Puzzle Persistence or Repetitive Reality?
We live in a world that is all about the sequel, or at least the shared universe of a prequel, or the prequel before the prequel. Sometimes it’s hard for a new story to shine through all of this and make its mark.
On the other hand, gamers want to play more of what they have previously liked and so developers decide to rinse and repeat. O.W.L Projekt is a game that we reviewed back in November 2024; a cheap-to-play puzzle game that was fun and easy to pick up.
And now? Well, the sequel is here and it should come as no surprise that O.W.L Projekt 2 pretty much does exactly what the first game did. But is that a bad thing?
Story-Shy and Puzzle-Rich
O.W.L Projekt 2 has a story about it, but as with the original game you’ll have to research the game description to find out anything, mostly because the game itself fails to give you anything. There are no cutscenes, text or any ideas about who you are or the world you are in.
But once again you play Elysion, a young being brought into existence, left to undergo a mysterious experiment. That experiment is overwatched by ‘The Watchers”, as Elysion, armed with a staff that can move objects, must escape their world. One thing is for sure, the story isn’t important here.
Gameplay and puzzle-solving are where the real fun lies. If you’ve played the first game then you won’t be in for any surprises with O.W.L Projekt 2, because it’s exactly the same setup as before. At least that is for the last ten levels out of the fifty present, as it is then when some new mechanics are introduced. But as I said in the beginning I don’t think that is a bad thing, because this is an enjoyable puzzle solver that will enchant over its fifty levels.
An Addictive Hit
O.W.L Projekt 2 has an addictive quality; much like the hit you get when playing mobile puzzlers, tempted by having ‘one more go’ at another level. It’s helped by the fact that stages can be over pretty swiftly too, some only taking a minute or so to complete. Obviously, there are a few that are trickier than that, and may take longer, but on the whole O.W.L Projekt 2 is a swift play.
Each stage is delivered as an isometric 3D map that needs to be moved around, working at 45-degree angles to get the best views of where to send your little man along his way. The game tasks you with getting Elysion from A to B; do so and the stage will be complete. Of course, there are different pathways to follow and traverse, some of which require careful planning.
Controlling Elysion is easy – you click on where you want him to go and he slowly walks over to that point. Along the way, you might need to move blocks to get them out of the way, or move others up and down to act as lifts or help him traverse a group that form a bridge. There are also latter barriers that need to be deactivated by switches. And then there are teleporting devices that need to be configured into your journey and planning, as you skirt around the Watchers who will kill you if you step into their path; you’ll need to watch their routes and move at the right moment in time.
Minimalist Mastery
O.W.L Projekt 2 looks exactly as the first game, complete with a simple design as the stages hover in a liminal space. The colours all work well, the menus are clear and easy to navigate and O.W.L Projekt 2 is rounded out by a chilled soundtrack that feels perfect for puzzle-solving and relaxed gameplay.
A Satisfying Sequel with Familiar Charm
O.W.L Projekt 2 very much feels like an expansion of the original game, never attempting anything different from before. However, it’s that idea which works as a good puzzler, enjoyable as you try to guide poor Elysion on a never-ending journey. I like the more complicated levels that are found towards the end of the game as it really does get a bit challenging and you have to scratch your head a bit, but with a cheap asking price, this is one that is good enough to warrant a few hours of game time.
Your Links
O.W.L Projekt 2: A New Puzzle Adventure Takes Flight on Consoles – https://www.thexboxhub.com/o-w-l-projekt-2-a-new-puzzle-adventure-takes-flight-on-consoles/
Buy O.W.L Projekt 2 on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/owl-projekt-2/9P2F9WK3D842
