Edit: this game is awesome, go play it!
Rating: 3/10
Press Pause to Play had the potential to be an intriguing gaming experience, but unfortunately, it falls painfully short of its lofty ambitions. From the moment I pressed start, I was greeted with a sense of frustration and confusion, as the game's lack of controls left me grasping at straws. It's as if the developers forgot that games are supposed to be interactive experiences.
First and foremost, the most glaring issue with Press Pause to Play is its complete absence of controls. Yes, you read that correctly: there are no controls whatsoever. I found myself staring blankly at the screen, waiting for some sort of prompt or tutorial to guide me through the game. Alas, none arrived. It's mind-boggling how such a fundamental aspect of game design could be overlooked.
Even worse, the game itself feels like a collection of half-finished ideas. It's evident that Press Pause to Play was released prematurely, with numerous dev notes scattered throughout the game. These notes, instead of adding a sense of charm or insight into the development process, only serve as reminders that I'm playing an unfinished product.
One of the few mechanics that did manage to make it into the game is the titular "pause" button. However, even this seemingly simple feature is wildly inconsistent. Sometimes pressing the pause button would freeze the action, allowing me to assess the situation, while other times it would inexplicably skip entire sections of gameplay. This inconsistency made it impossible to form any kind of coherent strategy, leading to frustrating and disjointed gameplay sessions.
The lack of controls and the unfinished state of Press Pause to Play ultimately make it feel more like a failed experiment than a fully realized game. It's disappointing to see such potential squandered by shoddy execution and a clear lack of attention to detail.
Furthermore, the absence of any clear objectives or goals leaves players wandering aimlessly through a disjointed world. The game fails to provide any motivation or purpose, making it difficult to stay engaged for more than a few minutes at a time.
While Press Pause to Play may have had some interesting ideas, its execution is sorely lacking. With no controls, a plethora of dev notes, and an inconsistent pause button, the experience is frustrating and unsatisfying. It's clear that this game was released prematurely, without proper testing or development. Unless you have a burning desire to subject yourself to an unfinished and confusing mess, I would strongly advise giving Press Pause to Play a hard pass.
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I really liked this game. Lots of humour :D Great game, with great presentation.