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2012 · DigiPen Institute of Technology · Platformer · Puzzle

Perspective

A first-person puzzle game in which the player controls both a first-person character and a 2D character in a 3D environment. Shift the first-person viewpoint to alter the 2D character's world.

Released: 12 December 2012
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Platformer Puzzle
Developers: DigiPen Institute of Technology
Publishers: DigiPen Institute of Technology
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: First person
Themes: Science fiction
Engine: Microsoft XNA
Country: United States
Languages: English
Time to beat: 1hmain story1hcompletionist

About

Perspective is an experimental puzzle video game that includes aspects of a 2-dimensional platform game. The player moves the avatar through a 2D screen that changes based on the player's camera angle in 3D space. This perspective-shifting mechanic is used to reach a goal at the end of each level. When the player takes control of the camera angle, the 2D avatar is locked in place until the player decides to return to 2D mode.

Overall, Perspective was very well received by critics, who singled out the unique game mechanics and level design as strong features.

Players say

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player's goal is to move an avatar to a goal. The game is played by switching between 2D and 3D modes: in 2D mode, the avatar can move but the field of view is fixed. In 3D mode, the player can move and change the field of view but the avatar is fixed in 3D space. Each level is made up of rooms and corridors with blue and orange platforms across the walls of the level.

The avatar can walk on the blue platforms in 2D mode and is unable to pass through them. If the avatar touches an orange platform, it goes back to where it was before it entered 2D mode. No matter where the player is, the avatar always stays the same size in relation to the screen. As a result, the player is able to fit the avatar through spaces that appear to be impossible at first sight.

Development

Perspective was made available for download for free on December 12, 2012. Development for the game began as a junior year school project in May 2011. None of the people working on the game were able to work on it full-time. Several developers had different goals when developing the game:

We stumbled upon the core mechanics behind Perspective pretty early on. Our goal was to create a game that explores those mechanics in new and interesting ways. From the start we knew that this is a game that would have a lot of challenges. These challenges ranged from getting the core technology working to designing the game in such a way that carefully balanced between difficulty and approachability.

Reception

The game was praised by PC Gamer as "mind-bending". Indie Game Magazine praised it as "mind-blowing" and "excellent", and Blame It On The Voices called it "revolutionary". Rock, Paper, Shotgun called it "remarkably clever[,] not just in the idea itself ... but in the construction of the puzzles which make use of that concept."

According to Eurogamer, "Perspective looks to be an innovative puzzle/platformer". Gamezebo gave the game 5 out of 5, stating "the controls are spot on, the puzzles are consistently glorious, and it's all wrapped up in a neat little package."