PLAYED ON: Windows 10, Bootcamp via Macbook Pro (mid 2012)
PLATFORM: Steam
How far would you go just for victory? Are you able to commit to your goals from start to finish without losing your soul? Can crows talk? Ministry of Broadcast poses those questions while delivering a humorous and engaging experience.
The game is a 2D puzzle platformer that mixes the gameplay of Prince of Persia (1989) and the concept of The Hunger Games. Players take control of an unnamed contestant, eager to win (survive) a twisted Reality TV show, in hopes of reuniting with his family.
While the gameplay and controls are simple, the puzzles, not so. Each is well-crafted as every challenge takes just enough time to ponder over and constantly test the player’s sense of timing. When to run, jump, climb, or die… constantly.
Death will be a regular occurrence in some stages but the game mercifully gives enough checkpoints in between puzzles to not become overly frustrating, plus the entertaining scenarios and evolving narrative keeps the game from getting slow.
The art direction is brilliant, whether you’re running outdoors in the snow or venturing through the stage sets, every location is vivid and makes exploration a treat. It’s also cool that the smaller details of the background can be interacted with as well, like running past a skeleton’s hand and seeing it jiggle.
Sound design is equally as impressive, from the stealthy moments to the run for your life scenarios, the music comes in perfectly timed and tuned with your actions, making the game feel like a well acted out movie when it matters.
CONCLUSION
If you’re into puzzles, precise platforming and want a story on how far someone can fall in the pursuit of winning without forethought, hey… Ministry of Broadcast provides all that and more.
It’s easy to play, the world has depth, the characters are funny, and the story does leave one deep in thought after it ends. Any game that makes me think, me likey.
Ministry of Broadcast gets a “Dinner Conversation” from me, I’d bring it up with friends over dinner the next time I see them.
4 out of 5.
Thanks for reading, if ya curious on checking the game out, here’s the link to:
ExcitedAlex 