COCOON Review (Nintendo Switch)

It has been over 13 years since a game immediately evoked the same feelings as waking up as a lost little boy in a monochromatic forest like the beginning of LIMBO. COCOON does that with the instant sense of mystery and intrigue, all without a single word.

The reason is more obvious than it appears, as Geometric Interactive were founded by a few members of playdead, who were instrumental in the creation of LIMBO and INSIDE. This includes the lead gameplay designer from these two titles as well as the audio programmer and upon understanding that this is the foundation of Geometric Interactive, it’s easy to connect the dots and understand why COCOON is a masterpiece.

Bullet With Butterfly Wings

Similar to a caterpillar, things start out simple and slow with the placement of one orb to unlock the next section of the puzzle and before the realization happens, the metamorphosis has already occurred. Like a butterfly in flight, the puzzles are now complex and would have seemed impossible mere hours ago. The pacing with the different orbs is what keeps the game feeling fresh. Not only are new mechanics constantly introduced but with each new orb comes a bespoke new world.

Every aspect of the game follows this pattern from the visuals, that starts out vast and barren, to eventually becoming almost haunting with hints of Geiger. The score that slowly evolves from ethereal that transitions to futuristic and otherworldly. Mechanics are constantly introduced during the game that are not only extremely unique from one another, but they also manage to become interwoven, creating some of the most unique puzzles ever experienced. The game even evolves from just solving puzzles to fighting bosses that don’t feel out of place as the require a combination of intelligence and skill to defeat.

As things progress, COCOON constantly creates a sense of being adrift in these haunting environments, and concurrently manages to always have the player exactly where there are needed to be. COCOON gets everything right even down to the little details that create this sense of place. The subtleties of an audio cue that indicates the right track that is immensely satisfying or having an element no longer operate to indicate that area is no longer required. The slight lighting effects from some of the ai in the game that will blink when danger is close or turn their lights to the direction it needs to go, that work almost like a hidden hint system.

The experience on the Nintendo Switch is likely what is expected. The amount of worlds that you are constantly jumping between, put the console through its paces. Occasional frame rate dips occur during these large transitional areas, but considering there are no loading screens, it works well enough. Visuals looked slightly toned down compared to playing elsewhere. If you have the option, I would strongly suggest playing elsewhere to fully experience the amazing worlds that have created, but if you can only play on the Nintendo Switch, it’s still a must play.

COCOON VERDICT

When Geometric Interactive referred to COCOON as being inspired by The Legend of Zelda and Portal, it seemed like just another marketing line, as those are two generational experiences, but after placing my final orb, there is actually no better way to describe it. It’s not building upon elements of those games, but it’s constantly evoking similar feelings of being lost in an unknown world, solving mysteries and eventually seeing the world differently than you once did.

The premise of COCOON is rather simple, but how the concept evolves is what makes the experience special. Often times, the best things in life are the simplest, and COCOON is a testament to that. Just like The Legend of Zelda, Portal, Limbo and Inside, Cocoon is an experience that will remain atop my gaming memory. The biggest issue with COCOON is that I'll never experience this game for the first time again.

10