The Way

10/10. I cried multiple times. This is what a masterpiece of a game looks like. The story is beautiful, emotional, and strung through every moment of the game. The sci-fi genre is beautiful, the style, everything. I wish there were more like this. Reminds me a lot of epic sci-fi worlds like Hyperion or Foundation.

I rarely review games before completing them, most of the time even a review it´s the final step before unistalling tons of games for me, when I trully feel there´s nothing more to experience about it, that´s when I trully think my oppinion is informed enough to be shared. With The Way though I have to make an exception, cause I understood a long time ago that I will never complete it. The negative reviews are correct, this game is utterly frustrating, it has never being patched despite the multiple complains and probably never will, remaining as uncompleted for most players, specially since it lacks steam cloud and therefor unless you take your own messures, losing your progress is a posibility and you simply wouldn´t want to repeat any of the frustrating, difficult and time sensitive puzzles you may have manage to overcome allready.
But why the positive rating then? Becuase this game is as beutiful and well design as frustrating. The art style is used masterfully alongside some really good designs for an alien world that is completely unique. The story is presented with such simplicity yet care that takes you back to your childhood games if you happen to be a little older, where the limitations of hardware and sofware would force devs to get creative on how to present a narrative. And it´s difficult not to get hooked precisely due to the puzzles being kind fo hardcore, the more you progress things escalate and there´s a point of no return where the game would have capture you enough to desire finishing it. It trully manage to pay a heck of a homage to the games it clearly draws inspiration like Flashback and Another World.
Overall I think this puzzle action platformer needs to be experienced, again, the only drawback it´s the fact you may not be able to experience it entirely. There are a series of specific puzzle that have become notoriously infamous for the community, some are more doable with either patience or a guide and others less so depending on the type of player you are. But it´s also super cheap when it´s on sale, as I write this review it´s on a sale for 0,89, that´s a crazy bargain even if you don´t manage to complete it. I think I paid a similar price and have 7 hours registered, when I got stuck I decided to watch on youtube the rest of the game to see the ending and sucks I wasn´t able to get there but I did enjoy the story still even if I wasn´t making those final steps.

Fun bit of nostalgia with the usual tedious nonsense that goes with old-school platform games. Timing and position have to be just right or you'll miss a jump and fall to your death. Again and again.
Puzzles are fun, but not too hard. Music is great, story is average.

Looks and feels like a Sierra adventure game (eg, Space Quest) on steroids. Great atmosphere, great pixel art, great music. However, it also has action platforming that requires PRECISION timing and an auto checkpoint system that may reset you quite far back when you die (which will be often during the platforming). As such, its gameplay is a bit old school and will be annoying if you don't have the patience to die & retry repeatedly. Mouse and keyboard controls seem much more responsive than gamepad.

"The Way"
"The Way" is a game developed by the independent studio Puzzling Dream, blending elements of 2D platforming, challenging puzzles, and a deeply emotional narrative. Released in 2016, the game draws inspiration from classics like Another World and Flashback, appealing to both retro and modern gaming enthusiasts with its unique aesthetic and intriguing gameplay. Below is a detailed and positive review of the game:
Story
The story of The Way is undoubtedly one of its greatest highlights. It follows a scientist devastated by the loss of his wife, embarking on a journey to uncover the secrets of immortality on an alien planet. The narrative explores profound themes such as grief, love, sacrifice, and the boundaries of humanity. It is presented in a minimalist style, with no explicit dialogue, relying instead on carefully crafted animations, detailed environments, and small story fragments found throughout the game.
This approach leaves room for interpretation and invites players to connect emotionally, creating a unique bond with the protagonist and his struggles.
Gameplay
The gameplay of The Way strikes a balance between precise platforming and clever puzzles. Each challenge is meticulously designed, requiring logical thinking, observation, and patience. The puzzles range from manipulating mechanisms to exploration and interacting with the alien fauna and flora.
The learning curve is well-balanced, with a gradual increase in difficulty that encourages creative problem-solving. While some sections may occasionally frustrate due to their difficulty, the sense of reward upon solving the puzzles is highly satisfying.
Art and Soundtrack
Visually, The Way is stunning. The game employs richly detailed pixel art, featuring vibrant settings and atmospheres that range from mysterious to desolate. Each environment on the alien planet is carefully crafted to feel unique and evocative, from dark underground caves to lively alien landscapes.
The soundtrack, composed by Panu Talus, perfectly complements the experience with music that shifts between melancholic and epic. It adapts to the game’s pace, heightening the emotional connection and immersion.
Strengths
Engaging story: The deep and emotional narrative is a major draw.
Well-designed puzzles: Challenging but fair.
Incredible aesthetics: The pixel art and visual details are breathtaking.
Immersive soundtrack: Elevates the experience and emotional connection.
Homage to classics: Nostalgic yet modern in its execution.
Conclusion
"The Way" is a gem among indie games, offering a unique experience that blends nostalgia, innovation, and emotional storytelling. It resonates particularly well with players who appreciate deep narratives and challenging puzzles. While there are areas that might require adjustment for less experienced platformer players, this does not diminish the brilliance of this indie masterpiece.
If you’re looking for a game that not only challenges your skills but also touches your soul, The Way is the perfect choice.

The Way feels very immersive, it has great artistic design and atmosphere.
It's an adventure game and a puzzle-heavy platformer.
I haven't played the games that inspired it, but the retro sensibility is obvious and feels authentic.
If you like puzzles, adventures, and a sense of wonder it's a good fit.
However, it has one downside for my taste, possibly explained by those retro sensibilities.
It's very die and retry.
You play as a human, grief-stricken, driven by mad resolve, gradually moving from mundane reality into wondrous alien landscapes.
This is conveyed by the gorgeous color palette, and by a sense of scale: functionally, you are a speck.
You have one (1) hit point.
The platforming is fiddly. The game registers your inputs just fine, and it knows how to be responsive, but vertical movement is often based on grabbing ledges, and you have to be precise with the positioning just to move around.
Dropping by more than a few hundred pixels (your character avatar is small relative to the scenery) is death.
If the boundaries of where you can survive aren't quite obvious, you die, retry, until you hopefully have finger memory of what works.
You'll gain a handful of abilities (starting with a gun), which you absolutely need for your survival, but you can only use those when standing and not moving. Cool-downs require you to plan ahead. Moving triggers animations (those ledge interactions), and those also make you a vulnerable target.
Each area is a little tableau, entering one gives you one (1) checkpoint, after that you are generally on your own. (Solving a puzzle occasionally gives another). Whenever you are facing enemies, your extreme vulnerability doesn't much encourage experimentation or improvisation, you have to be patient and repeat what works.
The well realized atmosphere makes it worth persevering. I just wish being a resolute speck didn't involve so much dying.
PS:
The puzzles are much more friendly to experimentation.
You'll occasionally need to take notes, I used steam's screenshot and notes functionality which worked out well and saved some backtracking.

Fantastic and beautiful game, there is no reason not to play it, simply amazing.