my newsletter!

The Wraithkal? Ah, that's my newsletter!

  • greenlight
  • greenlight groove
  • bundle
  • greenlight limbo
  • game jam
  • speculating screenshots
  • adventure game studio
  • mags
  • kickstarter
  • visual novel
© Wraithkal 2019-2021.