Credit: Amanita Design
Amanita Design, known for games like Machinarium and Samorost, has released its new project Phonopolis on Steam – an isometric puzzle game set in a 3D cardboard world.
Phonopolis tells the story of Felix, a young scavenger who lives in the city of Phonopolis, oppressed by the ruthless Leader. Its inhabitants risk becoming mindless servants of the main villain in the name of achieving a greater goal. Only the protagonist can grasp the scale of the looming threat, as the commands of the Leader’s minions do not affect him.
Thwarting the mad autocrat’s plans is the players’ primary objective. The puzzle’s plot is inspired by the works of Czech science fiction writer Karel Capek and British writer George Orwell.
The key location of the adventure puzzle is constructed from cardboard, which, according to the creators, “metaphorically alludes to a utopian, totalitarian model of society.” All environmental elements were hand-drawn on a sheet of paper and then digitally rendered for use in the 3D game world.
Solving puzzles of varying difficulty relies on constant interaction with environmental elements. Players will need to rotate walls, move floors, operate various mechanisms, and even tear paper curtains. Amanita Design claims that each challenge is carefully integrated into the game world and is unique.
Initial reviews on Steam have been overwhelmingly positive. At release, the game received a 96% positive rating based on several dozen user reviews. Players particularly praise the art style, atmospheric soundtrack, humor, and highly interactive world.