So I figured that after 500 hours of playing this game, I could make a more constructive review on the product as a whole. By being a speedrunner, I certainly have learned a lot about how the game operates, but also found a great community of people to spend my free time with. I recently had the pleasure of speedrunning through the game whilst collecting everything and that really just makes me the most qualified person to write such a review.

I am blown away by the overall quality of the game. From the immersive storyline to the challenging gameplay, BLACKHOLE had me hooked from the moment I started playing. One of the things that really stood out to me was the unique premise of the game. You play as The Coffee Guy, a simple and humble dude who brings out coffee to all other crew members. Your role isn't really important. The goal of the ship is to close all blackholes that are endagering the earth, hence its name is Endera, short of "End of Era" (possibly referencing to the idea that our future generations managing to close blackholes will start a whole new era). But, in a quick way of unfortunate events, you and the rest of the crew get sucked into one of the blackholes. You are left with the intelligent ship AI called Auriel, who will guide you through your beginnings all the way to the end. The areas you walk through are called Entities. The whole map is basically a hypercube, not a planet. It can get a tad confusing at times, but it will start to make sense as you progress further.

The story is told through several ways; Auriel making assumptions about what could've happened to the rest of the crew, which does make you question yourself the same question. What did actually happen? How did you end up in wherever you are after crashing into a blackhole? Another way is secret logs you can find in the Sacred Library, which uncover the story deeply. The next, and arguably the most important one, are collectible black boxes. They uncover events before the game started, before the Endera was built, what lead to this thing happening. The story-telling added an extra layer of depth to the gameplay. As I progressed through the game, I found myself constantly wanting to know more and more about the story and the characters.

The gameplay itself is challenging, but not so much so that it becomes frustrating. The controls are smooth and responsive, allowing for precise movements as you navigate through each level. The puzzles are well-designed, requiring you to think critically in order to progress. I particularly enjoyed the Avalanche level, in which you have to run away from an incoming avalanche quickly. Special levels (which are found in every chapter of the game) where you're collecting an important ship part or saving a crew member add a nice change of pace from the regular gameplay.

The graphics in BLACKHOLE are stunning. The art style is beautiful, and the animation is top-notch. The environments are varied and each one is a joy to explore. The music and sound effects also add to the overall atmosphere of the game. For example, if you turn down your music, there's never a point in which you never hear a sound. There's always a constant ambient in the background that keeps the game from being boring and silent. I found myself really immersing my life in the world of BLACKHOLE, and the quality of the graphics played a large role in that.

In terms of replay value, BLACKHOLE has plenty to offer each time you play through the game. There are multiple endings to unlock, as well as various collectibles scattered throughout the different Entities. This alone adds an extra layer of challenge and encourages multiple playthroughs. I also appreciated the various difficulty levels, which allowed me to tailor the game to my own skill level over time.

So overall, I highly recommend BLACKHOLE to anyone who enjoys puzzle platformers. The engaging storyline, challenging gameplay, and stunning graphics all come together to create a truly memorable gaming experience. FiolaSoft has created a truly standout game that I will definitely keep playing in the future.