Connect-the-dots puzzles that would be as simple as clicking and dragging on PC do not work as well on a handheld controller. When traveling across town by minecart, rail switches must be used to move over to a different set of tracks. When it comes to controls, the PS4 release of Obduction can be frustrating at times. It all comes together to create a powerful, immersive experience. Not only can you listen to eerie voice recordings of other people who had been dropped into the strange town, but you can read through pages of research. As in previous Cyan games, the detail is immaculate. Obduction starts out strong, with challenging puzzles and fascinating places to explore. Composers Robyn Miller and Hannah Gamiel nail the high-tension moments with perfectly-timed music. I could absolutely picture myself alone in the world of Hunrath.

The game feels mysterious and ominous the entire time. However, these FMV sequences are incorporated into Obduction seamlessly and thoughtfully. His distorted, static-filled FMV messages are reminiscent of those found in Myst’s red and blue books. The strange major has prepared for visitors like you by placing half a dozen projection machines around the area. You aren’t the first person to be dropped into town though. It’s up to you to figure out what happened and how to get back home. When the game opens, you find yourself plucked from a wooded camp site and placed into a strange, dusty town. Whenever I tell her about a cool new game I’m playing now, she always asks me, “Would I like it? Is it like Riven?” Obduction has big shoes to fill. When I was a kid, I’d stay up late playing Riven on our family PC with my mom. Nevertheless, I was thrilled when they released a PS4 version a couple weeks ago.

For some reason, we didn’t get our hands on a copy when Obduction launched on Steam last year. With enormous, colorful landscapes and challenging puzzles, Obduction is a strong followup to developer Cyan’s previous games, including Myst and Riven.

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