Viewfinder – Review

If you have been waiting for a first-person puzzle-platformer that introduces a new mechanic, then Viewfinder is your answer. The game transforms the concept of ‘point and click’, as you are armed with an instant film camera that is not just for the purpose of photographing your surroundings. Instead, you have the ability to physically break and bend them according to your will in order to achieve the goal of every level. It is six hours long and proves to be truly ingenious, keeping you hooked throughout the journey.

The story

The plot of Viewfinder is set in the future where the planet has been destroyed by climate change, which means it is covered in orange hue and there does not seem to be any natural vegetation left. You have to complete puzzle challenges that a team of climate scientists have put together as virtual reality constructs. The goal is to discover the design of a machine that can be used for fixing the damage that has occurred on Earth. The premise is depressingly relevant, even if it is intriguing, but the plot is told in a very strange manner.

The unique method

What sets Viewfinder apart from other games is the use of trick photography for transforming the topography. This unique method is so brilliant that it can be hard to explain. It allows you to take a picture of anything and then superimpose that 2D image in front of another area, thereby altering the space behind it.

For instance, you can take a picture of a door, superimpose it on a wall and then open the door to pass through it, not very different from what you used to see in cartoons. It is a kind of map manipulation that might seem very straightforward, but actually becomes very complex. The best part is that it keeps you guessing about whether you have found the right solution, or just a solution.

The restrictions

Of course, there are some restrictions you have to deal with like there is a limit to the number of pictures you can take. This depends on how many film paper sheets are in the camera. Likewise, you are not allowed to take pictures that can destroy the teleporter exit of your level, which makes it impossible for you to complete it.

New elements

The early puzzles that you come across in Viewfinder are related to repurposingsimple things, such as the doors and walls for paving a path to your goal. However, you will come across new elements that will introduce complicated conundrums. There are also times when you do not require any photography and you have to overcome canny forced-perspective tricks that are used for disguising bridges and tunnels in plain sight.

The good thing about Viewfinder is that the game does not rely on the same tricks for long, so the variety will keep you hooked to every task and you will assess each puzzle from every aspect. Moreover, you do not just manipulate the pictures you take with your camera; you can collect desktop screenshots and even paintings in some levels that can be brought to life when you want.