Game Info
GAME NAME: Maze
DEVELOPER(S): TreeFall Studios/Eli Brewer
PUBLISHER(S): TreeFall Studios
PLATFORM(S): Nintendo Wii U
GENRE(S): Puzzle
RELEASE DATE(S): January 8th, 2015
Last year there was an eShop title from TreeFall Studios that created quite a stir. The Letter was a very short first-person adventure game that took players through a trip through N64 quality graphics and lack any depth and replay value, but priced at $1.99 you got what you were expecting. Fast forward to 2015 and TreeFall Studios is back with their brand new title for Nintendo’s Wii U called Maze.
Maze, just like the name insinuates is about going through a maze. There is one key element though about these mazes and that’s getting to the finish line isn’t quite enough. Instead, you must first collect 10 coins in each level before going to the exit to move on to the next level.
Now this doesn’t seem like a completely horrible concept and to be honest there were some levels that I played that were quite entertaining. Level 5 though is were this title shows it’s flaws and really takes a step backwards. If there weren’t any need for jumping on to floating platforms I would have liked this game much better but platform jumping and first-person do not play nice together especially in this game. The first-person camera also moves too fast which was causing me to get headaches after long game sessions.
There are two other modes in Maze as well: Arcade and Multiplayer. In Arcade mode, you have to collect 20 coins in a set amount of time. In Multiplayer, you and one other friend have to set out to see who can get the most coins. The coins do not randomize which totally kills replay value if you memorize the placement. Both modes offer very little value above the single player mode and feel tacked on.
The game doesn’t stray too far from The Letter graphically. It still has the same poor quality 3D graphics but this time has a much more colorful tone which is welcoming. When the levels start to mix it up later in the game with flashing lights or even dominoes it really pushes forward and makes the game feel more polished. One aspect of the game that was really quite enjoyable was the soundtrack. There were a few tracks that reminded me of The Postal Service (a favorite of mine) that really set the mood and overall tone of the game.
The Recommendation
While improved over their previous effort The Letter, Maze still suffers from quite a few issues. Frustrating jumping mechanics, a headache-giving camera and bland graphics hold Maze back from being a good game. There is fun that can be had here and some of the mazes are very well created, it just may not be for everyone.
