What Lies in the Multiverse Review (PS4)

good
key review info
  • Game: What Lies in the Multiverse
  • Platform: Playstation 4
  • Show system requirements
  • Reviewed on:
What Lies in the Multiverse key art

Are there parallel universes? Is it really possible to have an infinite number of versions of yourself in different words? Is there a real danger to the space and time continuum in asking these questions? Who better to answer than a PhD graduate mentored by a magician from a parallel world in game that tries to find balance between humor and drama, while challenging you to a platformer experience different from most the games out there.

What Lies in the Multiverse is a joint venture between Studio Voyager and IguanaBee, a game that is a puzzle platformer with stylish pixel art graphics. It is a tale that starts very light but takes unexpected turns that will try to provoke an emotional reaction. But it all starts in a not so well-lit room, with a student writing a scientific paper about the parallel universes supervised by a cat who couldn’t care less. When our hero finds himself on a top of a mountain surrounded by Buddhist monks, he realizes that he is not in Kansas anymore.

To his rescue comes a colorful character that seems to have escaped from a Doctor Seuss story, but proves to be a magician, Everett with a hidden agenda that hinges on maintain a relative order in the multiverse. While taking on our young hero as student, Everett’s secret will unfold in an adventure that reminds us for several reason about Rick and Morty. It is not just the dynamic of the duo, but also the humor style that does not shy away from foul language.

What Lies in the Multiverse
What Lies in the Multiverse
What Lies in the Multiverse
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Beyond the inspired story and witty dialogues, that remains one of highlights of the game, What Lies in the Multiverse is a puzzle platformer. At least in title, since most puzzles involve quick reflexes and object manipulation. Beyond the jumping heavy puzzles, the developers built in a crucial gameplay twist: the ability to manipulate the environment by shifting the parallel universes.

The basic idea is simple: get from the starting point to the end point of the level, overcoming apparently impossible obstacles. Sometimes it involves finding the right or puling the correct lever, but it will always involve manipulating your environment by shifting into a parallel dimension. This way a wall that blocks your path disappears or you can shift around boxes to reach higher ground.

The key mechanic remains the ability to shift almost at any time between two parallel worlds. All of the puzzles rely on this ability: to bend the surrounding world in a way that helps you achieve your goal. This simple basic idea serves as a foundation for increasingly difficult puzzles that although have a smooth learning curve, make no mistake, will send you scratch your head for a solution. Things become complex enough for you not to miss a third or a fourth universe. Being a platformer, in solving the puzzles an important role will have your timing and precision.

Some of these puzzles push the need for timing your jumps and lending extremely precisely into an area of frustration. Especially that the control scheme is rather loose and leaves plenty of room for error. Fortunately, these nerve eating challenges are an exception rather than a rule for What Lies in the Multiverse. Even with all the teeth grinding moments, the game can be finished in a couple of hours and unfortunately beyond going back for some collectibles you might have missed there is no real replay value.  

The graphic of the game is minimalist at best, but that does not mean it does not look good. Being part of the retro wave riding our nostalgia, What Lies in the Multiverse has a gorgeous pixel art style with some elements that actually manage to stand out. There is a sharp contrast between the two parallel universes, and the atmosphere is wonderfully sustained by the graphics that adapt to the different danger zones.

Also, technically the game has some issues that may hinder your progress completely. The lack of manual saves and the fact that you only have one save file may send you back to start again hoping to avoid it in the next run. If you didn’t already lose your appetite by this point.

What Lies in the Multiverse
What Lies in the Multiverse
What Lies in the Multiverse
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The Good

  • Character and story development
  • Minimalist but beautiful art style
  • The twist of changing worlds

The Bad

  • Issues with save files
  • Loose control scheme
  • Platformer-heavy puzzles

Conclusion

What Lies in the Multiverse is a short, but intense experience. Unfortunately, the fun is overshadowed by the loose control scheme and the fact that not even the latest patch fixes the issues of the corrupt save file. It is too bad, especially since the character design and the dialogues are quite inspired.

If you prefer games that focus more on reflexes than puzzles, What Lies in the Multiverse can be an interesting option after a few more patches. If you are hoping for a puzzle heavy game, not even the story will make you consider this title twice.

Review code provided by the publisher.

story 8
gameplay 6
concept 6
graphics 8
audio 7
multiplayer 0
final rating 7
Editor's review
good
 
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What Lies in the Multiverse screenshots (21 Images)

What Lies in the Multiverse key art
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