Whether players will enjoy Helix: Descent N Ascent will likely be determined by how far the visuals carry them. The game is striking to look at, but the complexity of the environment and the ambiguity of the puzzles hurt this otherwise unique entry in the puzzle/adventure genre.
Helix: Descent N Ascent is a striking monochromatic puzzle adventure driven by a brilliant "show, don't tell" philosophy. Its synergistic mechanics and creative homages reward player intuition over traditional tutorials. Despite potential pacing fatigue, the generous post-game content delivers a satisfying experience.
Helix: Descent N Ascent is Badass Mongoose’s first project, a small Belgian studio founded by Cedric De Muelenaere and Gillian Sampont, and it’s a puzzle-adventure that builds its identity around a black-and-white aesthetic inspired by 1980s indie comics, 1990s manga, and the 1970s Franco-Belgian tradition. The game entrusts its narrative almost entirely...
Where silence and puzzles speak louder than words.
I enjoyed my time with Helix: Descent N Ascent. Its atmosphere, puzzles, and visual style made each session engaging, and playing for a few hours at a time helped me keep track of my surroundings and progress. I played in both handheld mode and docked and never had any issues, with the experience feeling...
Looking back, Helix: Descent N Ascent worked best when it trusted me to figure things out for myself. The story is told without long explanations, and most puzzles expect you to experiment instead of waiting for a tutorial. For a large part of the game, that approach works really well. There were also moments where Helix became too vague for its own...
