arts // no. 6 A fresh puzzle game that > ‘Baba is You’ video game review Mike LeMieux Senior Columnist wwe KK Y t's rare to be surprised by something new in video games these days. A lot of the time it feels like you're just playing slight variations of the same thing repeatedly. Baba is You, an indie puzzle game by Finnish game developer Arvi Teikari, feels fresh. In it you play as lots of characters but mainly as a pixel-art rabbit named Baba. Your goal as Baba in each of the game's many levels is always the same: Win. To accomplish this, you'll do everything from grabbing a flag to transforming a rock into a key, using the key to open the door, then turning the key into a ghost that you push into a lake. Okay, that escalated pretty quickly. Let's back up a bit. Your main interaction in Baba is You is pushing blocks. All the stages you are presented with are screen-filling grids populated by objects and words. For example, you may be given the titular “Baba,” “is,” and “You”—words which are quite common throughout the game. When placed together, the phrase you create becomes a hard rule that every object in the level is subject to. You'll encounter all kinds of words in the game ee eee but they'll typically be in one of three categories. You'll have objects like “rock” or “key”; conjunctions and other connecting words like “is” or “and”; and attributes or verbs like “floats” or “push.” When you start a level there will be phrases strewn about that will tell you what kind of rules you're playing by. A key for example has no inherent attributes unless you've got a phrase such as “Key is open” on the field. The puzzle aspect of each iS ° g = =} lo Bo] ° < wv a v a © a Ew [s) [o} oc AS > ra av e oa rr) 6 2 Gy oO level comes from manipulating or creating phrases to secure some form of victory. If a wall is blocking you from the flag, it's up to you and your brain to figure out how you can change the rules of the level to let you get through. Baba is You really encourages thinking outside the box. Like, way outside the box. Early puzzles in the game have many different solutions. The wall that's blocking you could simply have its solidness theotherpress.ca breaks the rules stripped away by severing the “stop” from the phrase “wall is stop.” You could push blocks in a way that strings together “wall is you” and move out of your own way. You could turn every object in the level into Baba and overwhelm your obstacles with numbers. The world is your oyster, potentially literally. This is where Baba is You shines. The spark of inspiration and creativity you feel upon figuring out a solution just isn't something you encounter often. This game will make you feel both very smart and very, very stupid. It feels extremely rewarding to bash your head against a tough puzzle and to have that “aha” moment of inspiration where you figure out an extremely elegant solution. If there's one large complaint to be made here, it's that the early creativity- focused puzzles with many solutions are pushed to the side later in the game for devilishly challenging puzzles with only a single answer. Some players may be turned off by how difficult the game becomes and would rather have a fun sandbox where they're breaking puzzles instead of solving them. Aside from that, there's plenty of content to be had and the game's Commodore 64 style of graphics are often cute and easy to read. Baba is You is available on Steam and the Nintendo Switch for around $18. Darkness doesn't arrive for Bad Suns » ‘Mystic Truth’ album review Sonam Kaloti Arts Editor wwe KK Y I: been excited for the new Bad Suns album since it was announced. The rock band—consisting of Christo Bowman, Gavin Bennett, Miles Morris, and Ray Libby—has a staple “good times” vibe, but that doesn’t hinder them from trying unique song concepts. Their albums Language and Perspective (2014) and Disappear Here (2016) really struck a chord with me (pun intended). Language & Perspective features songs that exhibit a sort of lust for life. However, the album includes darker tracks about issues like anxiety as well. Disappear Here has a similar sound to their previous album, but with more developed rhythm and beats. Both albums are fast-paced with all the heavy drums, guitars, and vocals you could expect from a rock band. Bowman has a memorable voice that adds a lot to the emotions conveyed through all their music. I was, as anyone would be, nervous about their new album, Mystic Truth— would it live up to the standards of the band I’ve grown to love? Their first single from the new album is “Away We Go,’ a repetition-heavy song with a cute piano riff and slight distortion on the vocals. It could almost be mistaken for a pop sound had the drums not kept the rock vibe. “Hold Your Fire” was the next single released and, though apparent on all tracks, it has a lot of repetition as well. Repetition isn’t necessarily a poor decision, though, because as a single it has an obligation to be catchy and relatively easy to learn. The last single so far, “One Magic Moment,” follows the song form of first introducing a piano riff, then a vocal verse, then the combined effort of all instruments. “A Miracle, A Mile Away” has a significant play on prosody. The word “miracle” is sung softly and enchantingly, while “mile away” is held for much longer, ‘Mystic Truth’ album cover giving the listener the auditory feeling for the meaning of the words. “The World and I” begins with hard left and right instrumental panning. Unlike most of the other songs, this one feels much fresher to listen to because the verses barely have any perfect rhymes. Percussion is the show-stopper on “Love by Mistake.” The track features soft guitar, wood blocks, shakers, and an instrument that sounds somewhat like a glockenspiel or xylophone. The lyrics “summer breeze, dancing trees by the lake” summarize the peaceful and whimsical atmosphere of this track. My favourite track on the album is “Darkness Arrives (And Departs).” The music is lovely, but the words are incredibly meaningful. One of the best feelings in the world is when you find a song that simply hits exactly when you needed it. This is that kind of song. The verses are about the thoughts in us that say, as Bowman sings, “Tomorrow looks different when hope seems so distant.” However, the pre-chorus turns that fear and anxiety into hope and excitement with, “That's where youre wrong. The future’s in only our hands. Isn’t that mad?” I think Bad Suns did change their sound and music technology towards a more concise approach this time around. I enjoyed their experimental and rough- at-the-edges sound from their previous albums, but watching a band grow into the sound they want to have leaves little room to be upset.