Not to blow my own horn, but I think I'm pretty great at solving puzzles in video games. Whenever I've played a title side-by-side with a friend, the majority of the time, I'm the first person to solve a puzzle that seems to leave others challenged, or searching the web for a walkthrough. So, I of course jumped at the opportunity to tackle the challenges that new Shifting Tides video game The Sojourn had to offer, upon its launch earlier this month (September 20th, 2019).
Publishers Iceberg Interactive have a wide range of titles in their library, but The Sojourn is without a doubt one of the most visually stunning. From the moment you're transported into this first-person shifting world of light and dark, you'll be left mesmerised by the scenery that often builds itself around you.
As a player, you are quickly brought up to speed with the mechanics of gameplay. Platforms are used to transport you between the worlds of light and dark, whilst statues which you must move to get to your destination, are shown to only work when you're plunged into darkness. Early stages are easy, but don't let them lure you into a false sense of security; they're very much there to submerge you within the game, before plunging you into the deep end.
In saying that, it does feel as though the difficulty flips back and forth from medium to hard at random stages of the game, rather than as a progressive movement. This will of course be different for each individual gamer: what is hard for one may be a breeze for another, and vice-versa.
At the heart of any good puzzle game is an overarching narrative. This is told in The Sojourn through a series of statues of family members: two parents and a child. It's a very simple story, but one that feels emotional at its heart. There's never a point at which you'll not care about finding out what comes next, and that's the sign of good storytelling.
The same can't really be said for the bonus areas included in many of the game's levels. Whilst it can feel extremely satisfying to reach these locations and pick up the items housed there, each simply includes a message that feels as though it was ripped from an Instagram page dedication to inspirational quotes. This, and the occasional slow pacing of the game however, appear to be its only downfall.
Tackling a puzzle for an hour may sound like Hell, but for the completionists amongst us who love to get things done all by ourselves, it's sheer beauty - plus, you'll feel like one of the world's leading geniuses when you do make it through the gate.
The Sojourn is available now on Xbox One, Windows and PlayStation 4. A code for Xbox One was provided to Female First in exchange for an honest and fair review.