If developer Hack the Publisher was aiming to be a studio that you can’t put in a box, then they nailed it with their upcoming release, Centum. Following the release of Dwarven Skykeep and Vengeance of Mr. Peppermint, I don’t think I could predict that their next game, Centum, would be an eerie point-and-click puzzle game, but here we are. However, after writing that, Centum is unlike any game that I’ve played in this genre, with a unique concept that rewards creativity and curiosity to progress. The result is a nightmarish experience that has me eager to play more.
A Unique Concept in a Strange Reality
Centum exists in a strange reality that puts you in the head of a game developer, I think. Upon booting up the game, you have access to a virtual desktop with random files and instructions. This screen also acts as the in-game menu to manually save or exit. After closely reading the files, you are shown the next steps to progress, but there are other fun things you can try as you decode strange text files and ultimately prepare for the rules of this reality. You’re encouraged across every screen to try new things, which might lead to a mistake, but progression will come in due time. Elements of this game that seem arbitrary at first make small connections later on, but in the meantime, you have a visual feast of wonderfully eerie pixel art set pieces that aim to immerse you in the puzzling world.
Elements of this game that seem arbitrary at first make small connections later on, but in the meantime, you have a visual feast of wonderfully eerie pixel art set pieces.
Immersive Gameplay and Visuals
Once you start up the “game,” you find yourself in a prison cell, where each day, you are visited by a judge who asks you questions. I think my only problem with the responses in Centum was that I didn’t know what they meant. Even after reading each choice option and holding onto the idea of who I think I want my character to be, I never really understood the results of my choices. Perhaps this makes changes to the narrative over time, but as it stands, we’re all in this confusing mess together. Regardless of your dialog choices, the writing is delivered in a somber way, which creates this depressing atmosphere. As much as the player character wants to escape from the prison, you will likely feel the same way.
However, Centum branches outside of itself as the player characters leave the confines of the cell and find themselves trapped in a room, developing the game they just played. Trying to understand the situation will likely only lead to more confusion, but I found that if I accepted this twisted reality, the world would make more sense. However, I underestimated the creativity and mind-game skills of this developer because every question answered just leads to more questions. As this hell of a world takes shape, you really have to wonder if it’s something you want to explore more. For me, every completed puzzle and new narrative discovery kept me enthralled in figuring out this strange video game.
Challenging Puzzles and Narrative Choices
Centum is unlike any game that I’ve played in this genre, with a unique concept that rewards creativity and curiosity to progress.
Centum is a point-and-click adventure. You’re allowed to explore the rooms that you’re in, but I rarely had to do any pixel-hunting for hidden objects. There seems to be an order in which you should do things, but I felt like I worked against that order as I progressed. I would say that the puzzle design incorporates environmental set pieces, sound cues, and found text with information that you should retain for future use. Items can also be found and used on specific objects as well.
The challenge can be quite high in Centum, but I got through each obstacle at a natural pace and was never stumped for too long. That said, with how loose the rules of this supernatural world are, I can imagine future puzzles to be quite challenging. There are also several mini-games that I got to play. I wouldn’t call them groundbreaking, but their inclusion is quite a surprise. If you suck at them, an easier mode is unlocked so you can get back to point-and-click segments.
Exploring the Developer’s Twisted World
Centum is a journey through the unknown. While playing, every instinct told me to run or turn away, but my eyes were locked on the screen. I was immersed in the reality that I nor the narrator could get a grasp on, but at least I wasn’t alone. In the same breath, the puzzle elements made me feel smart but then reluctant to complete them when progression just meant walking further into the unknown. Being a huge fan of games like Broken Sword and Myst peaked my initial interest in Centum, but this game definitely finds a unique place within the point-and-click genre.
Centum is coming to Xbox Series and PC via Steam in Q3 2024.
