I played The Witness at launch and since then I've read a lot of dissenting opinions on how well the game's puzzles validate being part of an interactive world and how the sparse story and thematic elements help or hinder the game and even John Blows own pretentions of being the "Thomas Pynchon of video games." I've bounced back and forth between thinking the game is pure genius and thinking the if it had a head it would be up its own ass.

When I step back from post game analysis and remember what it was like to play the game with no expectations I can't help but think of it fondly. Stepping onto the island and feeling overwhelmed by what could be waiting around every corner. Solving a series of seemingly pointless puzzles only to realize that I'd just learned how to solve a previous puzzle that seemed impossible. Stumbling over little details in the envoronment that I'd walked past a dozen times without seeing. There were so many moments of wonder and discovery that I can't help but step back from the debate over how well executed John Blows idea were and fondly remember the experience of playing The Witness.

In the end these things will add up to something different for different people and there's something a little off-putting about the endings which are simultaneously (and intentionally) obtuse and blunt in a way that's makes them not what you wanted, but exactly what you should have expected. There's the cynicism of someone who's spent too much time thinking about the industry and the art of game design embedded in The Witness, but the wide-eyed view of someone who's fascinated by the possibilities of games is there too and for me that voice was the stronger one and the one I'll remember when I look back on The Witness.

I played The Witness at launch and since then I've read a lot of dissenting opinions on how well the game's puzzles validate being part of an interactive world and how the sparse story and thematic elements help or hinder the game and even John Blows own pretentions of being the "Thomas Pynchon of video games." I've bounced back and forth between thinking the game is pure genius and thinking the if it had a head it would be up its own ass. When I step back from post game analysis and remember what it was like to play the game with no expectations I can't help but think of it fondly. Stepping onto the island and feeling overwhelmed by what could be waiting around every corner. Solving a series of seemingly pointless puzzles only to realize that I'd just learned how to solve a previous puzzle that seemed impossible. Stumbling over little details in the envoronment that I'd walked past a dozen times without seeing. There were so many moments of wonder and discovery that I can't help but step back from the debate over how well executed John Blows idea were and fondly remember the experience of playing The Witness. In the end these things will add up to something different for different people and there's something a little off-putting about the endings which are simultaneously (and intentionally) obtuse and blunt in a way that's makes them not what you wanted, but exactly what you should have expected. There's the cynicism of someone who's spent too much time thinking about the industry and the art of game design embedded in The Witness, but the wide-eyed view of someone who's fascinated by the possibilities of games is there too and for me that voice was the stronger one and the one I'll remember when I look back on The Witness.