G30 review
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G30 review

Our Review by Emily Sowden on June 4th, 2018
Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: EMOTIONAL JOURNEY
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G30 is a stark and beautiful puzzler if you're willing to give it the time it needs

Developer: Kovalov Ivan

Price: $4.99
Version: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPad Pro

Graphics/Sound Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
User Interface Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar
Gameplay Rating: starstarstarhalfstarblankstar
Replay Value Rating: starstarstarhalfstarblankstar

Overall Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar

G30 iOS review screenshot 1

Dial-based puzzlers are a familiar affair. You see them in all levels of gaming, from huge AAAs down to more simplistic indie titles.

While they're not the most challenging of things, in G30 it's done a little differently and feels like the right approach for such a serious topic. You definitely shouldn't judge it by appearance alone in this case.

Rotating dials

G30 is a memory maze puzzler where you traverse a number of dial-based levels. You need to turn the wheels to create a complete picture, but there are a few things that give it an extra dimension.

You play as an unnamed person with a cognitive disorder – something I'm sure you all either know about or have been witness to at some point – and piece together your own story with each passing level.

G30 iOS review screenshot 2

When you turn the wheels, words flash up on the screen, continually scrambling as different sentences slot into place. It makes you look beyond what you first assume is happening and gives the experience a more frenzied feel.

This is a common theme throughout the game as, aside from creating pictures, you also need to uncover a hidden story. As you go through the puzzles, you click on highlighted words which start piecing into a greater text, eventually creating another story altogether.

The puzzles offer up a more scattered recount of events, which can actually change the more you play, while the hidden story gives you the full detail.

Though you may not realise it at first, it's a very clever game which knows what it's doing. As you work through the levels you may have forgotten what it was originally about or what you were supposed to be concentrating on. This really drives home the sense of helplessness at times as things constantly change, like you're losing your grip on the story.

It's also got such a wonderful, clean art style that makes sure you don't get distracted for the wrong reasons. That's not saying it's boring, of course. No, it's very visually appealing.

The mechanics are simple without feeling cheap. You rotate different coloured wheels to piece together pieces of an image, but the further you get into the game, the more variety you see. Sure, you can just flick your finger across the screen and hope it'll work, but I'd strongly suggest not taking the easy way out.

Where is my mind?

There are a few niggles, mind you. You only get about 40 levels and have limited replayability, so its price tag may seem a little steep.

Depending on what sort of puzzle-head you are, you might find your patience waning the further into it you get. If you're not invested in finding out the story, you'll likely find the whole concept a bit too repetitive for your tastes.

G30 iOS review screenshot 3

You may also get frustrated by its lack of a hint system. Though, some may argue that the feeling of frustration only adds to the experience on the whole.

Despite its teeny faults, G30 is a brilliant game which handles its topic smartly and with grace. It's innovative, unique, and offers up enough of a challenge to hook you into it for the puzzler alone.

The one thing you need to make the most of the game is patience. If you give it the time and attention it needs without trying to guess your way through, you're rewarded with a great and emotive story. If you've got the cash to spare, you should definitely pick this one up.

iPhone Screenshots

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iPad Screenshots

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