Parents' Guide to

Observation

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Tough sci-fi puzzler has intense story, strong language.

Game PlayStation 4 , Windows 2019
Observation Poster Image

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This game's aimed squarely and unapologetically at space geeks, resulting in an unforgettable experience. Observation works hard to get scientific details right, from what it's like to exist and move around in a zero gravity environment to the practical systems required to operate a working space station. You may come away feeling as though you're returning from orbit rather than having just playing a game. This level of authenticity is impressive and praiseworthy, and will undoubtedly be appreciated by players passionate about space engineering. There are few, if any, games quite like it. But it may prove off-putting to others who don't want to wade through technical language (even if it is mostly just for show -- you definitely don't need to be a programmer or engineer to play) and are easily disoriented exploring an environment in which there's no up or down.

If you do fit into Observation's target audience, though, you'll be in for a rollicking ride. It delivers a tense, terrifying sci-fi story that takes us beyond Earth and into deeper galactic mysteries. The puzzles are satisfyingly tough, forcing players to be keenly observant, make connections between clues, and to read instructions carefully and thoroughly. Having us take on the role of the station's computer -- to become HAL 9000, in essence – rather than a crew member makes for a neat twist, forcing us to learn how to navigate the station through cameras and figure out how an artificial intelligence thinks. That SAM is somehow connected to the strange events within and without the station just makes it all the more intriguing. Observation is a terrific sci-fi mystery unlikely to disappoint fans of challenging puzzles and hard sci-fi storytelling.

Game Details

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