Review: A Fold Apart (Steam)

by Jim Smale · April 17, 2020

After career choices force them along separate paths, a Teacher and Architect vow to make their long-distance relationship work at any cost. Experience both sides of their story as the couple navigates the complexities of (mis)communication and the emotional ups and downs that separation brings. By flipping, folding, and unfolding the paper puzzles in their handcrafted worlds, you can help the couple overcome the emotional barriers of their relationship.

Pros:

Charming colorful graphics.
1352mb download size.
Steam achievements.
Full controller support.
Graphics-Qualify preset, resolution and v-sync.
3 save slots.
Four character pairing choices. (Boy/Boy, Boy/girl, Girl/girl, Girl/boy)
Puzzle gameplay.
Piano heavy soundtrack.
Puzzle hint option.
Reset puzzle option.
Six chapters.
Easy to learn controls.
Gimmick-you can fold the level up to change it, rotate the level, use blocks or even flip it.
The game plays out on little segments almost like postcards and you move from one to another, when a platform appears you enter a puzzle section.
Mechanics unlock over time with more added.
Really good story and well told with the words appearing on the screen as you play.
Thought provoking.
Text message conversations and you can have a choice of responses.

Cons:

No replay value.
The puzzle mechanics really do take a lot of getting used to as you figure out what the game wants from you.
Slow level reset.
Only six achievements.
Random lockups.
Subtitles ruin the story-telling as it shows the full text whereas the text is displayed over time usually.
Predictable ending.
Puzzles began to wear out.

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
6/10

Accessibility - 6/10
7/10

Length - 7/10
7/10

Fun Factor - 7/10

7/10

Summary

A Fold Apart tells the story of a couple who are doing the whole long distance relationship. You get to experience the anxiety and joy from each partners perspective. As the story unfolds (pun intended) you take on ever challenging puzzles whereby you can fold the level up, rotate it and generally move it all around. The puzzles are fine but to be honest the story is stronger and for me the puzzles wore me and I started to use the hint button more. You get a good solid amount of hours gameplay that is dependent on how fast you can solve the puzzles but like I say they start to feel the same, the story is what kept me going. I really did think they told a story that is relevant, well paced and expertly presented, I loved the story but the puzzles had there moment but by the halfway mark I just wanted the story!