A lone man wandered through a maze of pipes, gears, mortar, and steam, seeking to undo the damage he has unknowingly wrought. From the shadows, stalkers with eyes glow with the light of science and bodies that radiate the pure power of the earth follow him, mindlessly hunting the stranger. The only weapon and tool carried by the man is a large backpack, to which is attached a nozzle, ready to release torrents of water. This lone man is the vanguard, both, for and against his science.
In the game Vessel, you play as a lone steampunk scientist, a genius who has changed the world with a singular creation. Automata created from liquid and powered by science, his creation creates impossibly cheap labor for the burgeoning industrial world. But all is not well as, after being locked out of his own lab by his creation and infiltrating it, word spread of how his creation is causing havoc and...evolving?
Throughout the game, you manipulate levers, buttons, and various Steampunk-inspired machinery to reach your goals. But first and foremost, you manipulate liquid and your creations. The puzzles of the game are wonderfully designed; they feel both organic to the setting, and are genuinely interesting and challenging, using the mechanics of the games in interesting ways. As the game progresses, you get new toys, new enemies, and different fluids, all making the game more complex, but still manageable.
It is a game that challenges the mind and the occasionally the reflexes. I cannot help but think of it as a more mature, more interesting, and more puzzling Super Mario Sunshine. While not free, I found the charm and uniqueness of Vessel to be far too much to not recommend. The game can be found on Steam, occasionally for cheap during a sale, or on Strange Loop Game's website. A demo is even available, so this game can pull you in before you even spend a dime.