14 DAY TRIAL // 
For someone who doesn’t read a game’s synopsis and just looks at gameplay before buying it, Out of Line may seem non-sensical story-wise. At its core, Out of Line is a platformer filled with puzzles that usually don’t take long to figure out. However, developer Nerd Monkeys is trying to tell players that Out of Line is more than just a simple 2D platformer with puzzle elements.
Out of Line is about a boy, San, who’s trying to escape the so-called Factory, a place which he once considered his home. For reasons unknown, the machines in the Factory have gone awry and San is looking for a way to survive the clutches of metallic arms and killer robot spiders roaming the environment.
The gameplay is quite simple and the puzzles aren’t hard to figure out at all, which suggests that Out of Line would be great for a younger audience. Unfortunately, the game is seriously lacking when it comes to narrative, as developers are trying to convey important messages through visual and audio content. Neither is fully shaped up in Out of Line, which leads to a disjointed gameplay experience.
That being said, the gameplay part is definitely the bread and butter, and it’s the only thing that you should be interested in. As much as I’ve tried, I didn’t find any secret plots or a meaningful story, so the only thing that kept me going was the soundtrack and the art style.
I’m not sure if the protagonist’s motivations and aspirations were intentionally kept vague just to try and keep gamers invested in the game, but I would’ve preferred at least a “big reveal” at the end.
Throughout his journey crossing the Factory, San will meet other characters that will help him solve slightly more complex puzzles. While San is using a special spear that can be used as a makeshift platform to reach otherwise unreachable ledges.
San’s special spear is so versatile that it can be used to jam specific cogwheels, but it can also be turned into a lever to manipulate platforms, valves, and gears. Later on, you’ll be able to use the spear to form rope bridges between platforms. The many utilities of San’s spear are gradually introduced in the game, with the more complex puzzles requiring you to take advantage of more than a few of its uses.
As players progress through the game, new environments are introduced, new enemies, and new puzzles. Unfortunately for those looking for a challenge, the puzzles won’t gain any complexity, although the “boss” fights are a slight departure from the game’s standard difficulty.
The occasional NPCs that you meet throughout San’s journey will help you with some of the more complex puzzles, but they are not interactable. There's no dialog at all throughout the entire game, so the story is conveyed through images and sound.
Even so, the “cooperative” aspect where you open the way for certain NPCs so that they can help you in return is probably the best part of the game. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many of these; in fact, the game is very short, so there’s just a little bit of everything.
Out of Line features some stealth parts too, but I see them as a way to try and increase the feelings of dread and urgency. They’re very easy to traverse and a nice change from the traditional platformer gameplay formula.
The best things about Out of Line are definitely the beautiful hand-drawn 2D visuals and the atmospheric soundtrack. It’s what kept me going despite the lack of story and overly simplistic puzzles (for the most part).
The Good
- Gorgeous hand-drawn art style
- Great soundtrack
The Bad
- Lacks story
- Disjointed gameplay experience
- Puzzles don't offer any challenge
Conclusion
The puzzles don’t bring anything innovative into the genre and they’re very easy to solve. Apart from a few that require a bit more attention, there’s nothing really challenging about Out of Line. But what doesn’t work for an average gamer who loves puzzles games may work very well for a younger audience just looking for some fun.
Out of Line is a very short experience (it took me two hours to finish it), and while the length of a game shouldn’t define a game’s quality, I would’ve expected Out of Line to be at least a bit more fulfilling.
That being said, I would recommend the game to those who aren’t looking for overly complex puzzles and a deep, meaningful story. Out of Line is one of those games that won’t challenge puzzle enthusiasts nor appease players looking for an appealing narrative.
