Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS
Developer: Calligram Studio
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: Calligram Studio
Back in the 1990s, the only way to get much of a plot from your video game was to play an adventure game. Those vintage Lucasarts and Sierra titles were jam-packed with dramatic plots and iconic characters, but as the medium progressed over time, this once-popular genre slipped into obscurity. As with other less popular genres of video games, we can always rely on independent developers to create something that appeals to a specific niche. PhoenixOur protagonist, Iris Dormer, is a straightforward tech journalist with one goal: to discover what happened to her missing brother. With little information to go on, Iris begins investigating his biography and pursuing every clue she can to discover her lost sibling. It’s a gritty noir adventure set in a somewhat grim future that finally leads you to the namesake desert oasis, where everything changes.
Our protagonist, Iris Dormer, is a straightforward tech journalist with one goal: to discover what happened to her missing brother. With little information to go on, Iris begins investigating his biography and pursuing every clue she can to discover her lost sibling. It’s a gritty noir adventure set in a somewhat grim future that finally leads you to the namesake desert oasis, where everything changes.
As you’d expect from an adventure game, you’ll need to scour areas and click on things to progress the tale. The game begins with you standing in a fairly empty room with a computer that you may use to investigate leads, but before you know it, you’ll be investigating abandoned university buildings, dodgy areas, and your brother’s house to find out where he went. The main difference is that instead of gathering stuff and applying them to other objects/people to advance, you collect thoughts.
Phoenix Springs may not have a vast inventory of rubber chickens and sci-fi doodads, but everytime you interact with something that provides new knowledge, a thought is added to your thoughts bubble. At the start of the game, all you have is Leo’s name, but dragging it into a terminal will quickly lead you to the institution where he teaches, an address where he has been mailing, and a plethora of other details. Using it on a bookshelf will look for books written by him, and so forth. It’s a really smart method to interact with the world that forces you to fully engage your brain, but it takes some getting used to if you’re used to modern games gently guiding you by the hand.
When you’re stuck, there are a few things you may do to assist you figure out what to do next, such as bringing a thought to Iris and seeing what she thinks of it. There is also no retracing to prior environments, so everything you need to think about is constantly immediately in front of you. Thoughts that are no longer required are also greyed out, so you don’t have to bother about door codes that were previously entered in later contexts. If the worst happens, the game provides a link to a comprehensive guide in the tips menu, and if the developers don’t object, there’s nothing wrong with using it.
The setting of Phoenix Springs is unlike anything I’ve seen in a computer game before. I was anticipating a very normal cyberpunk grim environment to explore, but it is more stranger than that. The first sign of this was at the abandoned university you discovered early on, where a bunch of ravers were participating in an insomnia event. To test their boundaries, this odd group intends to endure days without sleeping, relying solely on the power of music to keep them going. Iris is the grounding presence in this strange universe, interacting with what she sees without emotion. It’s an extraordinarily interesting combo, and it kept me interested throughout.
Around halfway through the game, the landscape and locales you visit change dramatically, and the game becomes far more surreal and abstract. I don’t want to ruin any of the plot twists, but I will say that they were unexpected and altered the game’s logic in a way that made it difficult for me to engage with my thoughts and the reality.
There’s a lot to like about Phoenix Springs, but one component that merits special mention is its visual flair. The minimalist visual style is unlike anything I’ve seen before, and the environments are really lovely despite the lack of detail. Small animations emphasize this even further and contribute significantly to the overall game experience.
Review Overview
Gameplay: 75%
Controls: 78%
Aesthetics: 87%
Content: 72%
Accessibility: 80%
Value: 74%
Overall: 77%
GOOD
Summary: “Phoenix Springs” is a graphically stunning point-and-click adventure set in a mystical and strange universe. One of its most notable features is its noir-inspired graphic design, which creates a somber mood that matches the narrative-driven gameplay. While the tale is engaging, the puzzles and gaming mechanics may appear unduly simplistic to more seasoned adventure game players. The controls are simple, however some interactions can feel clumsy at times. With a short playtime and little supplementary material, it provides an intriguing but brief experience. Overall, it’s a well-crafted game for gamers who prefer narrative-driven adventures, but its value may be determined by how much you admire its artistic flair.