Introduction
Summertime Madness is a first-person puzzle game developed by DP Games and published by Sometimes You.
The player, in the role of a painter who has made a deal with the devil, has to find his way back to the real world after being cheated and trapped inside one of his canvases. A dream-like journey into a surreal world of the artist’s own creations, where the atmospheric gameplay provides mysteries to discover, puzzles to solve, and landscapes to explore.
Review
The story takes place in 1945 Prague, where this beautiful city was being ravaged by war. Buildings collapsing and the city ablaze, death shrouds the air, the beauty being ripped away forever.
You take on the role of a painter, a man who has seen the awful mark war has left, and to try and escape reality, locks himself away from the outside world, and paints. He paints the colourful landscapes and buildings of the city, in an attempt to salvage the beauty and stillness of what was now lost.
A stranger suddenly appears out of nowhere, and asks the painter if he would like to see inside one of his creations, with one rule; he must find his way back to the real world before midnight, or his soul would be trapped inside the painting, forever. To escape the isolation of war, he agrees and shakes the strangers hand. Moments later, the stranger is gone and the painter suddenly finds himself standing inside one of his paintings.
I really enjoyed this game. Lots of vibrant colours, interesting structures and beautiful atmospheric landscapes.
The game design was impressive, and the art and detail on everything as far as the eye could see could see was stunning. Such an interesting and innovative story idea.
The music was relaxing, the game mechanics were smooth, and all round a very calming experience.
There are three difficulty levels; Explorer, Classic, and Advanced. Explorer being the easiest and best option if planning on getting the platinum, as the other two offer challenges like time limits.
It only took me about 2 hours to finish the game. Even though the game was packed with puzzles, and exploration.
The puzzles themselves, and there are many, were challenging. I enjoyed the challenge, however, most had a complexity to them that would have made it difficult to progress without a guide.
There are collectibles, which you can collect at different areas in the game. Again, without a guide, you would be searching for quite some time, as some are well hidden. But it does add to the fun of exploring.
Rating
Pros:
- Beautiful, atmospheric gameplay
- Relaxing experience
- Stunning art designs
Cons:
- Could be challenging without a guide
- Controls were a little off at times
Summary
A stunning, atmospheric puzzle game filled with hopes, dreams and adventure. A fully enjoyable experience with captivating, if not strange, paintings and creations. Great narrative, and thought-provoking audio.
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Game & Developer Information
Developer Website: DP Games
Developer Socials: Twitter
Publisher Website: Sometimes You
Publisher Socials: Twitter
PSN Store Links: £11.99/€14.99 Europe / $14.99 North America
Trophy Information: 15. 
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Images – https://www.igdb.com/
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