This is some series B-movie inspired goodness!
Okay, so there are a number of problems with Albedo: Eyes From Outer Space, and while the score I gave it falls in the middle of the road, know that I would highly recommend this game to anyone that’s looking for an out there first-person adventure game. What’s truly incredible here is that this entire game was developed by a single person. Fabrizo Zagaglia has created a work of art that stands alone this year in terms of fun and originality. I’m serious when I say that there are major studios with floors of personnel that don’t come close to what Albedo brings to the table.
While it’s no secret that I am a fan of the strange and off kilter, I love Albedo: Eyes From Outer Space for what it tries to do as much for what it actually does. While Albedo could have benefited from having a small team to punch things up, it’s charm, story, and fresh take on an all but dead genre (Telltale Games isn’t a true adventure game maker anymore) make up for a number of issues. The story here is about as out of this world as the bad sci-fi B-movies that the game is inspired from were back in the 1950’s. You play as a lowly guard at a scientific facility as the evening is coming to an end and the staff is at a bare minimum. With you left to lock things up all hell breaks loose and you are dropped (literally) into the crazy world of Albedo.
You aren’t some space marine, or a special operator with precision skills, but you will have access to some weapons with very limited ammo. You also don’t have the smarts to use the high tech equipment around the labs, but you will have to use your logic skills to get through the games stages. The entire process is a ton of fun and the puzzles will really test you as the game progress. While I did get stumped at a few points (there is a great walkthrough that does its best not to spoil things too much when you need help) the solutions almost always had me saying, “That makes perfect sense now.” Some puzzles are a bit obtuse, but most of them should make sense with some serious thought given to them and your surroundings.
Flying saucers and eyeball creatures will make your path to answers a treacherous one, but you aren’t without the means to take care of yourself. While guns (there is really only one) and ammo are limited and really only used in predetermined points in the story, you do fight enemies along the way. Many objects that are scattered around can be used as makeshift weapons, but chances are that you’ll be outsmarting your enemies rather than taking them on one-on-one. You can die from combat in Albedo, but health packs are few and far between so you’ll have to be wary. In fact, I only came across them very late into the game when gun combat became necessary.
Gameplay is where things get a bit murky within Albedo. As this is a first-person adventure, you are going to be doing a lot of wandering around and exploring the small stages. The problem is that this isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Movement is awkward, and clipping issues will come up all over the place. The game gives you the ability to jump, though you only need to do it a few times, and this leads to clipping and your character getting temporarily stuck in objects. If you jump off an elevated height you can sometimes expect to be launched into the air like a rocket. If you play the game by the numbers, odds are you won’t have these issues often, but as this is an adventure game I love exploring every nook and cranny, thus exposing me to issues.
Also, whenever you use an item the camera zooms in which ends up causing headaches because of how often and the way it does it. You’ll also have to combine items to create tools and the like, but it isn’t always clear on how to do this. The game will sometimes hold your hand on many occasions (the easy setting will highlight interactive areas and objects), but other times it won’t tell you anything. I don’t mind calling up a walkthrough when getting stuck in adventure games, but many times I pulled it up out of frustration with not being given enough information.
In the graphics department things look dandy. Everything is slimy and thick with muck, and the world looks pulled right from a terrible 50’s B-movie. The engine used is competent, but I had to stop playing from time to time because I was getting sick. The camera will fly around and zoom in and out all the time causing nausea. I think this is a problem with the FOV used as it just doesn’t feel natural. If I could change one thing about Albedo it would be the FOV or at least incorporate some sort of slider function for it. This would easily make the game a much smoother play experience.
The voice acting here is pretty damn terrible, but that isn’t a knock against the game. I know that sounds weird, but the way lines of dialogue are given feel like a half dozen B-movies that I’ve seen riffed on MST3k. It’s so bad that it’s good and I looked forward to reaching new areas to see what ridiculous thing our hero would say next. The music is pretty good, but not something that you’ll remember after you finish. Sound effects on the other had are quite immersive. From dripping water to the clinks and clangs of machinery, Albedo’s sound design helps draw you in.
Albedo: Eyes From Outer Space has its issues, but those issues are balanced out by its unique style and presentation. Merge Games should also be commended for taking chances on projects that don’t fall into the mold of what big time publishers are churning out. If you are looking for a challenging first-person adventure game that’s based on the campy B-moves of the 1950’s, Albedo: Eyes From Outer Space comes highly recommended.
About Author
