Traverser Review (PC)

Ever since Half-Life 2 made the gravity gun mechanic famous, there have been all sorts of different games trying to mimic its achievements to bigger or lesser success.

Traverser, coming from Gatling Goat Studios, is such a title, as while it brings a pretty clever story and premise, its main gameplay mechanics still rely on using a glove to manipulate gravity and objects in order to solve different puzzles.

This shouldn't be taken as criticism, as there have been plenty of games that took already-known mechanics and elaborated on them in different ways.

Does Traverser manage to do the same or should its gravity-manipulating mechanics be left alone? Let's find out.

Story

Traverser brings forth a pretty clever premise, in which Earth is left without a Sun after being covered by ice. As you can imagine, such a big change leads to all sorts of consequences for humanity. What's left of it retreats underground, closer to the planet's core, in order to stay warm and get oxygen that is, of course, essential to surviving.

The story takes place in the city of Brimstone, which is controlled by the Raven Corporation. Given this pretty menacing name, not to mention the fact that Brimstone is split between the Upper and Lower regions, you can tell that things aren't exactly peachy for its inhabitants.

You control Valerie Bennett, a young girl who's just passed the Traverser exam organized by the Raven Corporation. While Traversers are supposed to be a peace-keeping force that can use their gadgets and skills to protect Brimstone's population, you won't actually do any official work. Soon after you pass the exam, a series of events causes you to go rogue and run your own investigation into what Raven is doing in Brimstone and how the inequality between the Upper and Lower sections of the city came to be.

The writing is pretty well done, and while you can figure out some twists ahead of time, the plot manages to stay fresh. You can really get into the mind of the young protagonist by reading the constantly updated journal and you can also find in the game's world other documents that further build its narrative.

Solve puzzles in Traverser

Gameplay

As I've mentioned above, the main gameplay mechanic consists of Valerie using a glove that can manipulate gravity and easily move objects around. Classic physics puzzles involving stacking boxes to reach higher places or taking an object from one area to another, are present, so don't expect that many ground-breaking activities from the game.

The actual gravity manipulation system is pretty good, and in order to fit well with the isometric point of view, you can change an object's height by using the scroll wheel. However, there are some zones where it's hard to tell just how items will stack when you let go of them, and the zoom system doesn't always help you figure stuff out.

Traverser does bring a pretty clever mechanic that allows Valerie to access Flip Stations, which are special platforms that take her from the Upper to the Lower zone and vice-versa. This system comes into play when you need to sneak past guards or tricky automated security systems consisting of lasers, cameras, and other such things.

Speaking of stealth, the game relies a lot on keeping quiet and sneaking around, as your gravity glove doesn’t offer many offensive capabilities, certainly not enough for a young girl to face off against security officers. You can swing boxes around or drop them onto foes but don't rely on these things when detected.

Moving around in the 3D world works relatively smoothly although the lack of a mini-map can get a bit confusing sometimes, especially when you're thrown into a larger environment and have to track down certain zones or specific non-playable characters.

Some puzzles are pretty basic but others are bit more complex. Unfortunately, there are also some moments where it's not clear what you have to do, not even after you consult the journal, so you have to resort to some trial and error, which can get a bit tedious sometimes.

The game does a pretty good job of alternating between linear and more open environments and players that explore every nook and cranny can find different secrets scattered about, further building upon the world and the narrative.

Use boxes against robots in Traverser

Visuals and Sound

Traverser spots some pretty decent looking visuals during its regular gameplay, with a color scheme that accentuates the underground action. However, the 2D cut scenes really make an impression, boasting an original visual style.

The soundtrack is also pretty decent, but doesn't really stand out. The voice acting is good, but don't expect that much from the cast.

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The Good

The Bad

Conclusion