Unravel
For: Xbox One, PS4, PC
From: Coldwood Interactive/EA Games
Rating: (G)
Four and a half stars (out of five)
At least that is what you're told at the beginning of Unravel.
Yarny, as it turns out, is a small doll made from, surprise, surprise, yarn which, at the beginning of the game, falls from an old lady's sewing basket.
And that's about as much of an introduction as you are given.
Doesn't sound much, does it?
Well, after a cleverly crafted tutorial, you find yourself in an astonishingly beautiful platform game that is, in equal parts, brilliant and frustrating.
Don't be fooled by the looks - this is no kid's game - this is a clever, technically brilliant puzzle adventure that will both melt your heart and have you screaming at the TV in despair.
The plot, of which there is very little at the start, is explained, sort of, as you progress through the levels, collecting memories and piecing together an old photograph album.
The levels are incredibly detailed, 3-D environments which you move through using the yarn string and objects and the odd animal you come across on your journey.
Yarny can throw a lasso on to hooks to climb and swing, and he can create bridges and trampolines in places.
As he travels along he "unwinds'' and eventually will run out of yarn and stop.
Bundles of yarn can top him up again but often these are hidden or need to be accessed a certain way - you can find yourself inches from a ball of yarn only to run out and have to retrace your steps and find a shorter way to continue.
Despite being made of wool, Yarny isn't immortal - he can fall, drown, be eaten or squashed but the checkpoint system ensures you never have to repeat yourself too often if you die.
As I mentioned at the start, the detail of the levels, inspired by the nature of northern Sweden, is stunning, as is the animation and it's all accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack.
As the story evolves - and it's all through pictures, there are very, very few words - the details are so scarce you find yourself filling in the blanks in your head, which only adds to your connection with Yarny.
It becomes more enjoyable when he succeeds at something and equally you almost feel for him as he gets cold in the snow or chased by a weasel.
The measure of a good game is how it makes you feel about the whole experience.
There is a place for shooters and multiplayer madness but there is also plenty of room for games like this - a genuinely clever, brilliantly crafted, well-balanced platform game that will make you glad you played it.
- Simon Kemp
