More and more developers decide to tackle current, important topics in their games. In this way, titles that are unique, as well as average or even bad. The Krillbite studio also took up this challenge by creating Mosaic – where on the scale did this production rank?
Beware of routine
Trailers announced that Mosaic would approach the topic of the gray world dominated by corporate routine in an interesting way. Initially, even the gameplay gave such an illusion.
Each day begins the same – with awakening our nameless hero from a nightmare. Quick tooth brushing and the way to work in a crowd of identical corpses. Every day there is an almost identical pointless task. Lunch, TV and sleep. Somewhere in the meantime, mindless clicking on the phone. All this is embellished with absurdity, which emphasizes that we should avoid such a way of life.
During the game, I thought I understood what was going on. I had my own interpretation of Mosaic as a story about paying attention to the colorful details of everyday life on the run to and from work. However, with each moment of the game’s passing, its message becomes more and more blurred. Especially that the mechanics do not support the plot in any way.
Clicking nonsense to understand the nonsense of clicking
While the story and message of the game are quite specific, unfortunately the gameplay completely contradicts them. In a production that tries to show us how bad everyday routine is, we actually have no influence on anything. The creators guide us by the hand, sometimes letting us click something and giving some apparent choices that don’t really change anything.
The game that removes the colorful envelope of mobile “clickers” at the same time rewards us with achievements for … mindless clicking BlipBlop – a game that involves clicking Blip to get a Blop. I caught myself up with the fact that instead of following the painfully linear story, I started clicking almost compulsively, expecting a twist. Anything that makes sense to build this mini-game into the actual game and create a real version of it for mobile devices.
Breaking down Mosaic into prime factors, you can actually come to the conclusion that instead of a linear, clicky gameplay for about 4 hours, we could as well get a 10-minute animation. It would work just as well – or even better.
Gray broken with color
However, this production cannot be denied – aesthetics. The graphic style is interesting and it managed to achieve what was missing in the game, i.e. correlation with the plot. The contrast between the gray corporeality and colorful details was great. In some scenes, it is worth just pausing for a moment to admire the composition and colors.
The soundtrack also performed well, harmonizing with the visual side and history. However, the creators did not attempt to record dialogues, of which there are very few in Mosaic . The game contains Polish subtitles.
The visual and sound setting resembles FAR: Lone Sails in many respects – is it intended? Hard to say; either way, that’s a big production advantage. In addition, the combination of graphics and music creates a somewhat depressing atmosphere.
Shallow artistic vision
Among the games that try to deal with important topics in an intriguing way, Mosaic unfortunately comes out very poorly. The plot even makes sense, but it completely lacks gameplay support for the production to actually have a deeper message.
The graphics and music are very successful and emphasize the gallows mood, but they are not able to save the linear and simple mechanics that completely contradict the story’s message.
Mosaic is a game for just a few hours, but considering that its plot could as well be presented in a short animation, it’s not worth spending even that much time on it.
You can buy the game at GOG.com
Nasza ocena: 6/10
An interesting idea, the implementation of which leaves much to be desired. A linear plot without gameplay support could as well be presented not as a game, but a 10-minute animation.SOUND: 7/10
STORY: 5/10
GRAPHICS: 8/10
PLAYABILITY: 4/10