Observation

Observation is a puzzle game developed by Scottish studio No Code and published by Devolver Digital that’s inspired by the phenomenal Stanley Kubrick movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey. A one of a kind experience, Observation is a sci-fi thriller game set aboard a space station. Similar in structure to the International Space Station — the station we explore in the game is aptly named Observation. Observation is composed of different modular rooms and interconnected with dimly lit hallways, similarly to what we’ve already seen in the chilling Alien: Isolation.

Lost In Space

Set aboard the desolate station, Observation lets you play as the station’s AI in order to find out what happened to the astronauts that used to roam it. Your other main objective is to transport the remaining living astronaut back to Earth.

Dr. Emma Fisher, the only survivor aboard the station, wakes up and finds that most of her teammates are missing. She tries to discover what happened to them with the help of SAM (Systems Administration & Maintenance) — the aforementioned AI.

After a glitch that pops up on your screen, ordering SAM to “Bring Her”. SAM transports the ship away from Earth’s orbit, leaving it stranded and orbiting around the planet Saturn. Similarly, to 2001: A Space Odyssey, the game also features a Monolith-like entity that exhibits a malicious presence.

Although it doesn’t fully fit the definition of a horror game, it’s still a creepy experience. Observation is a desolate empty spaceship, and exploring it often leaves you feeling on edge, despite the lack of jump scares. The dim lighting, the silence and the emptiness of the spaceship make exploring Observation a tense ordeal.

SAM (Systems Administration & Maintenance)

As SAM, you control all of the cameras, rotating them and zooming in and out, as you please. You’ll be using your interface as a way to link SAM up with any laptops, hatches or computers that you find — Trying your best to solve all of the issues that arise during your 8 hours playthrough. You’ll obey most of Emma’s commands such as opening locked hatches, finding out the source of a fire, activating safety systems and even some tasks that are much more sinister.

What’s interesting about the game and makes it such a joy to play is the fact that almost each interface, computer or system that you interact with has a unique and distinctive look and function. Each subsequent puzzle is different than the last. It’s worth noting though that their difficulty never scales up as you progress.

Let’s Move Around A Bit

You also get the chance to explore and move around by integrating or transferring SAM’s interface into a small mechanical sphere. Which you can use to rotate and move around the modular rooms of the station. You occasionally get the chance to step out of the airlock and fix a few issues from outside of the space station as well.

The silence is overwhelming as you explore the zero gravity environment against the background of Saturn’s hexagonal cloud patterns. These sequences provide some of the best moments of the game. The game’s graphics are a sight to behold. If it weren’t for the plastic looking character models, you could often mistake this game for actual real life footage.

During the prologue, Emma orders you to help her in locating and extinguishing a fire that has erupted in one of the many modules. As the game never properly teaches you the ropes, you’ll frantically go around trying to figure out what to do. It doesn’t punish you for failing to quickly finish the task Emma assigned you. However, she does scold you and shows her frustration towards you. No worries though, as by the time the prologue’s over, you’ll be already familiar with the mechanics of the game.

All On Your Own

Outside of this sequence and a few others, the game often lets you complete the objectives at your own pace. Which is a good thing since some of the latter game puzzles can get a bit confusing. Not because of their difficulty, but because you’re often left clueless on how to progress. Searching around for the next document to scan or the next schematic to find can often result in the player feeling as if they’re playing a game of pixel hunting.

The game does its best not to guide you, offering little to no assistance with the exception of a simple line that tells you your objectives. You also have the option to tell Emma to repeat her last command to you, but they’re often too vague. If for example, you were to ask Alexa or Siri to play a playlist of yours. You don’t tell her the exact steps, you just say, “Siri, play some music”. And that’s exactly the way Emma relays her commands to you. She’ll simply say, “open that locked hatch”, and as SAM, it’s up to you to figure out how to do it.

Is there a manual for that?

The puzzles can be compared to figuring out how to use a new machine or a new program that you just bought. Each of the mechanisms that you link up to in the game has a unique interface that you’ll have to figure out by yourself. If you’re the type to get easily frustrated when learning how to use a new software, then you ought to skip this game as you might easily run out of patience with it.

Although the puzzles aren’t that complicated, it sometimes can be challenging to know what it is exactly that you’re looking for. The game doesn’t hold the player’s hands, and it’s often left up to them to know what to do.

A Captivating Storyline

If we were to simplify it, Observation is essentially an intricate puzzle game that connects all of its individual puzzles to a thrilling atmospheric plotline. The story often moves at a good pace, with the exception of the few times in which the player can get stuck in where to go or what to do next. It throws many twists and turns at you throughout the few hours of gameplay. Ultimately, the ending delivers a satisfying payoff, which fits in perfectly with the themes and the genre of the game.

Style and Substance

The voice acting performances are stellar; you can hear the terror in Emma’s voice. SAM on the other hand, speaks in a cold and calculating manner, further incrementing the idea that he is simply a sophisticated computer devoid of any emotions.

The game wonderfully replicates the 80s aesthetic of movies like Terminator, Predator and Alien. The camera often glitches like a VHS tape and the whirring of the cameras moving around is pleasing to hear.

Overall,

Observation is an enjoyable experience from start to finish. A unique premise that delivers on its promises. The gripping storyline, the stylistic visuals and the creepy atmosphere make for an overall excellent game, despite its few hiccups here and there.

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You should play Observation if you:

• Enjoy figuring out how machinery and programs work
• Enjoy experiencing a unique premise
• Are a big fan of Sci-fi and media set in space
• Don’t mind the short length of the game
• Don’t mind being a bit frustrated at times

Observation’s Score

8.5/10