Video Game Review - Faraday Protocol

Rob reviews Faraday Protocol on Xbox Series X...

The last couple of console generations have been kind for the puzzle game genre. Titles such as Portal, The Turing Test, and Relicta not only featured some pretty decent puzzle mechanics - they also had a fleshed-out story to them too! Now hoping to add to this legacy is Faraday Protocol - a first-person puzzle-adventure from Red Koi Box and Deck 13. 

Much like its forefathers, Faraday Protocol has quite the narrative mystery behind it. You play the role of galactic archaeology Raug Zeekon. Sent to investigate a strange signal, Zeekon is soon pulled into the machinations of the Opis. Now to unlock the mysteries of the planet Zeekon takes part in numerous trials and tests, that serve to feed the narrative over to both himself and the player. The overarching narrative is pretty interesting and it's drip-fed to you in bite-sized chunks. Not only does it keep you interested, but it also builds upon the mystery surrounding the Opis, and IRIS - the caretaker A.I. 

Much like other first-person puzzlers, gameplay revolves around moving from room to room, whilst having to solve puzzles of increasing difficulty. These vary from simply connecting switches, to having to match symbols whilst wielding elements. These actions are all utilised by using the Bia-Tool, a handy "weapon" that allows you to manipulate certain objects. The tool allows you to suck up either orange or blue orbs which will either power objects or link powered objects together. Much like that seen in Portal, you can only utilise one colour at a time and on occasion, you'll be scratching your head trying to figure out what to do next. 

From a visual standpoint, Faraday Protocol is gorgeous to look at. While each location utilises the same Egyptian style black and gold colour scheme, each offers a unique texture style. For example, the first area is quite sterile and clean with polished floors and gleaming lights. The second ziggurat however is a decaying mess, which certainly feels like it will collapse at a moments notice. These visuals work well as not only do they funnel you through the gameplay, they also enhance the atmosphere of the narrative. 

Another aspect that Faraday Protocol does well is its length. It took me roughly 6-hours to see the story through to its completion, which I felt was plenty enough. Of course, this is dependent on how well your puzzle solving game is, but either way the world-building and general atmosphere is worth getting lost in.

All in all, Red Koi Box and Deck 13 have delivered a competent puzzle game. The world-building and atmosphere are superb, and the mystery that surrounds the narrative is well written. The general gameplay - while taxing - is very rewarding. There's plenty of hidden collectables to find, which all brings more understanding to the central story. Visuals and sound are also of a high standard, with both fitting the sci-fi theme incredibly well. If you are a fan of solving intricate puzzles whilst discovering a vast narrative then Faraday Protocol is worthy of your time. 

Rating 7.5/10 

A code was kindly provided for this review.

Faraday Protocol is out now and can be purchased via the Microsoft Store by clicking here.

Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev