Adaptation is a hard thing, taking something that is already well established in one medium and translating it to another. The Invincible (2023) adapts the novel of the same name by Stanisław Lem. Unfortunately, I have yet to read Lem’s book as I have yet to find it in the wild (I am waiting to find it at a random used bookstore), and so my review can only encompass the game separate from its source material. But what I can say is the game The Invincible is a phenomenal story game that doesn’t take that long to get through, but is well worth a playthrough.
You wake on a desert planet with one of the most classic video game tropes, Amnesia. Not knowing where you are or how you got there, you must get back to your base and find your crew. To make matters worse, you don’t have all your equipment, and your transmitter is broken, meaning you can send messages to the crew but can not receive any. As mentioned before, this is a classic trope in game design as it can allow the player to embody who they are playing with a blank slate. In this case, you play as Yasna, an astrobiologist on the planet of Regis III. Using a branching narrative structure, you must guide her through the alien landscape using basic tools like a scanner and telescope, in order to find your crew and why the planet is of interest to the Alliance (the opposing faction).
You can tell games like Firewatch by Campo Sando were a strong inspiration for this game, with aspects of suspense and mild horror present within its world. But unlike Firewatch, it’s set in a science fiction setting with a 60s flair that beautifully presents itself with challenges and puzzles. All the technology in the game is inspired by cassette futurism, with clunky analog technology and simple geometric designs that feel inspired by the era of technology in which the book was released. This makes the world feel lived in and unique, where it’s not trying to feel overbearing in terms of gadgets, but rather in this aesthetic, everything becomes easy to understand, especially when you stumble on new tools and mechanics in the game. I also epically love how around the edges of your view you can see you helmet and the scratches and marks the glass has.
The story itself is a sci-fi thriller at its finest. I won’t spoil anything outside of early encounters, but the story ramps up with twists and turns that left me speechless. It is filled with lovable characters and a world that you want to discover more about. Then, once you reach the climax, your idea of what you thought was true about the world is shattered, leaving you with important decisions on just how to keep going from there. As you keep pushing forward within the world, you discover unique areas from abandoned camps, to large threats, and twisting tunnels. Everything within the game keeps you on track throughout its branching yet relatively linear story.
In addition to playing through the game as you normally would, the game also recaps events that occur through comic book style paneling. You can access the comics at any time, and your narrative decisions impact how the comic unfolds. For example, early on, you can either slide down a risky slope or take a safer route; depending on which choice you make, your action will be recorded. This is a nice addition that makes for a unique way to recap what has transpired as you try to piece together what exactly is happening due to your amnesia.
Now, with all of that in mind, there is one flaw in my opinion that brings down the enjoyment of the game. The biggest flaw is the stamina of the game. Now I can get from a design decision why the stamina is the way it is, but it basically makes it so you can only move fast for a short portion of time, and then you are stuck in what feels like the longest recovery ever. This feels apparent because of just how much walking you do in this game, as throughout the game, you are walking for 80% of the time. Now it is not so bad as to make it enjoyable, but when the game is a walking simulator, it does feel annoying at times.
Overall, The Invincible is an incredible game that tells a beautiful story in a unique world. If you are someone who either enjoys narrative games or walking simulators, then I would highly suggest you check it out. For everyone else, the game is great for a short weekend playthrough, especially since it regularly has deep discounts on Steam.