Teslagrad is a 2D side scrolling puzzle platforms which opens with a young boy racing into a stormy night with guards in red giving chase. It is a game that promises to offer a truly challenging experience, but does it deliver one?
Two things strike you straight away when you start playing Teslagrad, the visuals and the fact that it features no spoken words or text-based narrative throughout the game. The hand drawn visual art style sublimely creates the world as the sombre musical score sets the tone delicately but strongly. The lack of speech is a wonderful nod back to gaming days of old when such platformers suffered under the limitations of using cartridges. But Teslagrad uses it with such grace and impact by having the story really told via puppet shows at various stages as the game unfolds that are charming in their animation and storytelling.
The blend of platforming and puzzles really lifts the game above other titles in the genre. The platforming will feature chases from enemy guards and navigating the world as you explore it. There is genuine tension in the chases as being caught by the enemy guards as the player only has one life, there is no health bar to allow for some wriggle room, if caught that is it and game over which means replaying that section again as will any death in the game.
This leads to an almost trial and error mechanic to some sections as the player works out the best route to take to escape from the chasing guards or navigating tricky level areas. Patience is a strong requirement to get the best from this game and that patience will be tested thanks to a checkpoint system that places them in an almost punishing manner. The battle to reach the next checkpoint, which are sparingly placed, can be a challenge in itself. That patience also carries over into the puzzle side of the game.
The Puzzles focus on the use of electromagnetism and using positive and negative charges to move blocks, activate switches and bridges and to create pathways. Equipment picked up during the journey will add new abilities for our hero but the gauntlet is the first and most used bit of kit that by using the left and right triggers to change the charge of blocks and switches. From very simple puzzles to begin with, the complexity and difficulty soon begins to ramp up. Teslagrad is a very challenging puzzle game but is refreshingly so. It all builds to a very rewarding experience.
Teslagrad really took me by surprise and I am happy that it did. It is not long into playing the game before you are appreciating the aesthetics of its visual style with some really delightful backgrounds and character animations. The music is so atmospheric that it can be soothing whilst your brain tries to find the solution to the next puzzles and gripping whilst you frantically try to escape capture by the guards. Teslegrad is tough but rewarding whilst fun and challenging to players new or familiar with puzzle platformers.
Definitely worth investing your time into playing if you enjoy a beautifully told story with brain teasing puzzles.
