Quantum Conundrum Review

Game: Quantum Conundrum
Year (s): 2012
Company: dev. Airtight Games
pub. Square Enix
Engine: Unreal Engine 3
Type: Puzzle Platformer
Viewpoint: First-Person
Metacritic Score: 77
My Score: 77


Price (as of October 12, 2013)


Regular list price on Steam: $8.99
Lowest Buy-It-Now on eBay (new, with shipping): $9.99 download only


My Game Time: 10 hours first time (without DLC)


Obligatory Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg97ZEkqhzE




Plot


As a child nephew of a mad scientist, you often spend lengths of time (summers?) at the Quadrangle Mansion. On the most recent visit, Uncle Desmond has been trapped in a pocket dimension, and you have to make your way through the puzzle-room mansion to rescue him.






Kim Swift


Kim Swift and a few others worked on a project called Narbacular Drop. This was presented to Valve and became the inspiration for Portal, which Kim worked on. Kim later worked on Left 4 Dead 2 before joining up with Airtight Games, where she led development of Quantum Conundrum. She wanted to make another puzzle game, but wanted it to look distinctly different from Portal to avoid direct comparisons.


Kim Swift left Valve before development began on Portal 2.




Gameplay


Quantum Conundrum gradually introduces the player to four dimensions, only one of which can be activated at one time. Make things lighter, make things heavier/denser, slow time, and reverse gravity. These effects ONLY alter reality for objects; never for the player's body.


Most puzzle are easy to figure out what to do (hints are offered quickly and plentifully), but not always easy to perform. Jumping and timing are, generally, what makes the game tricky. Death isn't too big a deal, as checkpoint saving will respawn you before you fell in a pit or got burned by lasers.






Expansions / DLC / Sequels


2 DLCs were released. Both feature additional puzzle rooms without a story or dialogue that was featured in the main game.




Final Thoughts


If you like puzzle games, this is better than most of the ones out there. It's perfect for children, teens, parents, and players that don't mind some difficult jumping.


If you're expecting a game as universally loved as Portal/Portal 2, you're not going to find it. Quantum Conundrum is light on plot/purpose, and Uncle Desmond's chuckle-worthy puns aren't as memorable the insanity of GlaDOS.