Pneuma: Breath of Life

Pneuma: Breath of Life didn't completely rock our world, but it did make for a captivating and satisfying afternoon in front of the television. If puzzle adventures are your thing and you don't mind linear progression, there's a lot to like here. From clever challenges to sleek visuals, playful humor to a stimulating theme, as long as you can stomach the thought of your hand not being held, it's a pretty entertaining ride from start to finish. But it should be clearly stated that this isn't the type of game that will appeal to everyone, so be sure that you've read our review thoroughly before ...

In Pneuma: Breath of Life, you are a god. Not a deity, not a Kanye West-style god - you're the creator of the universe, omnipresent and omnipotent in all your glory. Yet for some reason, you don't have access to all of these powers; you merely walk around jaw-droppingly rendered Roman-style chambers and halls, pulling levers, pressing buttons, and completing puzzles. But why? Surely, as a god, you're in control of the world, so why are some areas locked away from you?

Although the game boils down to a walking sim with a puzzle component, the unique setting and mechanics make it worth a playthrough. The game suffers a bit from the power of its primary mechanic because looking around becomes a real risk in the middle of puzzles. Averting the player's gaze to admire one of the room's beautiful lighting effects or intricate marble stonework could set off a chain reaction that closes a door or makes a staircase fall out of place and forces players to start over at the beginning of the room. Proceed with caution and keep your eye on the prize.

Pneuma: Breath Of Life is a game that I urge you to experience. It’s not perfect, but in a way that fits entirely with its own outlook, and its effectiveness as a story is both thought-provoking and surprising. Pre-conceptions aside, it is certainly an intriguing and unique title that explores elements of philosophy and life often left untouched by gaming.

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Pneuma can appear pompous and over-reaching, and those who buy it for the puzzles alone will walk away disappointed. As a package though, it's worth checking out.

However, impressive aesthetics and weighty mental gymnastics aren’t enough to compensate for puzzle design that becomes a slog before long. It’s a shame because Pneuma boldly asks questions about player agency, but in ways that are bogged down in tedium.

Pneuma: Breath of Life should have been the kind of game you turn to between Call of Duty sessions, but instead it's a slightly insipid, short-lived and ultimately disposable puzzler. Console gamers like us are crying out for games like these, but Pneuma really isn't it.