The Path of Motus

As you start Path of Motus the first idea that comes to my mind is platformer with some deep meaning social experiment message on bullying. There are enemies, pitfalls and you learn by dying quite a bit. And even though the has it's moments it's never too hard that you want to quit. I like games like these. You don't go through it quickly but you can take your time and figure out how to progress.  There are numerous platformers like that. I think what sets Motus apart isn't so much it's straight forward take on bullying but the underlying messages that occur throughout the game and there are a couple. As I played through the main character's different stages of growth the stories told through the  notes about his father's life and how he settled for a menial existence rather than going for his dreams speaks to how many people function in our society. Where instead of following our dreams we settle for less than we want. The forest that we're trying to get through is a metaphorical o...

Full disclosure: I was a playtester on this game and I've worked with the developer, Mr. Hicks, in the past. I paid for my own copy of the game, as well. As a fan of platforming, adventure games, and puzzle games, I think this quaint, personal journey is worth trying out. You have an equal amount of jumping puzzles and logic puzzles, but they all support the game's main idea of perseverance and empathy. Some players may not appreciate the interpersonal message here, but it doesn't get in the way of gameplay. The puzzles here can be tricky and specific. The closest two games I can say this game reminds me of are 'Braid' and 'The Witness' but smaller in scope. The presentation is rock solid, with gorgeous art, colors, sound design, and backgrounds. It's easy to tell what's going on in the world, and the UI has an appropriate level of feedback. The controls are responsive, and the entire experience feels polished. Since I was a tester for a bit, my play time is skewed to me being fami...

I've never connected so deeply with a game on the first time playing it. No exaggeration. This game, if you take the time to understand it, will leave an impression. Just an absolutely brilliant masterpiece. I'm serious. If you have emotions, play this game.

I dont really like the art. The way you attack feels limited but you do have to combo it sometimes so thats ok. Puzzles are ok.

Cute idea for a game. If I were an indie developer, I might be proud of making this as my first draft title. It feels like it is going for some friendship lessons learned award. In the end, it is not fun.