Human Fall Flat

We all love a good quirky game. Something where the appeal is the uniqueness of its characters or the bizarre nature of the game play, like QWOP, that game where you had to control the athlete’s limbs using letters on your keyboard. Remember that? Nightmarish. Human Fall Flat offers a similar kind of experience, only less infuriating. With a flimsy humanoid protagonist aptly named Bob and a host of intriguing puzzles and levels, Human Fall Flat is likely to appeal to those who like a bit of playfulness injected into their video game experience. The question is, does it fall flat on its face?

The short answer is no. There are enough puzzles and different environments throughout the game to keep your interest levels peaked, that is if you enjoy puzzle-based video games, of course. Some may be put off by the game’s controls. They’re deliberately tricky to work with, as not only is it part of the game’s programming to make the puzzles so difficult to complete, but it also adds to the game’s comedy factor. It’s charming slapstick nature is what makes it so endearing to begin with and is one of its best features. It’s extra fun when playing with a friend or family member and watching them mess up a jump or a pull-up, a function that would otherwise be easy if not for the clumsiness of the controls.

What I really like about Human Fall Flat is that it is aware that Bob’s knack for falling off cliffs and accidental suicide can be a bit frustrating, given how often it happens. Usually the respawn time in some games can really put me off (hello, falling off Rainbow Road in literally any Mariokart game), but the developers found a way to beat this. As every level in the game takes place in a floating island, once you fall off you immediately fall back onto the island from above. Its an instant respawn, which makes the game all the more addictive and much more convenient to play.

I’ll be honest, I’m very hit or miss when it comes to games based around puzzles. I love the Legend of Zelda games, but when it comes to some of the trickier dungeons, I groan, sigh and inevitably do a Google search for the walkthrough. Human Fall Flat doesn’t quite reach this level of puzzle tedium; a lot of puzzles are pretty basic, easy enough for the average video game player or those of us who have grown up with them. Move a block to progress, or even fling yourself across the map using a catapult (which is also a lot of fun to play around with).

The odd couple did make me consider switching off the game and heading outside, but I realised I wasn’t kidding anyone and powered through. As the game has a linear level design, all the puzzles have to be solved in sequence, so if you want to progress you have to grit your teeth and get through some of the tougher stuff. A recent addition to the game is the availability of an online multiplayer option, where you and seven other brave souls can navigate the world of Bob and laugh at each other when you fall off the world by simply trying to walk.

The Bottom Line

All in all, there’s a lot to like about this game. Yes, there’s the odd element that makes it a little bit off-putting, such as the dodgy controls and the repetitive nature, but they’re part of the package. Human Fall Flat doesn’t promise anything it can’t deliver and it doesn’t try and hide what it is. It’s simple, it’s fun, and it’s always worth a laugh when you’ve got friends round. It’s a world worth taking a trip to.

Pros:

• Puzzles are genuinely inventive and some quite challenging
• The interface and aesthetic is very inviting
• Multiplayer friendly
• It’s lots of fun

Cons:

• The repetitive nature of the game might not swing it for some
• The controls are tricky enough that it may put some players off

8/10

Did you know that Human Fall Flat is one of the best-selling video games of all time??? I knew that this was popular, but I had no idea it was THAT popular. This is a game that I have dabbled in many times over the years when my friends and I would have our wives permitted Thursday night online gaming sessions. This is one of those games that always gets some laughs out of you and your friends and to this day if one of us suggests playing it, no one ever says no, that is possibly the best compliment that I can give the game!

Fun With Friends

The thing with Human Fall Flat is that this is a game that to get the best out of, you have to play with people you know. I have jumped on and played this with randoms before and it can be fun for a short while, but to truly get the best out of this, you have to be into playing with and talking to your friends online. There is no single-player story or anything like that here for those who do not like communicating…. Or trash talking and insulting their friends as they play.

Making Your Bob

The whole “Bob” thing of Human Fall Flat is what makes this such a recognizable game. The idea is that you have these white characters called Bobs and you need to make your own. The level of customization here is crazy, you can pretty much create who you want if you are willing to put the time in. For example, me and my friends are all huge wrestling fans and we each created our Bobs to look like some of the Legends of WrestleMania, I went for Ultimate Warrior, but we had a group that consisted of Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, and The Undertaker. This was a blast and a huge part of the reason as to why we all got as invested in the game as we did.

Getting To The Next Level

Getting to the end of the level is the only thing that Human Fall Flat has going on for it and how you do that can differ from level to level. There are platforming and weird puzzles you have to solve that can range from super simplistic to infuriatingly frustrating where you have to work together and be on the same page as if just one person screws up, the whole thing can go to hell. Of course, there is the competitive nature of things as well and more often than not me and my friends would start working together, only for us to all turn on each other. It is the kind of game that has super floaty and weird physics that you have to get used to and constantly fight with, but this is what makes or breaks the game in my opinion.

Something About It

You know how a game like Minecraft is instantly recognizable? Well, Human Fall Flat is the same. You see a screenshot of this game and you instantly know what it is. Even if you have not actually played the game, you will know the gist of what the game is. I love the whole zany and low quality vibe that this game has going for it. It looks like something someone made in some kind of game generator and that fits the whole tone and style of the game perfectly. Sure nothing is greatly detailed, but due to this, I feel it is always easy to see objects and get an idea of how you can interact with things.

Pros:

• I loved the character creation aspect
• Figuring out the best way to beat a level can be fun
• This is so much fun to play with friends
• I liked the variety that the levels offered

Cons:

• There is zero story or single-player content to get invested with
• While many love it, many also find the controls to be more frustrating than fun