Humanity Review – The Essence of Man

Humanity Review - The Essence of Man

Humanity: A Puzzle Game That Takes You on an Ethereal Adventure

Some days you wake up and think, “I’m going to guide a stream of human souls through winding geometric constructs today!” No? Well, maybe that’s because you haven’t played Humanity yet. This new spatial puzzle game from developer Tha and publisher Enhance Games takes you on a journey like no other.

In Humanity, you awaken as a tiny ethereal Shiba Inu, with mysterious glowing orbs as your guides. Your mission? To lead countless human souls to a radiant square of light. Yep, just your usual day in the life of a meme-dog.

But don’t worry, this game is more than a mind-bending puzzle challenge. It brings to life the artistic flair and chill vibes that Enhance Games is known for. With minimalistic yet striking visuals, intuitive gameplay, experimental music, and an undercurrent of positivity and warmth, Humanity stands out as a unique and charming addition to the puzzle genre.

Guiding Souls and Herding Humans

As the nameless meme-dog, your task is to strategically place directional commands to guide the flow of humans through the intricate structures. Picture a mix of Lemmings and Chu Chu Rocket, but with a twist of originality.

At first, it’s a simple task of telling humans which way to turn. But as you progress, stages become towering structures filled with fans, conveyor belts, and switches that require clever herding techniques. Suddenly, you’ll find yourself making humans jump, float, and break into separate groups. You’ll even encounter a rival faction known as the “Others” and wield powerful weapons.

Despite the challenges, you’ll persevere, because guiding humanity is a noble purpose. Plus, who can resist the urge to shout “left” or “right” at little digital beings?

The Goldy Quest

Many stages in Humanity feature a giant, golden human avatar called Goldy. These radiant figures represent the wishes, dreams, and desires of the populace. It’s not just about herding the masses; you must also assimilate Goldy into the flow and guide them to the exit.

Collecting Goldys is vital, not only for unlocking new options and cosmetics, but also for opening the final trial of each sequence. After all, what’s humanity without its dreams and desires? Just an endless, mindless march.

A Gradual Journey of Discovery

Humanity eases you into its mechanics and gameplay concepts, providing a satisfying sense of progression. Each trial brings new abilities and gameplay elements, building upon what you’ve learned. Controls are simple and intuitive, while the basic visuals allow you to grasp the situation at a glance, even with thousands of humans flooding the screen.

Humanity’s accessibility is a breath of fresh air. Anyone can pick up and play the game, thanks to its welcoming nature and easy-to-understand mechanics. It’s a game that invites you to embrace the puzzle challenge and enjoy the journey.

Challenges Along the Way

While Humanity’s simplicity is its strength, it can also lead to some minor frustrations. The platforming elements can be a tad fiddly, making it difficult to gauge the depth and position of your dog-avatar. Beware of careening off cliffs in a moment of canine confusion!

Physics also come into play, adding an extra layer of complexity to the puzzles. Jumping, floating, pushing, and group movement all require finesse and experimentation. Be prepared for a few unexpected moments when large crowds push stragglers out of the boundaries you’ve set. Those tiny humans can cause quite a ruckus!

A Helping Paw

If you find yourself hopelessly stumped, don’t worry; Humanity has your back. Each puzzle includes an optional video showing a correct solution. While it’s not always the key to obtaining those elusive Goldys, it can provide the nudge in the right direction you need. However, it would have been even better to have a hint system instead of a full-blown solution.

One downside is navigating the video playback using only a PlayStation controller. It can be a bit clunky. A rewind feature would also be a welcome addition for those moments when you accidentally lay down the wrong command or mess up a directional input.

A Charming Adventure Awaits

Despite these minor hiccups, Humanity is a charming and engaging puzzle adventure that’s hard to resist. Its constantly-evolving gameplay, unique premise, and mesmerizing audiovisual landscape will captivate you for hours. And when you’ve finished the main game, you can dive into the vast array of user-created levels or unleash your own creative skills. After all, creation is something humanity excels at. So, why not let your imagination run wild?