Omno Is A Cozy Puzzle Adventure
Omno drops players in wide environments full of dazzling lights. It’s a puzzle game with both a soaring soundtrack and quiet ambient moments. Surf across empty stretches while coming across ancient architecture. It captures a magical feeling. The narrative is ambiguous. It’s drip fed through glyphs after solving simple enough puzzles. After which, the player can move on to the next area. Choosing not to follow the story doesn’t cut off exploration.
The colors across each area are vibrant but soft. Except the array of lights shooting off to indicate progression, nothing is visually overwhelming. The environmental storytelling is done well enough that Omno’s world still feels lived in, despite the obvious destruction. This is also achieved through fascinating creatures who can sometimes help in puzzles. Though their uniqueness is enough of an incentive to seek them out. For more objective based players there is a list to cross off for each species.
There are also some light platforming mechanics. It may take some getting used to for anyone who shies away from those games. However, nothing in this game is meant to be an impossible challenge. The more complex puzzles at the end of each area will stop the player for long. There are also a few abilities to help navigate through derelict ruins and open areas. The game is simple but not static.
Omno’s controls can sometimes be the biggest enemy, despite there being no combat. Otherwise this game leans more towards relaxing than anything game changing. Players expecting a typical gameplay curve that becomes more difficult by the end, might be disappointed. It’s a short experience without much filler. Omno is a nice change of pace between longer games.
