Figment 2: Creed Valley Review

thesixthaxis.com:

The original Figment from Danish developer Bedtime Digital arrived as a burst of refreshing air in 2017, a psuedo-isometric puzzle adventure that tackled mature themes of depression and trauma, while also featuring great original songs sung by its bosses. Five and a half years later, Figment 2: Creed Valley looks to offer more of the same quirky charms.

The first game introduced us to Dusty, our player character who was a manifestation of interior courage, solving puzzles and swinging his wooden sword at troublesome worries – also embodied as cutesy enemies. Dusty is accompanied by Piper, an endlessly enthusiastic bird who helps to keep him motivated and offers advice. Both of these heroes return in the sequel, but there is actually some interesting character development as Dusty must come to terms with the idea that not all problems can be solved through conflict. This arc is a welcome one and helps to prevent Figment 2 from feeling like a retread of the original.

The bright and colourful cartoon aesthetic returns here, too, with the background still full of interactive elements that make an assortment of musical sounds. The soundtrack is also good, although I didn’t find the boss music as memorable this time around – possibly just because it was such a novel approach first time around.

Rather than the dark themes of the first game, the story here is somewhat more mundane. Your character is stressed from trying to juggle work and family time, especially as he is about to take on an expensive mortgage for a new house. This results in family arguments and unhappiness, as the increased responsibility means he has squashed his ability to have fun. It’s a storyline that many adults will clearly relate to, as we find ourselves