Thomas Was Alone Review
Price: $8.99
Version Reviewed: 1.1
Device Reviewed On: iPad Mini Retina
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Writing is often one of the things in video games that suffers. Especially given the era of independent developers, small teams require wunderkinds who, after knowing how to design, code, and quantify the game's artistic elements, might not have the time or ability to ensure a game is written well. Thankfully Thomas Was Alone, created by Mike Bithell, is one of the few games that has a key focus on writing. It's a platformer, and never not about the platforming, but the game does a great job of creating a world defined so little by what players see, but what they're told, in a way that feels clever and involving.
The rectangles are all characterized solely through narration, giving them personality and defining their emotions and motivations for why they're continuing onward. While the action and levels do tie in to the narrative, it's still to a degree independent to what is happening. One can play the game without necessarily worrying about the story, but why? The purpose of the narration is to make players care about rectangles by giving them names and stories for why they're jumping around. It's a one-of-a-kind experience.
While the controls put a bit of damper on Thomas Was Alone, this is still a fantastic game to be enjoyed on an iPad, and well worth playing because it's clever in not just how it plays, but how it's written.