A New Beginning review

Developer: Daedalic Entertainment
Price: $7.99
Version: 3.0.0414
App Reviewed on: iPad Mini Retina

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Overall Rating:

Saving the world is nothing new in gaming but, for once, A New Beginning has an explanation for the cataclysmic events that unfold - and it actually makes sense.

The climate change theme also means that this is a supremely relevant story for our time, and worthy of your attention, even if it is slightly flawed adventure game.

A time for change

You play as a world weary retired scientist by the name of Bent Svensson, who's visited by a young woman called Fay who claims to have been sent there by the future.

Guess what? She’s telling the truth. Action soon switches to the future as you see just how horrific things turn out if climate change is left to its own devices.

That time travel theme works well for A New Beginning, but it’s the use of climate change that makes it stand out most. It’s a theme that’s too rarely explored elsewhere, and makes a great change from the usual fantastical themes of such games.

By the book

While A New Beginning is ambitious in terms of its themes, that’s not quite the case with its action.

It’s a fairly typical point and click adventure in the sense that some puzzles will leave you satisfied and others will infuriate you.

There’s a strong focus placed on combining items from your inventory for most puzzles, but it occasionally deviates into something more interesting .

At times though, it can feel a bit over-done, and you’ll be grateful that you can skip some of these more convoluted sections.

A New Beginningincludes hotspots to ensure you’re not just randomly poking around. Plus, there are contextual options for each item, meaning you’re not just left with a vague ‘interact’ button.

The bottom line

For the most part, A New Beginning is a success. You’ll occasionally get infuriated by an obtuse puzzle, but its originality helps keep you interested throughout.

There's also a solid dozen or so hours on offer here, which certainly makes it more endearing.