EQI

Genre: First-Person Platformer

Players: 1

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Review:

EQI, released on PC and Nintendo Switch in 2021, is a First-Person Platformer with elements of Puzzle-Platform games. Players must navigate to an exit in each level, usually by manipulating the level itself, which rotates at 90-degree angles around a green laser beam.

The presentation here is pretty basic, but works well enough for the gameplay, featuring simple 3D visuals that are largely in geometric shapes depicting an abstract environment. This is backed by an electronic soundtrack that works well for the game. Without being especially memorable.

The main “hook” to EQI is its core mechanic – players can rotate the entire world 90 degrees in either direction by pressing ZL or ZR, and must work their way to the exit in each level using this. At times, players will have to rush through a gauntlet as the walls close in on them, at times they’ll have to solve a spatial puzzle, at times they’ll have to use the motion of the spinning world to create momentum they’ll need to cross a gap, and there are some levels that use a combination of these elements. When at its best, this game feels uniquely clever in how this element works, and at its very best the player feels clever too, once they solve a tough puzzle.

There are a few problems here though. Firstly, even when running, the game’s movement speed feels sluggish. Also, it’s not always easy to tell how everything is moving in relation with each other, and I feel like more environmental detail, perhaps even some lighting or atmospheric effects, might help this matter. Certainly at the game’s size of 1.229GB it could have managed a bit more to make its visuals easier to parse when things get moving.

Also, this is a pretty short game, less than an hour or two long depending on how long you get stuck on the game’s levels. However, this is somewhat more forgivable as the price tag is only $5. Still, I can’t help but feel like this game only just touches on its core concept, and could have done a lot more with it.

Still, if you’re looking for a fun, puzzling First-Person Platformer for under $5, EQI is a pretty decent buy. It certainly has areas that could do with improvement, and it really feels like it could have been expanded into a bigger game, but for its price, it’s an enjoyable take on the genre.

tl;dr – EQI is a First-Person Platformer where players spin the entire level around a laser, and must use this to reach the exit. This game makes some good use of its concept, and although it feels a bit limited, it’s also under $5 so it’s hard to complain too much. While it definitely has its rough edges, this is still a decent game that should be entertaining while it lasts.

Grade: C+

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