Ugly Preview Steam Next Fest 2023 (PLAYDEAD MEETS BRAID)
12Puzzle platformers typically fall into two categories: atmospheric and puzzle forward. The atmosphere centric ones include games like Limbo, Inside, Little Nightmares and Planet of Lana. These games are more interested in telling a story and creating a world for you to get immersed in. The puzzle aspect only slightly serves as a way to further the plot. The ones with puzzles at the forefront are games like Braid where the main focus is bending your brain to figure out the solution to get to the next puzzle.
Ugly feels like a hybrid of these two types as the puzzles are at the forefront, but it also has a strong dark undertone that feels influenced by playdead and little nightmares as you are battling inner demons and repressed trauma. Then you add in the alcoholism as the character uses the bottle to black out and rewind mistakes and you have something truly dark and twisted.
The juxtaposition of this tone with the stunning art style, along with the unique mirror mechanics, combined with the addition of huge boss battles promise a very original experience, which is hard to do in this genre.
The only downside was that the experience ends right before getting to battle the first boss. This is unfortunate as this could tilt the scales in either direction. Great boss battles could create a cohesive and engaging experience but if they are unfair or lacking fun, it could take a potentially amazing game and sour the experience.