When you start Proteus you will be floating around in a body of water with just a glimpse of an Island ahead of you. You have no objective. No health bar. No map. No complicated control system. Just intrigue and the ability to walk. Pausing the game for clues as to your goal produces a one word solution. Explore.
So off you go. You will be greeted with an incredibly colourful and vibrant pixelated world to look around. Creatures will occasionally pop out in front of you and then disappear into the distance. When night comes owls can be spotted perching in tree tops and swooping clumsily to the next tree. It’s all very mysterious and the only thing keeping you moving is your own sense of intrigue.
Equally as important as the retro pixelated visuals are the sounds of the island. Synthesised noises will personify whatever creature or plant presents itself to you. Graves sometimes make a low bass hum while little yellow trumpet-y grass things will parp at you cheekily before disappearing into the ground. Seasons will change and with them not only the visuals but also the theme of the music. It’s all very lovely and (providing you’re OK with retro graphics) very well presented and stylised. But, Proteus is a lot like modern art to me. I’m sure it’s all very clever and skilful but it doesn’t matter because I don’t get it.
Generally speaking Proteus is a reviewers dream. It’s a chance for people to let their modern art hear down and say things like “closed minded players won’t get it” in an attempt to make out anyone who disagrees is stupid or unknowledgeable. Well you know what, I don’t get it. Nor do I really care if that makes me an idiot. I think people are afraid not to like a game such as Proteus for fear of being labelled simple or single minded. I know I used to be. Don’t be.
Video games as art seems to be an everlasting topic that really has no conclusion. I can think of plenty of games I would define as art but Proteus isn’t one of them. The visual and audio space that Proteus creates is immersive to a degree. But when you look closely it’s no more advanced than painting the world in warm oranges and browns during Autumn and accompanying a rabbit with a “ping” or “boing” like sound on a synthesiser.
There is certainly an element of the more you put in the more you get back with Proteus. Those of you that are likely to understand why exploring an island with an intentional lack of objectives is fun I’m sure will get plenty of enjoyment from Proteus. Hell some people have even hinted that Proteus evokes an emotional response.
I try so hard to like anything different in a video game. There are so many stale models for making games that get endlessly repeated that anything different is a welcome change. And should certainly be encouraged. But for me the only appeal to Proteus would be if I particularly enjoyed looking at retro graphics (why bother with a PS3?) and hearing what noise a rabbit might make if sounds where limited to a synthesiser.
With the right mind and plenty of imagination I’m sure Proteus would be enjoyable. Personally I like games to be imaginative themselves. If they all required user imagination the video game market would look very bland indeed. For me a good game has a strong narrative or believable, deep characterization. Despite possibly being shallow, mind blowing graphics help too. Original scores. Vast open world cities. Creative and varied objectives.
The problem I had with scoring Proteus, and even deciding if I liked it, is that there is just nothing there to analyse. It’s certainly never going to create a lasting impression like so many other games I consider to be art have. But I seem to be in the minority of those who don’t like Proteus. The world Proteus places you in is an attempt at exploring methods of interaction and how it can create a memorable experience. For me Proteus didn’t make a mark.
Credit must go to Ed Key and David Kanaga for designing Proteus and creating something original that many people will love. Proteus dares to be different but I’m not really sure who it’s for. Essentially if reading this review made you hate me that’s fine, it was meant to. Proteus is for you. Go and buy it. Enjoy it. If not I’d steer well clear, especially given it’s slightly hefty price tag.
Reviewed on PS3.
