(REVIEW) Full Void is a Great Pixel-Art Game That's Out of This World

by Gamatroid 🕹️ 

 

Full Void is a gripping, retro-inspired 2D cinematic puzzle-platformer set in a dystopian future where AI has taken over humanity. A short game in handcrafted pixel art, experienced in a film-like journey.

 

 GAME FACTS

• TITLE: Full Void
• RELEASE DATE: 11/30/2023
• MSRP: $14.99
• DEVELOPER: OutOfTheBit Ltd
• PUBLISHER: OutOfTheBit Ltd
• PLATFORMS: PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC
• PLAYED ON: PlayStation 5

 

In a dystopian future, a rogue AI has seized control of humanity, leaving a crumbling world where adults are subjugated and only children remain free. Players control a scared young teenager navigating this hostile, abandoned landscape, through ruined cities and eerie labs, to uncover the truth behind the broken society and challenge the AI's grip.

 

Gameplay revolves around a 2D cinematic puzzle-platformer structure with no traditional side-scrolling. Progression occurs screen-by-screen, often requiring leaps of faith between static scenes. The core loop combines precise platforming (jumping, climbing, grabbing ledges), environmental puzzles (manipulating valves, lifts, steam vents), high-tension chase sequences from robotic enemies, and hacking mechanics. 

 

Hacking involves accessing terminals to program a spherical companion robot, inputting commands on a grid interface to direct it for actions like moving objects, activating switches, or distracting foes, enabling tandem puzzle-solving.

 

RETRO ROOTS

Full Void is explicitly positioned as a spiritual successor to iconic cinematic platformers of the '80s and '90s, channeling the perilous, trial-and-error platforming and atmospheric tension of Another World (aka Out of This World), the fluid rotoscoped animations and puzzle-platforming of Prince of Persia, and the shadowy, enemy-chase dread of Flashback. 

 

Out of This World

 

It also echoes Heart of Darkness in its vulnerable child protagonist fleeing nightmarish mechanical foes through desolate environments. 

 

Heart of Darkness

Modern twists like programmable robot companions and generous checkpoints update these classics without diluting their cinematic, screen-based pacing.

REVIEW

Gameplay & Mechanics

The grid-based movement snaps the character square-to-square for deliberate, rhythmic precision in four-directional jumps and climbs, which can feel initially rigid or clunky but soon becomes intuitive, prioritizing tense timing over twitch reflexes to enhance the cinematic experience. While heavily derivative of retro platformers, the mechanics stand out with a clever cerebral layer from the hacking and programming mini-game, where players command a robot ally for creative environmental manipulation; challenges scale effectively through chases and logic puzzles, delivering satisfying "aha" rewards balanced by generous modern checkpoints that curb rote frustration. Replayability remains minimal, however, as the linear 2-3 hour journey offers no branches, collectibles, or post-game content; though that could be appealing for speedrunning.

 

Visuals & Art Direction 

Crisp hand-drawn 16-bit pixel art excels in fluid custom animations, dynamic lighting, and intricate details of urban decay, running smoothly at high frame rates to heighten dread via static screens and "leap of faith" transitions that amplify the atmosphere. The art direction shines through a masterful dystopian palette of gloomy grays and blues pierced by harsh reds, evoking profound isolation and oppression while blending retro nostalgia with subtle 3D illusions for added depth; every frame meticulously composed like a cinematic storyboard.

Story & Narrative

A haunting tale of rebellion emerges through environmental storytelling and brief, wordless flashbacks that contrast a joyful past with the AI's tyrannical present, fostering a subtle emotional bond between the nameless teen protagonist and their robot companion; while engaging, the archetypal plot and characters suffer from the game's brevity, limiting deeper development. The purely visual narrative, delivered via animations and visions, proves effective for immersion, though it occasionally leaves motivations feeling vague without textual or voiced support.

 

Audio & Music

Sparse sound design, from echoing drips and mechanical whirs to horror stings on deaths, crafts an unrelenting tension that pulls players into the immersive environment, perfectly complemented by the original Amiga MOD soundtrack's moody retro synth waves, which swell memorably during chases to underscore the lonely horror without ever overpowering the action.

Technical Performance

The game proves rock-solid in stability and optimization across platforms, with no crashes, lightning-quick load times, and fluid performance even in handheld mode. Its minimalist user interface delivers an intuitive experience, from the clean grid-based terminal hacking to forgiving yet thematically integrated checkpoints, all contributing positively without distraction. (The game has no multiplayer components.)

 

Innovation & Originality

Full Void refreshes its niche genre with inventive robot-programming puzzles and grid-hacking mechanics that add fresh cerebral depth to classic platforming, distinguishing it from pure retro clones while faithfully honoring its inspirations. Though its cultural impact remains minor as a small indie debut, it's widely praised as a "new classic" homage with potential to spark similar revivals.

  

Value vs Price

For $14.99, the 2-3 hours of polished, atmospheric intensity offer solid value tailored to fans of the genre, where quality and tight execution outweigh sheer quantity; though the brevity curbs broader appeal. Luckily, the experience is unmarred by DLCs or microtransactions. Since the game is older at this point, you can likely get it on sale if you keep an eye on it.

SCORE: 8 

(out of 10) 

Verdict

 

Full Void delivers a refined, atmospheric tribute to cinematic platformer greats, excelling in stunning pixel art, tense pacing, and clever hacking twists that make its short runtime punch above its weight. Minor clunk in controls and narrative shallowness prevent greatness, but it's a thoroughly enjoyable, replayable gem for retro fans.

Critical Consensus

• 8/10 - Gamatroid
• 7/10 - Metacritic (68/100 raw score)  
• 7/10 - OpenCritic (71/100 raw score)  
• 7/10 - Nintendo Life  
• 7/10 - TheSixthAxis  
• 7/10 - TheGamer (70/100 raw score)

 

You can watch my beginning gameplay of Full Void in the YouTube video below:

 

You can read about how our reviews work here.