ColorBlend FX: Desaturation

ColorBlend FX: Desaturation is a whimsical, 2.5D puzzle platformer set in a world deprived of color. In this imaginative blend of Metroidvania and classic puzzle mechanics, players step into the shoes of a “Potato Gnome,” who must bring hues back to a land overtaken by S.L.I.M.E. monsters and restore balance with the mystical Crystals of Essence. The game combines creativity, color-based puzzles, and an engaging story about saving a broken world from the clutches of Lord Ashen, a disastrous government experiment.

Exploring environments like research facilities, railway tunnels, and a grand library, ColorBlend FX uses color as its core gameplay mechanic. Players swim through pools of paint, navigate various platforms, and solve puzzles by changing color to activate devices, unlock doors, and outsmart foes.

A Playful Palette

ColorBlend FX: Desaturation boasts a unique premise that fuses vibrant visuals with clever gameplay. The game’s puzzles are mostly centered around color mechanics, where players must find and interact with paint pools to change their hue, enabling them to activate corresponding color-coded devices. The joy of exploration and discovery is heightened as each new area reveals additional lore and new abilities, making it a treat for fans of platformers with a touch of creative flair.

One of the game’s highlights is its use of colors to enhance storytelling. Every element, from the protagonist’s movements to the creatures, feels connected to the theme of restoring color. The Yin-Yang-inspired narrative cleverly ties into this journey, providing a deeper context to the game’s setting. The library, in particular, offers a well-designed space where players can discover lore and unlock abilities by reading books, adding an educational twist to the classic puzzle platform.

Unfortunately, the gameplay is hampered by cumbersome ragdoll physics, making it feel awkward and unresponsive. The protagonist’s slow, floppy movement adds unnecessary difficulty to straightforward platforming sections. Tasks like scaling walls or avoiding hazards feel clumsy, as players often struggle against the character’s sluggish controls rather than the level design challenges. This can quickly turn simple platforming segments into frustrating experiences, with frequent deaths due to unrefined physics.

Visually, the game is a mixed bag. While the backgrounds are richly detailed, with trees, moving clouds, and intricate rocks, the character and enemy models lack the same level of polish. This disparity creates a jarring contrast between the beautifully rendered midground elements and the simplistic character designs, which feel out of place. The over-detailed backgrounds, though impressive, detract from the platforming focus, drawing attention away from the characters and interactive elements.

Mixed Canvas

ColorBlend FX: Desaturation has the potential to stand alongside games like Limbo or Ori and the Blind Forest in terms of creative design, but its flaws hold it back. Whereas Ori’s precise controls and fluid movements made exploration seamless, ColorBlend FX struggles with unresponsive mechanics that make progression more laborious than rewarding. With refined physics and character movement, the game could have matched the immersion of its inspirations.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Engaging color-based puzzles and unique mechanics
• Rich lore and creative-level design, especially in the library
• Visually detailed and atmospheric backgrounds

Cons:

• Cumbersome ragdoll physics that hinders character movement
• The visual disparity between backgrounds and character models
• Overly detailed backgrounds that detract from gameplay focus