Treating Blue Prince Like A Daily Crossword Has Cracked It Wide Open
Blue Prince is one of the greatest games of the moment, and the roguelike puzzler has encouraged a lot of discussion about the best possible way to make sense of its confounding nature. Considering the ever-changing halls of its setting, I understand how one could come to their own conclusion on how to best resolve its countless mysteries. I happen to have my own method, and it's been working wonders for me. You see, I've been treating Blue Prince less and less like a roguelike, where you are expected to cycle through runs ad nauseam, and more like the daily crosswords that often fill my days. Though the two might seem quite distant, I'd argue there are more than enough similarities to warrant the parallels, and so far, the approach seems to be a real winner.Let me first set the stage, though. Blue Prince, which tasks players with exploring the constantly shifting rooms of a manor in search of a hidden 46th one, has quickly become the game du jour since it was released earlier this year and for good reason: It's an utterly enthralling experience with layers upon layers of mysteries to unspool. And since it has ensnared just about everyone I've seen pick it up--in both positive and negative ways--I have been drowning in well-reasoned criticisms of its mechanics as well as rapturous acclaim over its novelty. I've similarly bumped up against some frustrating walls that I found particularly hard to break through, but the thing that has really changed how I play Blue Prince, and simultaneously increased my enjoyment of it, was this much-needed shift in perspective that has been incredibly illuminating.I promise you, Blue Prince has not in fact rotted my brain. I do have a case here, even if it may sound like gibberish externalized outside of my head for the first time. First and foremost, I've found that some of the folks who have bristled against Blue Prince (a perfectly fine reaction, not everything is for everyone!) have seemed to try and brute force their way through the game. Alternatively, I've been taking it at what can only be described as a near-glacial pace. I get on the game and do a handful of runs--maybe two or three at a time--that prioritize room discovery and pushing forward on a single thread until there's some turn or new discovery that further cracks the game's facade. Sometimes it's as simple as a new note to turn over in the quietest moments of my day, and sometimes it's making a perspective-shifting find that melts my brain.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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