During the first minutes of play, we do not really know on which planet we are landing and this thick fog takes a little time to dissipate. The handful of puzzles that must be solved after pushing open the garden gate sets the tone: the storyline of The Witness resides essentially in the multiple puzzles with which its hypnotic universe abounds, as well as in the few recordings on which it will be possible to get your hands on it by exploring the corners of the island. There is no living soul, as if the place where we are was cut off from our reality, as if it depended on another dimension. We can clearly see the remains of a human civilization here and there, but we will never have the opportunity to meet the slightest individual. Storytelling is an abstract concept here and it's all about the player's suggestions. The latter does not find himself locked in a straitjacket, has no common thread to follow and can therefore very well start with the puzzles scattered in the desert before tackling those of the mill, and vice versa. It's also a formidable trap set for us by the brilliant Jonathan Blow who takes malicious pleasure in having fun with the player's mind, so that it gets lost in the meanders of The Witness. In this colorful experience, the only limit is gray matter.
It's also a formidable trap set for us by the brilliant Jonathan Blow who takes malicious pleasure in having fun with the player's mind, so that it gets lost in the meanders of The Witness.
The Witness tests our sense of observation, but not only; we will avoid saying too much so as not to spoil the surprise effect. Quite simply, know that nothing is due to chance and that if such an element is in such a place, it is systematically for a very specific reason. What we can tell you, however, is that the resolution of the panels will go through the control of a white point that will have to be guided by drawing the appropriate symbols, all this from the clues left by the developers of Thekla. Equipping yourself with a paper and a pencil, or even your smartphone for the practical side, will not be too much if memorizing the elements is not your forte. And then, since the number of constraints for a single puzzle is growing, it's tense to remember everything without scribbling or photographing something. Most of the time, the panels are linked together and activating them one after the other will trigger lasers all converging on the top of the island. To be honest with you, there are still puzzles whose solution is far-fetched. We will not tell you which of course, but it is especially on this point that The Witness is the most frustrating. Worse, there are times when the logic of the puzzle will be well understood, but a bad perspective or an ill-adjusted angle means that we will remain stuck for long minutes on the same puzzle. Fighting is a natural reflex, but from time to time it is more judicious to let the tension drop, the solution being able to impose itself.
BRAINSTORMING
When things get complicated, one can also opt for an extra brain or two. In this case, it will be necessary to agree to share the glory. Like Bloodborne but in a different style, The Witness requires a lot of patience, perseverance, stubbornness, surpassing oneself to see the end of it, and each looped panel provides an exhilarating feeling of accomplishment. With its approximately 650 puzzles, the game clearly makes you sweat and the tears of rage were always about to flow. Finally, although it is not the priority for a title of this kind, the realization of The Witness – which is reminiscent of a certain No Man's Sky – is simply splendid. It's clean and chiadé at the same time, with a spectrum of shades that offers environments of incredible beauty. This mastery of colors and this singular atmosphere reinforce the impression of evolving in a world over which time has no influence. Everything is frozen: no rain, no twilight, no wind; just a nice blue sky, some clouds and some popping. And yet, without all these visual artifices, The Witness still manages to exercise a spell that is hard to break away from. As for the inspired level design, it encourages us to discover each secret that the island contains, an island that forces us to review our way of apprehending things on pain of losing our heads.
