[Discovering Indies] Monument Valley

There is a discussion that seems to have no clear solution about whether video games can be considered art or not. It is a difficult terrain that I prefer not to travel in this analysis, but I did not want to fail to mention the topic when discussing the game that I will analyze and recommend on this occasion.

In Monument Valley We will guide Princess Ida through beautiful labyrinthine landscapes of impossible geometries in her search for forgiveness for something she has done. A simple story that we will learn about in dribs and drabs and that in its simplicity is as beautiful as the visual and musical section of the game.

Each of the 10 levels The game is a small work of art in itself. And the scenarios, presented with an isometric view, are strongly inspired by the art of M. C. Escher, German graphic artist known for his works in which he explores infinite dimensions within visual space and creates impossible structures that confuse the mind, deceive the eye, and appear both logical and natural.

The game mechanics are very simple: you must guide Ida along different paths until you reach the exit of the level. By tapping on an area of ​​the path Ida will walk there, as long as it is an area accessible to her from the point of view where you are located at that moment. And it is that The levels are 3D scenarios with 4 sides (not counting up and down, of course) and you can rotate the camera to see that same scenario from any of the 4 coordinates, thus managing to form paths where there were none before, thanks to the optical illusion generated by the change in perspective. Thus, if from one angle you are seeing a path that ends abruptly and then a column follows an abyss, at the same time change that point of view Suddenly the path and the column join together and form a new path to follow.

Does it sound strange? It is. But when you play it you can't help but smile when you discover that visual trick that will allow you to continue where it seemed impossible. play Monument Valley It feels like you have a little magic box in your hands, a perfectly constructed antique toy to treat with care and enjoy just looking at.

And pay attention, because as you can see in the video that I have posted up here, in Monument Valley Not only will you change the point of view from which you see the scene, but you will also you can alter its structure creating columns, moving objects, rotating part of the construction, or creating bridges. The areas where you will be able to perform special actions are easily recognizable thanks to the use of colored blocks that you must make Ida step on, or cranks that you must turn, or a set of circles on an area, which means that tapping there will allow you to turn a piece of the structure or reveal a buried column.

Obviously as you progress the difficulty will increase, having to go through more complicated mazes and deal with some raven-men whose only function is to get in our way. In several levels you will also have the help of Ida's friend: the totem. This friend will help you by acting as a link between two paths, as a step to reach a higher place, as a boat to cross an area with deep water, or even by stepping on a switch on the floor to keep open a door that is in another area of ​​the stage.

The music in this game is closely related to what we see on the screen and the actions we take, and this is noticeable from the first moment we touch an interactive element on the stage.

Ken Wong, artist and designer of the game, compared the story of Monument Valley with a song, more typical of symbolism than narrative, and stated that he gameplay It is designed so that the player discovers the objectives in the game through exploration and without direct guidance. He also said that in the visual design he aspired to make each scene of the game an image worthy of being shown to the public, something that we can do ourselves in each level, thanks to an option that will allow us to save the image and share it with one of our contacts or through social networks.

But not everything is perfect in this game, and the biggest flaw it has is its short duration. The developer, Ustwo, states that The average time to complete the 10 levels is 1 hour and 34 minutes, and that is very little time for a video game, even considering that it is intended for mobile phones. The very concept of the game means that replayability also practically does not exist. There have been many complaints from users regarding this, and there was never a response from Ustwo until the end of April of this year, where they stated that they are working on the design of new levels, although they said that they only do it for artistic reasons, to introduce ideas that at first they did not know how to implement and that now they would like to see in operation.

The development of the game took 10 months, and it has been so well received by the public that in just two weeks it managed to recover the cost of its production. He was praised by various media, demonstrating again that a video game can not only entertain but also make design the main tool to create and provide a unique audiovisual experience.

Monument Valley It won the 2014 Apple Design Award, and as of early July this year it has already surpassed one million downloads.

December 2014 update: the game has received some updates that have corrected small bugs and, most importantly, additional content that extends its useful life, increasing the duration practically double.