The title of this article includes everything that would make a cool game. Let’s break it down:
Noir – A word associated with Humphrey Bogart, trench coats and treacherous blondes with 9mm hidden in their stockings.
Comic Book – The combination of graphic stylized art and gripping narrative
Puzzle Game – Games which require slightly more thought than seeing and enemy in some cross-hairs and firing. A game which engages our brains to advance to the next stage.
Pour these ingredients into Melbourne based Loveshack’s mixing bowl, stir and leave in the oven for 30-45 minutes and when it pops out you get Framed. Set to be released this year the game presents players with a comic book strip in which they have to re-arrange them in order to effect the outcome of the narrative. If your character keeps running down an alley and is confronted by the police, change the panels around so he approaches the policeman from behind and takes him out.
Framed gives the option to the player of playing with the ‘context’ of the game. Instead of running, jumping and shooting to solve the problem, the player changes the order in which the character is confronted by obstacles. We are given the role of director rather than actor. It is unclear from the videos whether the puzzles will have multiple solutions or whether each puzzle requires the correct alignment of each frame to advance.
The game does look beautiful and it’s simple innovative concept gives it a unique gameplay experience. Winner of various awards and included into the PAX 10, Framed is well on its well to becoming a must have upon its release date.
The innovative niche game is available iOS and Steam