by Omar (@siegarettes)
I love spaces. One of the most beautiful things about games is that they create spaces that can’t exist, then imbue them with a physicality through participatory friction. My favorite games lie in that illusion, in the intersection between the digital worlds in front of me and the physical contact of play. With Lumino City, State of Play has found another intersection, one between the digital and the real.
Lumino City is a space constructed from elements both digital and physical. Instead of model a world in the digital realm, State of Play has instead created one of physical, actual materials, then brought those into the digital space. It’s a novel method that means everything has real, actually weight and heft to it. It feels both surreal and entirely believable.
There’s a level of fidelity unique to Lumino City. There’s handyman’s workbook filled with page upon page of illustrations and notes. There’s a library, with unique books for each letter of the alphabet, and posters that line stations walls. The lighting, framing and shots are each carefully set, and the limits of the method ensure that there are no wasteful scenes.
These same limits mean the boundaries of the spaces are more obvious. Lumino City’s interface operates similarly to Machinarium, limiting you to interacting with only preset points and mechanisms. It works, but at times it gets a bit fussy about where you need to be pointing to. It’s at its worst when it needs you to do something with particular timing. While it does highlight points of interaction when needed, these moments proved to be the most frustrating, especially in contrast to the more languid pacing of the game. The methods to complete these puzzles feel fairly obvious once pointed out, but getting to that point proves to be a chore.
These moments are thankfully overshadowed by the experience of the whole. There’s a compassionate spirit to Lumino City. The journey through this tiny city is full of wonder. It’s thoroughly imaginative, and swollen with a compassionate spirit. Lumi, our protagonist, is a kind soul, and her adventure is littered with charming vignettes and good deeds. Puzzles often feel less like obstacles, but gestures towards other citizens, or simple moments of play. (There’s a fair share of mischief as well). There’s a heart to it.
There may be frustrations, but Lumino City is something good. Good hearted, well intentioned, and kind. It brings the feeling of exploring the best children’s books. Playful and warm, a pop-up book that expands into our world then runs free in our imaginations. Something nice to round off a year that’s felt ever so mean.