Kombinera is Atari’s latest puzzle game – Atari’s newest IP. Take a look at our Kombinera Review through the Nintendo Switch.

Kombinera Review: What is Kombinera?

Kombinera is a new puzzle game developed by Graphite Lab and Joystick Labs and published by Atari. This is the first new IP to come out of Atari for quite a while. Kombinera is a brand-new experience hidden behind a very familiar coat of paint – it’s easy to say that this game actually was a classic Atari game rather than a new invention. That’s a good thing, as this means Kombinera doesn’t stray away from Atari’s brand and that it fits quite well in Atari’s massive library of games.

Kombinera was released on April 7, 2022, on the PC, Nintendo Switch, iOS, PS4, Xbox One, and the Xbox Series X. This Kombinera review was made using the Nintendo Switch version of the game.

Kombinera Review: Gameplay

In Kombinera, the objective is simple. Players are tasked with finding a way to combine (see what they did there?) different colored blobs. The color of the blob defines its characteristics – the white blobs are your vanilla blobs with no special properties. Pink blobs are immune from spikes, Yellow blobs can break yellow-colored bricks, Green blobs are immune to rockets, and so on and so forth. Combining different blobs will have their properties combined as well – so a white blob that combines with a pink blob will also be immune to spikes.

All of the blobs are controlled simultaneously. Moving the joystick will move all of the blobs in the same direction. So, players will have to use the environment, like obstacles and elevation, to move the blobs to where players want them to. The game’s controls are also very tight and responsive, which makes every failure feel deserved. This also means completing tough levels brings forth a sense of relief and elation, as you’ve finally figured out how to solve a puzzle and execute the steps successfully. The game rewards persistence and mastery of controls, which makes both the puzzle-solving skills and mastery of the mechanics of the player equally important.

The process of figuring out the sequence of movements needed to solve the puzzle is just the first part of the game. This already gives you a high – you feel smart for being able to figure out how to beat a level. Then, you set out trying to execute the sequence of steps in your mind. Sometimes, this would lead you to realize that the sequence in your head won’t actually be possible, or that it won’t lead to the level’s completion. That will bring you back to the drawing board, trying to figure out again how to complete it. Once you’ve successfully executed the sequence and combined all of the blobs, you get another high. You’re both smart for figuring out the sequence AND skillful for pulling off the needed movements with the game’s very tight controls.

The main objective of each stage is to find a way to reunite all of the blobs. Two secondary objectives exist in the game that helps give the game additional longevity: Beating the Time and Collecting the Crowns. These two secondary objectives allow players to not only solve the puzzles but to challenge themselves to collect the crowns while also beating the time. It will take most of the puzzles a couple of additional attempts before you’d be able to figure out the correct sequencing to be able to accomplish all of the objectives.

Add to these objectives are a plethora of Accomplishments that players could attempt to complete, adding another layer of achievements for completionists. A secret, “ninth chapter” of the game is also available which, while doesn’t add to the game’s story, adds secret levels to further challenge players. These secret levels get unlocked at different points in the game and as players accomplish achievements and reach different milestones.

Story

The game doesn’t have a real story, but there’s a semblance of a story that’s being told through a variety of cutscenes in the game. The game is arranged in Eight Chapters, with new Chapters adding new colors of Blobs to the game, adding more complexity to the puzzles, and keeping the game fresh. Between chapters, cutscenes play out to tell players the story behind these Blobs. There isn’t much to talk about in this department, but at least there was some semblance of narrative in the game to keep you invested, keeping this game from being just a laundry list of puzzles to accomplish.

Graphics

The game features a very sharp contrast between a monochromatic background and very brightly colored blobs and environmental elements. The stark contrast helps players differentiate between ambiance and stage elements. The simple art style fits the game’s puzzle-platformer genre well, and its refusal to oversaturate the screen with details helps keep the focus on the puzzles at hand. While simple, the game also looks wonderful. The simplicity of it all helps make the game feel very relaxing. Even after a hundred failures in a single level, there’s not an ounce of frustration in my veins – the game’s design makes sure that I stay relaxed all throughout.

The game’s graphics go full loco during cutscenes, though. An epilepsy warning at the start of the game should get you prepared for what kind of visuals you’ll see here. Admittedly, I should have played the game with the lights open to save my eyes from the blinding colorful lights that blasted out of the screen in some of the cutscenes. But alas, being on the Switch, I played this game in bed as I tried to lull myself to sleep. The lights are out, and this would blind me and wake me from my drowsiness at the completion of each chapter. And I never learned. With that, just be wary of the game’s very bright and colorful visuals and you should be fine.

Music and Sound Design

The game’s music was designed to be relaxing – soothing your frustration even after hundreds of failed attempts. The relaxation encourages both kinds of players who play this game: those who keep attempting with trial and error until they complete it, and those who take their time to think things through. The soothing music and the light sound that comes from a failure are both very light, which lets you know that failing isn’t a big deal and that you can hop onto your next attempt right away.

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In contrast to the light and soothing music and sound design present in the solving process, the game then goes all out celebration whenever you do successfully complete a level. Each completed Chapter is also met with a more epic, more celebratory tune. These tunes thankfully don’t end up feeling too obnoxious to the point of annoyance – they tone down just right before they overstay their welcome. The sound design masterfully controls the mood of the person playing the game, intensifying emotions when needed and relaxing to combat possible frustration. Hence, make sure you play the game with the sound on.

Accessibility

For a game this colorful, it is very important to make sure color-blind people would be able to tell the colors apart. Thankfully, the game features different colorblind modes to make sure visual impairment would not prevent the enjoyment of the game. This extends to screen shakes and blooms, which could introduce detrimental effects to some players, which could be turned on and off in the game. The controls of the game can also be re-mapped to some extent, which should help others who have issues with the game’s default key binding. This Kombinera review reports that the game has enough and ample accessibility options to make the game playable by a great majority of people.

Kombinera Review: Verdict – Is Kombinera worth your time and money?

Kombinera is a fun brain teaser that offers a large amount of challenge in both logic and hand-eye coordination. If you like both puzzles and platformers, this game offers a lot to you, with hundreds of challenging levels for you to take a dip on. The challenge extends past just completing the games, though. The game also challenges players to not only conquer the levels but also to master them – daring you to come back and collect all crowns and beat the timer. Sprinkle in a good dozen or so of secret levels that are even more challenging, and you got a game here that’s worth every penny you spend on it, and will keep you busy for hundreds of hours.

Score: 8/10