When that most obvious of lazy game tropes appears - the sewer level - it almost feels like an intentional joke. The moments of cinematic storytelling where players learn more about Ash’s parents or an individual bully is spotlit are forgettable the instant that they’re over, and Denska’s various districts are some of the least compelling environments to navigate in recent memory, whether they’re covered in glowing paint or not. Platforming is very fidgety, the stealth aspects are mostly nonexistent and disposable, and whatever puzzles do emerge are so straightforward they feel like mere padding and distraction. What’s unfortunate is that little else in the game seemed to have received a comparable amount of polish or consideration. It’s clear that studio Pixelopus prioritized the painting mechanics during Concrete Genie’s development which, of course, was a very wise decision. You can even end up with a whole squad of genies bumbling around each level, asking you to paint objects and rewarding you with special paint that eradicates corruption-like blockades. Once they’ve been created, they can follow you along walls through the entirety of an area, and three different base-types of genies offer different elemental powers that factor into occasional puzzles. The act of creating a new genie with whatever accouterments you like - go ahead and give them five spiraled horns, three tails, and a mustache, if you like - seems like it would get old, but their beaming big-toothed smile as they shimmer to life is always a genuine delight. The first few times you use the brush may elicit a gasp, with each modest stroke creating a buzzing collage of luminescent figures. The first VR mode is plainly called ‘VR Experience’ and you will follow a Genie. To be fair, some of this lack of tension is due to the focus on the painting itself. Alongside the standard PS4 campaign, Concrete Genie will include two additional VR modes for fans to experience.
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