You play as Toby, a creature that is wondering why other creatures like him are being taken against their will to the mine and tries to find out while rescuing them in the process
General Gameplay
Toby: The Secret Mine is a 2D platform/puzzle hybrid that entails going through levels solving puzzles and platforming to get to your objective. The gameplay is designed as a linear path and is similar to other platform/puzzle games like Limbo and Braid.
Audio
The game’s audio is very somber with its background music. The music fits well with the game’s background for each particular level. Also, the sound effects in the game are done well. From saws, to arrows shooting and other objects, as well as Toby interacting with them, sound effects are very clear and are easy to hear. The game does support 5.1 surround sound and comes through very cleary in surround sound systems as well as in stereo. Gamers who are using a headset to play should not have any issues with sound whatsoever. As always, a word of caution for prolonged use of headphones; please take at least a 5-10 minute break every hour and listen at a comfortable level. The game did not have any offensive language, so it is good for all audiences.
Visuals
The visuals are done in a darker tone as they are designed to set the mood when playing the game. Toby himself is designed in black with detail to showcase him as the main character. The general visual design is also done in darker tones (except one level) but it is very easy to see most of the action. During our playtest, we did have to go to our TV settings and increase the brightness in order to see the game, but this was an isolated issue and most gamers will not need to do this. During our playtesting we did not see anything offensive in the game’s visuals, so parents should have no worries letting their gaming family play Toby: The Secret Mine. One thing that did come up was the fact that in some levels, because of the blending of the stage design, it was difficult to see some pre-laid traps, and that caused some unnecessary deaths in the game.
Controls
Controls are very easy to get used to, as Toby: The Secret Mine only uses an interaction button as well a jump button, and the action is controlled with the left thumb stick. The game’s control design is made for people to pick up and play without any issues. In our play test we did not see any issues with the general controls, however during some key moments, we did notice some issues with jumps and button presses not registering. We thought that it may have been an issue with the controller, so for the sake of the test we changed out the controller for a new one with a new battery, but we still had the same control issues at those key moments. This was during our play test, but parents, please take this into consideration when allowing your gaming family play the game, as issues like these can causes gamer frustration. The game does not need any type of special controller to play Toby: The Secret Mine, so you should be fine with the general controller.
“Prepare to die a lot, a whole lot…”
Delivery
With any platform/puzzle game, it’s all about design, the difficulty of the puzzles and how responsive the controls are. The good thing is that Toby: The Secret Mine is a great puzzle game, but there were some issues. First, the game short (around 2-3 ½ hours long). Also, in certain levels, there are some questionable platforming choices in the game that can cause frustration with some gamers, as well some timing issues with pushing the switch for objects to move. After the game is over, other than getting another ending, there is nothing else to do. Does this make Toby: The Secret Mine a bad game? No, however, it raises some concern as this limits the game’s appeal to your gaming family and parents will have to decide who this is a good fit for and for whom it is not.
Family Friendly
In our office during the playtest, there were some talks about who would the game be a good fit for or not. It all boils down to this: if you have someone in your gaming family who likes games like this, they will enjoy it. Otherwise, most will just pass it up. Toby: The Secret Mine is a unique game as it is more than just either a puzzle game or a platform game. It’s more of a hybrid game. It has a little of both, and whether or not a gamer will like it depends on the gaming family member playing. With the concerns that we mentioned before, there are still some things to consider before purchasing. We felt that the game was too short (testers were able to beat the game within about 2 ½ hours during our play test) and the controls were “hit or miss”, but again this was based on our experience. Still, these are things to be aware of if you are going to pick up Toby: The Secret Mine. We feel that if anything, that this would be a good fit for that gaming family member who is a fan of the puzzle/platform genre of games, but not for everyone. Another thing to keep in mind is that once you beat the game, there is nothing else to do except to play through it again to get the other ending; so for those looking for replay value in a game, there isn’t much.
Closing
Toby: The Secret Mine is a unique game for those who like uniqueness in their gaming; however, with a short game lifespan, questionable controls and lots of repetitive deaths, this is a game that might not be for everyone.
