Unbound: Worlds Apart

Clichéd and predictable story might not be Unbound’s strong point, but the level design and mechanics definitely are. Behind the game’s fairy-tale charm, fantastic visuals and great music you’ll find masterfully crafted and challenging gameplay. This Romanian indie gem is not only highly polished, but also wonderfully varied and exciting from start to finish. [10/2021, p.76]

From Ori and the Blind Forest’s difficulty to Limbo’s puzzles and aesthetic, Unbound displays its inspirations with aplomb. On top of the innovative gameplay mechanics, the game’s art style, monster designs, and narrative are all fantastic. For fans of puzzle-platforming or gorgeous narrative aesthetic, Unbound: Worlds Apart shouldn't be missed.

I wish that the game could have created a better shell for the entire experience. I like the look of the characters and the world, but it does need a little more variety. And the fantasy-driven story feels a little undercooked. The gameplay in Unbound: Worlds Apart is good enough to keep fans of the genre entertained, especially if they love the occasional challenge. But future titles from Alien Pixel Studios need a little more when it comes to narrative to deliver a truly great gaming experience.

Unbound's graphics are undeniably one of its strengths, but that's not all the title has to offer. It's a classic and effective platformer and puzzle game that also brings a constantly renewing gameplay based on an effective concept relying on portals allowing to exploit unique and interesting physical properties. With many good ideas to support it, Unbound knows how to be exciting and addictive.

Despite being a Metroidvania in a market overflowing with games like it, Unbound manages to surprise in many different ways. It has a very interesting portal mechanic, plus an awesome soundtrack. Paired with challenging gameplay, this makes Unbound: Worlds Apart a short and neat experience.

Unbound does not try to dazzle you with its visuals or gameplay ideas, but it doesn’t really need to. It’s more than enough that it provides familiar abilities albeit executed cleverly and platforming with high levels of challenge, but being fair at the same time.

Unbound: Worlds Apart is a refreshingly original platformer, as its portal mechanic makes for some genuinely creative and challenging puzzles. The platforming is also bolstered by this same portal mechanic. The game is also quite gorgeous, thanks to its hand drawn art style. The way that the portals reveal another side of the world worked to make exploring that much more exciting. Alien Pixel Studios’ Unbound: Worlds Apart is an impressive outing from the indie developer and one of my favorites of the year so far.