8/10

Observation is a narrative and immersive game offering a cinematic experience to the player. Although there are mini-games which offer some challenge, the gameplay of Observation is mostly calm, slow-paced and linear. This doesn't mean it is boring, on the contrary, the mysterious circumstances and suspense keep you on your toes almost all the time.

STORY:
For me, the main selling point of the game is its story, which takes place on a lonely (or is it?) station in the darkness of space. You play as the space station's AI operating system, S.A.M. The mystery surrounding the events and how they unravel as you progress through the game kept me excited, and the beautiful visuals helped conveying the movie-like story. There is an ongoing suspense and you just want to continue playing to find out what the heck is going on.

GAMEPLAY:
All the cameras in the station are your eyes, and believe me there are plenty. You can switch between these cameras as you enter each space module and observe your surroundings, searching for clues or electronics which you can interact with.

There are also "spheres" which you can take over and operate. These are small vehicles that let you move around, both inside and outside the station. You can not access every part of the station just by cameras, so ocassionally, you need to use the spheres in order to progress. With no gravity, orientation and navigation is quite difficult but nevertheless a fresh experience.

No, this game is not Dark Souls, don't expect fast paced action and challenging gameplay, but it is far from boring. As you try to fix the problems with the station and solve the mystery, you encounter many mini-games / puzzles. Some of them take time to figure out, but none are overly complicated. They add a certain excitement to the game when things start to get out of hand, and they make Observation a game instead of an interactive movie or novel.

Gameplay is also the area where I've shaved off the 2 points, reason being tough movement and orientation playing the game with a mouse & keyboard. Couple of the mini-games also pose a challenge due to this, but nothing to stress over since you figure them out eventually. With a controller, I would expect a more controlled and smoother gameplay experience.

VISUALS:
Beautiful graphics, both within and outside the space station. Observation offers a great visual experience in the space context. The station is well designed, the lighting achieves the intended suspenseful atmosphere. Cut-scenes are also well-done, with smooth animations and good visuals. Doesn't put a ton of strain on the system either.

MUSIC&VOICE:
Music; very well-done, fitting the overall feel of the game. It keeps you on your toes and is not overwhelming. Every note adds to the intrigue and mystery of the game.

Other than couple documents and notes which you find around the station, every text or dialogue is voiced. The character voice-overs are great and I loved to hear different accents onboard the space station.

Feel free to watch my blind playthrough below:

https://youtu.be/5MS9bGvq56Q
https://youtu.be/bDfm2f19tco
https://youtu.be/Y-RrioA9c4k

Twitch [www.twitch.tv]
YouTube