They are figuring out how to get from one block to another, but they're also wrestling with loneliness, body image, freedom (or lack thereof)and their own hopes and desires.In Thomas Was Alone, the player manipulates several rectangular shapes across a platforming environment, using their unique abilities, such as floating in water, to aid the other shapes. Thomas and his friends may be AIs trapped inside a computer, but the narration repackages their struggles in terms that fit into the real world.
I found the broad traits that define each of them easily associated with people in my life. This focus for each character makes it easy to empathize with them. Thomas Was Alone's sparse writing manages to convey these characteristics without getting bogged down in details and without the need for direct dialogue. The narration presents differing worldviews for each AI that match their powers - John can jump farther than any other character, so he's cocky and overeager to show off Laura serves as a trampoline but has confidence problems, wondering if people are just using her. Going along with the minimalist art style, the game eschews a lengthy, dialogue-heavy script in favor of brief, stark, oftentimes hilarious narration. Sometimes the solution is as simple as stacking blocks on top of each other to create a stairway, but as the game progresses, you'll need to use these different characters in more difficult combinations.Īlong with the differences in ability and appearance, each character in Thomas Was Alone has a unique personality built up in a unique way. For example, there's a large square that can't jump as high as other characters but has the ability to float on water, while a long, skinny rectangle can double-jump. The goal is always to get all active characters from their starting point to an exit, but you'll need to use their powers in tandem to do so. As Thomas explores his surroundings and solves simple puzzles, he doesn't remain on his own for very long a growing list of colorful characters join up to help him.Įach new character introduces a wrinkle to the stand-alone levels that make up Thomas' journey. Thomas, in this case, is a rectangle, an AI who has become self-aware and been given a shape within the abstract computer world where he exists. Thomas Was Alone begins with a cheery British narrator (voiced by comedian Danny Wallace) speaking the title phrase.
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