After an altitudinous fall into a deep pool, player character Nemo is saved from drowning by a creature known as a Paulp. After time recovering and bonding, Nemo and Paulp make their way, via an intuitive wordless tutorial, to a Great Elevator stretching high into the sky, only to be met by a malevolent manifestation that destroys the cogs that drive the machinery.
Each cog is split into three pieces, and must be rediscovered through a mind-boggling number of inventive mini-games, traversal puzzles, races, environmental challenges and secrets. With a few cogs recovered, the elevator can ascend to the next set of challenges. Paulp can also be thrown to capture enemies, which Nemo can then propel from to perform a double-jump.
Promenade is a creative, inventive, and endlessly fun take on the genre. Say ‘collectathon’ to some and you’ll likely be left with their silhouette on the wall, but with gameplay as enchanting as this, they’d miss one of the best indie platformers of the year.
