[h1] In A Nutshell [/h1]
🔵 [b] Pros [/b]
+ Excellent physics-based puzzler gameplay, always fun and exciting.
+ Minimalist but clean and pleasant graphical style.
+ Interesting tools, usable in many different ways to complete levels.
+ Level Editor and Workshop integration to share and play levels online.
🔴 [b] Cons [/b]
- Not a lot of content in the base game.
In Cefore you will play as an engineer tasked with recovering alien artifacts (blue cubes) from several places, using explosive charges and various other tools to get the job done. These include: grappling hooks to attach blocks to, force-fields to merge many blocks together, remote-controlled drones, and of course explosives, lots of them, in various sizes.
The game starts off very easily, explaining basics and how tools work, to only get progressively more difficult, adding new challenges like Red Blocks that do not allow you to collect Artifacts if present in the collection areas, moving contraptions, and generally much more complex level designs. The good thing is that there are a lot of different ways to solve a single level, as the game gives you total freedom of movement and tool placement: combine this with decently realistic physics, and you have your imagination as only limit on how to solve a puzzle.
Generally speaking puzzles never get very complex or intricate, they can offer a good degree of challenge on later stages, but do not expect a complexity on the levels of Portal or other well-known puzzle games. The campaign only has 26 levels in it, which can appear a lot, but half of those are mostly tutorials or very quick to complete, leaving a total content amount of 2-3 hours maximum to get the whole thing done. Luckily, community levels are quite numerous and can offer a lot of additional, and possibly more challenging content, once done with the story.
Overall, Cefore is a very pleasant and engaging game to play, the only problem is there isn't enough of it! I recommend this title to all puzzle game lovers, they will not be disappointed.
[h1] In-depth Feature Analysis [/h1]
🎮 [b] Gameplay [/b]
The gameplay of Cefore consists in solving different puzzles in each level. To do so, you have a set amount of tools in each stage, and will have to use them wisely in order to round up all the Artifacts in the collection area (deployable wherever you want).
Tools can be freely placed onto blocks, rocks, metal, nearly everywhere really, and also their effects can be combined together to solve tougher puzzles. Each tool has specific functions: explosives generally are used to move many blocks in a direction or destroy structures, while force-fields merge many blocks together as if they are a single block, avoiding them being scattered because of explosions. Grappling hooks pull things around, while drones can transport blocks in the air and release them, but have limited fuel.
Other than the (short) campaign itself, the game has a Level Editor mode featuring all the assets and props seen in the campaign, and also some new ones, to create custom levels to share with the community. The developers probably aimed for this to be the main source of content for the game, and I have to say there is a decent amount of levels in the workshop, though not all of them are playable or well made.
📖 [b] Story [/b]
There isn't a real story at all, except for some scattered dialogues with your boss (or colleague), introducing you to at least what's going on and why you're blowing up stuff left and right. But yes, don't expect any form of story or lore, because simply there isn't any.
👊 [b] Combat System [/b]
N/A
💰 [b] Content & Pricing [/b]
The base game offers around 2-3 hours of content and is priced at 10€ base tag, while Community levels are quite numerous and can offer an indefinite amount of additional playtime depending on how many will be made in the future. If you decide to become a creator yourself, making levels from scratch takes quite some time and also can be additional content, for those who like doing so. In conclusion, i'd say the game offers good enough gameplay and content to be purchased at full cost without regretting it.
🔗 [b] Balance & Challenge [/b]
Challenge in the base campaign is on moderate levels overall, with a few puzzles really bending your mind a bit, while Community levels have a wide range of difficulties and some surely can prove hard.
[h1] Technical Analysis [/h1]
🎥 [b] Graphics [/b]
Minimalist style without any complex model, no amazingly detailed textures, or enchanting effects, but I have to say this type of style is suited well for this game, and takes quite some inspiration from Besiege. Physics, explosions and destruction are well done and can lead to some spectacular outcomes.
🔊 [b] Sound [/b]
Average sound effects and voice acting, with no particular mentions to make.
🔩 [b] Performance & Stability [/b]
Performance is solid for being an Indie Unity game, surprisingly not consuming outrageous amounts of resources like many other Unity games usually do, sign of an above average optimization level. [i7 4820K, 16GB RAM, GTX 1080, 1440p].
💻 [b] Artificial Intelligence [/b]
N/A
🏠 [b] Quality of Life [/b]
Menus and interface are well polished, controls are responsive, and generally everything works well. There are no problems in this aspect of the game.
🐛 [b] Bugs & Issues [/b]
Apart from the cursor disappearing once for some reason, there was no other bug worth mentioning, or any particular issue.
[h1] Conclusion [/h1]
Cefore is a really nice little Indie puzzle game, that doesn't have a lot of base content, but can still deliver a fun experience and has growth possibilities thanks to the community-made content. A solid Indie game you won't regret getting.
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