🎨 Review: GRIS (Nintendo Switch) - "A work of art" 🎨 #GameDev

I’m a massive fan of video games that don’t overcomplicate and that leave a lot of the story to a players imagination and interpretations.

When I think of platform games that accomplish this the best then LIMBO and INSIDE from Playdead are my go-to reference points for these type of games.

They effortlessly take you through a story whilst not bogging you down with too many mechanics and storyline and yet they manage to convey something that draws the player into the game world.

For me, GRIS is treading into that space of video game that LIMBO, INSIDE, Journey and Flower occupy as it artistically plays out a story through the use of music and watercolour visuals whilst you work your way through a platform game made up of puzzles that will normally see you utilising the mechanic that you have learned on that particular level.

It’s a dreamlike experience that immediately got my attention as it switches from dream to nightmare scenarios as the player appears to play out a scenario whereby she is trapped by loss and seems to be grieving. The game's visuals are truly a work of art and are almost impressionist in their abstract nature and yet they are also strangely familiar. You can find yourself just staring at a level’s beauty before you venture into the work of solving the puzzles for that level.

The animation and music are melded together elegantly and truly make for an experience that is strangely serene and almost Zen-like at times. I was almost in a trance at one point whilst beginning to play this beautifully made video game.

The only problem with this game is that the gameplay and level design does become slightly repetitive at times. Maybe you could possibly level a criticism that it’s overly simple or maybe it’s actually slightly too long for such a simple experience?

For me, it’s a battle between the artistic tendencies and the gameplay choices that the game makes. But even after levelling that criticism at this game there is still something so worth playing this game for. I’m the kind of person who likes to experience different experiences in my video games. I’m happy playing a 100+ hour open world game followed by a simple platformer that I can bash away at for 30 minutes.

Summary

For me, GRIS is the inbetweener game that I’m playing as an antidote to hours spent in the wilderness of RDR2. It’s a nice relaxing platformer that you shouldn’t rush. Just try and soak it up and play it at your own pace and you’ll get the best out of it.

I think you should give GRIS a chance to just to experience something that takes chances in terms of visuals and leaves a mark on you that you will not forget. Overlook its simplicity and just take in that work of art to see what your interpretation is…

Right, I’m off to grab a paintbrush and try my hand at painting a watercolour version of Wonder Boy In Monsterland...

💧❄️ RATING: MELTING ❄️💧

Ratings Explained

ICE COOL (Great Game Recommended)

MELTING (Recommended with reservations, one to consider if you are a fan of the genre)

MELTED (Not A Recommended Purchase)