Ancient technology offers a lot that we should be thankful for, and I don’t just mean the opportunity to play Tetris on an original Game Boy. I’m referring to life-saving technology that pumps oxygen into the Earth’s atmosphere when the planet itself isn’t up to the job, and that’s the tech we’re all reliant on in the far future that Gardener’s Path invites us to explore. With Earth not up to the job, giant air ducts provide oxygen above ground, funnelled from beautiful underground gardens. But these gardens are under threat from persistent pests (over-sized insects, no less) which are damaging the vegetation and putting human life at risk again.
A novel premise then, but it’s inconsequential to the gameplay. Gardener’s Path is an overhead viewed, pixelated puzzle game in which you guide your avatar around each stage, eliminating beasties before reaching the exit. Your character slides in the direction you tilt the thumbstick until they hit an obstruction, so careful planning is required as you navigate the area to avoid colliding with prickly cacti. There’s no rush to make a move; you have time to consider your path, and pivot accordingly. Your route requires you to strike and eliminate each pest (some of which have multiple hit points), resulting in the exit opening for your escape to the next puzzle. The first few levels act as a training ground, with friendly garden gnomes offering snippets of information to help introduce any new puzzle elements that come into play.
When entering a new level, the first thing you’ll be compelled to do is study the layout carefully. The pixel art sprite design is detailed and varied, to the extent that it can be tricky to visualise what is safe to touch and what is best avoided when you first approach a new puzzle area. Clever design results in a drip feed of new gameplay elements that never feel too overwhelming, and there are no real-time threats to attack you if you remain stationary. It’s more of a puzzle adventure than an arcade game. The complexity of the challenge is a gradual build and, while the chilled new-age soundtrack massages your ears, you may find yourself plotting your next sequence of moves in your head before initiating the action.
Each level has one solution, and later challenges will really twist your brain cells and test your resolve. Thankfully, there’s a “Skip to the next level” option if you feel truly stuck (this gardener had no qualms in using it a couple of times), and you can revisit the ones you skipped at any time, to fill in the gaps in your success. It’s good to see a game like this allow that flexibility, to avoid hitting a brick wall when it comes to progress.
Gardener’s Path is beautifully presented: the fine detail in the artwork, the atmospheric music, and the logbook that records each creature you encounter combine to offer a puzzler that’s anything but a walk in the park. It’s not a huge game, but at its very reasonable price point it certainly offers enough of a challenge to occupy two or three hours of play. It’s a path worth exploring.
Gardener’s Path £4.99
Summary
Beautifully presented and very reasonably priced, Gardener’s Path is a puzzle game that steadily builds in its challenge to offer a satisfying excursion. Not wholly original, but nevertheless it’s a pleasant ramble if you keep off the cacti.