{"id":7169,"date":"2021-02-06T13:00:52","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T11:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/playlab.uta.fi\/?p=7169"},"modified":"2021-02-06T13:00:52","modified_gmt":"2021-02-06T11:00:52","slug":"horace-a-robot-to-remember","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/horace-a-robot-to-remember\/","title":{"rendered":"Horace – A robot to remember"},"content":{"rendered":"

Horace is a story-rich platformer that is heavy in dialogue. Everything is narrated by the robotic voice of Horace themselves and he tells the story of their journey. It started with a seemingly simple task; cleaning up a million things. A task they were given from their mentor when pondering the meaning of their existence.\u00a0 However, soon after finding a purpose for their life, a tragedy occurs, and Horace malfunctions. They lose consciousness and wake up sometime in the future, where things have gone awry. Not much is revealed to the player at first but there has been some kind of a robot war. Small hints are given to the player about the origins of the war, Horace seems to have been some sort of a robot prototype for a less sentient but much more dangerous, weaponized killing machine.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>story of Horace<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>rich<\/span>\u00a0in pop-culture\u00a0<\/span>references<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>clever<\/span> one-liners,<\/span>\u00a0and some\u00a0<\/span>existential<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>questions<\/span>. Most of the time it plays like a typical platformer. A lot of ways to mess up<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>need very<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>precise<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>jumping<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>succeed<\/span> and some stages can leave the player stuck for unnecessarily long times<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Overall<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>though<\/span>, I feel the difficulty of Horace is quite easy, perhaps a little too easy for my taste. Especially after I started to figure out how the gravity boots work. Changing the way gravity works being one of the main characteristics of the gameplay. <\/span>I\u00a0<\/span>was<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>expecting<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>game<\/span>\u00a0t<\/span>o\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>more<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>teeth<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>grinding<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>less<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>storytelling<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>but<\/span>\u00a0I\u00a0<\/span>was<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>disappointed<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>find<\/span>\u00a0it\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>other<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>way<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>around<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Besides<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>platforming<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>puzzles<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>game<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>has<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>large<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>number<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>all<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>kinds<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>minigames<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>When<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Horace<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>feeling<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>stressed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>they\u2019ll<\/span>\u00a0play\u00a0<\/span>drums<\/span> to clear their head in a guitar hero-like minigame.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>When<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Horace<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>needs<\/span>\u00a0money in\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0city\u00a0<\/span>they<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>can<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>do<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>plenty<\/span> of varied work<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>from<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>brick<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>making<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>drying<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>dishes. The number of minigames within Horace is quite immense, and this is not a bad thing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Some\u00a0<\/span>scenes<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>Horace<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>absolutely<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>beautiful<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0music is\u00a0<\/span>great<\/span>. At\u00a0<\/span>times<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Horace<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>gets<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>fly<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>through<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0air\u00a0<\/span>when<\/span>\u00a0a version of \u201c<\/span>floating<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0air\u201d is playing in a\u00a0<\/span>clear<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>reference<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0classic\u00a0<\/span>snowman<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>movie<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>The<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>game<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>filled<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>uch<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>scenes<\/span>\u00a0and I\u00a0<\/span>really<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>enjoyed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>them<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>At\u00a0<\/span>times<\/span>\u00a0I\u00a0<\/span>felt<\/span>\u00a0some\u00a0<\/span>stages<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>too<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>repetitive<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>though<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>had<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>put<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>game<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>down<\/span>. I\u00a0<\/span>would<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>still<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>recommend<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>like<\/span>\u00a0me\u00a0<\/span>who<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>enjoy<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>platformer<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>games<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>also<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>provide<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>good<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>story<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

GAME INFO:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Developer<\/span><\/b>:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Paul Herman and Sean\u00a0Scaplehorn<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Publisher:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>505games<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Released<\/span><\/b>:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>July<\/span>\u00a018, 2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Platforms<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>PC<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Genres<\/span><\/b>:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Platformer, Adventure, Action<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pegi<\/span><\/b>:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>R\/P (rating\u00a0<\/span>pending<\/span>) I\u00a0suggest\u00a07<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Picture<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>1<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>Using a boat to\u00a0<\/span>travel<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>abroad<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>by<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Sciere<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Picture 2:\u00a0<\/span>screenshot was<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>taken<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>by<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>author<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Picture<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>3<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Bullet<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>hell<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>boss<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>fight<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>by<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Sciere<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Picture<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>4<\/span>: \u201c<\/span>A mini-<\/span>game<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>where<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Horace<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>taught<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>how<\/span>\u00a0to play\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>drums<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Guitar<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Hero<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>style<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>by<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Sciere<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Time\u00a0travel,\u00a0bullet\u00a0hells,\u00a0rhythm\u00a0games,\u00a0platforming\u00a0and\u00a0so\u00a0much\u00a0more.\u00a0Horace\u00a0gives\u00a0the\u00a0player\u00a0way\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0they\u00a0would\u00a0expect.\u00a0\u00a0What\u00a0starts\u00a0as a\u00a0more\u00a0traditional\u00a0pixel-art\u00a0game\u00a0soon\u00a0evolves\u00a0into\u00a0something\u00a0much\u00a0bigger.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":7173,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[247,246,206,173,388,292],"class_list":["post-7169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-reviews","tag-action","tag-adventure","tag-digital-games","tag-games","tag-pc","tag-platformer","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/86"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7169\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/playlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}