Review: Proteus PlayStation Edition

Proteus is a game about exploration and immersion in a dream-like island world where the soundtrack to your play is created by your surroundings. Played in first-person, the primary means of interaction is simply your presence in the world and how you observe it.

 

Pros:

• The graphics may look blocky and pixelated but this is the charm of Proteus and to all the old school players out there, This feels and looks good. Screenshots will not do the game justice as you really need to see these blocky looking trees sway in the wind or a swarm of bees flying around.
• The game is what you make it, In the sense that there is no clear goal to follow, No enemies to kill or people to talk to. Its just you and nature on a randomly generated world.
• Nearly everything whether it be a tree animal or crab, Most of the inhabitants of the island will eject noise. This could be a simple note or it could be part of the song. Thats part of its lore, What are you doing and why are these frogs singing to me and running away?
• Find signs,monuments,gravestones,ponds,rivers,singing flowers. The list of inhabitants is a long one and you are in complete control.
• Take screenshots with your in game camera on the Vita and PS3, These save as postcards and also act as a save. For if you were to pick a postcard, You will be instantly taken to that scene. Really handy later on I can tell you.
• The Vita version has back touch pane integration but doesnt come into effect until much later in the game. It does have free look unlocked straight away. Press L shoulder button and you unlock it so you see on screen what ever your Vita is pointing at. It does have touch screen support but to save giving anything away, You will have to see what it does yourself.
• The game is beautiful and just calling it a game is wrong in a way. For you dont actually do anything closely related to gaming except using a pad or console. You make up the story, You roam around as much or as little as you like. The game ends but not in a “here is the credits well done now wait for dlc” way. The game encourages you to try new things, Be different and most of all relax.
• Unlock hidden secrets of the islands as you traverse its lands over the four seasons. Find the snow capped mountains or the babbling brook by the forest.
• The soundtrack is so immersive, Best experienced on Vita with headphones plugged in.
• Cross buy and cross save is available on the game.

 

Cons:

• Not everyone will “get” Proteus. The lack of guidance or end game will have a lot of players baffled and confused as to why you would bother.
• Graphics, Yes people its a sad day when you have to say there is a group of gamers out there that will dismiss this game just purely on the graphics. Old is out and shiny shiny is in if you are to believe these gamers.
• You will lose hours to this game without even realising it.

In Summary, The game or should I say title is excellent and some may argue the price of admission is high, The game is brilliant. Its one of those games that you play when you want to play something but not put any effort in. Or for when you just want to relax and explore. The new Vita only features do nothing but enhance the whole experience. For the love of God make sure you are wearing headphones as the music is brilliant The game/title is brilliant and we would love nothing more than to see more games like this hitting the PS Indie machine Vita.