Publisher: Ayopa Games
Price: $3.99/£2.49
Description: A Werewolf Comedy Puzzle Adventure
Fullscreen Support |
Mouse Support |
File Size |
Launch Date |
Required Specifications |
Yes |
All (Keyboard Control) |
134 MB——- |
19th April 2012 |
None Specified
|
Rating
Pros: A simple puzzle game that’s easy to pick up, good level progression, highly entertaining.
Cons: Puzzles get murderously difficult, odd control scheme.
Review
MacGuffin’s Curse is a different kind of beast. This charming 2D adventure game follows Lucas MacGuffin as he burgles a museum and slips up, managing to bring a curse upon himself which transforms him into a hideous werewolf. He has to learn to control his new ability in order to solve several single-room puzzles (of which there are 150 in total) and try and lift the curse placed on him. Along the way, Lucas meets several other interesting characters, which the gives the game an opportunity to inject some much-needed personality in the form of some witty and humorous dialogue.
Being a professional thief helps Lucas when it comes to solving puzzles. He often has to climb through windows, switch off burglar alarms, get around obstacles and move heavy objects. MacGuffin’s human body isn’t strong enough to move some objects so he has to resort to his werewolf form to help with the more superhuman aspects of the game. All of this can get pretty tricky as the werewolf has weaknesses of its own. For starters, he can’t swim, nor does he have the dexterity to work the tiny buttons on electronic panels.
However, MacGuffin’s linear level design can seem a bit constricting at times. Puzzles must be solved in order and there is only one way to solve each one. But that’s where the story really helps to hold it all together. Another quibble is with the controls. The entire game is controlled with the keyboard and the keys can’t be changed. It’s not hard to learn but the use of unnatural keys like ‘m’ and ‘n’ isn’t particularly ergonomic.
When it comes down to it, the puzzles and story are where you are going to enjoy MacGuffin’s Curse the most. It isn’t the most beautiful puzzle game out there but the carefree plot and interesting puzzle mechanic makes it a joy to play.
