Chuck’s Challenge 3D Review (PC)

good
key review info
  • Game: Chuck's Challenge 3D
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
  • Reviewed on:
Puzzle challenge

There’s an orb in the middle of the level I am in, and upon entering it, I accidentally move one more square than I wanted to and I get killed by water.

I then spend about 20 seconds actually looking at the puzzle I want to solve and try to figure out how to enter the orb at different angles in order to get the keys I need to become immune to both water and fire, and finally reach the level exit.

This is a snippet of the experience that gamers can get from Chuck’s Challenge 3D, a title created by developer Niffler Ltd. and published by Nkidu Games, which bills itself as a spiritual successor to Chip’s Challenge.

The title wants to tell a story to the player, but this is certainly the weakest side of the game as it currently stands, involving a time- and dimension-travelling alien that enjoyed past games created by Chuck Sommerville, that he actually kidnaps him to create something new using the same core ideas.

This would actually be the perfect setup for a horror story, but the game treats it as just a reason to deliver level after level of puzzle-based gameplay that’s entirely enjoyable.

The story sequences are entirely optional and can be triggered by stepping on the red checkered shirt that lies on the floor, and I believe most gamers should actively strive to ignore its existence, because it delivers only exposition and some humor with limited effectiveness.

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Puzzle type
Clever move
Narrative is not necessary in Chuck’s Challenge 3D, because the game does a great job at visually explaining what the player needs to do in order to progress without having to ever see any of the details play out in text form.

The core gameplay is built around puzzles and a top-down view that allows the player to evaluate the entire level he has to navigate and to choose the best possible solution to get from the starting point to the end vortex.

The first few levels, designed to serve as tutorials, are very approachable and might give players the wrong impression about Chuck’s Challenge 3D, because, as the game progresses, things evolve in an unfavorable direction for the player.

There’s a lot of variety here to enjoy, with levels that are actually puzzles and others relying on solid use of the included transformations and the way the gaming space is designed.

Chuck’s Challenge 3D also includes creatures and levers, initially impassable barriers, character upgrades and controllable automata, the development team actually managing to combine them in effective ways that felt varied and interesting.

There’s a lot of content to be enjoyed, and the only problem I had with the puzzle design was the fact that death sometimes felt a little unfair.

Thankfully, Chuck’s Challenge 3D features rewind mechanics that allow gamers to simply move back in time to the moment when they were last on the right patch and simply try again using a different strategy.

I am traditionally not a fan of puzzle-based platforms, but I like that this game was quick and varied, rarely delivering the challenges that took long to discover, and focusing on creating obstacles when the solution was implemented rather than when it was thought out.

In addition to the levels created by the development team itself, the game also introduces an editor that can be used to put together new content that can later on be shared with the community.

There’s also a Weekly Challenge for those who want to compare their performance with other fans of Chuck’s Challenge 3D.

The game further aims to make gamers replay levels, but for most buyers the core levels should be enough to satisfy their puzzle needs.

Chuck’s Challenge 3D might seem a little too brightly colored at first, but the look of the game serves to guide players through the puzzles and give them all the info they need to complete them.

The music is less inspired, and I found myself turning to podcasts while playing.

Chuck’s Challenge 3D could appear a little childish at first, but this is a solid collection of mechanics and puzzles that can occupy a lot of time for a fan of the genre.

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story 4
gameplay 9
concept 9
graphics 7
audio 7
multiplayer 0
final rating 7
Editor's review
good
 
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