Game Info
GAME NAME: Pillar
DEVELOPER(S): MichaelArts
PUBLISHER(S): MichaelArts
PLATFORM(S): PS4
GENRE(S): Puzzle
RELEASE DATE(S): February 17th, 2015
At some point in your life you will be tested in many different ways, whether for good or for unfortunate circumstances. MichaelArts is a studio consisting of one man named Michael Hicks and he managed to create a game called Pillar that is similar to a Myers-Briggs test. If you are unaware what that is then I’ll explain a little for you. The Myers-Briggs test is generally a questionnaire designed to measure the psychological preferences of how people may perceive the world they live in and how they make decisions.
There isn’t too much of a story within Pillar, but I did some research and found on the game’s website the back story- “Lost in an intimate snowy town, a palette of individuals are in search of a mysterious artifact said to bring great knowledge and understanding. Lead each character through their quest in this collection of minigames, each with unique personalities and challenges… maybe their paths aren’t so different after all.” Now this isn’t told through text or cut scenes like other games, but cleverly hidden within the gameplay. At first when I played Pillar I had a sour taste in my mouth and thought this game was absolutely horrible. I gave it another chance to show me what was so special about this clever puzzle game that progresses through six personalities and I found a decent experience by the end. You can choose any personality from the beginning, but I will explain them in pairs since they compliment each other through gameplay.
Distant | Focused
These personalities are expressed through a guy (Distant) and a girl (Focused). The object is to complete the areas without being spotted by other people and the “Distant” one will have you placing activation tiles throughout the levels to proceed. These tiles will have a sound emitting tile and a trigger tile for you to activate the sound tile with the corresponding number. By activating the sound tile you will gather the attention of the person who is blocking your way and will have them walk towards it so you can proceed without being spotted. It gets tricky at times, but most puzzle players will love the challenge.
In “Focused” you have the same goal of traveling through the area without being spotted, but you can shoot projectiles. Now it isn’t typical projectiles, they are shouting balls that when they hit the person they will walk towards where you were. This gives a different advantage to being sneaky and tricking the people to walk out of your way so you can pass by undetected. There isn’t too much else to explain about this personality mode and it holds it’s own challenge with trying to be clever and making it to the end without getting caught.
Giving | Capable
You control a girl in “Giving” and will have to walk over pressure plates with numbers on them that will turn on lights with the same number. “Capable” involves a man that can break the lights or repair them by walking over different pressure plates. Both of these characters technically have to work together in a way to proceed to the next room. As you move the girl over the yellow numbered pressure plates, you also have to switch over to the guy so he can repair or break certain lights to make her path open up. This sounds confusing and quite frankly it is without a doubt.
When you walk over a blue pressure plate the light with the corresponding number with be repaired, but walking over a red one will break that light with the same number. When all lights are in perfect working order then you are to have the girl activate the lights to open up the next area. Sometimes you will be switching back and forth quite a bit as these rooms will get more difficult and require you to stop and think.
Enduring | Renewing
These are the last two personality puzzle types in Pillar and with “Enduring” you will control a girl to walk over once again numbered switches. Now “Enduring” is needed to accomplish “Renewing” as well and it will have you controlling both characters simultaneously at times. Not in the sense of “I want this character here and that one there”, but the “Renewing” girl will be moving at the same time as the “Enduring” girl to accomplish your goal.
With “Enduring” you walk over numbered switches that will close and can reopen if you aren’t quick enough to solve the puzzle. “Renewing” has the girl moving through little purple warp circles that can unlock the door to complete the puzzle. The goal is to walk over the numbered switches to close them and end up making a path for the other girl to unlock the door so you can proceed. These puzzles were a bit difficult at first, but like the others you will get the hang of it if you have patience.
The visuals on Pillar are a beautiful hand painted art style that definitely is one to be admired. Michael Hicks wrote the entire soundtrack and did so to have it coincide perfectly with each personality puzzle. I commend him for making this game alone and creating every portion of Pillar a unique and unparalleled experience.
The Recommendation
It really is hard to recommend this game to everyone because it really isn’t for everyone. If you love indie titles or rather artsy unique games that make you think then Pillar is a game for you. I did have my quarrels with this title, being that there isn’t any tutorial to show you the ropes. That alone can turn some players away since you are left to figure out the point of the game, along with the mechanics all by yourself. Having said all that, there is a sense of accomplishment once you have completed this entire game and it goes without saying that Pillar is definitely an original experience.
