Human Fall Flat might be more fun that it should be. In this puzzle physics game, you find yourself exploring massive mountain ranges, medieval castles and even the great sea. This might be one of the only games you can use what you learned in a physics class to feel smarter afterwards.
Before you get started, you can customize your character with a few different hats, shirts and pants, but there are not many options. However, there is a large amount of colors to choose from, and each section of your outfit can be colored separately, allowing for many unique characters.
The game begins with you falling, then getting up. You will begin to notice how your character lazily stumbles around as he walks. This is a very important part of the game, as it makes even walking up stairs feel silly. Soon after stumbling through your first door, you will learn that your arms do not have to be limp and useless throughout the game. You can press the L and R buttons (respective to the left and right arm) to have your arms stretch out in the direction the camera is facing. Your hand-stubs can stick to pretty much anything, and will only let go if you release the trigger for that arm.
This is your most important ability and it is all the game needs. With this you can solve physics puzzles by lifting, pushing, sticking and swinging your way to victory. The levels in this game are very linear, but often have a few different ways to solve a puzzle, and are made in ways that once you have progressed through a level you can easily access any part of the level, making the world your playground to mess around in. In the third level they teach you one other important skill, climbing. Climbing is very simple, as you simply pull yourself up, but it is something you have to get used to.
Each level has only one objective, and that is to find the exit door and enjoy falling till the next level loads. Knowing this gives the game its main draw, figuring out how to get there. You could figure out how to open a door, or you could figure out how to get over the wall. Many of the puzzles offer multiple solutions, so playing through the game once doesn’t mean you saw all the clever little challenges available. As you play, your skill in climbing will also improve, leading to less clumsiness.
The presentation is odd, but not bad. Everything is very simplistic, with most things being only one or two colors, but everything is designed so when you see something, you know what it is supposed to be and you can use its physics accordingly. Sure, you might not normally throw a fire extinguisher in real life, but now you know what it would be like if you did. The worlds you get to explore, despite their simplicity, are memorable because of good level design. A tutorial narrator is also included with a nice monologue at the beginning. He also gives advice whenever you pick up the magic remotes that appear if you are having trouble progressing. He does a good job teaching the basics (with some witty jokes on the side) but he disappears almost completely after the 3rd world, leaving you to enjoy your adventures on your own. (or with a friend in local multiplayer)
There is also a few nice orchestrated tracks that play seemingly at random, and in between, silence and the sound of your footsteps. This isn’t a bad thing, as the music would get old if it was playing the whole time, and can lead to some great moments as the music suddenly kicks in when you need some encouragement, or your doing something silly and the music makes it sound like your supposed to think this flailing is an epic feat, adding to the comedy of it.
Speaking of comedy, there are many forms of it. There is a button specifically for going all out rag-doll at will. There is a jump button that is the wimpiest jump imaginable, perfect for flailing around nonsensically. Playing with 2 players is where its at. You can grab your partner in crime, and they cannot escape your grasp. You can use this to make the game easier to beat, or you could try throwing your partner into the abyss. Helping someone beat a level or racing each other through one is one goofy and enjoyable experience.
One con is the silly motion controls they use if you use a single Joy con, which tries to simulate a second stick. You can get used to it and it can make it more fun, as it makes you less precise and more floppy, but still very much playable. The length may also be a issue, as there is not a very large amount of worlds, but the replay ability, especially in two player mode, is great. Because of the extra routes I haven’t traversed yet, i still have plenty of reason to continue enjoying this unique adventure.
8/10
