MONOWAVE…

MONOWAVE is a really lovely little game, and I think that is probably the easiest way to describe it.
It is a puzzle-platformer built around emotions, with each emotional state changing how you interact with the world and how you solve certain puzzles. It is a simple idea, but it works really well, and more importantly it actually feels like the whole game has been built around that idea rather than it just being something added on for the story.

What stood out to me most was just how much heart there seems to be behind it.
The whole thing feels very sincere. It is colourful, gentle, easy to understand and has a really positive message running through it about emotions and understanding them rather than trying to hide them or fight against them.
I also really like the fact that MONOWAVE started as a student project. That alone would have made me curious about it, but what is more impressive is that it does not really feel like something you have to make excuses for because it was made by students. It feels like a proper finished indie game.
There is a lot of personality in the art style too. It has this very clean illustrated look with bright colours and flashes of neon, and it suits the tone of the game really well. It is not trying to be dark or overly dramatic. It just has its own style and sticks with it.
The puzzle-platforming is enjoyable without being brutally difficult. The emotional abilities are easy to understand and you quickly get used to working out which one you need for different situations. I never really felt like the game was trying to catch me out for the sake of it, which I appreciated.

One of the best parts of my time with MONOWAVE actually had nothing to do with me.
My four-year-old was watching me play and became really interested in what was happening. He liked the colours, the characters and the movement, and after a while he wanted to have a go himself.
I handed him the controller.
That was my first mistake.
He absolutely loved it and then did not want to give it back.
So apparently MONOWAVE has passed the four-year-old approval test as well.
And actually, I think that says quite a lot about the game. It is not really a children’s game, but it is very approachable. The visuals are easy to understand, the characters are appealing and the general feel of it is very welcoming. At the same time, there is still enough going on with the puzzles and the themes for adults to enjoy it too.

I played a preview build, and by the end I came away really liking it.
It is not the deepest platformer I have ever played and it is not trying to be. If you want something extremely challenging, this probably will not be the game for you. But if you like puzzle-platformers with charm, a nice visual style and something a bit different mechanically, there is a lot to like here.
For me, the biggest compliment I can give MONOWAVE is that it just feels genuine.
It has a nice idea, it follows through on it properly, and it was clearly made by people who cared about what they were creating.
And considering I had to negotiate with a four-year-old to get my controller back, I would say it did its job pretty well.

WildStarGaming Scores: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆