Closure (PC) (2012)

The little balls of light float in water.

Overview: In Closure, the player manipulates light in order to get from the beginning of each level to the end (a door).

[20140426 Assumed Entry Date][20190707 Edit]

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20140426:
This was a neat puzzle platformer where the light manipulation puzzle mechanic was a unique and fun experience for me.

The goal is to get to the door.

The game has an atmosphere which is relaxing and reminded me of NightSky (PC) (2011). However, the puzzles in Closure tend to require more thinking than those in NightSky. NightSky is more like platformer with some puzzle elements whereas Closure is more like a puzzler with some platform elements.

Strategically push boxes around.

Meanwhile, the white and black color scheme of Closure reminded Limbo (PC) (2011). However, Closure isn't thematically dark like Limbo.

Regarding the game's puzzle style, I was reminded of Toki Tori (PC) (2010), because solutions felt open-ended and require the player to try several distinct actions before succeeding. This is especially true further into both games as the levels get more difficult.

Strategically adjust lamps.

Overall, I enjoyed Closure and the only reason I stopped playing was because I got stuck on a level* and was too frustrated with trying to complete it.

Illuminate the pods.

*After completing the first fifteen levels of the first door, I got stuck on the sixteenth level. I got the box up, but I couldn't push it so that it fell onto the button. I didn't know what I was doing wrong and I got tired of trying, because bringing the box up was already a tedious task.

[20140426 Assumed Entry Date][20190707 Edit]

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20140531:
Today I completed that tedious level sixteen.

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20150416:
Today I played for about forty minutes as the tall, slim girl (second world) and completed levels 1 to 14.

Proximity-censored lights.

The second world features at least two new mechanics. One is lights which shut off when the player character gets too close. Another is door locks which are opened via remote pods; keep a light shining on a pod to keep its corresponding lock open).

[20150416 Assumed Entry Date][20190707 Edit]

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20150507:
Today I played as the short girl (third world) and completed levels 1 to 21. Overall, these levels were more straightforward than many of the second world levels I have previously encountered.

Break targets with laser guns  in order
to eliminate barriers and/or light sources.

The third world features at least three new mechanics: laser guns (fire with "Shift" key or gamepad LB), spiky floors, and light-powered lights.

Unlike some puzzle games, Closure is fun, but fails to hold my interest for long periods of time. Today I played for an hour.

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20240505 Snapshot:
Today I thought about revisiting this game. Coincidentally, the developer released a maintenance update recently (20240418).

Main: 1: 16/24; 2: 14/24; 3: 21/24
Moths:* 1: 1/10; 2: 2/10; 3: 4/10
Steam Game Time: 3.2 hours (cumulative game time) / 3h 11m (Playnite)
Last Played: 20150507

*In detail: 1.15, 2.4, 2.10, 3.5, 3.11, 3.15, 3.18

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20240505:
Apparently it's been about nine years since I've last played this game. Returning to it, I found it simple enough to find my bearings.
Setup: Played with Xbox controller. Per the instructions of the maintenance update, the developer said to change the save file location in the settings file. However, I just deleted the existing "closure_001.sav" and renamed the file "cloudsave_closure_001.sav" to "closure_001.sav".

Gameplay Log:
Completed the first area
Went back to the first level looking for the moths - it seems not every level has one, but I could be wrong [update: each of the three areas has ten levels with moths and there is an ingame method to show which levels have them (collect at least 15 and find the Moth Trove)]
After some time, I went onto the second area
I stopped playing at level 20 where the key falls twice due to motion sensored lights (the lights turn off when motion is detected)
Note: there are times when a transformation cutscene occurs. this cutscene is skippable by pressing a button
Read about the existence of the Moth Trove and found it.
Completed the second area.
Tried level 22 of the third area, but I didn't know how to use the laser, so went back to level 1.
Got to the introduction of the laser and it's the "Shift" key or gamepad LB. I've edited my entry from 20150507 to indicate this as well.

Main: 1: 24/24; 2: 24/24; 3: 21/24
Moths: 1: 5/10; 2: 4/10; 3: 6/10
Steam Game Time: 7.1 hours (cumulative game time) / 3.7 hours (session game time) + 0.2 hours (blog time)

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Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Fun puzzle use of light/dark
+ Great music
+ Good artistic design
+ Simple controls

Neutral:
~ there's an implicit story, which is okay, but it would have been neat to have a more explicit story such as Shady Part of Me

Minor Con:
- Some puzzle games such as Toki Tori implement a convenient rewind button to remove the frustration of having to completely redo the level from the beginning just because of an error. This game lacks such a feature and it is unrewarding to redo a portion of the puzzle

Rating: 4.6 out of 5

[20240505]

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20240506:
Gameplay Log:
Completed the third area.
Completed the moths
Played first two levels of the fourth area

Main: 1: 24/24; 2: 24/24; 3: 24/24; 4: 2/10
Moths: 10/10; 2: 10/10; 3: 10/10
Steam Game Time: 9.5 hours (cumulative game time) / 2.4 hours (session game time)

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Closure (PC) (2012)

Relevant Links:
Closure (video game) (Wikipedia.org)
Closure (PC) (IGN.com)
Closure (Steam Store Page)
Closure (GameSpot.com)
Closure (Newgrounds.com)