Hi Everyone!
Naturally being away has not meant that gaming has stopped. I am all set with my gaming laptop, recording headphones, Nintendo Switch and a lot of cables so keep watching for the daily releases on my YouTube channel!
It feels as if summer has truly started as I am on holiday! At the moment I am staying in a lodge beside the River Avon just outside of Stratford-upon-Avon. It really is my happy place and I can while away the hours reading on the deck watching the swans and geese. The swans have had 5 cygnets this year and the geese are forming bizarre creches for their goslings. There is one group of adults looking after in the region of 50 goslings, but a larger group of adults looking after just one. They won’t even let him mingle with the other goslings. My family have decided that this lone baby must be the Messiah judging by all the security he is getting!
Before heading on this trip I was able to finish my walkthrough for Cocoon. It is the first game I have recorded from the Xbox Game Pass using an Elgato stream and record device. It has made my life so much easier and will also be compatible with my Nintendo Switch, vastly increasing the options over games I can record. Watch this space!
Cocoon has been created by Geometric Interactive, a small indie game dev company founded by Jeppa Carlsen. Those older than me will know him for the games ‘Limbo’ and ‘Inside’ which my parents rave about but consider too creepy to let me near just yet. To be fair, Inside is rated as an 18 but now I am officially in my teens I can tell myself that I’m getting there! However, the key thing is knowing the quality of these games set the bar high as I went into Cocoon.
Cocoon is best thought of as a combination of adventure and puzzle game. The game takes the form of a third-person video game where you are in control of a character with insect characteristics – namely wings though flying is not happening. Given the game title I assume the creature is an alien form of moth who initially sets off through barren wasteland and in time multiple worlds.
Your focus is largely going to be consumed by orbs and orbs within orbs. Each orb is a masterpiece in its own right and across the course of the game you will encounter and collect them in different colours. Firstly they can be used to power machinery found across the desolate landscapes such as lifts and platforms. Yet each orb is not just a power source for ancient alien technology, but a world.
Each orb represents a unique world. They are stunning in design with the colour of the orb being a key component within the landscapes. As I have a liking for nature it is little wonder that I gravitate towards the lush beauty within the green orb but the graphics of all are deeply atmospheric with even small details captured such as reflections within the water. These orbs can be entered and manipulated to solve puzzles and orbs can be placed, one within the other like Russian dolls, so as to enable more than one to be carried. Each orb will also be granted with a unique ability but this is only revealed after a boss battle with the world’s guardian – think illuminating hidden paths, shooting lasers and transporting yourself up once solidified pillars. These are tools that once unlocked can be used within the worlds and even integrated to cross through multiple worlds so as to solve puzzles that further the story.
Whilst never joined by anything humanoid, you will at times need the help of a drone. These are obtained by completing drone puzzles which see you activating a series of shapes in the correct order for that particular drone. Quite often the shapes will be somewhere in your surroundings so whilst not necessarily difficult, you do need to keep eyes peeled for them! Once released, these little companions will then follow you, lowering barriers that once blocked your progress and finally fusing with a blue object to unlock a gate. Unfortunately they do sometimes get ‘eaten’ by something that reminds me of a glue trap but do not fear, you can always free your newfound comrade.
Finally there are collectables! These take the form of Moon Ancestors which tend to be off the beaten path so exploration within reason is encouraged. These appear as statues with a glyph nearby you can interact with, causing the Moon Ancestors to ascend upwards. What they really are I do not have a clue but I do like 100% completion so have done a guide for their locations as well.
Cocoon first came out in 2023 and continues to garner positive reviews. It promises to while away a few hours with dramatic landscapes, soothing music and a chance to get your mind around the idea of leaping between worlds. I was happy to have added to it to my play list!
It is available on Steam as well as other platforms.
My Cocoon YouTube playlist can be found here.