Black The Fall

 Xbox One
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. TheXboxHub
    Aug 2, 2017
    90
    I love games that are clever, beautifully designed, tell an amazing story and make you feel for something or someone. Black the Fall ticks all my boxes.
  2. MondoXbox
    Jul 16, 2017
    83
    A captivating side-scrolling adventure, with great visuals and a varied gameplay supporting the intriguing narrative in a communist dystopy. Some controls could have been better refined, but it's not a big deal and the game is definitely suggested.
  3. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Sep 19, 2017
    70
    A satisfying if uninventive tribute to the new era of dark, narrative platformers.
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  5. TrueAchievements
    Jul 27, 2017
    70
    Black The Fall is an exaggeration of an Orwellian communist lifestyle but it's one that successfully drives a point home. This dystopia is bleak, it's miserable and like the anonymous protagonist, you don't want to spend any longer in it than you need. Bearing this in mind, the game's 2-3 hour length seems perfect. The platforming is responsive and the puzzles just challenging enough to make you think while not outstaying their welcome. There may only be one way of solving each puzzle, but then this fits in well with the restrictive regime that the game is depicting. It's a game that is worth experiencing once, even if it's a world to which you never want to return.
  6. IGN
    Jul 20, 2017
    65
    Sure, it could’ve done so with a bit more subtlety – it's a bit heavy-handed at the very end – but at least Black does have a point to make. It’s just a shame that it wrapped that in a game that’s so shamelessly and distractingly derivative.
  7. XboxAddict
    Aug 11, 2017
    62
    At $14.99 USD/$19.99 CAD, Black the Fall is a tough recommendation. On the one hand, it’s a decent video game with something interesting to say. On the other hand, it’s hard to see the value in such a price tag, as this is merely a two to three hour experience, and one that doesn’t have any replay value.
  8. Generación Xbox
    Jul 20, 2017
    60
    A communist aesthetics in an pure Orwellian atmosphere. 70 years have passed since 1984 but we can't get over it. Black the Fall means the return of the most classical dystopies applied this time in a videogame environment. An interesting tittle for all of those who loved Half Life, and, yes, of course, Inside.
  9. Windows Central
    Jul 18, 2017
    60
    Black the Fall might not hit the same level as the games it tries to emulate, but it does a damn good job of trying. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and found the puzzles to be varied enough to hold my attention, and difficult enough to be persistently rewarding.
  10. Xbox Achievements
    Jul 17, 2017
    60
    Taking on some heavy subject matter, Black The Fall has moments that will live in the memory once it's all over. And while Sand Sailor's game might be on the brief side and occasionally frustrating, it's also perfectly fine. But that's about the long and short of it.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 3 out of 10
  1. SenorKoquonfaes
    Feb 16, 2020
    6
    Full disclosure, I genuinely dislike talking about political themes in games. It's not something I'm particularly well-versed in and suchFull disclosure, I genuinely dislike talking about political themes in games. It's not something I'm particularly well-versed in and such discussions can result in a lot of **** from multiple parties. In my experience, a lot of political agendas in games come off as heavily contrived and are often met player backlash as a result. With Black The Fall, however, I sort of have to get into the politics of the game since it plays a big part in it's striking theme.

    The game is an indie, puzzle platformer game that's set during the oppressive Communist regime in Romania. Further research turned up that the face of Romania's communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu is displayed on giant TV's throughout the game and you can even find a subtle outline of the country in the main menu, just off to the bottom right of the bike. The game supposedly draws a lot of references to Romania's dark past and provides an interesting "what if" scenario regarding the Communist regime not being overthrown in 1989: the end of Nicolae Ceausescu's term as Communist leader.

    The core gameplay loop revolves around using stealth and puzzle solving solutions to navigate through factory floors, secret passage ways, an abandoned wasteland, a prison complex and ultimately escape. Throughout the game, you'll experience just how far an oppressive regime will to squash any dissenters and maintain order as NPCs are forced fed propaganda and are worked to the point of exhaustion and sickness.

    I felt that the games graphics were well done. The dark, imposing atmosphere that covers every colour on the grey spectrum do a great job of creating this drab and dreary environment that you want to escape from and never look back. The game also leverages the colour red to indicate security measures, which presents a threat to the player. Funny enough that the colour red has also been associated with Communism (the infamous "Hammer & Sickle").

    The game's runtime on a single play through is about 3 hours with very little replay value. Despite the shorter run time, the game still tells a pretty compelling story about refusing to no longer be a cog in an oppressive regime and plotting an escape. The game has a pretty demoralizing ending, considering everything the player has to go through to get to the end.    … Full Review »
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